The International Development Law Organization (IDLO) is an intergovernmental organization exclusively devoted to promoting the rule of law. Established in 1983, IDLO works to enable governments and empower people to reform laws and strengthen institutions to promote peace, justice, sustainable development, and economic opportunity.

With support from the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED), IDLO is assisting the Government of Jordan (GoJ) in strengthening the legal and institutional frameworks that underpin the country’s food security system.

Under this project, IDLO is supporting the Ministry of Agriculture – Secretariat Unit of the Higher Council for Food Security / the Higher Food Security Council (HFSC) (hereinafter the “Secretariat Unit of the HFSC”) in implementing the National Food Security Strategy (NFSS) 2021–2030, the Economic Modernisation Vision (2023–2025) and its Executive Programme, and the National Plan to Improve Jordan’s Ranking on the Global Food Security Index.

As part of this effort, Intermediated Outcome 2 of the project aims to strengthen agricultural credit systems to enhance farmers’ access to finance—particularly for smallholder and women farmers—and to support sustainable agricultural productivity. This involves reviewing existing financial and legal frameworks, identifying barriers to credit access, and promoting inclusive, evidence-based reform proposals. All activities will be implemented in close coordination with the Secretariat Unit of the HFSC, which provides strategic oversight for the project and ensures alignment with national priorities under the NFSS.

The National Agri-Finance Consultant will provide technical leadership in reviewing, analyzing, and improving Jordan’s agricultural credit mechanisms, working closely with the National Legal Consultant (Agriculture Credit Frameworks), the Secretariat Unit of the HFSC, and IDLO.

PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The purpose of this assignment is to conduct a comprehensive assessment of Jordan’s agricultural credit systems and their enabling environment, identifying financial, institutional, and operational barriers that hinder access to finance for farmers—especially smallholders, women, and vulnerable groups.

The National Agri-Finance Consultant will also contribute to the development of training programmes, information materials, and policy recommendations that strengthen farmers’ access to credit and support inclusive agricultural finance reform.

This assignment contributes directly to Intermediate Outcome 2 of the project:

“An evidence-based approach identifying the best agricultural credit practices and necessary changes endorsed.”

The assignment, however, forms part of a broader initiative supporting the Secretariat Unit of the HFSC in strengthening Jordan’s food security system. The legal and financial analyses under Intermediate Outcome 2 complement the legal reforms addressed under Intermediate Outcome 1, ensuring coherence between food security governance and agricultural credit frameworks. The National Agri-Finance Consultant, therefore, will consider the findings and recommendations emerging from the review of the national food security legal framework (Intermediate Outcome 1) to ensure alignment and coherence across project results.

Scope of Work

Under the supervision of the IDLO Programme Lead-MENA and in coordination with the IDLO Programme Coordinator, the Secretariat Unit of the HFSC and the National Legal Consultant, the National Agri-Finance Consultant will undertake the following tasks:

1. Diagnostic review of agricultural credit systems

• Conduct a comprehensive analysis of existing agricultural credit mechanisms, including the Agricultural Credit Corporation (ACC), cooperatives, microfinance institutions, and other providers.
• Assess the effectiveness of these mechanisms in serving different categories of farmers, with a focus on smallholders and women farmers.
• Identify financial, procedural, and institutional barriers limiting access to credit and propose solutions to enhance inclusion.

1. Support to legal and institutional review

• Provide technical and financial analysis to the legal review led by the National Legal Consultant.
• Analyze how financial practices and policies interact with the legal framework, identifying inconsistencies or inefficiencies.
• Contribute to the identification of practical reform measures to align financial procedures with legal and policy recommendations.

1. Development of knowledge and training materials

• Develop information materials summarizing existing credit mechanisms, procedures, eligibility requirements, and best practices.
• Support IDLO in designing a training programme for farmers (especially smallholder and women farmers), focusing on credit literacy, financial planning, and risk management.
• Pilot the training in coordination with the Secretariat Unit of the HFSC, capturing lessons learned and user feedback.

1. Policy and dissemination support

• Contribute to the drafting of the policy brief on agricultural credit reform, capturing technical recommendations, best practices, and lessons learned.
• Participate in dissemination and validation workshops with farmers, financial institutions, and policymakers to present findings and discuss proposed solutions.

