Request for proposals for Consultancy Firm to Design and Operationalize Koralink Group Investment Clubs. Location: Kigali Deadline: Thursday, 07/05/2026 17:00 Background and rationale The Commons Project Foundation Africa (TCP Africa) implements the KoraLink program in partnership with the Rwanda ICT Chamber and the Society for Family Health (SFH) to create digital health employment opportunities for youth, targeting 80% young women and 70% rural youth. Through this program, KoraLink Agents operate as digital community entrepreneurs who deliver essential community health products and services while generating sustainable income. Building on the KoraLink demonstration model, the program seeks to transform digital health commissions and digital entrepreneurship into stable, higher-return livelihoods. While commissions provide immediate income, long-term poverty reduction requires stronger financial structures, including pooled capital, market access, risk-sharing, and effective governance. To address this, the program seeks to organize KoraLink Agents into phased, locally appropriate investment groups that promote collective saving, income growth, and financial resilience while maintaining pathways to formal cooperative structures where feasible. To strengthen the long-term financial viability of agents, KoraLink is exploring mechanisms that leverage agent payment models, the KoraLink digital marketplace, and a Revolving Sustainability Fund. The proposed KoraLink Group Investment Clubs will serve as a structured financial mechanism to pool agent earnings, foster collective savings, and expand income-generation opportunities. A completed KYC baseline for all KoraLink Agents will enable rapid group formation, due diligence, targeted support, and financial linkages. The approach builds on proven community-based financial systems in Rwanda, such as Umurenge SACCOs and Ibimina/VSLA structures, which have successfully mobilized savings and provided local credit through strong community discipline and links to formal finance. 2. Consultancy goal The objective of this consultancy is to design, establish, and operationalize KoraLink Group Investment Clubs to increase and stabilize the income of KoraLink Agents, who are primarily youth and predominantly women (8090%). The firm will support the formation of structured investment groups that enable agents to pool savings and investment capital, develop and implement viable group businesses, access external finance and credit, and strengthen market access through the KoraLink digital marketplace. In addition, the initiative aims to enhance long-term financial resilience and income stability among participating agents. The program will be implemented through a phased approach over a three-year horizon, beginning with an 18-month pilot phase in selected districts to test, refine, and scale the model. 3. Specific objectives The consultancy will support the KoraLink program to achieve the following objectives: Form, register and operationalize 15 (one per sector) investment clubs composed primarily of KoraLink agents across targeted districts within 18 months. This includes developing tontine rules of procedure outlining membership rights and obligations, suspension and termination conditions, facilitating registration with the relevant Sector administration, providing standardized templates for accounting and administrative records, and supporting the opening of group financial accounts. Develop and implement viable group business plans aligned with local market opportunities and KoraLink digital platform services. Mobilize pooled capital and facilitate access to external financing so clubs reach average working capital sufficient for chosen investments within 12 months of formation. Increase average member income of participating agents by at least 50% over baseline through collective group investments, market linkages and integration with the KoraLink platform within 12 months of operations. Establish mechanisms to strengthen financial transparency, accountability, and monitoring systems to ensure sustainability of group investment activities. 6. Financing and Repayment Model The KoraLink Group Investment Clubs will operate under a data-driven financing and repayment model designed to ensure high repayment rates, sustainable revolving capital, and long-term financial inclusion for participating agents. The model will leverage the existing KYC baseline data for KoraLink Agents, digital transaction records generated through the KoraLink platform, community-based savings and lending mechanisms, and partnerships with financial service providers. Financing will follow a graduated lending approach in which groups initially access small pooled loans through their Ibimina/tontine-style savings structures and progressively qualify for larger loans, matching grants, or external financing based on demonstrated financial discipline and performance. Digital repayment tracking systems integrated with the KoraLink platform will enable transparent monitoring of loan performance, while partial credit guarantees provided through the KoraLink Revolving Sustainability Fund will help de-risk lending and expand access to finance. The model will be guided by several key principles to ensure scalability and sustainability. These include data-driven risk assessment using KoraLinks KYC records and digital transaction histories to build dynamic credit profiles; group accountability combined with individual credit tracking to encourage peer discipline while allowing high-performing members to graduate to larger financing opportunities; and repayment schedules aligned with members income cycles and business cash flows. The system will also incorporate clear incentives for timely repayment and transparent penalties for delinquency to strengthen financial discipline. 7. Risk Management The program will adopt several risk mitigation strategies including: Strong governance frameworks for group operations Digital financial transaction tracking to reduce fraud risks Diversification of group investment portfolios Market risk reduction through buyer agreements Emergency reserve funds and insurance linkages where feasible. 8. Expected Outputs Establishment and registration of 15 KoraLink Ibimina investment clubs across 5 pilot districts, including operationalization and integration with the KoraLink marketplace. Development of validated group business plans, market linkage strategies, and implementation of income-generating activities. Deployment of standardized governance, financial management, monitoring, and reporting systems, including accounting templates and pilot group audit reports. Implementation of a resource mobilization and financing strategy, enabling pooled capital formation and linkages to external financing sources. 9. Expected Outcomes The initiative is expected to achieve: At least 50% increase in income for participating KoraLink Agents Sustainable community-based investment groups Improved access to financial services for youth entrepreneurs Strengthened economic empowerment of young women Functional, semi-formal KoraLink groups with clear pathways to cooperative registration for selected clusters with 30-50% groups transitioning into cooperatives by year 3 Scalable, documented model for national roll-out based on pilot learning. 10. Duration of the Assignment The consultancy will be implemented over 18 months, with potential extension depending on program expansion and performance. 11. Reporting and Accountability The firm will report to The Commons Project Foundation Africa (TCP Africa) and will be responsible for: Monthly progress reports Quarterly technical and financial performance reports Monitoring dashboards tracking key performance indicators Participation in program review meetings Support for independent financial audits where required. 12. Qualifications Interested Firm should demonstrate: Proven experience in community investment groups, financial inclusion, or cooperative development Experience working with youth entrepreneurship and women economic empowerment programs Strong expertise in business development, financial management training, and group governance systems Experience implementing donor-funded programs in Rwanda or East Africa Strong monitoring, evaluation, and learning capabilities. 13. Submission of Proposal Interested firms are invited to submit electronically via email to
[email protected] no later than May 07, 2026 a technical and financial proposals including relevant experience, proposed methodology, and cv. The selection will be based on technical competence, understanding of the assignment, proposed methodology, relevant experience, and cost-effectiveness. Proposal reviews begin immediately. For best consideration, please submit as early as possible. Equal Opportunity Employer TCP Africa is an equal opportunity employer. We value a workplace that is diverse in terms of gender, race, class, age, geographic origin, sexual orientation, and other differences that enrich our society. We encourage offerors from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law, and those who may not meet every requirement listed in the scope of work. Tender Link : https://www.jobinrwanda.com/job/request-proposal-rfp-consultancy-firm-design-and-operationalize-koralink-group-investment-clubs
