Financial Sector Development in Central and Western Asia

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has long supported financial sector development in its developing member countries in Central and West Asia. This support has focused on improving the sector’s institutional, legal, and regulatory framework, through technical assistance, program loans, and other lending modalities. The global financial crisis has demonstrated the growing relevance of and demand for ADB assistance in the area of advisory support, training, and access to credit to support economic growth. This regional technical assistance (TA) grant has been designed to respond to these needs. The TA aims to increase the impact and outcomes of ADB financial sector operations in Central and West Asian countries. It will incorporate lessons learned in providing access to finance and develop a better understanding of credit demand, supply, and constraints in the Central and West Asian countries. It will also address common issues, stakeholder priorities, crosscutting training needs, synergies with other ADB operations, and targets for ADB support. This will be accomplished through two components. The first will (i) undertake financial sector assessments and surveys, (ii) prepare crosscutting regional knowledge products and working papers, and (iii) prepare product-focused action plans based on country demand. The second component will deliver training and capacity building programs.  

Qualifications: 

  International Financial Sector Consultants (4 experts including Team Leader, 12 person-months total) The international consultants shall have at least 15 years of relevant experience in financial sector development (bank and non-bank) in both developing and developed countries, preferably with experience in the Central and West Asia region. Experts will: review ADB support for financial sector development in Central and West Asia Department (CWRD) countries and other development partner support and significant achievements and lessons learned; survey financial sector development needs including an overview of the demand for, supply of, and constraints on credit; identification of areas requiring further in-depth research and analysis, which will include insurance and contractual savings, debt capital markets, micro and SME finance and infrastructure finance (highlighting the availability of local currency financing); and Identification of relevant training needs that can be delivered locally and that would benefit for exposure to other jurisdictions, with proposals for training strategies to address these needs. prepare action plans to address gaps in supply of financial services and products, prepare product focused financial sector action plans. The plans should also reflect capacity assessment needs and should focus on such topics as debt instruments, micro and SME finance, and contractual savings: prepare working papers in crosscutting areas identified under surveys, assessments, and policy dialogue. In coordination with Central and West Asia Public Management, Financial Sector, and Trade Division (CWPF), the consultants are to prepare research and policy recommendations on financial sector development in selected Central and West Asian countries, to be reflected in at least one working paper.          

Start / Duration: 

The input is 12 person month

If you are interested to cooperate with AFC Consultants please send you most recent CV to  Barbara.Braun [at] afci.de Thank you