Business Finance for the Poor in Bangladesh

Terms of Reference / Scope of Work

 

Job Title:  Consultant (Financial Inclusion)   
Project: Business Finance for the Poor in Bangladesh (BFP-B)

Contract start date: 18 June 2018 (To be confirmed)

Contract end date:  30 September 2018

Duration of Initial Contract: 20 days (18 June 2018 to 30 September 2018)

Type of involvement: Intermittent

Reports to:
BFP-B Policy Manager
BFP-B Team Leader

Supervises:
None

Background

Business Finance for the Poor in Bangladesh (BFP-B) is a 6.5-year programme funded by UK aid from the UK government. The Bangladesh Bank (BB), the central bank of Bangladesh, is the implementing agency, and the Financial Institutions Division (FID) of the Ministry of Finance (MoF), Government of Bangladesh (GoB), is the executing agency. Nathan Associates London Ltd, in consortium with its partner, Oxford Policy Management, is appointed as the management agency for the programme. The programme aims to improve access to finance for micro and small enterprises (MSEs) and create economic opportunities for small business in Bangladesh through improvements in the policy and regulation of financial services, innovations in the nature and scope of financial services targeting the poor and strengthening of information systems supporting micro-finance and bank lending. BFP-B has three components: a Challenge Fund, a CIB-Microfinance, and a Policy Component.

Background and Context of the Assignment

The Government of Bangladesh (GOB) is working towards development of a National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS) for Bangladesh and BFP-B Project, supported by UKaid/DFID, has been requested by the GOB to support the development of a draft NFIS report. BFP-B has developed a draft NFIS report for Bangladesh for 2019-2024 through appointing a Team Leader. The draft NFIS report and draft NFIS Synthesis report were submitted to Bangladesh Bank in January 2018 for review. Besides, the draft NFIS report was shared with different stakeholders such as banking, microfinance and insurance sectors, and digital financial service providers. Moreover, four regional consultations were organised with the grassroot level stakeholders. The NFIS Team Leader of BFP-B Project is now revising the NFIS report by addressing comments of Bangladesh Bank and feedback of stakeholders’ consultation. The draft NFIS report was developed by gathering data from different sources such as Findex data of the World Bank, Intermedia financial inclusion survey, Bangladesh Bank, Microcredit Regulatory Authority(MRA), Ministry of Finance etc. The draft NFIS report has used the data of 2016 and 2017 reported in different reports. Recently, the World Bank has published Findex report 2017, where financial inclusion data of all member countries have been reported. In the meantime, Bangladesh Bank and MRA have also published reports with data of 2017. BFP-B has now planned to update the draft NFIS report as well as NFIS Synthesis report by incorporating Findex 2017 data and other latest data.   
    

Aim and purpose of the role
The aim and purpose of the role are to update NFIS report by extracting data from Findex and other sources, visual presentation of data, assisting NFIS Team Leader to incorporate feedback of stakeholders’ consultation, and prepare a Little Data Book on financial inclusion in Bangladesh. 
 

Job Responsibilities 

The Consultant (Financial Inclusion) will work with the Policy Coordinator, Policy Manager and NFIS Team Leader for guidance. The BFP-B Team Leader will provide overall strategic guidance, if necessary.
The Consultant (Financial Inclusion) will be responsible for following activities:  

  • Findex and other data collection, analysis and visual presentation-
  • Collect Findex 2017 data from the World Bank website databank.
  • Collect latest data from Intermedia, Bangladesh Bank, MRA, Insurance Development and Regulatory Authority (IDRA) and other sources.
  • Identify the necessary data for NFIS report through consultation with NFIS Team Leader and BFP-B Policy Component Team.
  • Analyse and incorporate data in the NFIS report and draft NFIS Synthesis report either in table or info-graphics/visual format or in both formats depending on the requirements.  
  • Assist NFIS Team Leader to update draft NFIS report and NFIS Synthesis report by incorporating feedbacks -
  • Gather comments and feedback different stakeholders on draft NFIS report.
  • Incorporate comments and feedback in the draft NFIS report through consultation with the NFIS Team Leader.
  • Update and finalise NFIS Power Point Presentation-
  • Update NFIS Power Point Presentation with Findex and other updated data and info-graphics/visualisation.
  • Finalise NFIS Power Point Presentation based on feedback of BFP-B, Bangladesh Bank and Financial Institutions Division (FID) of Ministry of Finance.  
  • Prepare a Little Data Book on financial inclusion in Bangladesh-
  • Collect financial inclusion data of Bangladesh from different sources such as Findex, Intermedia, Bangladesh Bank, MRA, IDRA and other sources.
  • Identify the key data to be incorporated in the Little Data Book.
  • Analyse and incorporate data in the Little Data Book in table, or info-graphics/visual format or in both formats depending on the requirements.
  • Prepare and publish a Little Data Book on financial inclusion in Bangladesh
  • Any other responsibilities assigned by the Policy Manager, NFIS Team Leader and BFP-B Team Leader.

Expected Output:

Consultant (Financial Inclusion) will report to BFP-B Policy Manager and provide the following outputs:

  • Report on analysis and visual presentation of updated financial inclusion data collected from Findex and other sources.
  • Revised NFIS report and NFIS Synthesis report with updated financial inclusion data.
  • NFIS Power Point Presentation with updated data and info-graphics.
  • Little Data Book on financial inclusion in Bangladesh

Educational Qualifications and Experiences:

  • Undergraduate degree in Economics / Finance / Business Administration / Development Studies / Public Policy or any other relevant subject. Post graduate degree will be preferable.
  • Experience-
  • At least 5-year proven experience in financial inclusion or financial sector data analysis and policy research.
  • Experience working with the financial sector will be preferable.
  • Data analysis-
  • Strong experience in Fidex and other financial inclusion data.
  • Sound knowledge and experience about the financial inclusion data sources (from both local and international sources).
  • Experience in financial inclusion or financial sector data analysis and info-graphics/visual presentation of data. 
  • Sound knowledge and experience about the financial sector of Bangladesh.
  • Evidence based Policy research-
  • Strong experience in evidence-based policy research supported by data analytics.  
  • Aptitude-
  • Proactive and self-motivated.
  • Strong communication and negotiations skills.
  • Good team work skills.
  • Result oriented.  
  • Language skills: Fluency in English and Bangla.

Application Process

Candidates are requested to download Application Form from by visiting BFP-B website https://www.bfp-b.org  and send application to mhasnat@nathaninc.com .  The application should include following:

  • Complete application form
  • Cover Letter
  • Curriculum Vitae

Last Date of Application: June 10, 2018
BFP-B offers equal employment opportunity