Terms of Reference (TOR)- Impact Assessment of the Access to Agricultural Markets and Trade Co-Guarantee Fund

Job Title and Description

Impact Assessment Consultancy for the Access to Agricultural Markets and Trade Fund (Co-Guarantee Fund)

Company/Organisation

GROOTS Kenya

Location

Kenya

Purpose and Objectives of the Assignment

The purpose of this assignment is to undertake an impact assessment of the Access to Agricultural Markets and Trade Fund (Co-Guarantee Fund) held by the Commercial bank. The assessment will aim to analyse the barriers and enablers to accessing the co-guarantee fund. The assessment will further document lessons learned, unintended outcomes, and viable options for strengthening or redesigning financial inclusion approaches.

Specific Objectives

• Assess the extent to which the objectives of the partnership with the commercial bank were achieved.
• Assess the effectiveness of the guarantee facility towards enhancing financial inclusion for grassroots women in their intersectionality.
• Identify challenges, gaps, and unintended outcomes that affected fund performance.
• Capture lessons learned and best practices under the fund implementation for replication, scaling, and sustainability.
• Document compelling stories of change to support internal learning, partner reporting, and public communication.
• Generate evidence and strategic recommendations to inform GROOTS Kenya’s strategy, donor reporting, and potential future investments towards maximizing financial inclusion impacts in agriculture for grassroots women.

Key Deliverables

• Inception Report: A concise inception report detailing the consultant’s understanding of the assignment, refined methodology, evaluation framework, sampling strategy, data collection tools, analysis plan, quality assurance measures, and work plan.
• Data Collection Tools and Protocols: Finalized quantitative and qualitative tools, including interview guides, discussion guides, survey instruments, consent protocols, and any case study templates.
• Draft Impact Assessment Report: A draft report presenting preliminary findings, analysis, conclusions, lessons learned, and recommendations for review by GROOTS Kenya.
• Final Impact Assessment Report: A revised and finalized report of not more than 30 pages excluding annexes, incorporating comments from GROOTS Kenya and other designated reviewers.
• Knowledge Products: Include a success story and case study compendium; and a PowerPoint presentation summarizing key findings, lessons, and recommendations for the board, funding partners, and management users.

Consultant Qualifications and Experience

• Master’s degree (or equivalent experience) in banking, finance, agricultural economics, development finance, rural development and financing, and other relevant financial inclusion fields.
• Experience in feminist evaluation methodologies, participatory research, or monitoring and evaluation (M&E).
• Over 10 years of experience in related assignments
• Demonstrated track record of conducting impact assessments for movements, networks, or advocacy organizations.
• Experience working with grassroots communities, especially women in rural and marginalized settings.
• Demonstrated ability to facilitate participatory processes with grassroots women.
• Commitment to valuing lived experience as knowledge, not just academic or institutional expertise.
• Ability to speak fluently in Kiswahili & English, and preferably other relevant local languages.
• Strong knowledge of gender mainstreaming in alternative financial and market systems in Kenya.

Commencement of Consultancy

The consultancy is expected to commence on 25th May 2026.

How to Apply

Interested consultants/firms must submit:

• Technical Proposal(max 10 pages) including:
• Understanding of the ToRs
• Proposed approach, methodology, and work plan
• Composition and qualifications of the team (if applicable)
• At least 2 relevant examples of similar work (links or summaries)
• Financial Proposal in Kenya Shillings with a detailed budget breakdown
• References from previous clients.

Applications should be sent to talent@grootskenya.org with the subject line. *by EOD* **Impact Assessment Consultancy** **6th May 2026**