European Microfinance Network. Call for Proposals. EMN & MFC Survey Terms of Reference October 2015

Transcription

1 European Microfinance Network Call for Proposals EMN & MFC Survey Terms of Reference October 2015

2 1. Objective of the assignment The European Microfinance Network (EMN) seeks to recruit a consultant to coordinate and carry out the microfinance survey EMN & MFC Survey referred to as the Survey in this document. 2. Background The EMN publication Overview of the Microcredit Sector in the European Union (Overview) has become the principal European level publication on microfinance in the EU and has been carried out on a biennial basis since 2004 with the main aim to track changes in the microfinance sector. The Overview covered 32 micro-lenders from 10 European countries in 2004, 89 lenders from 15 countries in 2006, 94 institutions from 21 countries in 2008, 170 institutions from 21 countries in 2010, 154 institutions from 25 countries in The last edition (2014) covered 150 institutions from 24 countries. Considering the decreasing number of microfinance institutions (MFIs) involved and changes in the sample of MFIs throughout the Overview editions, the new publication, which will be carried out in cooperation with MFC, will limit its analysis to a pre-selected set of microfinance providers which are members of both networks involved. Thus, the objective of the Survey is to focus on EMN & MFC members rather than present a pan- European overview of the microfinance sector. By exploiting the membership base of the two main microfinance networks operating at the European level to collect data, the current and future editions of the Survey will allow for the construction of a panel data set of MFIs, allowing for the comparison of their social and financial performance over time. Given the enormous data collection effort that a significant representation of the microfinance markets at European level would require this strategic reorientation will allow EMN to improve the quality and comparability of the data gathered.

3 The present contract can be extended to the edition of the Survey based on the satisfactory results of the publication. 3. Scope of the assignment 3.1 Main objectives The overall aims of the Survey are to: Provide main data and trends for MFI members of the two networks. The data collected must refer to year 2014 and Capture the financial activities and socio-economic performance of the MFIs in different market segments such as personal and business micro-lending. The Survey must be written in English, in a precise, user-friendly and synthetic way and shall be subject to a peer-review by the EMN Research Committee. It is expected that the primary readers of the Survey will be managers of MFIs, policy makers and investors in the European microfinance field, national and regional authorities as well as other stakeholders such as researchers, consultants and journalists. 3.2 Geographic coverage The Survey must cover all EU-28 countries, EU candidate countries and EFTA countries where MFIs members of EMN and MFC are operating (see exhaustive list in annex 1). The Survey must cover all microfinance products and services provided by the preselected microfinance actors. The research must refer to relevant lending services with special reference to other microfinance services such as micro savings, micro insurance and other financial products. In addition, where relevant data on support services (such as information, financial education, training, coaching and advice) is available, they must be reported.

4 The Survey must aggregate and present the data collected, making a distinction between MFIs 1 and mainstream financial institutions providing microcredit. MFIs belonging to National Networks and/or Associations that are linked to EMN & MFC shall also be targeted. Overall figures covering the previously mentioned organisations and MFI members of EMN & MFC shall be summarized in the introductory section of the Survey. 4. Key activities The contracted party is responsible for carrying out the Survey in close collaboration with the EMN and MFC Secretariat and the EMN Research Committee. Tasks of the contracted party are as follows: Provide a detailed methodology with a mixed-method approach including (but not limited to): Literature review Online survey Key informant interviews Review the existing EMN Survey questionnaire in close cooperation with the EMN & MFC Secretariat and the EMN Research Committee. The aim is to obtain a balanced questionnaire: exhaustive, but not too complicated and should be userfriendly. The decision on the final questionnaire will be made by the EMN & MFC Secretariat (see list of key indicators in annex). Execution of the Survey: uploading the questionnaire on the selected on-line tool, sending the questionnaire along with periodic reminders, managing ad-hoc electronic mailbox created specifically for the Survey. EMN & MFC secretariats will provide the contact list of MFIs to be reached and be in charge of promoting participation in the questionnaire. In order to update the existing database, the 1 Non-Banking Financial Institutions, NGOs or Foundations, Microfinance associations, etc. This list of organisations will be agreed upon by the selected applicant and the EMN&MFC secretariat.

