Farmer to Farmer East Africa s7

Farmer to Farmer East Africa Volunteer Assignment Scope of Work Summary Information Country Ethiopia Assignment Code ET77 Country Project Grains Host Organization Oromia Credit and Saving Share Company (OCSSCO) Assignment Title Management Information System (MIS) for microfinance management Preferred dates March – July 2016 Assignment Objective  Assist OCSSCO in identifying the available technologies/ software that enhance the financial data management of the company  Assist and advice the effective operation of Core Banking Software Skills Summary Software development expert with experience in financial institutions’ systems and handling core banking software

A. Background

Micro Finance Institutes are recently introduced financial sectors in Ethiopia in order to provide credit and saving services for the economically active people which include farmers engaged in agri-business. It is believed that such micro credit services will contribute for development of agriculture sector of the country. Currently there are 31 MFIs in Ethiopia and OCSSCO is one of this institutions. The company was established in 1996 and began its formal operations in 1997 and delivers services through four layers of organizational structure: the headquarters in Addis Ababa and its 6 regional, 17 zonal and 203 branch offices. OCSSCO is operating in Oromia region, which is one of the four Feed the Future regions. Its mission is poverty alleviation in Oromia through availing financial services to the poor and assisting them to make the best use of indigenous resources and knowledge.

OCSSCO is one of the largest MFis in Ethiopia. It has been providing MF services mainly in Oromia National Regional State. Besides Oromia, it has branches in Harari National regional state and Addis Ababa City Administration, which is the capital of the federal states in the country. OCSSCO also opened branches in Dire Dawa City Administration particularly to provide loan for women entrepreneurs in collaboration with Women Entrepreneurship Development Program, WEDP. The number of full-fledged branches of the company reached 305 in 2015. Although OCSSCO is a successful self-sustained MFI, it has challenge in fulfilling the credit demand of the poor people and entrepreneurs due to shortage of loanable funds. In

1 addition, company needs assistance in area of capacity development and training to become center of excellence in the microfinance industry of Ethiopia. This assignment will build

B. Issue Description

As one of the largest microfinance institutions in the country, the branch network or service coverage and outreach expansion has been increasing in the state-of-the-art that it reaches million economically active households. The growth of the company is not only limited to the volume of operations but also in product diversification & new product development. This is aimed at meeting the demands of different segments of the societies and provision of quality services in improved access to finance. The assets of the Company have been growing to correspond with operations growth, and the average return on total asset has also been satisfactory as confirmed through annual external audit reports. Despite these successes and notable achievements the company lacks an appropriate management Information system, MIS, mainly Core Banking System (CBS).

Concerns often arise as to why microcredit interest rates are higher than the bank interest rates that wealthier people pay. The issues are cost and sustainability: the administrative cost of making tiny loans is much higher in percentage terms than the cost of making a large loan. In most cases, MFIs have been operating in areas which are remote or have low population density, making lending more expensive. Since the sustainability is directly associated with effective and efficient management information system, it is crucial that MFIs should be capacitated with regard to effective MIS.

OCSSCO has started core banking system before five years however its functionality is not as expected therefore there is a need for a volunteer assistance in making use of this system. It is believed that CBS will help the company to easily access accurate, reliable and timely information which have a huge contribution for serving clients in a better way and achieving success of the company.

OCSSCO requested CRS for F2F volunteer assistance and skills transfer on MIS on their core banking system. An F2F volunteer specialist will address these knowledge gaps through a variety of training interventions and technical assistances.

C. Objectives of the Assignment

The main objective of this assignment is to Assist OCSSCO in identifying the available technologies/ software that enhance the financial data management of the company and to support the operation of core banking system.

The F2F volunteer being with OCSSCo staffs will assess the existing information system gaps and look for best alternatives. The volunteer will then mainly assist on how to make the systems operational. She or He will develop guideline for effective operation of the system.

HOST CONTRIBUTION

2 The host will select relevant staffs of the company to receive the training and staffs to work closely with the volunteer throughout the assignment period. The host will also assign a translator to local language whenever needed. Office space and furniture in the assignment area will also be provided by the host.

D. Anticipated Results from the Assignment

Based on the volunteer technical assistance the staffs of the company will get introduced to new information management systems that will enhance the performance of OCSSCO. Using the assistance and guideline provided by the volunteer the company will have a reliable core banking system which will be efficiently utilized.

