Consultancy for Development of a Framework for Microfinance Bank Establishment

ABOUT ACTIONAID NIGERIA

ActionAid Nigeria is an affiliate of ActionAid International, a global alliance working to achieve a world without poverty and injustice.

ActionAid Nigeria works through community-led development approaches and partnerships with poor, excluded and grassroots communities.

PROJECT BACKGROUND

The Strategic Partnerships for Agroecology and Climate Justice in West Africa project aims to improve food and nutrition security and strengthen the agroecological skills of 120,000 smallholder women farmers and young people.

ActionAid Nigeria is seeking a consultant to develop a framework for establishing a Microfinance Bank that will improve access to affordable and inclusive financial services for farmers and agricultural enterprises.

JOB DETAILS

Position: Consultant for Development of a Microfinance Bank Establishment Framework

Location: Nigeria, Including Selected ActionAid Programme Communities

Contract Duration: 30 Days

Application Deadline: 30 July 2026

OBJECTIVE OF THE CONSULTANCY

The consultant will develop a comprehensive and practical framework for establishing a Microfinance Bank that supports smallholder farmers, women, young people and agroecology-based enterprises within ActionAid Nigeria’s programme communities.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Conduct a situational analysis of financial-inclusion gaps within ActionAid Nigeria’s programme communities.
• Review national, regional and international microfinance models relevant to rural and agricultural finance.
• Assess Central Bank of Nigeria regulatory requirements and licensing procedures for Microfinance Banks.
• Design an institutional and governance structure for the proposed Microfinance Bank.
• Recommend an appropriate ownership structure, including community-based or hybrid models.
• Assess capitalisation requirements and possible funding arrangements.
• Develop financial products suitable for smallholder women farmers, youth and agroecology enterprises.
• Design seasonal credit and agricultural input-financing products.
• Recommend appropriate savings, insurance and risk-sharing mechanisms.
• Develop approaches for integrating Village Savings and Loan Associations and cooperatives.
• Develop a gender-responsive and youth-inclusive financial-access strategy.
• Recommend digital-finance approaches, including mobile banking, agent banking and USSD services.
• Develop a phased roadmap for establishing and licensing the Microfinance Bank.
• Identify regulatory, operational and financial risks and propose mitigation measures.
• Conduct consultations with farmers, cooperatives, regulators, financial institutions and civil-society organisations.
• Conduct field engagements within selected programme communities where required.
• Produce a draft Microfinance Bank Establishment Framework.
• Facilitate a stakeholder-validation workshop.
• Revise and submit the final framework.

EXPECTED DELIVERABLES

• Inception report and detailed workplan.
• Situational analysis of financial-inclusion gaps.
• Review of relevant microfinance and rural-finance models.
• Proposed institutional, governance and ownership structure.
• Recommended financial products and services.
• Gender-responsive and youth-inclusive financial-access strategy.
• Digital-finance and technology-integration approach.
• Regulatory and licensing roadmap.
• Risk analysis and mitigation plan.
• Draft Microfinance Bank Establishment Framework.
• Validation workshop.
• Final Microfinance Bank Establishment Framework.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Advanced degree in Finance, Economics, Banking, Agricultural Economics, Development Studies or another relevant field.
• Minimum of 10 to 15 years of experience in financial-sector development, microfinance or rural finance.
• Proven experience designing or supporting the establishment of a Microfinance Bank or financial institution.
• Strong knowledge of Central Bank of Nigeria regulations.
• Strong understanding of financial-inclusion frameworks in Nigeria.
• Experience working with smallholder farmers, women’s groups, cooperatives or rural communities.
• Experience in inclusive finance, gender and development programming.
• Strong analytical, facilitation and report-writing skills.
• Evidence of completing similar consultancy assignments.

REQUIRED COMPLIANCE DOCUMENTS

Applicants must submit:

• Company profile.
• Corporate Affairs Commission registration documents, including CAC 7.
• Valid tax-clearance certificate.
• Evidence of previous similar assignments, particularly with international NGOs.
• Audited financial accounts covering at least 2025.

PAYMENT TERMS

• Fifty per cent of the consultancy fee will be paid after acceptance of the inception report.
• The remaining fifty per cent will be paid after the final report has been submitted and approved.
• ActionAid Nigeria will deduct five per cent withholding tax in accordance with Nigerian tax regulations.

HOW TO APPLY

Interested consultants should submit the following documents:

• Expression of interest.
• Proposed methodology and approach.
• Detailed financial proposal.
• Evidence of similar assignments.
• Consultant or company profile.
• Relevant CVs and compliance documents.

All documents should be combined into one Microsoft Word file and sent to:

procurement.nigeria@actionaid.org

The email subject should identify the applicant and the consultancy for the Development of a Framework for Microfinance Bank Establishment.

Application Deadline: 30 July 2026.