Investment Readiness Expert – MlimiPay

NIRAS

CONSULTANCY OPPORTUNITY

Title: Investment Readiness Expert- Mlimi Pay
Locations: Lilongwe
Expected Period: February 2025 – June 2025

 

  1. CASA PROGRAMME OVERVIEW

As a programme funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) – International Climate Finance (ICF), CASA demonstrates the business case for global and national investment in climate-resilient agri-food systems that increase smallholder farmer incomes. The programme facilitates increased investment in agribusinesses by demonstrating the commercial and development potential of inclusive business models with smallholder farmer supply chains. CASA achieves this by:

  • Demonstrating the commercial viability – and building the investment-readiness – of small and medium-sized (SME) agribusinesses with smallholder farmer supply chains
  • Helping impact and return-oriented investors to increase the impact of their investments through the provision of inclusive technical assistance
  • Strengthening the voices of smallholder producers (especially of women in agribusiness decision-making) and their positions within supply chains (through improved offtaking or aggregation arrangements), and
  • Filling the information, evidence and learning gaps holding back investment.

To demonstrate the commercial and development potential of business models with smallholder farmer supply chains, CASA Component A (Market Systems Development), implemented by NIRAS and Swisscontact, pilots catalytic interventions within agricultural value chains in Ethiopia, Malawi, Nepal and Rwanda (and formerly Uganda) that support agri-SMEs to prepare for and secure investment while connecting smallholder farmers to commercial markets and building their resilience in the face of climate change.

2. ASSIGNMENT BACKGROUND

The aquaculture sector in Malawi faces several challenges that hinder overall productivity. One of the most persistent issues is limited access to quality feed, which accounts for 60–80% of total production costs. While most feed is still imported from Zambia, locally produced alternatives—though a little cheaper—remain largely unaffordable and inaccessible to many smallholder farmers across the country.

To address this challenge, CASA has facilitated a tripartite partnership between TEREN Agro, a local manufacturer of floating fish feeds, and MlimiPay, an innovative digital payment solutions company. This partnership aims to improve access to affordable, high-quality fish feed while also fostering collaboration on other critical aquaculture inputs, as well as extension and advisory services, under favourable terms for smallholder fish farmers.

The two companies will work with smallholder farmers in Lilongwe and surrounding districts—areas that are easily accessible to the Lilongwe-based firms—through legally binding contractual arrangements. Additionally, the partnership will enable MlimiPay to expand its existing customer base by providing tailored financial solutions that ease feed payments for farmers.

As part of its growth strategy, MlimiPay is seeking to attract equity investment to scale its operations. To support this expansion, CASA Malawi is seeking the services of an Investment Readiness Short-Term Technical Assistant (STTA) to help strengthen MlimiPay’s investment readiness and overall business growth.

About TEREN Agro

TEREN Agro Limited, a subsidiary of TEREN Investments, was established by Temwanani Phiri and Taziona Chigwe. The company initially focused on trading soya beans but diversified into livestock feeds in 2023, including floating fish feeds for tilapia. It was incorporated in 2022. With grant support, TEREN Agro invested in machinery to increase production capacity by 900% to 1 tonne per hour. In 2023, the company is projected to have a turnover of MK361 million (£270,482) and employ seven people. The company is positioned for growth in the aquaculture sector and is seeking to collaborate with motivated partners.

About MlimiPay

MlimiPay Limited, established in 2021 by Stanislaus Sakwiya, is a Malawian fintech company that is transforming the agricultural sector through the provision of digital financial solutions. Mr Sakwiya, the company’s sole shareholder, is supported by a team of four. MlimiPay’s core product offerings include the Mlimi Digital Wallet, which enables smallholder farmers to purchase farming inputs in instalments via mobile money, thereby ensuring price stability and bulk savings. MlimiPay currently has 1,000 active users and plans to add a further 1,000 fish farmers and 5,000 dairy farmers to its customer base. During the 2022/23 financial year, the company facilitated payments for over 240 tonnes of inputs, with a total value of £184,359. Furthermore, the company provides the Mlimi Digital Advisor, which offers agronomic guidance and weather updates to farmers.

3. OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE OF ASSIGNMENT

In line with activity 4.2.5 and budget lines 12, 13 and 14 of MlimiPay and TEREN Agro’s project business plan, the primary objective of this consultancy assignment is to provide expertise, supporting MlimiPay in preparing an investment plan for their digital financial services business. The assignment will concentrate on achieving the following specific objectives:

  • Conduct a business process analysis, identifying areas of improvement in MlimiPay´s business model;
  • Develop a strategic plan to guide MlimiPay in the attraction of equity investment;
  • Develop the organisation’s business and investment plan with a clear view to the company’s aquaculture-centric products and services business;
  • Produce regular progress reports and outputs for the assignment; and,
  • Adhere to the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) manual and other relevant requirements of NIRAS Malawi.

4. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Investment Readiness Expert will work closely with MlimiPay under the overall supervision of the CASA Market Manager for Aquaculture. The primary objective of this assignment is to enhance MlimiPay’s ability to attract third-party financing to support its expansion efforts. The specific duties of the Expert will include the following:

  • Inception report, outlining the approach and work plan for the assignment .
  • A business model analysis report – outlining an analysis of MlimiPay’s business model as a fintech company overall, and on the proposed business arrangement with TEREN Agro, recommending ways in which the company’s business model can be improved. An assessment of MlimiPay’s overall business modelas a fintech company, with a specific focus on the proposed partnership the TEREN Agro. The report will provide recommendations for strengthening the company’s business model.
  • A Strategic Plan with comprehensive and clear strategies on attracting equity investors
  • Business and Investment Plan fully guiding the company´s expansion plans
  • Investor communication tools to be used in attracting equity investment into the company
  • An assignment completion report outlining the activities carried out as part of the assignment.

Deliverable Timelines

# Deliverable Work-Days
1 Inception Report 1
2 Business model analysis report 8
3 A strategic plan 10
4 Business and Investment Plan 10
5 Investor Communication Tools 2
6 Assignment Completion Report 1

5. ASSIGNMENT MANAGEMENT and DURATION

a. Duration

Expected Start Date: February 2025.

Expected End Date: June 2025. 

b. Assignment Days

Up to 32 Workdays

c.Reporting Lines

The consultant will report to the MlimiPay´s senior management team, with oversight from CASA´s Market Manager for Aquaculture

6. 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, information technology or any other relevant fields. Those with a combination of IT and business qualification at postgraduate level 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.
  1. MODE OF APPLICATION

Applicants should send an Expression Of Interest comprising the following:

  1. An EOI submission letter outlining suitability for the role and stating preferred daily rate in GBP (maximum two pages)
  2. A proposed methodology for the assignment (Maximum 4 pages)
  3. Up to date CV suitably tailored to the TORs concentrating only on relevant experience. Emphasis will be placed on consultancy experience in the last 10 years (Maximum 3 pages)

Applications will be evaluated on a rolling basis and we will settle for the first suitable candidate we get even before the deadline.

Applications should be received by 16th February 2025. Send applications to RHCH@niras.com Indicate the position being applied for in the subject line.