CALL FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST – FINANCIAL SECTOR DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT SPECIALISTS IN FRAGILE AND CONFLICT AFFECTED STATES

1. Introduction

FSD Africa (“FSD Africa”) is looking to build a panel of financial sector development support specialists in fragile and conflict affected states (FCAS).  FSD Africa plans to call on this panel for draw–down (i.e. retained consultant) arrangements and/or short-term consultancy assignments.

This call for Expressions of Interest (EOI) aims to identify and pre-qualify a pool of expert consultants in three target countries, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe and two thematic priorities, including forcibly displaced population finance and development finance/ impact investment in FCAS.

1. Background
   1. FSD Africa

FSD Africa is a non-profit company funded by UK Aid from the Department for International Development (DFID). It transforms financial markets in sub-Saharan Africa and the economies they serve to create jobs, build resilience and reduce poverty.

FSD Africa provides technical know-how and risk-bearing capital to champions of change whose ideas, influence and actions will make finance more useful to African businesses and households. It operates as a “market catalyst” and follows the “making markets work for the poor (M4P)” approach, which advocates for development impact at pace and scale, but critically, which lasts beyond the lifetime of any given project or transaction. Through financial sector development initiatives, FSD Africa builds access to finance at individual and household levels.

Through its capital market development work, FSD Africa increases investment into infrastructures and enterprises that drive inclusive economic growth and transformation. As a regional platform, FSD Africa encourages collaboration, knowledge transfer and market-building activities both within and across borders, and especially in fragile and conflicted-affected states (FCAS). Where there are opportunities to drive financial market transformation more quickly and intensively through capital investment, FSD Africa will deploy equity, loans or guarantees as the situation requires.

In addition to FSD Africa there are currently 10 other FSDs operating in Africa (in Ethiopia, Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, South Africa, Zambia, Mozambique, DRC and Uganda).

Please visit www.fsdafrica.org for more information.

1. FSD Africa’s work in FCAS

Since 2017, FSD Africa has been working on a FCAS programme of work. It focuses on: Sierra Leone, DRC and Zimbabwe.

This work is driven by Technical Experts with support from Nairobi, where FSD Africa’s head office is located. As FSD Africa’s portfolio grows, it is seeking additional support in: Sierra Leone, DRC, Zimbabwe and where appropriate surrounding countries.

FSD Africa is looking for a mix of: technical expertise (that straddle financial sector development and capital market development), in-country knowledge and networks, motivation and the ability to work independently, strong project management and delivery skills, as well as business development experience.

1. FSD Africa’s requirements for technical support

FSD Africa requires technical support for its activities in FCAS. These activities will involve identifying, commissioning and managing projects that enable financial markets to deliver both: a) access to financial services at the individual and household levels, but also, b) long-term finance to investment-ready companies and projects.

Working in collaboration with a wide range of partners will also be required e.g. consultants, consultancy firms, research and academic institutions, donors, financial institutions, development finance institutions (DFIs), government, business development services.  

Excellent project management, entrepreneurial, change management, reporting and communication skills (written and verbal) skills are essential.

This call for EOIs aims to identify individual consultants with these skills and with whom FSD Africa can work as outlined below.

1. Country Specialists

FSD Africa wishes to identify consultants who, by virtue of their location and prior experience, have deep and credible relationships in and understanding of specific financial markets in FCAS.

The successful consultant will have several years of in-country experience and strong but independent working relationships with financial sector policy makers, regulators and the private sector.

Priority countries for the purposes of this EOI are:

• Zimbabwe,
• Sierra Leone, and
• DRC.

1. Thematic Specialists

FSD Africa also wishes to identify consultants who, by virtue of their prior experience, have deep and credible relationships in and understanding of specific themes within financial markets in FCAS.

The successful consultant will have several years of operational and technical experience in three priority themes for the purpose of this EOI:

• Forcibly Displaced population finance,
• Development Finance/Impact Investment in FCAS, and
• FCAS Financial Sector Development Strategy Advisory and Leadership Coaching

1. Other Financial Sector Development Specialists

FSD Africa further wishes to identify consultants who, by virtue of their prior experience, have private sector led and financial sector economic development experience within financial markets in FCAS. The successful consultant will have strategy and business development, research, project co-ordination, stakeholder management, results measurement and communications experience. Consultants with specific experience in bond markets, fintech, venture capital, capacity building and knowledge management, are encouraged to apply.

1. Expression of Interest

For this exercise, FSDA is inviting Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from suitably qualified individual consultants in the areas specified above.

Please note – fully costed proposals and/or detailed work plans are not required at this stage. Cost estimates of travel, accommodation etc. are also not required.

Your EOI should contain:

• Your name and a full CV
• Your place of business.
• A list of your business proficient languages
• A list of your countries of experience
• Your area of expertise.
• A short statement (maximum 1 side of A4) of why you believe you have the right qualifications to help FSDA in the stated area
• A statement describing your availability, e.g.:
  • Preferred length of assignment
  • Willingness to travel
  • Availability in the next 12-18 months
• Your current fee per day in GBP (applicable for at least 18 months)
• Key conflicts of interest within your area of expertise
• Any other information that you believe should be considered in the shortlisting process.

Your EOI, which should not exceed 3 sides of A4 (font size 11) in total (excluding CV) should be sent to FSD Africa at [email protected] under a subject line reading “Expression of interest:  FCAS support” by 1200 (EAT) on Friday 22 February 2019.

1. Contact

Questions or comments in respect of this request for Expressions of Interest should be directed to [email protected] on or before Friday 22 February 2019.