5 overall data collection will go beyond the MFIs representing the target group of the Survey analysis. Conduct the research. Report to the EMN & MFC Secretariat and Research Committee on progress according to the timetable in Section 5. Draft the Survey with a detailed methodology of the analysis. The Survey shall also include a conclusion section presenting reflections on the latest developments in the sector. Together with the Survey, the contracted party will provide the raw and clean databases to EMN & MFC in an accessible way. The EMN & MFC Secretariat will define the template of the Survey. Presentation of the Survey s main findings in a webinar, which will be held in coordination with the publication of the Survey. During the implementation of this assignment the contracted party will hold monthly meetings with the EMN & MFC Secretariat and Research Committee or whenever it is deemed necessary. 5. Timetable The time period for the assignment is ten (10) months: from January 2016 to October The Survey is to be published in November The contracted party will provide three Progress Reports to the EMN & MFC secretariat following the timetable below: Deadline (month end) April 2016 June 2016 October 2016 Content of Progress Reports Database completed; description of the constraints encountered and methods used to overcome such constraints. Analysis of the data collected. Draft Final Report and provision of raw and clean databases.

6 The contracted party commits to deliver a first version of the Survey s executive summary two weeks before the EMN Annual Conference that will be held in Warsaw in mid-june Budget and payment schedule The sum allocated to this service should not exceed EUR (VAT excl.) The selected consultant is encouraged to seek co-funding from third parties; these Terms of Reference will, of course, remain binding. Payment will be made as follows: 30% initial payment following the signature of the contract; 30% at the end of April 2016 once the first Progress Report has been accepted; 40% once the Final Survey has been accepted. 7. Response to the Terms of Reference Interested candidates should submit a short written proposal (five pages maximum with annexes as necessary) providing the following information: 1. Detailed description of the proposed methodology; 2. Detailed description of the proposed organisation of work; 3. Identification of the consultant s expertise against the requirements of these Terms of Reference (with CV of the proposed expert as an annex to the proposal); 4. Reference to similar projects conducted; and, 5. Estimated budget and breakdown of expenses by key activities defined in section 4.

7 8. Selection criteria A selection committee composed of three to five experts from the Research Committee will assess the submitted proposals based on the criteria set out below. The selection criteria are the following: Criteria Rate Consultant CV 20% Past experience in microfinance field and proof of capability to deliver 30% Survey reports Methodology and organisation 30% Financial offer 10% Co-funding proposed 10% Selection will be done by a Selection Committee composed of five experts including both practitioners and academics based on the predefined evaluation grid. Only applications that fit the budget requirements and scope of assignment will be taken into account during the selection process. In the case that two or more proposals receive the same evaluation, preference will be given to researcher who has not previously drafted editions of this publication. Transparency policy: All applicants can request to receive the assessment by the Selection Committee in order to ensure transparency. 9. Deadline Interested parties should send their proposals to the EMN secretariat no later than Friday 20 November 2015 at 17:00 by in pdf format to n.benaglio@europeanmicrofinance.org.

8 10. Enquiries If you have any questions concerning this call, please send them by to by November 3, Telephone enquiries will not be answered.

9 Annex: List of countries to cover European Union Countries Belgium Germany Poland Bulgaria Hungary Portugal Croatia Ireland Romania Finland Italy Spain France Netherlands United Kingdom EFTA countries Norway Switzerland Candidate countries Albania Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Montenegro Serbia Other European countries Albania Bosnia & Herzegovina Moldova Kosovo

10 Annex: List of key indicators to be covered by the survey (based on raw data) Portfolio Quality PAR 30 Write-off ratio Portfolio at risk after 30 days Volume of loans written-off Efficiency and productivity Operating Expense ratio Institutional cost of delivering services Financial management Debt/Equity ratio Funding Sources Leverage of the institution Proportion of main funding sources Profitability ROE ROA Portfolio Yield OSS Return on equity Return on assets Portfolio earnings in a given period Operational Self-Sufficiency

11 Social performance key areas Gender Age Unemployed Minorities and immigrants Outreach Disabled people Financial Inclusion Enterprises Transparency Green microfinance Gender distribution of portfolio Proportion of people under 25 receiving services Proportion of unemployed receiving services Proportion of minorities receiving services (Roma, migrants, refugees, etc.) Proportion of people receiving services in rural or semiurban areas Proportion of disabled people receiving services Proportion of people gaining access to banking services Number and type of enterprises financed APR and additional fees charged Type of green microcredits disbursed