JFPR Grant No. 9079-INO: Assistance for Restoration of Microenterprise and Microfinance in Aceh (ARMMA)

Invitation for Submission of Expressions of Interest (EOI)

International Islamic Banking Specialist

Executing Agency:
Bank Pembangunan Daerah Aceh (BPD Aceh)
Jln. Tgk. H. mohd. Daud Beureu-eh No. 24
Banda Aceh
Contact Person:
Aminullah Usman
Managing Director
Tel. No. : +62 0651 22966
Fax No : +62 0651 33784

Amount (US$): Grant amount: $2,000,000

Project Officer:
Mr. Binh T. Nguyen
Financial Specialist (Rural and Microfinance)
bnguyen@adb.org

Please send Expressions of Interest to:
Ms. Jenny Mendez
Email: jamendez@adb.org

Recruitment of Consultants:

Expression of Interest will be accepted until 30 April 2007.

Objectives and Scope:

The objective of ARMMA is to (i) expand the outreach of microfinance in Aceh by developing microcredit pilot programs that reach down-market to households and microenterprises affected by the tsunami, and that have traditionally found access to formal financial institutions difficult; and (ii) evaluate potential new livelihood activities through applied subsector research. The Grant has 3 components:

Component A: Microfinance and Livelihood Surveys - This component will provide 2 related services to the project; namely, microfinance surveys and livelihood surveys.

Component B: Microfinance Pilot Schemes -Preliminary and Roll-out phases

Component C: Grant Management - Project Management Unit to provide strong grant management

Consulting Services Required:

An International Islamic Banking Specialist will be recruited for a period of 2 months on an intermittent basis. The consultant will be recruited individually using the direct selection method, in accordance with ADB's Guidelines on the Use of Consultants by Asian Development Bank and Its Borrowers, April 2006. All procurement will be conducted in accordance with ADB's Procurement Guidelines. The Terms of Reference for the position is below.

Implementation Period: The consultant will be recruited for 2 months on an intermittent basis over a period of 24 months.

Read the full text of ADB's project JFPR TA 9079-INO: Assistance for Restoration of Microenterprise and Microfinance in Aceh (ARMMA), approved 28 November 2005.

Terms of Reference

General:

2 months, timing to be determined but likely to consist of two visits. The first visit will occur prior to/at the beginning of the sharia microfinance pilots to help identify institutions and develop appropriate products/services for two to three sharia microfinance pilot schemes. The second visit will occur after several months of operation to help monitor the implementation and provide recommendations for further steps. The consultant will provide a report after each visit. The consultant will report to ADB through the TA Team Leader.

Qualifications:
  • Minimum 10 years' experience consulting to or working in SME finance or microfinance projects or institutions;
  • Minimum 5 years' experience in sharia finance, including experience in sharia microfinance (bank and non-bank);
  • Experience with marketing arrangements between institutions for sharia financial products an advantage;
  • In-depth knowledge of principles of sharia finance and microfinance;
  • In-depth knowledge of the full range of sharia financial products and services, both internationally and in Indonesia;
  • In-depth understanding and experience in the marketing of sharia financial products;
  • Knowledge of current status and development of sharia finance in Indonesia, both business and regulatory aspects;
  • Excellent analytical and communication/writing skills, good working computer skills;
  • Excellent spoken and written English, knowledge of Bahasa Indonesia an advantage.

Detailed tasks:

  1. Review available information regarding sharia finance development in Aceh and demand for sharia finance products and services;
  2. Assist in the development of the sharia finance pilot projects, identifying institutions, reviewing the proposals and implementation plans and paying careful attention to both market feasibility of the proposals/plans and their adherence to sharia principles and relevant laws and regulations, if any;
  3. Assist in the development of the products, delivery systems, information systems and implementation/support processes required in the sharia microfinance pilot projects;
  4. Assist in the provision or arrangement of sharia-related training services for the microfinance pilot projects;
  5. Work with the sharia microfinance pilot partners to implement the sharia microfinance pilot projects, including guidance for pilot modification and development based on initial pilot implementation experience;
  6. Provide recommendations to the sharia pilot implementing institutions regarding post-project business development of the sharia pilot activities;
  7. Submit report at the end of each visit and provide inputs for quarterly and/or other reports of Project activity, as required by the TA Team Leader.

Project Deliverables:

  1. Analysis and recommendations for the design of the sharia microfinance pilots;
  2. Analysis and recommendations for the implementation of the sharia microfinance pilots;
  3. Analysis and recommendations for sharia pilot modification and development based on initial pilot experience; and
  4. Recommendations for post-project business development of the sharia pilot activities.