procurement notice

Trade Facilitation Programme

Trade Finance Advisory Services – Register of qualified experts

Assignment Description:

Some of the banks in the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development ("EBRD" or the "Bank")'s countries of operation lack the skills and knowledge of how to efficiently structure trade finance operations and minimise the risk associated with it and are therefore unable to provide the local exporters and importers with the mechanisms required for them to conduct their trade business efficiently and effectively.

The EBRD intends to establish a register of qualified Experts (the "Experts") to be engaged to provide consultancy services to participating banks to enable the banks to provide a wide range of international trade finance products covering the needs of local importers and exporters and to deliver these products in a timely fashion to international standards.

Most of the recipient banks are participating in the EBRD's Trade Facilitation Programme ("TFP"). The aim of TFP is to promote foreign trade with central and eastern Europe and the CIS.

For each individual assignment, the Financial Institutions ("FI") team will select a consultant in accordance with the Bank's Procurement Policies and Rules. 

Services Required:

The advisory services are expected to target banks in six or more EBRD countries of operation. The overall objectives of the services are inter-alia:

- To optimise and increase the operational and technical skills of the banks in order for them to start and improve the delivery of international trade finance services to their clients.
- To provide the banks with knowledge about trade finance not only as a means of payment but also as a means of financing.
- To enable the banks to advise and promote adequate trade finance products to their clients, the local importers and exporters.
- To assist banks to understand risks associated with trade finance transactions and to demonstrate how these risks can be mitigated.
- To increase the trade finance volumes of the participating banks and raise their awareness for the possibilities that the TFP offers.

The following elements could be part of the assistance:

- Provide staff with knowledge and skills to improve the quality of trade finance products offered by the banks.
- Explain and demonstrate different trade finance products and structures and support the banks to enlarge their product range. The assistance will cover import as well as pre-export and post-shipment trade transactions.
- Enable banks to offer advice to their clients on how to best structure a trade finance transaction, including the identification and mitigation of risks involved. When proposing risk mitigation structures the local legislation, which differs from country to country, has to be taken into consideration.
- Demonstrate new and more cost effective ways of structuring trade finance transactions. Examples are how to build in security without having to rely on a cash collateral from the client or demonstrating to the banks the advantages of granting their clients guarantee facilities rather then loan facilities, thus decreasing the funding risk and costs for the banks as well as for the clients.
- Work with the documentary department, the trade finance department, the corporate client department as well as with the senior management to ensure that all the departments of the bank dealing with international trade finance business are aware of the possibilities trade finance offers and are committed to it.
- Help the banks to identify new business opportunities and new clients to increase the volume of international trade finance operations.
- Make recommendations on how to improve procedures and processes in relation to the handling of trade finance operations, including the marketing and the risk management of the trade finance business.

Under each assignment the designated consultant will deliver the assistance at the banks' offices. The assistance will be targeting trade finance and documentary specialists as well corporate client advisors in order for all of these specialists to better understand the trade finance business. The consultant will also work with the banks’ senior management, whenever their commitment and understanding of an issue is needed. At the establishment of the work plan for each bank, the consultant will need to define, together with the banks, the target groups for this assistance.

The final reports provided by the Consultants at the end of each assignment will be the tool for measuring success as to (i) whether the objectives of the assistance were met as set out in the work plan agreed with the participating banks; (ii) the recommendations made and the measures introduced by the banks; (iii) the results in terms of number and volume of transactions carried out during or immediately after the assignments (including type, structure, and other details) in comparison to the trade volume and the type of transactions as executed before the assignments. Turnover growth in the local (domestic) trade as well as cash flow acceleration and growth of local wholesale and distribution companies accompanied by regional expansion would be the ideal impact. Improved trade finance knowledge will enable the banks to better advise their clients, the local importers and exporters, and meet their needs, which in turn will facilitate trade finance transactions of the banks and enable the banks to generate significant new trade finance activities which should also lead to the success of the banks. The increased demand for trade finance transactions will contribute to the development of international trade and intra-regional trade of these countries, from which the individual regional economies as a whole should benefit.

Expert Profile:

Experts should demonstrate relevant qualifications, knowledge and experience in the following areas:

- very strong and extensive experience (at least 5 years) in Trade Finance, preferably in emerging market financial sectors;
- track record in delivering consultancy services in the area of trade finance for the EBRD or other IFIs is preferable but not an absolute pre-condition;
- language skills are preferred but not essential.

Individual, not corporate services, are required. Firms may propose the services of individual experts. Firms should also note that selection of experts will be based on the capabilities and experience of the individuals proposed (and not on the capacity and experience of the firm).

Estimated Cost:

Between EUR 50,000 and EUR 300,000 per individual assignment.

Anticipated Duration:

Between 6 and 12 months per individual assignment.

Funding:

Funding for each assignment will be sought from the Bank’s donor funded Technical Cooperation Funds Programme.

Eligibility:

No eligibility restrictions apply for registration but shortlisting/ selection of the experts for each assignment is subject to the availability of funding from an appropriate donor and may be subject to donor's eligibility restrictions, if any.

How to register:

Interested firms and individuals wishing to register should complete in English the below mentioned form(s) and e-mail them to Carla Ciccantelli: ciccantc@ebrd.com and Ghislaine Danquin: danquing@ebrd.com.

Please note the following:

All firms and individuals must return the following documents:

- Cover letter/e-mail

- CV in the required format  (0.1Mb)

Failure to submit in the required format may result in rejection of a firm’s or individual’s application.

CVs should be detailed and include full descriptions of responsibilities carried out, not just a job title.

Consultants responding to this invitation are asked not to contact the Financial Institutions Team, or the EBRD generally and to restrict their communication initially to the above e-mail addresses.

General:

Consulting firms (proposing individuals) and individuals may express interest in registering and may be registered at any time. There is no deadline for submission of registration forms. The first assignment in Kosovo is expected to commence July 2007. All consultants will be informed whether or not they are included on the register.

Inclusion on the register does not guarantee selection for any individual assignment.

The EBRD reserves the right to modify or withdraw the registration system described above for any reason and without prior notice. Registered firms and individuals will be promptly advised, however, of any such modification or withdrawal and of the system (if any) to be introduced to replace the current procedure.