Terms of Reference (TOR): Consultancy To Develop A Training Manual And Curriculum For Financial Institutions In Oil Palm And Cashew Value Chain Finance

Terms of Reference (TOR): Consultancy To Develop A Training Manual And Curriculum For Financial Institutions In Oil Palm And Cashew Value Chain Finance

Company Profile
NIRAS International Development Consulting is part of NIRAS Group, an international, multidisciplinary consultancy company. NIRAS Group provides consultancy in a variety of fields such as agriculture, construction and infrastructure, public utilities, environmental and natural resources, climate change and energy, planning, process industry and development consulting.
Job Description

Background
GIRSAL Ltd, in partnership with the Ghana Private Sector Competitiveness Program Phase II (GPSCP II), funded by the Switzerland Government- Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), seeks to stimulate agricultural lending by strengthening the capacity of financial institutions. Oil palm and cashew are two critical non-traditional export commodities with high potential for growth. However, financial institutions often lack the specialized knowledge to properly assess and finance actors along these value chains.
To address this gap, GIRSAL and GPSCP II will support the development of a certified training course on oil palm and cashew financing. The course will be anchored in a comprehensive training manual and accredited by recognized institutions, ensuring credibility, sustainability, and professional recognition for participants.
Objective of the Assignment
Overall Objective:
Provide financial institutions with a structured, accredited training program to improve their capacity to finance cashew and oil palm value chains. The course shall be designed to meet the Chartered Institute of Bankers, Ghana (CIB Ghana) accreditation standards and qualify for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credits.
Specific Objectives
• Develop a comprehensive curriculum, manual, and toolkits with strong practical focus on cashew and oil palm financing.
• Include Financial Modelling tailored to the two value chains.
• Introduce and promote Responsible Cashew and Oil Palm Financing, integrating ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) considerations, including gender-responsive and climate-smart financing principles to promote inclusive and sustainable lending practices.
• Partner with reputable training institutions such as the Chartered Institute of Bankers, Ghana and the University of Energy and Natural Resources etc, to accredit and co-brand the training course.
• Establish the foundation for a sustainable training program that can be commercialized and delivered beyond the pilot phase.
Scope of Work
The curriculum should specify the target groups (e.g., credit officers, risk managers, SME relationship officers, or senior executives etc) to ensure appropriate learning depth and application.
The consultant will be required to:
a. Conduct a rapid assessment of financing challenges and opportunities in oil palm and cashew value chains.
b. Review global best practices in commodity financing, agricultural lending, and sector-specific training programs.
c. Develop a structured training curriculum and manual. At a minimum, the course should cover the following indicative topics:

• Introduction to the oil palm and cashew industry.
• Production concepts of oil palm and cashew value chains.
• Processing concepts in oil palm and cashew value chains (artisanal, semi-industrial, and industrial models).
• Oil palm and cashew value chain development.
• Oil palm and cashew marketing ecosystem.
• Agricultural credit and risk management.
• Oil palm and cashew value chain and credit risk assessment.
• De-risking models for agribusiness (guarantee schemes, blended finance, insurance, collateral innovations).
• Financial modelling for oil palm and cashew value chains.
• Structuring financing deals in the oil palm and cashew sectors.
• Responsible cashew and oil palm financing.
• Practical tools: case studies, templates, and financial models.
• Governance, Compliance and Sustainability Reporting in Agribusiness Finance

d. The consultant may propose additional or refined modules to strengthen the curriculum, based on international best practice, Ghanaian context, and stakeholder
consultations. The consultant shall define measurable learning outcomes, course duration, assessment methods, and propose a blended-learning delivery plan (including e-learning adaptation).
e. Work with the Chartered Institute of Bankers, Ghana (CIB, Ghana) and a recognized agriculture training institution like the University of Energy and Natural Resources to develop an accreditation framework for the training program.
f. Deliver a pilot and validation workshop to refine the manual and training program.
g. Provide a roadmap to roll out the training after the pilot, including the course fee.
Expected Deliverables

• Accreditation framework document detailing certification levels, assessment standards, and CPD credit structure.
• Inception report with work plan and methodology with the option to propose enhancements or additional topics to the work plan methodology
• Draft training manual and curriculum covering at least the indicative modules listed in the Scope of Work, with the option to propose enhancements or additional topics.
• Organization of Validation workshop and Validation workshop report.
• Final training manual, curriculum and course guide in conformity with the accreditation institution (including a description of learning objectives per course module)
• Training Material for each course module.
• Approved course package (manual, curriculum, course guide, leaming objectives and teaching material per course, case studies, assessment tools etc).
• All manuals should have Trainer and Participant versions, complete with assessment tools and case-study guidelines

Duration of Assignment
The assignment Shall be delivered Within an eight week period commencing in mid January 2026_ The consultants are expected to allocate approximately 40 man days for execution during the contract period. The scope of work is anticipated to span seven weeks, covering curriculum development, validation, and finalization.
Required Skills or Experience
Consultant's Qualifications and Experience
• A consulting firm will be engaged to undertake the assignment_ The firm must provide at least two key experts With the qualifications outlined below, though additional expertise beyond these requirements Will also be considered.
Reporting and Supervision
• The consultant will report directly to GIRSAL's Technical Team and work in close coordination With GPSCP 11_ The Chartered Institute of Bankers and its partners will also provide input throughout the development process_Resources and Suppgü
• GIRSAL: technical expertise and validation support_
• GPSCP II: financial resources, logistics, and stakeholder engagement.
• Accreditation partner(s): guidance on certification requirements, validation, and professional recognition. Chartered Institute Of Bankers, Ghana (CIB) will provide technical guidance on curriculum review, CPD alignment, and professional certification structure, while University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) will validate technical agribusiness content.
Budget and Payment Terms
The consultancy will be funded from an allocation under GPSCP II. Payment will be milestone-based:

• 30% upon approval of the inception report.
• 50% upon submission of draft training manual and curriculum.
• 20% upon delivery of the final certified training manual, validated and approved.

How To Apply
Application Procedure
Interested consultants/firms should submit:
• Technical proposal including methodology, work plan, and understanding of the assignment.
• Financial proposal with a clear budget breakdown.
CVs of the lead consultant(s) highlighting relevant experience.
Examples of similar assignments previously undertaken.
Applications should be submitted electronically to dpp-gpscp2@niras.com
Closing date for submission of applications is January 10, 2026.
Evaluation
Proposals will be evaluated based on a weighted scoring system (e.g., 70 % technical, 30 % financial). Local content participation and gender inclusion will be
encouraged.

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