Performance in the round potato sector in Tanzania has continued to remain well below the available potential for many years, mainly due to farmers’ limited access to high quality inputs and improved round potato cultivars. One growing company in Tanzania has come up with a model which can sustainably address this challenge.  

The company has connected with another sister company from Arusha that has imported improved round potatoes seeds from Holland, multiplied the seeds and obtained seed certification from Tanzania Official Seed Certification Institute; which allowed the first company to start to distribute the potato seeds to farmers in Arusha region. Additionally, the company supplied all required fertilizers and chemicals to the farmers, and installed extension officers who are visiting the farmers to train them on improved round potato farming. By June 2022 there are a total of 10 acres of improved round potato crop. The company has planned and agreed to purchase all round potatoes which will be produced from their seeds, and will sell the potato in several markets in Tanzania and Kenya. This model will enable the company to recoup money that was used for inputs and extension services, and provide the farmers with a steady income for their harvests. 

To be able to purchase the potatoes from farmers, the company is in quest of obtaining TZS 80,000,000 of funding, and has approached the Farmer-to-Farmer program seeking technical assistance in business planning and business proposal pitching. Therefore, the Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) Access to Finance Program is recruiting two volunteer experts — a U.S. citizen or permanent resident who will provide remote support and technical input and a Tanzanian or neighboring country citizen or permanent resident who will execute the assignment in-country. The two will help the host to prepare a sound business proposal and help the host to pitch the proposal to commercial banks in Tanzania. Success of this company in securing the required funding will help to sustain the economic benefits for the company and the farmers, and pave way for this model to be replicated elsewhere in Tanzania.  

Objectives of the Assignment:   

1. Support the host organization to develop a comprehensive business plan for their round potato business.   

2. Support the host organization to develop a corresponding pitch/presentation to be formally presented in front of financial institutions; and,   

3. Enhance the skills and build the capacity of the host organization management staff in business development, proposal writing and pitch development and delivery.  

Tasks to be Performed:   

Pre-Assignment:

• Study the round potato value chain in Tanzania and East Africa 

• Review host organization’s sales agreements, financial statements, and marketing strategies to understand the host organization’s current business operations.  

• Hold a call with the F2F Tanzania Country Director and host organization to discuss the needs of the assignment and strategy as well as assignment plan.  

• Conduct desk research to assess funders who offer funding or invest in similar projects to what the host organization will be pitching.  

      During the Assignment:

• Attend in-country orientation hosted by F2F staff.  

• Hold kickoff meeting with host organization to review and finalize assignment objectives and plan.  

• Hold a technical meeting with the host organization management and staff in order to understand the company’s business model, market for round potatoes etc.  

• Co-develop with the host organization’s management team a persuasive and competitive business plan to be pitched to funders.  

• Prepare a pitching presentation, and all required backups and make appointment with the potential lenders  

• Co-conduct the presentation to potential funder(s) with host organization management.   

• Develop a follow-up action plan for the host organization including future steps in securing funding and developing their own pitches in the future.  

• Hold debrief with host organization and F2F Country team to share recommendations and action plan.  

• Draft final report for assignment.  

  End of Assignment Report and Other Deliverables Required:  

• Volunteer Trip Report   

• Finalized business plan  

• Any materials and/or tools developed for the pitch   

• Follow up action plan  

• PowerPoint presentation describing the assignment, findings, recommendations and expected impact  

Expertise of Volunteer Experts Requested:  

• Higher university degree in business management, finance and financial management, agriculture, agriculture economics, business administration, economic development, or other related fields of study  

• 8+ years of relevant experience in finance, fund raising, financial management, budgeting and/or agriculture economic and workforce development in emerging markets, including in the field experience.  

• Experience in successful preparation of business plans and pitching business ideas an advantage 

• Independent and strong interpersonal skills  

• Creative with good critical thinking and problem-solving skills  

• Goal-oriented mindset and with a hands-on approach  

• Good written and verbal communication skills  

• Knowledge of and experience with agriculture sector and agricultural access to finance in sub-Saharan Africa preferred.    

• Strong leadership and communication skills and capacity to plan strategically and flexibly.   

• Sufficiently physically fit, with appropriate medical clearance.   

• Experience working in Tanzania and/or the region is preferred.   

• Writing Skills: reporting requires good computer skills including, but not limited to, working and generating reports with MS Word. Experience with PowerPoint presentations is desirable.   

• This is a United States government funded program. Therefore, for the purpose of achieving desired results in accordance with the work plan and submitting requisite reports, written and spoken fluency in English is required. The ability to work through translators in the field, however, is essential. This requires deliberation and sensitivity to cultural issues would be an added advantage  

Volunteer Outreach:

USAID and IESC encourage all F2F volunteers to participate in public outreach. An important objective of the program is to increase awareness of Americans’ good work in developing countries. Volunteers should select at least one outreach activity from the list below, to be completed within two months of return to the US:  

• Write an entry for the IESC blog.  

• Post a photo, video, or text related to the F2F assignment on a personal website, blog, Facebook page, Twitter, or other social media site. –And send a link to IESC staff.  

• Send a press release to local newspaper(s) in the volunteer’s hometown. (IESC can provide a template).  

• Write something for an alumni or professional association newsletter, or other publication. (IESC can help as needed).  

• Give a presentation about the F2F assignment to colleagues, students, church group, rotary club, etc.   

• Send an email about F2F to friends, family, or colleagues.   

• Other.