Terms of Reference for Consultancy Services to Support the Management of the Community of Practice at IbI

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Consultancy Services to assist the Management of the Community of Practice at IBI 

1. Context and Background

Imanzi Business Institute (IBI) is a premier capacity-building institute established by the Private Sector Federation of Rwanda (PSF) to address the universal challenges in today's rapidly environment evolving business The institute offers cutting-edge training courses designed to empower the private sector through capacity building and upskilling. We deliver short-term training programs, capacity building, tailor-made courses, and consultancy services for institutions and companies focusing on start-ups and SMEs. The Institute delivers both in-person and online courses through our e-campus platform and offers customized knowledge based services to business. 

Rwanda’s private sector is dominated by young, small and micro businesses. As a broader group, Small- Medium- and Micro-Enterprises (SMMEs) are key driver in the economy, accounting for over 90 percent of businesses, contributing 55 percent to GDP, and absorbing over 60 percent of total employment in both urban and rural areas. Unfortunately, these enterprises face a number of challenges such as limited access to loans from financial institutions, inadequate financial solutions, and a lack of capacity and skills. 

To address these issues, ADA and LuxDev are collaborating on a project entitled "Strengthening Rwandan MSMEs development through inclusive finance". This project aims to increase financing for bankable MSME projects in Rwanda, targeting marginalized segments, including women-led Agri-SMEs, and with an impact-driven orientation. 

Since 2025, in collaboration with ADA, IBI is leading an initiative to enhance the investment readiness of 200 MSMEs, prioritizing women in agribusiness, with a target of 35% female participation. This effort aimed to strengthen MSME capacity through tailored entrepreneurship assist delivered by the Institute. 

As part of the assist and through market demands, the two organizations are piloting the community of Practice initiative designed to bring together Agri-SMEs, financial service providers, and other key institutions that are involved in Agri-processing to facilitate access to finance for Agribusiness. The Community of Practice is a group of individuals and or Companies who share a common concern or interest in promoting investment readiness in Agribusiness and who meet regularly to achieve the set objectives. The purpose is to create a permanent platform for Agri-SMEs, leading investors in agriculture and government agencies that regulate the sector to share good practice, exchange knowledge and experience as well as benchmarking visits through

continuous interactions. Furthermore, the CoP will also allow members to share their diverse ideas, ressources and lessons on a wide range of topics related to financialinclusion.

To assist the smooth implementation of the CoP initiative, IBI is looking for a Consultantwho will deliver assist to create Agri-SMEs Information Kit and providing workshop contents for the Community of Practice for the successful implementation of the CoP initiative. The selected consultants will work closely with IBI project teams who will be tasked with designing and conducting the CoP for Agri-SMEs. 

2. Overall Objective of the Assignment 

The objective of the assignment is to deliver technical direction and assist to the Imanzi Business Institute in establishing an inclusive, functional, vibrant, and sustainable Community of Practice focused on Access to finance, enabling stakeholders to exchange knowledge, collaborate on addressing issues that affect the Agri-SMEs. 

Further, the consultant is expected to assist the CoP team by identifying burning issues, liaising and coordinating with key actors who are promoting Agribusiness at the national level including key government ministries, agencies, private sector actors in the agriculture sector and other relevant stakeholders that assist Agri-SMEs. 

3. Scope of Work 

The consultant will be tasked with the following tasks: 

A. Development of the Agri-SMEs Information Kit and Road map: the Consultant will design the information kit booklet based on the consultations with key stakeholders. The consultant is expected to work closely with CoP Coordinator and IBI to establish and make functional, the CoP with indicative actions/workplan. 

B. Piloting CoP: in consultation with IBI and based on the initial work done by the Coordinator, the consultant will detect, map, and prioritize relevant and strategic stakeholders engaged in Agribusiness including Financial Service Providers. These will have sound and reputable backgrounds in strengthening Agri-SMEs to become investment ready. 