1. Coordination and quality assurance

• Maintain close collaboration with the National Legal Consultant to ensure alignment between financial and legal analyses.
• Participate in coordination meetings with IDLO, Secretariat Unit of the HFSC, and other project experts to ensure coherence of findings and outputs.

DELIVERABLES

The National Agri-Finance Consultant will deliver the following deliverables in line with the project’s implementation schedule. All deliverables will be produced in Arabic and English and should reflect international and regional best practices, financial inclusivity, and gender-responsive approaches tailored to the agricultural finance sector.

1. Agricultural credit assessment report
2. Guidance materials
3. Training programme design and implementation
4. Policy brief
5. Participation in policy dialogues

Deliverables 2 and 3 will be produced jointly with the other National Agri-Finance Consultant. Each consultant will contribute to respective sections covering their area of expertise (financial mechanisms and institutional analysis for the National Agri-Finance Consultant; legal and regulatory frameworks for the National Legal Consultant). IDLO in coordination with the Secretariat Unit of the HFSC will consolidate and finalize the integrated report and policy brief.

Education and Experience

• Advanced university degree in Economics, Agricultural Economics, Finance, Development Studies, Business Administration, or another related field.
• A minimum of 10 years of experience in agricultural credit, financial inclusion, or rural finance, preferably in Jordan or the MENA region.
• Proven experience working with government institutions, financial service providers, cooperatives, and development partners in the design, implementation, or evaluation of agricultural credit programmes and policies.
• Proven experience conducting sectoral and institutional analyses related to agri-finance or rural development.
• Experience working with national financial institutions, cooperatives, or development programmes targeting farmers.
• Familiarity with gender-sensitive and inclusive finance approaches.

Language

• Fluent oral and writing skills in English and Arabic are required.

Skills and Competencies

• Strong knowledge of agricultural credit mechanisms, risk management, and lending models.
• Analytical ability to link financial practices with policy and legal frameworks.
• Experience developing training and awareness materials for diverse audiences.
• Excellent analytical, drafting, and communication skills in Arabic and English.
• Ability to engage effectively with multiple stakeholders, including farmers, government agencies, and financial institutions.

For this recruited consultancy, IDLO shall offer the selected candidate a Single Engagement Contract.

This is a home-based consultancy assignment, with participation in meetings, consultations, training activities, and validation workshops in Amman as required.

The consultancy is expected to commence in February 2026. The inception note is expected to be submitted by the end of March 2026, followed by diagnostic review activities, consultations, and data collection to support the agricultural credit assessment and related deliverables, anticipated to be completed by May 2026.

The consultancy will be implemented in two sequential phases, aligned with the nature of the deliverables:

Phase I – analytical and design phase: The draft deliverables, including the agricultural credit assessment report, guidance materials, inputs to the policy brief, and the training programme design (including curriculum, materials, and delivery methodology), are expected to be completed by August 2026.

Phase II – implementation and validation phase: Subject to IDLO’s validation of Phase I outputs, the final deliverables, including finalized analytical reports, implementation of the training programme, and participation in policy dialogue and validation activities, are expected to be completed by December 2026.

This is a results-based assignment, and payments will be made upon the satisfactory completion and acceptance of deliverables, in accordance with IDLO’s consultancy payment procedures. Deliverables produced jointly with the National Legal Consultant will be reviewed and accepted as part of the integrated outputs coordinated by IDLO and the Secretariat Unit of the HFSC.

The final approach to training delivery, including modality, scope, sequencing, and any in-country engagement, will be determined by IDLO in consultation with the Secretariat Unit of the HFSC and relevant stakeholders, based on the approved training design.

Applicants are requested to indicate their expected level of effort (number of working days) and proposed daily rate in their financial proposal.

Applications will be screened on a regular basis; a qualified applicant might be recruited before the deadline. In the interest of making the most effective use of resources, only short-listed candidates will be contacted during the selection process.

IDLO is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome applications of qualified candidates of all backgrounds. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for IDLO vacancies.

IDLO does not tolerate sexual exploitation or abuse, any kind of harassment, including harassment of a sexual nature, or discrimination. As such, IDLO will conduct careful reference and background checks of all selected candidates as part of its selection process.

Application Deadline: January 30, 2026