Deliverables by the volunteer include:  Written guideline on core banking system and MIS  Debriefing with CRS staffs and / USAID  Field report with recommendation.  Outreach activity in country and when back in the US

E. Schedule Of Volunteer Activities Prior To Arriving In Kenya

Day Activity Day 1 Arrival to Ethiopia. The volunteer will be met at Bole Airport by CRS’s client hotel Churchill ([email protected] / info@churchillhoteladdis; phone # 0111111212) or another client hotel with a placard bering “CRS logo and volunteer name”. Day 2  Briefing meeting at CRS office with CRS F2F staff, briefing on logistics and itinerary of the trip and discuss anticipated outcomes and work plan; Day 3  Meeting with OCSSCo  Setup office and other logistics Days 4  First hand briefing on outlines of topics of the course, plan, approach, etc, and adjust the topics as required.  Undertake further assessment and desk review to identify skill /capacity gaps through discussing with host staffs  Based on information gathered and gaps identified, enrich the prepare training materials Day 5-7 Conduct the assignment according to an agreed schedules and modality of lecturing, advising, seminar, practical assistance etc Day 8 Rest day Days 9-14 Continue conducting the assignment (training/academic and practical) Days 15 Rest day Day 16-18 Continue conducting the assignment (training/academic and practical) Day 19  Wrap up sessions that emphasize key concepts of the assignment: the college evaluates the assignment and discusses final report recommendations with the volunteer.  Group presentation to the host in the presence of CRS F2F staff

3 Day Activity Day 20  Debriefing at CRS office with USAID Mission and or CRS staffs.  Submit all reports, return logistic items and complete all required activities  Depart to USA TBD Conduct outreach activity when back in the US

F. Desirable Volunteer Skills

The volunteer must have the following qualifications and competencies:  Experience on Software Development, software engineering or computer science.  Proven experience in working with financial institutions in a decision making level in matters of ICT  Proven experience in handling of core banking software/system  Good analytical and communication skills and ability to train an adult audiences

G. Accommodation and Other In-Country Logistics

 Before travelling to the assignment place, the volunteer will stay in Addis Ababa at one of the CRS’s client hotels, Churchill Hotel or another hotel that will be confirmed before the volunteer arrives in country. In Addis Ababa, the hotel usually has rooms that include services such as airport pickup and drop-off, breakfast, wireless internet, etc.  All required materials will be prepared ahead of time and will be provided to the volunteer. CRS Ethiopia will provide the volunteer with a laptop computer (if s/he needs), local internet dongle (modem/EVDO) and mobile phone with charged local SIM- card. Any other required logistics and facilities can also be requested by the volunteer during her/his stay in Addis Ababa.  CRS will provide a vehicle and accompany the volunteer to the place of assignment.  CRS HQ will provide the volunteer with a per-diem advance to cater meals and incidences.  CRS Ethiopia will also reimburse the volunteer with laundry costs against receipts.  Before departing from Ethiopia, the volunteer will also liquidate if s/he received any advances in Ethiopia.

H. Recommended Assignment Preparations

Although CRS F2F has developed this SOW, the volunteer should fine-tune through her/his professional qualification to successfully carry out this water harvesting and soil and water conservation skill transfer program in water harvesting. Prior to travelling to Ethiopia, s/he will be expected to collect relevant technological information and modeling aids. CRS F2F relies on the volunteer to design appropriate methodologies to address the suggested bottlenecks and associated missing gaps of the smallholding farmers based on this indicative SOW.

Prior to travel, the volunteer will be advised to prepare necessary training and demonstrating aids and written handouts. Softcopies of the handouts and any other paper materials can be printed for immediate use in Ethiopia CRS office at Addis Ababa on request by the volunteer. If the

4 volunteer requires use of simple training aids like flip charts, markers, masking tapes, etc, s/he should make the request and collect from the CRS F2F Office in Addis Ababa prior to travel to the assignment place. Translation of handouts to local language could be done in the locality of the assignment, if shortly required. Depending on the meeting places, the volunteer may use a laptop and projector for power point presentations. I. Key Contacts

CRS Baltimore CRS EARO Maria Figueroa, Nyambura Theuri, Volunteer Coordinator Deputy Project Director EA Farmer-to-Farmer Program EA Farmer-to-Farmer Program 228 W. Lexington Street P.O. Box 49675 – 00100 Baltimore, MD 21201 Nairobi, Kenya Email: [email protected] St. Augustine Court Karuna Close Road Phone: 410-951-7366 Email: [email protected] CRS Ethiopia: Biruk Tesfaye, F2F Coordinator Art Kirby, Head of Programs (HoP) CRS Ethiopia, P. O. Box 6592, CRS Ethiopia, P. O. Box 6592, Addis Ababa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Ethiopia Cellphone: +251-911-718450 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Phone (landline): +251-112 788800 Cellphone: +252-911-507305 Host Organization Tefera Lechisa, Abebe Regassa, IT Director, OCSSCO, Addis OCSSCO, Addis Ababa Ababa, Ethiopia Email: [email protected], _ Email: [email protected] Phone (cell) +251 0913029427 Phone (cell): +251 911 508491