- Introduction and Background:
Access to Finance Rwanda (AFR) is a Rwandan not for profit Company Limited by Guarantee (CLG), established in 2010 to promote financial inclusion and financial sector development in Rwanda. AFR is currently funded by Sweden, the Mastercard Foundation, Jersey Overseas Aid (JOA) and Co-develop.
AFR supports the removal of systemic barriers that hinder access and usage of financial services by low-income people, particularly the rural poor, women, youth, smallholder farmers, and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). AFR is a gender-intentional organization and mainstreams gender equality across all its programs. It is guided by the Market System Development (MSD) approach recognizing that efforts to increase financial inclusion and financial sector development must be market-led, profitable, and sustainable.
AFR is part of the broader Financial Sector Deepening (FSD) network in Africa that seeks to create a transformative impact on ending poverty by supporting efforts to improve financial inclusion and financial sector development. This is done by helping policymakers, regulators, financial service providers, and markets drive more inclusive and sustainable economic growth. Over the last 15 years, AFR has rolled out many programs and implemented projects and interventions that contributed to the inclusion of many Rwandans in the financial ecosystem (96% financial inclusion from 48% in 2008) as highlighted by the Rwanda 2024 Finscope survey report.
To strengthen its ability to deliver on its mission, AFR is seeking to establish a pool of experienced Associate Consultants (Individuals not firms) who can be engaged on assignment basis across various areas of expertise.
- Objective of the request for applications.
This Request for application invites applications from qualified local or international subject matter experts who wish to be considered for inclusion in AFR’s database of Associate Consultants.
Qualified individuals may be issued framework agreements and engaged for future consulting assignments, based on their areas of expertise and AFR’s evolving program needs, through the issuance of specific Call-Down Orders.
- Areas of Expertise
AFR seeks consultants with demonstrated expertise in the following areas:
- Inclusive Finance Strategy and Policy
- Digital Financial Services (DFS)
- Open Finance
- Inclusive insurance
- Inclusive pensions
- SME Finance
- Agriculture and value/supply chain finance
- Green, climate and nature based finance
- Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL)
- Strategic Communications and market engagement
- Data analytics and financial sector research
- Financial sector regulation and supervision
- Blended Finance
- Fintech innovation
- Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and its use cases
- Gender equality and inclusive finance
- Investment vehicles structuring
- MSMEs investment readiness support
- Entrepreneurship ecosystem support
- Capital market development
- Innovation support and venture building
- Behavioral Economics
- Any other expertise in the inclusive finance and real economy domains
- Eligibility and Required Qualifications:
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
| Criteria | Points |
| A university degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field (consultants’ area of expertise), or membership in a recognized professional body | 25 points |
| At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in the applicant’s area of expertise | 25 points |
| Client references (formal certificates or attestations) for at least three (3) completed assignments in a respective area of expertise | 25 points |
| Demonstrated experience (in a respective area of expertise) working in Sub-Saharan Africa, preferably Rwanda | 25 points |
- Submission Requirements
Interested consultants should submit the following:
- An updated CV detailing academic qualifications, relevant professional experience, and a summary of previous assignments, including client references (for the selected area/s of expertise).
- A brief write-up (maximum 2 pages) outlining:
-Core area of expertise
-Motivation for joining AFR as an Associate Consultant
-Current location and availability
-Willingness to travel
- Contact information for at least two professional referees
- A financial proposal indicating the daily rate—in USD for foreign consultants and in RWF for local consultants. The proposed daily rate should exclude any reimbursable expenses, as such costs cannot be pre-determined.
- Important Notes
- AFR reserves the right to accept or reject any application without providing a reason.
- AFR will not reimburse any costs incurred by applicants in the preparation or submission of their applications.
- Applicants must clearly indicate the area of expertise in the subject line of their email as follows:
“Application – Potential Associate Consultant – [Insert Area of Expertise]” - Only shortlisted applicants shall be contacted for next steps which may include but not be limited to interviews.
- Submission Deadline
All applications must be submitted electronically by: Friday September 12, 2025, at 5:00PM Rwandan time (CAT)
Submission Email: procurement02@afr.rw
Subject line: Application – Potential Associate Consultant – [Insert Area of Expertise]
Format: PDF Format
Email subject: “Application – Potential Associate Consultant – [Insert Area of Expertise]”
Sincerely,
Jean Bosco Iyacu
Chief Executive Officer
