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REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) FOR THE TRAINING OF VILLAGE SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS IN EMBU AND KIRINYAGA COUNTIES

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Request for Proposals (RFP)

TRAINING OF VILLAGE SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS IN EMBU AND KIRINYAGA COUNTIES

Summary Information

RA Department: Impacts Programs, EASA

Location(s): Embu and Kirinyaga Counties, Kenya

Commitment: 85 Working Days

Desired start date and duration: February 23rd, 2026, to August 31st, 2026

Under direction of: Project Coordinator- FLOURISH

About the Rainforest Alliance

The Rainforest Alliance (RA) is an international nonprofit organization working at the intersection of business, agriculture, and forests to make responsible business the new normal. We are building an alliance to protect forests, improve the livelihoods of farmers and forest communities, promote their human rights, and help them mitigate and adapt to the climate crisis. We envision a world where people and nature thrive in harmony.

The Rainforest Alliance is creating a more sustainable world by using social and market forces to protect nature and improve the lives of farmers and forest communities.

For more information, please visit .

Overview

Rainforest Alliance (RA) is implementing two complementary projects within Embu and Kirinyaga Counties of Mt. Kenya Landscape—i.e., Financial and Livelihood Opportunities Using Regenerative Innovation for Sustainable Households (FLOURISH), funded by The Coca-Cola Foundation (TCCF), and 'Brewing The Future – Coffee 2 Stay ‘Project funded by German Coffee Roaster, Tchibo GmbH —to strengthen inclusive livelihoods, regenerative agriculture, and resilient supply chains in the Mount Kenya region.

The FLOURISH Project focuses on the economic empowerment of women and youth through an integrated approach that combines access to inclusive finance, enterprise development, market linkages, and regenerative agricultural practices. The program targets rural producers and entrepreneurs by strengthening Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), scaling nature-positive income-generating activities, and improving access to affordable financial services through revolving funds, digital finance solutions, and linkages to formal financial institutions. The FLOURISH Project places strong emphasis on gender equity, youth inclusion, and community-led financial systems that enable sustainable enterprise growth and long-term resilience

In parallel, the ‘Brewing The Future – Coffee 2 Stay’ Tchibo –funded Project focuses on enhancing the sustainability, quality, and resilience of coffee-based livelihoods. The initiative supports smallholder coffee farmers through the adoption of regenerative and climate-smart agricultural practices, improved post-harvest handling and quality management, women and youth inclusion strategies, and the development of diversified income streams. The partnership also aims to strengthen market access through improved alignment between producer organizations and buyers, including the facilitation of long-term purchasing relationships and value-chain transparency

Together, FLOURISH and Tchibo Projects create a coherent programmatic framework that links inclusive finance, regenerative production systems, enterprise development, and market access. These initiatives are designed to mutually reinforce economic resilience, environmental sustainability, and inclusive growth for smallholder farming communities, while delivering measurable social, environmental, and supply-chain outcomes.

Consultancy Scope of Work

Main Objectives

Baseline and diagnostic assessment of existing VSLAs

The consultant will conduct a comprehensive assessment of existing VSLAs supported under the FLOURISH and Tchibo initiatives, with a strong gender and youth lens. This will include:

Mapping existing VSLAs, membership composition, objectives of the group, age of the group governance structures, and leadership representation of women and youth.
Assessing savings performance, loan utilization, repayment rates, portfolio quality, and operational efficiency.
Reviewing record-keeping practices, internal controls, transparency, and accountability mechanisms.
Assessing conformity with applicable legal, regulatory, and registration requirements for community-based savings and lending groups.
Identifying gaps, risks, and capacity-building needs affecting sustainability, inclusion, and performance.

Strengthen 20 VSLA governance, compliance, and systems

Support VSLAs to improve governance structures, roles, and accountability mechanisms.
Strengthen financial literacy, bookkeeping, and digital or semi-digital record-keeping systems.
Promote compliance with relevant legal and regulatory frameworks to enhance legitimacy and bankability.

Promote savings for productive investment

Support VSLAs to strengthen savings culture and define savings targets aligned to productive livelihood investments.
Guide VSLAs to prioritize loans for income-generating activities, enterprise development, and climate-resilient livelihoods, particularly for women and youth members.

Improve lending efficiency and portfolio performance

Strengthen loan appraisal, disbursement, monitoring, and recovery systems.
Improve repayment rates, portfolio tracking, and risk management.
Support the design and operationalization of internal revolving funds for onward lending to members.

Facilitate financial linkages and bulk borrowing mechanisms

Identify and engage suitable financial institutions, SACCOs, MFIs, and fintech offering VSLA-friendly products.
Support VSLAs to access bulk or wholesale loans for onward lending to members under clearly defined terms.
Strengthen VSLA creditworthiness through improved records, governance, and performance metrics.

