AB Rwanda (ABR) is a regulated deposit-taking microfinance institution operating in Rwanda. It is part of the AccessHolding network and jointly owned by AccessHolding, KfW, and the International Finance Corporation (IFC). Now in its 11th year, ABR serves its clientele through a network of 23 branches and outlets, supported by approximately 450 staff members. The institution offers micro-business and agriculture loans, alongside savings and deposit products for both transactional and investment purposes.

Project Overview

ABR is seeking a highly qualified consultant to enhance and scale its agricultural lending program. First launched in 2019, the agriculture loan product serves smallholder farmers across all provinces of Rwanda. As the portfolio grows, ABR aims to refine and expand its agriculture finance offering through improved analytics, enhanced risk tools, diversified product design, team capacity building, and stronger sales channels.

Scope of Work & Deliverables

The consultant will work closely with ABR’s internal teams, including the Agriculture Product Manager, and is expected to deliver the following:

• Conduct a comprehensive review of ABR’s existing agriculture loan product.
• Design a simple, user-friendly analytics dashboard for portfolio monitoring (preferably using QlikSense or Excel).
• Develop updated product rules and loan assessment tools to accommodate an expanded set of ~10 crop and livestock activities, including market-reflective revisions to the loan decision process.
• Propose alternative methodologies for assessing repayment capacity, with a focus on reaching clients lacking conventional collateral.
• Document a standardized marketing approach and prepare corresponding training materials for internal use.
• Introduce a practical risk mitigation framework addressing environmental and market shocks, potentially integrating agricultural insurance through partnership models.
• Evaluate and recommend community-based channels to enhance sales, client engagement, and portfolio oversight.
• Identify barriers to access for underserved farmer segments, including women and youth, and produce a concise market research brief.
• Provide hands-on coaching and mentorship to the agriculture product team, fostering a culture of innovation and continuous learning.

Timeline & Work Location

• Duration: Approximately 12 months
• Location: Primarily based at ABR’s Head Office in Kigali
• Travel: Frequent travel to rural branches and field locations is expected, including overnight stays where necessary

Consultant Profile

The ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications and competencies:

• Minimum 10 years of experience in the financial sector
• At least 5 years of direct experience in agriculture lending, with a focus on smallholder or micro-farmer segments
• Proven success in product design and implementation within a microfinance or rural finance context
• Strong data analysis and dashboard development skills (Excel, QlikSense, or similar)
• Ability to engage effectively with stakeholders at all levels, from senior executives to field staff
• Familiarity with micro-insurance and agricultural insurance models
• Experience in gender-sensitive lending approaches is highly desirable
• Demonstrated creativity, adaptability, and strong motivation for agricultural development
• Rwanda-based or willing to be stationed in Rwanda for the duration of the assignment

Interested candidates should send:

•  Letter of Interest
•  CV
• Copy of academic qualifications
• Certificates
• Copy of ID/Passport

Note: Interested candidates or firms may be asked to submit relevant references and samples of similar past assignments upon request.

To abr-recruiting@abr.rw not later than 25th July 2025.

[NOTE: Please state the POSITION in the subject of the email.]

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.