Consultancy opportunity: Feasibility assessment for establishing FinTech and AgriTech centres in Ethiopia and Kenya

  • Geographic and administrative scope: Moyale Ethiopia and Moyale Kenya
  • Project name: Moyale Cross-border Community Empowerment Project
  • Intervention area: Livelihoods and Economic Development
  • Email address: kenyaoffice@kenya.dorcas.org
  • Period to implement assignment: June 2025.  

Introduction and context

Dorcas is a humanitarian assistance and development organisation that works to transform the lives of those in need by promoting self-reliance through development, as well as by providing social care and emergency assistance. Since 2022, Dorcas has implemented a cross-border project in Moyale, Ethiopia, and Moyale, Kenya, in two phases. Phase I was completed in December 2022, and Phase II was launched in June 2024. The first phase of the project aimed to promote cross-border Community Cohesion (CC) and milk value chain development. Phase II builds on the Phase I initiative and has the following objectives. To:

i. Strengthen the capacity of the local administration to ensure access to basic services for mobile and host communities.
ii. Promote women- and youth-focused livelihood development.
iii. Strengthen cross-border business-to-business linkages.

Under objective II, which aims to promote women- and youth-focused livelihood development, Dorcas plans to establish FinTech and AgriTech centres in the cross-border areas of Moyale, Kenya, and Moyale, Ethiopia.

The growing significance of digital financial solutions and technology-driven agricultural innovations provides an opportunity to foster inclusive economic growth within communities. This is particularly evident in marginal communities whose potential remains untapped. Once established, the centres will act as hubs to drive innovation, build capacity among women, young people, entrepreneurs and smallholder farmers, including migrants and host communities, and improve access to finance and markets.

To this end, the organisation is planning to undertake a feasibility study to determine the viability, potential impact and implementation approach of establishing these centres in the target cross-border area.

Objectives of the assessment

The main objective of this assignment is to conduct a comprehensive feasibility assessement of the potential for establishing sustainable, contextualised and impactful FinTech and AgriTech centres in the cross-border region of Moyale, Kenya and Moyale, Ethiopia.

Specific objectives

  1. To assess the current socio-economic and technological landscape in the target area.
  2. Identify key challenges (including barriers) and opportunities in the financial and agricultural sectors that can be addressed through technology.
  3. Evaluate the demand for, and the viability of establishing, FinTech and AgriTech Centres on both sides of the border.
  4. Propose operational models, strategic partnerships, and governance structures.
  5. Develop cost estimates, funding options and a sustainability compact.

The scope of the feasibility study

  1. Situational analysis
  • Analyse the existing digital infrastructure, levels of financial inclusion, and agricultural practices.
  • Identify the key stakeholders, including government agencies, development partners, financial institutions, agribusinesses and local communities.
  1. Needs assessment
  • Conduct surveys, focus group discussions, and interviews with stakeholders.
  • Assess the skills gap and capacity development needs in the FinTech and AgriTech sectors.
  1. Market and demand analysis
  • Estimate potential user base and interest in services offered by the Centres.
  • Analyse and where applicable map national (Kenya & Ethiopia), regional and international trends relevant to FinTech and AgriTech.
  1. Institutional and operational design
  • Recommend location(s), facility requirements, technology needs, staffing structures, and governance models.
  • Outline service offerings, training programmes, innovation support, and partnerships.
  1. Financial and Risk Assessment
  • Provide cost projections (capital and operational).
  • Identify possible funding sources and business models.
  • Conduct risk analysis (political, economic, social, cultural, operational, technological).
  1. Sustainability and Impact Analysis
  • Propose monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework.
  • Project short, medium, and long-term socio-economic impacts.

Expected deliverables

The consultant will provide the following:

  • An inception report within one week of the start of the contract.
  • A draft feasibility report including all six sections of the scope of work, including the stakeholder engagement segment.
  • Validation workshops (one in Moyale, Ethiopia, and one in Moyale, Kenya).
  • A final report incorporating feedback.
  • A PowerPoint presentation summarising the findings and recommendations.

Methodology and approach

The consulting firm will develop detailed data collection tools, such as questionnaires, in line with the main feasibility analysis criteria. They will also develop qualitative checklists for interviewing key informants. Survey enumerators will be trained to highlight the purpose of the survey, and receive technical orientation on how to approach interviewees with due attention to cultural and ethical considerations. The firm will then analyse the information and data gathered through these tools, consolidate it, and produce a detailed feasibility report.

Key informant interviews are another instrument of data collection in this study. Key informants will be selected from all relevant stakeholders, including government officials, TVET deans and experts. In addition, focus group discussions (FGDs) will be held with three groups: urban/semi-urban people, pastoralists, and young people. Tools such as PESTEL analysis and Porter’s Five Forces model will be used to identify current and future factors that could impact the success of FinTech and AgriTech.

Assessment duration

The assignment is expected to take a maximum of five weeks from the date the contract is signed.

Bibliography

All necessary project documents, including those related to the cross-border project, must be consulted and reviewed as required.

Profile of the consultant

The consultant must have the following qualifications and expertise:

  • At least a second-degree university degree in any social studies field
  • Proven experience in conducting feasibility studies, particularly in the FinTech, AgriTech or cross-border development sectors.
  • Knowledge of digital finance, agricultural value chains, and innovation ecosystems.
  • Fluency in English with excellent report-writing skills.
  • They should be sensitive to beliefs, manners and customs, and act with integrity and honesty in all relationships with stakeholders.
  • A demonstrated track record in conducting similar studies for development organisations and/or companies is essential.
  • Experience of a rights-based approach is an advantage.

Technical and financial proposal submission

Applicants are invited to submit a proposal by close of business on 30 May 2025, including:

  • Details of the firm or individual.
  • Details of the firm’s or individual’s experience relevant to this assignment.
  • Their understanding of the assignment, including the proposed approach and methodology (including sample size and justification for the procedures to be adopted).
  • A detailed work plan.
  • Financial proposal: total budget with a breakdown of the costs required to undertake the assignment, including all travel and associated costs.

Terms of payment

The first instalment, comprising 30% of the assignment budget, shall be remitted upon signing of the contract and submission of the final version of the detailed work plan. The remaining 70% shall be remitted to the consultant upon completion of the assignment and approval of the report.

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