The Consultant is expected to: 

✓ Finalize the identification process of the burning question 

✓ Facilitate the initial set up of the pilot of CoP in partnership with theCoordinator

✓ assist and guide the selection of the CoP thematic areas/burning issues/questions and networking for discussion 

✓ create a comprehensive strategy to attract and retain reputable community members in Agri-SMEs 

✓ Facilitate the initial setup and organization of the piloted CoP 

C. Facilitation and Coordination: the Consultant will deliver technical assist to IBI in the organization of CoP workshops and thematic discussion, and produce

necessary inputs and organize the activities and initiatives of the CoP, ensuring active participation and engagement. 

D. Content Development and Knowledge Sharing: the Consultant is expected to assist the team to: 

• produce curate relevant content (including research reports, case studies, and best practice guidelines) in the priority thematic areas for the CoP to inform discussion, ➢ Work closely with the CoP Coordinator and IBI teams to detect and document key issues, challenges, and success stories for piloting CoP 
• assist CoP Coordinator to promote knowledge sharing among CoP members through various channels (e.g., evaluate the and disseminate the newsletters, testimonies, success stories, best practices, discussion forums). 
• Draft a report of each key burning question, make sure that a newsletter is published in the IBI website and deliver to members of the CoP. 
• Transfer of skills to CoP Coordinator and the IBI teams at least one session per week; 

E. Effective Monitoring and Evaluation of the Piloted CoP: the Expert will ➢ assist the team to create a monitoring and evaluation framework to assess the impact and effectiveness of the CoP (lesson learnt). 

• collaborate with the coordinator to organize the validation workshop, including Logisticsand workshop content at the end of the pilot.
• produce a final report that identifies lessons learned, including with regard to the mechanisms and good practice that improves the performance capabilities for the CoP. The report will include recommendations on the continuity of the CoP or its evolution into a multi-stakeholder or consultative mechanism that supports Agribusiness in Rwanda. 

F. Initiate the Governance Framework: initiate and guide the drafting process of the governance framework that will assist the sustainability of the CoPs. The consultant will bring his/her knowledge and expertise to craft the rational and efficient process and procedures that will be reviewed by Coordinator as well as the IBI team. 

4. Deliverables 

The main deliverables of this assignment are as follows: 

Deliverable 1: submission of inception report and workplan for the assignment; Deliverable 2: finalized the Agri-SMEs information Kit and CoP workshop facilitated Deliverable 3: facilitation of CoP discussion report including knowledge products (e.g., thematic discussions reports, news articles for the IBI website, minutes on relevant activities) 

Deliverable 4: create a Governance framework including the plan Plan and content forthe validation workshop

Deliverable 5: Final report

5. Duration 

The consultancy will be awarded to the successful candidate for a total of 30 days spread over 3 months, effective from the date of signing the contract. 

6. Reporting 

The selected consultant will report directly to the CoP Coordinator, with parallel oversight from IBI and ADA. Weekly briefings to the IBI Management is required for coordination. 

7. Required Experience and Qualifications 

❖ Post-graduate qualification in a relevant field (business development, public policy, economics, development studies, Education, ICT, etc.). 

❖ At least 10 years of progressive experience in project design/development experience, multi-stakeholder engagement, strategic communication and awareness creating, partnership building, implementing events and activities with a focus on Agribusiness to promote active engagements highly desirable. 

❖ Experience in establishing and managing communities of practice or similar networks. 

❖ Understanding of and experience working CoPs, and Agribusiness in particular, around access to finance would be considered an asset 

❖ Experience in M&E, Knowledge Management, and Capacity Development.

❖ Familiarity with Private Sector egangement, technical programmes, and procedures, including experience working with the DBS and PSF, would be an added advantage 

❖ Exceptional organizational and communication skills, ability to work independently as well as in teams to meet deadlines. 

❖ Excellent English and Kinyarwanda communication and drafting skills.

8. Proposal Submission Process 

Interested individual consultants are encouraged to submit as separate documents (in same email), technical and financial offers, which should consider the following: a) A letter of interest stating eligibility for the assignment. 

1. b) A technical proposal that includes a proposed methodology and schedule of planned activities. 
2. c) Detailed budget, indicative of all-inclusive costs, including professional or other fees. 
3. d) Curriculum Vitae. 

The deadline for submission of proposals is 06th July 2026. The proposals should be sent to info@ibi.org.rw with the subject line: Consultancy Services for supporting the Community of Practice for Agribusiness.