Investment Readiness Expert – NS4Y

Consultancy Opportunity

CASA PROGRAMME OVERVIEW

CASA is an FCDO-International Climate Finance (ICF) funded programme driving global investment for inclusive climate-resilient agri-food systems that increase smallholder incomes. CASA makes the case to impact and return-oriented investors for increased investment in agribusinesses that work with smallholder supply chains. The programme achieves this goal by:

• Demonstrating the commercial viability and investment-readiness of small and medium-sized (SME) agribusinesses with significant smallholder supply chains
• Helping investors to increase the impact of their investments through the provision of inclusive technical assistance
• Strengthening the socio-legal empowerment of smallholders within value chains
• Tackling the information and evidence gaps holding back investment

For demonstrating the commercial and development potential of smallholder sourcing models, CASA focuses on catalytic interventions in the agriculture sectors of Ethiopia, Malawi, Nepal, and Rwanda that support agri-SMEs prepare for and secure investment while connecting smallholders to commercial markets.

CASA’s work on research and communications is structured around identifying constraints, opportunities and addressing evidence gaps through research; shaping the debate on smallholder agriculture to influence actions of investors, governments, and donors; and creating networking opportunities through events and stakeholder engagement.

ASSIGNMENT BACKGROUND

 Sectoral context

CASA has partnered with Nkhotakota Steadfast Cooperations for Youth (NS4Y) to implement the project titled “Commercialising Aquaculture for Better Market Access by Smallholder Farmers.” This partnership aims to leverage NS4Y’s existing fish processing capacity and market for fish products by ensuring a reliable and high-volume supply of fish produced by smallholder farmers. This will be achieved by expanding NS4Y’s fish purchase scheme to include contract farming and input credit financing for smallholder fish farmers.

The project seeks to empower smallholder farmers to increase their production and income by linking them to NS4Y’s purchase scheme. This linkage will facilitate access to technical aquaculture production expertise, quality inputs, input credit financing, and more profitable and reliable markets for their products.

CASA will support NS4Y in expanding the procurement and marketing of tilapia and catfish to supply the targeted urban market in Lilongwe City and the towns of Nkhotakota and Salima. This will be accomplished through the establishment of contract farming and pay-as-you-grow (PAYG) input credit financing models. These models will employ digital payment systems for the repayment of input loans and payment of sales proceeds.

NS4Y will initially contract 100 smallholders in a pilot phase, with plans to scale up to 900 smallholders depending on the pilot’s success. To support NS4Y effectively, CASA Malawi is seeking the services of a Short-Term Technical Assistant (STTA) as an Investment Readiness Expert. This expert will assist NS4Y in evaluating the commercial viability and needs assessment of the PAYG input financing scheme and facilitate strategic and business planning for NS4Y to implement the planned business model.

About Nkhotakota Steadfast Cooperations for Youth

Nkhotakota Steadfast Cooperations for Youth (NS4Y) is a local company based in the Nkhotakota district in the central region of Malawi. Established in 2019, it was formally registered as an unlimited liability partnership on May 29, 2021. NS4Y is owned by four partners: James Chimbiya, Edith Mpoto, Thokozani Fickson, and Naomie Phiri.

NS4Y’s main activities involve processing various agricultural products sourced from smallholder farmers in Nkhotakota and surrounding districts. Their product range includes milled and packaged rice, smoked fish, dried fish, and fresh packaged fish, distributed in Lilongwe City, Nkhotakota, and Salima.

OBJECTIVES AND METHODOLOGY

Assignment objectives

The main objective of this assignment is to prepare NS4Y as an attractive destination for third-party commercial investments. To achieve this, the Short-Term Technical Assistant (STTA) will specifically deliver the following:

• Conduct a comprehensive commercial and technical feasibility assessment of the proposed business model.
• Review and update NS4Y’s current strategic plan, focusing on the off-taker and PAYG input credit financing business model supported under the partnership with CASA.
• Review and update the enterprise’s current business and investment plan, focusing on the proposed business models. This includes assessing its financial statements, developing cash flow projections to support investment applications, and creating an investment plan to attract third-party investments.
• Prepare documents required by targeted potential investors, including an abridged Business Profile for NS4Y.
• Link NS4Y to potential investors

REQUIREMENTS and EXPERTISE

Key qualification and field of expertise for the ideal expert are:

• Possession of at least a bachelor’s degree in business, finance, accounting, economics, mathematics, or any other relevant fields. Those with master’s degree in the same field will have an added advantage;
• Strong analytical skills with a deep understanding of financial concepts;

• Excellent organizational and time management skills;
• Excellent writing and oral communication, listening and interpersonal skills with the ability to deal tactfully and diplomatically with a wide range of people combined with an appreciation of the importance of confidentiality;
• Willingness to take on new tasks at short notice and travel frequently to remote places if need be;
• Ability to make decisions regarding own work, often in ambiguous situations and suggest recommendations regarding own function/discipline;
• Ability to function with minimum guidance and under pre-set procedures with attention to detail; and
• Able to exercise independent judgment within defined policies and practices.

MODE OF APPLICATION

Interested candidates should send an Expression of Interest no more than 6 pages long (in one document) broken down as follows;

1. A maximum of 1 page EOI submission letter providing an overview of the candidate’s suitability for the role and their preferred daily rate expressed in
2. A maximum of 2 pages outlining a proposed methodology according to their understanding of the assignment and its requirements.
3. A maximum of 3 pages Curriculum Vitae/Resume outlining only the relevant qualifications, experience and attributes for the role. Emphasis should be placed on similar consultancy assignments carried out by the candidate in the past 7 years.

Applications to be sent to rhch@niras.com with title of the position being applied for in the subject line. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and will accept the first viable ones received.

For more details download the TORs using: Terms of Reference_Investment Readiness NS4Y