Terms of Reference (ToR) for Digitalization of Agricultural Credit Assessment Tool (A-CAT)

1. Background

Cordaid, under the TREPA and PSAC project in Rwanda, promotes sustainable livelihoods and climate resilience through climate-smart agriculture, agroforestry, and inclusive finance. One of its core instruments is the Agricultural and Livestock Credit Assessment Tool (A-LCAT), currently in Excel format. While useful, this format has limitations in scalability, consistency, and integration. To address this, Cordaid seeks to recruit a fintech service provider to consolidate, digitize, and deploy a robust A-CAT system that enhances lending practices across multiple agricultural value chains, supports green financing with MFI , and strengthens access to finance for farmers.

2. Objectives

The main objective is to design, develop, and deploy a comprehensive digital A-CAT system to support MFIs, SACCOs to effectively approve and monitor loans for sustainable agriculture value chain .

Specific objectives include:

• Consolidate existing Excel-based A-CAT tools (such as maize, beans, rice, avocado, forestry, fodder, coffee, tea, macadamia and beekeeping value chain) into a single digital platform.
• Develop a mobile app (Android, iOS optional) for field data collection and a web-based application for loan assessment.
• Incorporate climate-smart and geospatial data (e.g., soil erosion control , water availability, agroforestry practices) into loan decisions.
• Provide dashboards for loan portfolio monitoring (Track) and climate-risk assessment.
• Ensure Cordaid retains all intellectual property rights, including source code and documentation.

3. Scope of Work

The consulting firm will be responsible for: 

• Review and analysis of existing Excel-based A-CAT tools, workflows, and value chain parameters.
  Consult with Cordaid, MFIs, and other relevant experts as indicated especially to harmonize with other projects delivering the digitalization for different value chain experts to refine requirements.
• System Design and development of a mobile and web-based application with offline-first design and synchronization in line with A_CAT value chain with:
• Automated loan assessment workflows
• Credit scoring linked to agricultural cycles
• Dashboards for loan portfolio monitoring
• Geospatial and climate data integration
• Role-based access and secure data handling
• Offline functionality with synchronization
• Pilot and test the tool with selected MFIs and refine it based on the feedback prior to rollout.
• Train MFI staff user ( i.e. Loan officers, managers, and IT staff) and provide clear used manual
• Provide data export options (CSV/Excel) for non-integrated systems and allow MFIs to independently host and secure their data in line with national laws and regulations on data privacy and storage.
• Provide one-year technical support after deployment

4. Deliverables

• Inception report with revised methodology and timelines, desk review findings on review of existing A-CAT tools including ongoing digitalization of A-CAT for other value chain to harmonise the tool and consultation with relevant stakeholders.
• Presentation of the draft digital web based and mobile app A-CAT tools with user manuals, fully functional A- CAT loan assessment application (web + mobile)
• Deliver training to MFIs staff ( including Admin and users) and Training report for MFIs with training manuals
• Pilot testing report and refinements
• Fully functional digital web based and mobile App A-CAT tool with hosting options and at least one year technical support plan for each.

5. Firm Qualifications

The firm shall demonstrate the following qualification:

• At least 7 years’ experience in financial technology development (loan assessment tools, MIS, digital finance) and support to MFIs.
• Proven experience working in Rwanda or the East Africa region in financial inclusion, agricultural finance, or green lending
• At least 3 comparable projects in past 5 years.
  Strong stakeholder engagement track record, including collaboration with MFIs, SACCOs, farmers, and development partners.
• Availability of a multidisciplinary team combining IT, finance, agriculture, and capacity building expertise.

Required Key Team Members and Skills:

1. Team Leader / Project Manager with at least 10 years of experience in digital finance, loan assessment, or MIS systems; proven leadership in similar assignments).
2. Senior Software Developer(s) with at least 5 years of experience in web/mobile application development, with expertise in scalable architecture, APIs, and cloud hosting).
3. UX/UI Designer with minimum 5 years of experience; demonstrated ability to design user-friendly financial or agricultural apps).
4. GIS/Data Integration Specialist with at least 5 years of experience with geospatial data systems, preferably linked to agriculture or natural resource management).
5. Agricultural Finance/Loan Analyst with minimum 7 years of experience in agricultural lending, loan appraisal, or credit scoring, with knowledge of green/

climate finance).

6. Duration

The assignment will be carried out within 12 months from contract signing. The consultancy firm is expected to be efficient and effective in contract delivery.

7. Reporting

The firm will report to the TREPA Project Coordinator with support from Access to Finance experts and MFI technical staff.

8. Evaluation Criteria

• Technical approach & methodology (including timeline and delivery plan, (30%).
• Relevant experience of firm (Team qualifications with a multidisciplinary expertise), 40%
• Financial proposal (30%).

9. Ownership & Confidentiality

Cordaid will retain full ownership of all intellectual property, including source code and designs. The provider must ensure strict confidentiality of all data and allow secure hosting on MFIs’ side.

10. Non-Liability for Proposal Preparation Costs

Cordaid shall not be liable for any costs, expenses, or liabilities incurred by applicants in the preparation and submission of proposals, regardless of the outcome of the procurement process.

All costs related to the preparation of the proposal, including travel, documentation, and presentation, shall be borne exclusively by the applicant.

11. Right to terminate

Cordaid may at any time terminate, suspend, or withdraw the tender process, in whole or in part, without prior notice and without obligation to award a contract.

The issuance of this ToR does not constitute a commitment by Cordaid to award a contract or to procure services.

12. Deadline and Submission

All proposals must be submitted through emails with headings “TENDER FOR COMMUNICATION CONTENT DEVELOPMENT – FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT” before 8^th September 2025 end of the day, to Apollinaire.nshimiyimana@cordaid.org