ACCESS TO FINANCIAL SERVICES EXPERT

ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK PRIVATE SECTOR STRATEGY 
Founded in 1966, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) aims to alleviate poverty in Asia and the Pacific by fostering sustained and inclusive growth. ADB in partnership with member governments and other stakeholders is focused on delivering projects that create economic and development impact.

Identifying the private sector as the key to sustainable, rapid growth, the ADB’s corporate strategy aims to help expand and strengthen private sector participation in Asia-Pacific developing member countries (DMCs). To spur market-led growth, ADB invests in infrastructure and advises governments on the basics of a business-friendly environment, including reliable rules, regulations, and policies that do not disadvantage private sector enterprise. Reforms that spur entrepreneurial development, improve the business environment for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and stimulate foreign and domestic private investment are designed to enlarge the private sector’s role in the economy. 

ADB also provides direct financial assistance to private sector projects, and acts as a catalyst for investments that the private sector might not otherwise be willing to make. Through direct financing, credit enhancements, risk mitigation guarantees, and innovative new financial instruments, ADB helps create value by attracting private capital to DMCs and deploying business management or technical expertise to specific sectors and transactions. ADB promotes public–private partnerships in all of its core operational areas.

ADB provided $21.02 billion in approved financing in 2013. The main devices for assistance are loans, grants, policy dialogue, technical assistance and equity investments. The bank counts 67 member nations and has more than 3,000 employees. It is headquartered in Manila, Philippines.

MEKONG BUSINESS INITIATIVE
The Mekong Business Initiative (MBI), a new project of the ADB, will be a policy advisory and advocacy technical assistance facility to promote Private Sector Development (PSD) in the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS), with a focus on Cambodia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Myanmar, and Viet Nam (CLMV). It will support business-enabling reforms and not be used to prepare non-sovereign transactions. The MBI will “think regionally and act nationally” in that it is a regional initiative focusing on common regional issues, but offering national solutions.

The MBI will initially focus on stakeholder consultations, diagnostic work, and advocacy activities with the intention of spurring demand for reforms. It will look to gradually build up a reform program in response to demand from CLMV private sector entities and governments, and will work to support reform implementation. The MBI will also support capacity building at implementing institutions to ensure sustainability of activities.

This MBI is co-financed by the Government of Australia and the ADB. The project will initially be implemented from 2015 to 2017. If successful then the TA may be extended.

The project will be based in Hanoi, Viet Nam, although there will be some flexibility for outstanding regionally based experts.

For more details go to the following link:

http://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/project-document/150263/48270-001-tar.pdf

POSITION: ACCESS TO FINANCIAL SERVICES EXPERT
The expert will coordinate, manage, and provide technical leadership in the area of SME access to financial services. This includes supervising the recruitment of short-term consultants to provide specialist inputs, and controlling the quality of their outputs. The expert will also manage the technical officer (access to financial services).

The expert will report to the ADB staff responsible for project managing the MBI. He/she will work closely with the MBI team leader to develop and integrate the content of the MBI component of SME access to financial services with the overall objectives of the MBI. The expert will be responsible for:

1. Developing a strategy and work plan with the specific objective to increase SME access to finance within a competitive and sound financial system. The strategy will focus on overcoming the constraints to private sector development that arise from the under-provision of financial services from banks and other sources of lending, including gender dimensions. 
2. Drawing on existing financial inclusion diagnostics, or as necessary preparation of new diagnostics, to support the analytical foundations of MBI work, and refining the MBI approach to increasing SME access to financial services. The expert will design and implement monitoring and evaluation surveys to assess the impact of selected MBI activities. 
3. Organizing national regional workshops to disseminate diagnostic findings and discuss policy recommendations. 
4. Undertaking advocacy work by (i) providing high-level policy and operational advice to central banks, regulatory agencies, and other government policy agencies; and (ii) consulting with a variety of private and public sector audiences on the MBI's activities regarding access to financial services. 
5. Working closely with the business regulation expert in responding to requests from CLMV governments and central banks to review and draft regulations relating to financial services, and helping build the capacity of institutions responsible for implementing these regulations. Also, subject to demand, the expert will support the installation or upgrade of financial infrastructure software for alternative collateral asset registries. 
6. Exploring opportunities to work with financial institutions and telecommunication providers to help pilot new financial products. This will include the promotion of innovative approaches to extending the benefits of regulation reforms, including through technology solutions. 

The expert must possess the following qualities:

1. At least 10 years of experience working on a range of finance sector development issues and finance sector assessments in developing countries, including the Greater Mekong Subregion.
2. At least 6 years of experience working in the GMS.
3. The ability to lead and provide entry-point technical support for the entire practice area of SME access to finance, including technology solutions for financial inclusion.
4. The ability to carry on discussions at the highest levels of government and with senior representatives of the private sector, including banks.
5. A bachelor’s degree in economics, finance, law, or other relevant subject.
6. The expert should be prepared to travel frequently.

LOCATION AND DURATION OF POSITION
The expert will be expected to relocate to Ha Noi, Viet Nam; however, there will be some flexibility for outstanding candidates to have the option of being based in Bangkok or other regional locations.

The MBI will initially be implemented from 2015 to 2017. This position has a duration of 35 person-months. If the TA is successful then there are possibilities for extension.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE
To apply please send an up to date curriculum vitae (including comprehensive details of key achievements and responsibilities) along with a covering letter of application tombijob@adb.org, quoting position title, e.g.“Access to financial services expert”. The closing date for applications is midday GMT 31 December 2014.

Applications should consist of:

• full CV detailing professional qualifications
• a statement (maximum two pages) showing how the candidate meets the criteria listed above for the appointment and offering evidence of skills and experience.

Longlisted candidates will be screened by the Asian Development Bank during December 2014. Shortlist candidates will be contacted for an initial phone interview. Outstanding candidates will then be formally interviewed by a selection panel before final recruitment decision is made.