REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (CONSULTING SERVICES– FIRMS SELECTION)

Republic of Tajikistan

Private Sector Competitiveness Project

Loan No./Credit No./Grant No.: IDA H7710

Assignment Title: Banking supervision and regulation consultant to assist the National Bank of Tajikistan in developing legal, regulatory, supervisory, operational and IT frameworks for effective banking supervision and crisis management

Reference No. (as per Procurement Plan): QCBS 1

1. The Republic of Tajikistan has received Grant from the World Bank in the amount of US$ 10 Million toward the cost of the Private Sector Competitiveness project, and it intends to apply part of the proceeds to payments for consulting services under the Component 4. The services include strengthening the banking regulation and supervision functions of the NBT. The National Bank of Tajikistan (NBT) implements the Component 4 “Financial Infrastructure” of the Private Sector Competitiveness project.

2. The services include support to the National Bank of Tajikistan (NBT) in developing legal, regulatory, supervisory, operational and IT frameworks for effective banking supervision and crisis management. This will contribute to the development of the banking sector in the Republic of Tajikistan by: enabling the NBT to undertake effective banking supervision in compliance with the Basel Core Principles for Effective Banking Supervision (as revised in 2012) including Basel II, and (b) establishing crisis preparedness (early warning system) and crisis management frameworks for the banking system in Tajikistan.

3. It is expected that the assignment will be implemented by a Consultant between April 2016 and June 2017.

4. The NBT now invites eligible consultantingfirms(“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the services. Interested consultants must provide information demonstrating that they are qualified to perform the Services. The shortlisting criteria are:

• At least 10 years of work experience in developing and implementing legal frameworks for banking regulation and supervision, experience in making similar assignments in at least five other countries with similar landscape;

• At least 15 years of work experience in developing and implementing regulatory and supervisory frameworks for banking supervision, particularly in the above mentioned specific areas; and at least 10 years of work experience in implementing or supervising accounting policies and procedure in banks, and preparation and submission of bank financial statements, experience in making similar assignments in at least five other countries with similar landscape;

• At least 15 years of work experience in designing, developing and implementing IT systems for banking supervision experience in making similar assignments in at least three other countries;

• At least 10 years of work experience in crisis preparedness (early warning system) and crisis management frameworks; in developing and implementing such frameworks for managing stress in the banking system; hands-on experience as part of national authorities in managing a banking system crisis and resolving problem banks is essential experience in making similar assignments in at least five other countries with similar landscape;

5. The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to paragraphs 1.9 and 1.11 of the World Bank's Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants [under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits & Grants] by World Bank Borrowers published in January 2011, revised in July 2014.("Consultant Guidelines"), setting forth the World Bank's policy on conflict of interest and eligibility. Consultants may submit their REOI as an individual firm or in association in the form of a joint venture or subconsultancy. All the members of the joint venture shall be jointly and severally liable for the entire assignment. However, the experience of sub-consultant will not be considered while short-listing. A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Quality and Cost-Based Selection method set out in the Consultant Guidelines.

6. Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours from 09-00 to 17-00 hours.

7. Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, by fax, or by e-mail) by January 22, 2015 (up to 17:00 Dushanbe time).

National Bank of Tajikistan

Attn: Mr. Latifov U.B., Deputy Chairman of NBT

Republic of Tajikistan, 734003, Dushanbe city, Avenue Rudaki, 107A

Tel: +992 44 6003180

E-mail: a.kholboboev@nbt.tj

Web site: www.nbt.tj