The Association of Ethiopian Micro Finance Institutions (AEMFI), under the IFAD-funded Rural Financial Intermediation Program III (RUFIP-III), is seeking qualified external short-term consultants/business advisors.

Request for Expression of Interest (REOI)

Country: Ethiopia

Program: Rural Financial Intermediation Program III

Abstract: To Hire External Short-term consultants /Business Advisors/

Sector: Individual Consultancy Service/ICS

Grant No. 2000003210

Reference No. IFAD/RUFIPIII/AEMFI/CS/ ICS/14/2026/27

1. The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia has received financing from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) for the Rural Financial Intermediation Program III (RUFIP-III), and of which a portion of the funding will be utilized towards qualified payments on assignments for short term consultancy and business advisory services.

2. The main objective of the assignment is expected to be completed in six months and with the possibility of extension after signing of the contract to strategic technical support in knowledge management, research, proposal development, technical writing, institutional advisory services, and communication.

3. AEMFI now invites qualified external short term consultant (business advisor) indicate their interest in providing the above mentioned services. External short term consultant/Business Advisor/ must provide information demonstrating that they are qualified to perform the assignments (promotional materials, description of similar assignments undertaken in Ethiopia and/or other developing countries for at least a period of ten years' experience in similar conditions, general qualification and experience.

4. The external short term/ Business Advisor shall not have any actual, potential or reasonably perceived conflict of interest. An external short term consultant with an actual, potential or reasonably perceived conflict of interest shall be disqualified unless otherwise explicitly approved by the Fund. A external short term consultant are considered to have a conflict of interest if they a) have a relationship that provides them with undue or undisclosed information about or influence over the selection process and the execution of the contract, b) participate in more than one EOI under this procurement Taction, c) have a business or family relationship with a member of the client's board of directors or its personnel, the Fund or its personnel, or any other individual that was, has been or might reasonably be directly or indirectly involved in any part of (i) the preparation of this expression of interest, (ii) the selection process for this procurement, or (iii) execution of the contract. The external short term consultant has an ongoing obligation to disclose any situation of actual, potential or reasonably perceived conflict of interest during preparation of the EOI, the selection process or the contract execution. Or Failure to properly disclose any of said situations may lead to appropriate actions, including the disqualification of the consultant, the termination of the contract and any other as FR appropriate under the IFAD Policy on Preventing Fraud and Corruption in its Projects and Operations1.

5. All bidders are required to comply with the Revised IFAD Policy on Preventing Fraud and Corruption in its Activities and Operations (hereinafter, "IFAD's Anticorruption Policy") in competing for, or in executing, the contract.

a) If determined that a consultant or any of its personnel or agents, or its sub-consultants, sub-contractors, service providers, suppliers, sub-suppliers and/or any of their personnel or agents, has, directly or indirectly, engaged in any of the prohibited practices defined in IFAD's Anticorruption Policy or integrity violations such as sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse as established in IFAD's Policy to Preventing and Responging to Sexual Harassment, Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in competing for, or in executing, the contract, the EOI may be rejected or the contract may be terminated by the client.

b) In accordance with IFAD's Anticorruption Policy, the Fund has the right to sanction firms and individuals, including by declaring them ineligible, either indefinitely or for a stated period of time, to participate in any IFAD- financed and/or IFAD-managed activity or operation. A debarment includes, inter alia, ineligibility to: (i) be awarded or otherwise benefit from any IFAD-financed contract, financially or in any other manner; (ii) be a nominated sub-contractor, consultant, manufacturer, supplier, sub-supplier, agent or service provider of an otherwise eligible firm being awarded an IFAD-financed contract; and (iii) receive the proceeds of any loan or grant provided by the Fund. The Fund also has the right to recognize debarments issued by other international financial institutions in accordance with its Anticorruption Policy.

c) They are required to fully cooperate with any investigation conducted by the Fund, including by making personnel available for interviews and by providing full access to any and all accounts, premises, documents and records (including electronic records) relating to this selection process or the execution of the contract and to have such accounts, premises, records and documents audited and/or inspected by auditors and/or investigators appointed by the Fund.

d) They should have the ongoing obligation to disclose in their EOI and later in writing as may become relevant: (i) any administrative sanctions, criminal convictions or temporary suspensions of themselves or any of their key personnel or agents for fraud and corruption, and (ii) any commissions or fees paid or to be paid to agents or other parties in connection with this selection process or the execution of the contract. As a minimum, consultants must disclose the name and contact details of the agent or other party and the reason, amount and currency of the commission or fee paid or to be paid. Failure to comply with these disclosure obligations may lead to rejection of the EOI or termination of the contract.

e) Bidders are required to keep all records and documents, including electronic records, relating to this selection process available for a minimum of three (3) years after notification of completion of the process or, in case the consultant is awarded the contract, execution of the contract.

