Request for Proposal
(Consulting Firm / Individual Consultant Selection)

Title: Consultancy services on ‘Development of Microenterprise Lending Policy Guidelines for MFIs’

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.

Brief Description of Assignment

The Policy Advisory Committee (PAC) of BFP-B Project, chaired by Secretary, Financial Institutions Division of Ministry of Finance, and other 17 key members representing from senior management of government agencies, regulatory bodies (Bangladesh Bank, Microcredit Regulatory Authority, Insurance Development and Regulatory Authority), apex organisations, financial sector associations and chambers of commerce, approved a total 8 policy issues for detailed study including a study on MFS. BFP-B conducted a study on ‘Review the SME Credit- related policies of Bangladesh Bank: Identify areas of further improvement by focusing on MSE Finance’. One of the key recommendations of this policy study is development of Microenterprise (ME) policy guidelines for MFIs by the Microcredit Regulatory Authority (MRA). BFP-B presented this recommendation to MRA with justification of adopting ME policy guidelines for MFIs. MRA Board has agreed with the justification and accepted technical assistance proposal of BFP-B to develop ME guidelines for MFIs.    This consultancy service is part of BFP-B technical assistance to MRA.

Expected Deliverables

The Consultant will work with BFP-B Partnership Management Consultant, Policy Coordinator and Policy Manager and Deputy Director (Regulation) of MRA for guidance. BFP-B Team Leader and Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) / Director of MRA will provide overall strategic guidance, if necessary. The Consultant will be responsible for following outputs:

• Guideline on ME lending by MFIs with rationale of each section and clause of the guideline. The guideline will be in two parts-1) Draft ME lending guideline in both English and Bangla, 2) Rationale and analysis of each section and clause of the guidelines in annex.
• Power Point presentation of the guideline with rationale and analysis of each section.
• 2-pagers summary infographic. This includes analysis with rationale of each section of guideline.

Outputs

Consultant will report to BFP-B Policy Manager and provide the following outputs:

• Inception report containing methodology, outline of guideline with key headings and work plan (main report should not exceed 10 pages and information collection instruments should be provided in the annex)
• Draft guideline on ME lending by MFIs with rationale of each section and clause of the guideline. The guideline will be in two parts-1) Draft ME lending guideline in both English and Bangla, 2) Rationale and analysis of each section and clause of the guidelines in annex.
• Final guideline and report with rationale supporting the clauses of ME lending guideline by incorporating comments of MRA, BFP-B and key stakeholders. The final guideline should be in both English and Bangla.
•  Power Point presentation of the guideline with rationale and analysis of each section.
• 2-pagers summary infographic.

Experience, Resources and Delivery Capacity Requirement:  

The consulting firm must be registered with a legal entity/ relevant licenses under legal authorizations. The firm should have at least 10 years of research experience in the area of Microfinance, Microenterprise, financial inclusion, access to finance, financial sector policy and regulation.

For individual consultant, the consultant should have at least 10 years of research experience in the area of Microfinance, Microenterprise, financial inclusion, access to finance, financial sector policy and regulation. 

The consulting firm / consultant will have to propose the list of consultant(s) with their CVs, including the CV of the team leader (in prescribed RFP format), who will be responsible for delivery of outputs of this assignment. The consulting firm / consultant will have to submit budget in Pound Sterling (GBP) according to prescribed RFP format.  

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 short-listed candidates will be contacted. BFP-B Project reserves the right to accept or reject any or all RFPs.

How to Apply: The application to be submitted according to BFP-B / Nathan Associates prescribed RFP format. Interested firms / consultants can request for RFP application. The RFP Application form can also be downloaded from website: www.bfp-b.org. The completed RFP application must be delivered  through email to krickard@nathaninc.com  and mhasnat@nathaninc.com.

Submission Deadline and time:  20 June, 2019 before 5.00 pm (Bangladesh Standard Time).