REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES – FIRMS SELECTION)

COUNTRY: ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF AFGHANISTAN

Project: Access to Finance Project
Assignment Title: Youth Entrepreneurship Initiative: Financial Product
Development and Pilot Program Design
Method of Procurement: QCBS (Quality & Cost Based Selection)
Project ID: P128048
Grant No: IDA H 894
Reference No: CS-5
Issue Date: November 19, 2017
Closing Date: December 7, 2017

The Microfinance Investment Support Facility for Afghanistan has received financing from
the World Bank toward the cost of the Access to Finance project, and intends to apply part
of the proceeds for consulting services.

The consulting services (“the Services”) include developing financial products that can be
targeted at the youth and linked with non-financial services, and design of a pilot
program to test the products. The consulting firm will conduct a market research to
identify the financing needs and appropriate financial products and non-financial services
required by the target market segment. The new products and non-financial services
delivery channels will be pilot tested by up to three MISFA partner microfinance
institutions to be identified during the market research. The pilot to be developed will
take into account international research on youth financial and non-financial services.
Downstream work (phase two) is planned as part of this assignment. The selected
consulting firm will be expected to undertake the downstream assignment that will
include an evaluation of the pilot test, revision of the products and service delivery
channels, and providing recommendations for scale-up. The downstream assignment will
be negotiated and contracted separately at a later date to be determined.
This assignment is expected to commence in March 2018 or thereabout.

The Microfinance Investment Support Agency for Afghanistan (MISFA) now invites
eligible consulting firms (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services.
Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the
required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services.

The short listing criteria are:

 • Demonstrable institutional capacity and experience in the field of market
research, using both quantitative and qualitative methodologies, within the
microfinance/financial sector
• Experience in financial product development, either conventional or Shariah-
compliant, for microfinance clients
• Analytical expertise and capacity to appropriately and sufficiently collect, collate
and analyze data
• Past experience in performing a similar assignment or socio-economic research in
Afghanistan or a post-conflict environment would be an advantage
• Experience in developing product training manuals and providing trainings to key
staffs of microfinance institutions

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to paragraph 1.9 of the World Bank’s
Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants [under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits
& Grants] by World Bank Borrowers, January 2011 (“Consultant Guidelines”), setting
forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

Consultants may associate with other firms in the form of a joint venture or a sub-
consultancy to enhance their qualifications.

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the QCBS (Quality & Cost Based
Selection) method set out in the Consultant Guidelines.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours 8:00AM to
4:00PM from Sunday to Thursday.

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person,
or by mail, or by e-mail) by December 7, 2017.

Address:

Mohammad Khalid Abid, Procurement Specialist

Microfinance Investment Support Facility for Afghanistan
House # 195, Esmat Muslim Street, Shahr-e-Naw, Kabul – Afghanistan
Email: khalid.abid@misfa.org.af
Phone: +93(0) 785 947 866
Website: www.misfa.org.af