Build long-term financial inclusion and efficiency

Support the transition toward standardized financial reporting and credit profiling of VSLAs.
Promote digital financial tools where appropriate to improve efficiency, transparency, and traceability.
Facilitate sustainable partnerships that enable women and youth to progressively access higher-value financial services and investment capital

Deliverables

Deliverable	Estimated submission date/timeline
VSLA Effectiveness and Sustainability Assessment Report A diagnostic report defining the characteristics of effective, resilient VSLAs in the Kenyan context, including factors that prevent group breakdown, with specific consideration for governance, savings discipline, lending efficiency, repayment discipline, recovery in case of default, legal compliance, support from stakeholders, and inclusive participation of women and youth.	5 Days
Comprehensive VSLA Baseline and Needs Assessment Report (20 VSLAs – Mt. Kenya Region) A detailed baseline and diagnostic assessment of the 20 targeted VSLAs in the Mt. Kenya region, documenting governance structures, membership composition, savings ending and recovery performance, record-keeping systems, compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, and key capacity gaps, with VSLA-specific recommendations.	5 Days
VSLA Capacity Development and Strengthening Framework A structured framework outlining priority capacity-building areas, sequencing of interventions, and differentiated support for emerging and mature VSLAs, with explicit strategies to strengthen women and youth participation, leadership, and access to finance.	10 Days
Standardized VSLA Training Curriculum and Implementation Plan A practical, context-appropriate training curriculum and rollout plan covering governance, savings mobilization, productive lending, credit and debt management, leadership, financial literacy, record keeping, and regulatory compliance, tailored to the needs of the 20 VSLAs.	10 Days
Delivery of VSLA Trainings and Coaching Sessions Completion of structured trainings and group-based coaching sessions for the 20 VSLAs, with documented attendance, training outputs, and post-training action plans, ensuring practical application of skills acquired.	20 Days
VSLA Governance and Roles & Responsibilities Toolkit A user-friendly toolkit clearly defining roles, responsibilities, and accountability mechanisms for VSLA leaders and members, including guidance on decision-making processes, transparency, conflict resolution, and succession planning.	5 Days
Savings and Productive Lending Targets Framework Defined savings targets, loan products, and lending policies for each of the 20 VSLAs, aligned with productive investment objectives, women- and youth-led enterprises, and climate-resilient livelihood activities.	5 Days
VSLA Monitoring, Mentorship, and Performance Tracking System A comprehensive monitoring and mentorship framework including performance indicators, standardized record-keeping templates, repayment tracking tools, and reporting formats to improve operational efficiency, transparency, and sustainability.	5 Days
Eight-Month VSLA Mentorship and Handholding Support Program Provision of continuous mentorship and hands-on support over an eight (8) month period for the 20 VSLAs, including regular follow-up sessions, performance reviews, problem-solving support, and adaptive recommendations to improve savings performance, loan recovery, governance, compliance, and overall efficiency.	10 working days per month for 8 months
Financial Linkages and Digitalization Strategy for VSLAs A mapping and recommendation report identifying suitable financial institutions, SACCOs, MFIs, and fintech providers offering VSLA-friendly products, including opportunities for bulk borrowing and onward lending, and recommended digital tools to strengthen efficiency, transparency, and creditworthiness.	10 Days
End-Line Performance, Learning, and Sustainability Report A comprehensive end-line report documenting performance against agreed KPIs, improvements in VSLA efficiency and inclusion, lessons learned, success stories, and clear recommendations for scale-up and long-term sustainability, including all finalized training, monitoring, and mentorship materials.	10 Days

General Terms and Conditions for Request for Proposal

Applicants must provide all requisite information under this RFP and clearly and concisely respond to all points set out in this RFP. Any proposal, which does not fully and comprehensively address this RFP, may be rejected.
Proposals and/or any additional information received after the submission time and date are subject to rejection by RA.
Incomplete proposals may be rejected by RA at its discretion.
RA reserves the right to request additional information at any time during the procurement process.
RA is at liberty to make multiple or no selections as part of the proposal process. RA also reserves the right to cancel the procurement.
All proposal costs shall be borne by the applicant and will not be reimbursed by RA.
It is the responsibility of every bidder to identify any information of a confidential or proprietary nature contained in its proposal so that it may be handled accordingly. However, RA cannot guarantee confidentiality.

