Request for Expression of Interests
(Consulting Firms Selection)

 

Title: Development of a detailed Implementation Plan with M & E Framework and Resource Plan for National Financial Inclusion Strategy of Bangladesh (NFIS-B).

Project Overview

Business Finance for the Poor in Bangladesh (BFP-B) is a £25 million Project funded by UK aid / DFID from the UK government. The Bangladesh Bank (BB), the central bank of Bangladesh and Microcredit Regulatory Authority (MRA), are the implementing agencies, and the Financial Institutions Division (FID) of the Ministry of Finance (MoF), Government of Bangladesh ( GOB), is the executing agency. Nathan Associates London Ltd has been contracted as the management agency for the programme.

Context

As part of BFP-B policy component work, the Government of Bangladesh ( GOB) has assigned BFP-B Project to develop a National Financial Inclusion Strategy of Bangladesh (NFIS-B). The NFIS-B report has been finalised by following series of regional and sectoral consultations, sub-sector analysis and organising a national workshop. The final NFIS-B report has been submitted to Financial Institution Division, Ministry of Finance to place in the Cabinet for approval. Furthermore, GOB has requested BFP-B to develop a detailed Implementation Plan with M & E Framework and Resource Plan for National Financial Inclusion Strategy of Bangladesh (NFIS-B).

Brief Description of Assignment

BFP-B Project invites expression of interests from consulting firms to develop a detail Implementation Plan with M & E Framework and Resource Plan for National Financial Inclusion Strategy of Bangladesh (NFIS-B). The purpose of this assignment is to develop a comprehensive plan which is divided in two parts – i) Implementation Plan with M&E Framework and ii) Resource plan.

The implementation plan and M&E framework will be developed by identifying the core and supplementary financial inclusion indicators for NFIS-B, develop a theory of change, a composite index of financial inclusion based on financial inclusion dimensions, identify the sources of financial inclusion data, develop reporting formats for each data source, identify a focal agency which will gather and compile data, develop M & E system to monitor the progress, identify the roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders and develop year-wise action plan for the key stakeholders based on NFIS-B Action Plan (2019-2024). The core and supplementary financial inclusion indicators to be developed based on global and Bangladesh context. The implementation plan should also provide details operational guidelines for each committee according to proposed coordination structure of NFIS-B.

The resource plan will be developed by identifying the total resources to be required by different government agencies and private sectors to implement the NFIS-B, identify sources of resources such as budget allocation from the government, grant or loan funds from development partners, equity or investment fund from local and international sources for private sectors etc. and assess year-wise resource requirements for government agencies, regulators and private sectors to implement NFIS-B Action Plan.

Expected Deliverables

The shortlisted firms will support development of two plans. The expected activities to deliver are, but not limited to:

Implementation Plan and M&E Framework

  • Assessment plan to operationalise NFIS coordination structure which will include functions of committees involved and tracker to assess committee work.
  • Develop M&E system which will include theory of change (activities, output, outcome and
    impact), results framework, means of verification tools and evaluation tool for impact
  • Identify core and supplementary financial inclusion indicators
  • Develop a composite index of financial inclusion based on dimensions
  • Map sources of financial inclusion data and develop reporting format for each data sources
  • Identify focal agencies to gather and compile data
  • Roles and responsibility matrix of key stakeholders and develop year wise action plan for thekey stakeholders’.
  • Year-wise implementation plan (2019-2024)

Resource Plan-

  • Identify total resources required by different government agencies and private sectors to implement NFIS-B
  • Map sources of resources
  • Assessment plan for year wise resources requirement for government agencies, regulators and private sectors to implement NFIS-B

Experience, Resources and Delivery Capacity Requirement:

BFP-B invites eligible applicants to submit Expression of Interest (EOI) Application Form. Some essential and preferred requirements from applicants include:

  • Experience of developing operational/implementation plan, M&E system and resource plan for NFIS of other countries and/or other national strategies is essential.
  • Applicants can be from both local and/or international consulting firms or research organisations. Also, a consortium of national and international firm is preferred to apply with a lead firm or team operating in Dhaka.

Procurement Method: The Applicant shall be shortlisted in accordance with the Quality and Cost- Based Selection (QCBS) method by following the procurement guidelines of UKaid/DFID. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. BFP-B Project reserves the right to accept or reject any or all EOIs.

How to Apply: Interested firms are expected to share Expression of Interest (EOI) in prescribed format.
The EOI Application form can be downloaded from website: www.bfp-b.org. The completed format must be delivered through email to rhasan@nathaninc.com and TTajreen@nathaninc.com.

Submission Deadline and time: 17 January, 2019 before 5.00 pm (Bangladesh Standard Time).

Contact: Interested Applicants may obtain further information and EOI Application Form through email to Tanzila Tajreen, Policy Coordinator, BFP-B project, Email: TTajreen@nathaninc.com or Rashed Al Hasan, Policy Manager, BFP-B Project, Email: rhasan@nathaninc.com.

Click here to download the detail EOI Application Form