6. The Fund requires that all beneficiaries of IFAD funding or funds administered by IFAD, including the client, consultants, implementing partners, service providers and any suppliers, observe the highest standards of integrity during the procurement and execution of such contracts, and commit to combat money laundering and terrorism financing consistent with IFAD's Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Policy.

7. The followings are Details of EOI evaluation criteria;

8. Interested bidders shall not have any actual, potential or reasonably perceived conflict of interest.

Consultants with an actual, potential or reasonably perceived conflict of interest shall be disqualified unless otherwise explicitly approved by the Fund. Consultants are considered to have a conflict of interest if they:

i. Have a relationship that provides them with undue or undisclosed information about or influence over the selection process and the execution of the contract, or

ii. Have a business or family relationship with a member of the client's board of directors or its personnel, the Fund or its personnel, or any other individual that was, has been or might reasonably be directly or indirectly involved in any part of (i) the preparation of the REOI, (ii) the selection process for this procurement, or (iii) execution of the contract. Consultants have an ongoing obligation to disclose any situation of actual, potential or reasonably perceived conflict of interest during preparation of the EOI, the selection process or the contract execution. Failure to properly disclose any of said situations may lead to appropriate actions, including the disqualification of the consultant, the termination of the contract and any other as appropriate under the IFAD Policy on Preventing Fraud and Corruption in its Projects and Operations.

9. External short term consultants/Business Advisors/ will be selected in accordance with IFAD's Project Procurement Handbook. Short listing consultants will be conducted on the basis of an assessment of individual profile, specific and general experience of the consultant, experience and competencies.

10. The final selection of the external short term consultant/ Business Advisor/ to perform the assignment shall be based on Individual Consultant Selection (ICS) method with only the highest-ranked individual consultant invited to submit a technical and financial offer. Moreover, section shall be conducted in accordance with the procedures set out in IFAD procurement handbook that can be accessed via the IFAD website at www.ifad.org/project-procurement .

11. Applicants shall submit EOIs as per the Eol format. They can take the application format /Eol submission form (EOI-1) from AEMFI office and the Expression of Interest document along with Curriculum Vitae (CV) and all credentials. It should not exceed 15 pages excluding other credentials and testimonies.

12. All pages of the Eol document should be numbered, dated, signed, sealed and signed by the applicants on all pages. Additional sheets to be attached by the applicant should also be numbered and submitted as a package with signed Eol letter. All costs associated with the preparation and submission of Eol shall be covered by the applicant. The applicants could attach more evidential documents.

13. Credential documents required from the applicant includes: Curriculum Vitae (CV) of the applicant, relevant credentials and testimonies, contract copies that show previous similar assignments.

14. Applicants may obtain further information, if required at the address below during working days (Monday to Friday) from 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

15. Submission of EOI must be in sealed envelopes, clearly marked "Expression of interest for External Shorter term consultant submitted to AEMFI under RUFIP III (IFAD financing) for PY7" and delivered to the address given below by 5:00 p.m., 15 consecutive days after the EOI is publicly advertised in newspaper (i.e. 9 September 2025).

16. The EOIs and all documents shall be submitted in English. Late submission shall be rejected.

Expression of Interests (EOIs) shall be submitted into the tender box prepared for this purpose or deliver on hand to the office on or before the delivery date stated above.

AEMFI reserves the right to accept or reject bid before signing of contract.

Association of Ethiopian Micro Finance Institutions (AEMFI)

Africa Avenue, Bole Road, In front of Bole Printing Press, Near Peacock Park,

P.O. Box 338 Code 1110, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Tel +251 115 572202/0115-572175

Fax: +251 115 572 198,

email: [email protected] ; [email protected] ;

www.aemfi-ethiopia.org

Tender details

• Deadline: 2026-09-09
• Bid closing time: 17:00
• Bid opening: 2026-09-09 17:00
• Bid opening (note): No Specific Opening Date and Time
• Region: Addis Ababa
• Publishing entity: Association of Ethiopian Microfinance Institutions (AEMFI)
• Buyer address: African avenue, Bole Kirkos subcity, Kebele 01 House No.227
• Published on: Reporter (Aug 26, 2026)
• Posted at: 2026-08-26T13:42:57.000Z
• Buyer website: https://www.aemfi-ethiopia.org