Selection Criteria and qualifications

The consultant or consultant firm should comply with the following minimum qualifications:

Team Leader / Senior Consultant – Qualifications and Experience

A Master’s degree in Community Development, Agricultural Economics, Entrepreneurship, Development Finance, Sustainable or Green Finance, Rural Development, or a closely related field from a recognized university or institution.
A minimum of ten (10) years of demonstrated professional experience in inclusive, integrated and innovative, green finance, or sustainable financing, with a strong focus on mobilizing resources for community-based organizations, farmer groups, and grassroots financial systems.
Proven experience in designing, strengthening, and scaling community-led financial mechanisms, including Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), cooperatives, SACCOs, or similar structures, with emphasis on savings-led growth, productive lending, portfolio performance, and operational efficiency.
Demonstrated expertise in structuring and operationalizing innovative financing instruments, such as revolving funds, blended finance facilities, bulk or wholesale lending mechanisms, guarantees, or buyer-linked finance models that expand access to capital for women- and youth-led enterprises.
Practical experience in linking informal and semi-formal financial groups to formal financial institutions, including banks, MFIs, SACCOs, and fintech, supported by strong governance, compliance, and record-keeping systems.
Experience working in multi-project, multi-sector, and rural or landscape-level development contexts, engaging diverse stakeholders across public, private, and civil society sectors.
A proven track record in resource mobilization, partnership development, and investor engagement, particularly in financing inclusive and nature-positive livelihoods.

Institutional Capacity of the Consulting Firm

The consulting firm must demonstrate adequate institutional capacity and staffing to deliver the assignment, including the availability of qualified professionals with expertise in VSLA strengthening, inclusive finance, financial literacy, governance and compliance, digital financial systems, and monitoring and mentoring of community-based financial groups.
The firm shall provide evidence of having successfully implemented similar assignments of comparable scope and complexity, including references.
The proposed team must collectively demonstrate the technical, operational, and logistical capacity to support training, mentorship, and handholding of 20 VSLAs in the Mt. Kenya region, including the eight-month continuous mentorship phase.

Proposal Process and Format

A signed Letter of Interest, indicating the applicant’s interest, availability, and suitability to undertake the assignment.

Technical Proposal (Maximum 5 pages, excluding annexes)

The Technical Proposal should clearly demonstrate the applicant’s understanding of the assignment and proposed implementation approach, and must include:

A clear understanding and interpretation of the Terms of Reference.
A proposed approach and methodology, including tools and processes for VSLA strengthening, inclusive finance, mentorship, and institutional linkages.
A detailed workplan and schedule of activities, aligned with the deliverables and the eight-month mentorship and handholding period.
Team composition, including roles and responsibilities, with CVs of proposed team members (maximum three pages per CV).
Proof of required competencies, including references for at least two similar assignments of comparable scope and complexity.

Financial Proposal

The Financial Proposal should be submitted separately and include:

A detailed consultancy fee proposal (in KES), broken down by level of effort and key activities.
A clear budget for logistical arrangements, including travel, accommodation, and field-level costs, where applicable.

Consultant Selection Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

Demonstrated understanding of the Terms of Reference and VSLA-focused objectives.
Quality and robustness of the proposed methodology, including innovation and value addition.
Evidence for successful completion of similar assignments, particularly in VSLA strengthening and inclusive finance.
Team composition, qualifications, and institutional capacity of the consulting firm.
Strength and feasibility of the proposed mentorship and handholding strategy, including the eight-month workplan.
Cost-effectiveness and clarity of the financial proposal.

Criteria	Weight (%)
Technical proposal	80
· Understanding of ToR	30
· Methodology	30
· Team composition and expertise	10
· Previous experience	10
Financial proposal or budget	10
Availability	10
Total	100

Anticipated Maximum Level of Effort by the Consultant:

The anticipated maximum level of effort for the Consultant is Eighty-Five (85) net working days, spread over an eight (8) month-period from February to August 2026. The level of effort will cover all activities outlined in this Terms of Reference, including assessments, trainings, development of tools and frameworks, and the provision of continuous mentorship and handholding support to the targeted 20 Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) in the Mt. Kenya region.

The allocation of working days will be phased across the consultancy period to allow for iterative implementation, follow-up, performance monitoring, and adaptive support, particularly during the eight-month mentorship and performance improvement phase.

The stated level of effort excludes time required by Rainforest Alliance for review, validation, and approval of deliverables, as well as any delays attributable to external factors beyond the Consultant’s control. The Consultant will be expected to manage time effectively and coordinate closely with Rainforest Alliance’s designated staff to ensure timely submission of all deliverables in accordance with the agreed workplan.

Proposals should be submitted to jmuema@ra.org and cc to bkadenge@ra.org and dmwangi@ra.org with the subject line “VSLA training” on or before 6th February 2026 (we shall be accepting and reviewing proposals on rolling basis effective from the time the publication goes out). The work is expected to commence from 23rd February 2026.

Contact person for questions	Janet Muema, jmuema@ra.org
Deadline for submission of proposals	6th February 2026

Thank you for your interest in working with the Rainforest Alliance