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Joint Project with EBRD

2007.09.11

Assignment Title: Russia Small Business Fund ("RSBF"), Orient Express Bank - Development of Micro and Small Enterprise Lending Operations. Orient Express Bank ("VEB"), headquartered in the city of Khabarovsk and operating mostly in the East of the Russian Federation through a wide and expanding network of branches and outlets, intends to hire a consultant firm (the "Consultant") to provide a two-year micro and small enterprise ("MSE") credit advisory services technical assistance package (the "assignment").

The main objectives of the assignment shall be:

• Assistance in establishing and building up micro and small business lending capacity in VEB;
• Strengthening of the MSE lending department and internal procedures, including advice on and implementation of institution building measures in credit/risk management, accounting/control, IT/management information systems ("MIS") improvements;
• Assistance in hiring and training of loan officers and credit staff working in MSE lending, development/enhancement of MSE staff remuneration incentive scheme;
• Assistance and advice on the development and marketing of new MSE lending products;
• Review of VEB’s MSE credit scoring lending methodology and the adequacy of the institution’s existing IT systems, producing recommendations to resolve identified weaknesses;
• Continuous monitoring and reporting on MSE portfolio quality, advice/implementation of corrective measures when necessary.

Assignment Start Date and Duration: It is anticipated that the assignment will start in December 2007 and last for a period of up to 24 months. A contract extension is possible, subject to need for the services, availability of funding, and consultant performance.

Maximum Budget available for the Assignment: EUR 600,000; Exclusive of VAT.

The consultant must determine whether any indirect taxes/VAT are chargeable on the proposed services and state the basis for such determination in the Financial Proposal. If any indirect taxes/VAT are payable, the client will have to pay indirect taxes/VAT element to the services directly to the consultant/s unless otherwise agreed.

Funding Source: It is anticipated that the contract will be financed through the Japan-Europe Cooperation Fund managed by the EBRD.

Eligibility: There are no eligibility restrictions, however consultant selection and contracting will be subject to availability of funding.

Consultant Profile: The consultant will be a firm (or a consortium of firms) with the following requirements:

- A strong and demonstrable track record in MSE institution building projects;
- Previous experience in the MSE segment and experience working in downscaling projects across Central and Eastern Europe and the Russian Federation in particular;
- Strong background in MSE lending methodologies and loan officer training;
- Sufficient backstopping capabilities with the ability to mobilise the required short-term inputs;
- A strong and demonstrable track record in working on credit scoring assignments;
- Fluency in Russian for client interfacing staff is imperative.

Submission Requirements: Interested firms are hereby invited to submit expressions of interest.

In order to determine the capability and experience of consulting firms seeking to be shortlisted, the information submitted should include the following:

• company profile, organisation and staffing;
• details of experience or similar assignments undertaken in the previous five years, including their locations;
• CVs of staff who could be available to work on the assignment.

The above information should not exceed 15 pages excluding CVs.

One original and two numbered copies of the above information, in Russian and English, should be submitted to VEB in an envelope marked "Expression of Interest for RSBF - Orient Express Bank, Development of MSE lending operations", to reach VEB not later than the closing date quoted above.

Alexey V Astakhov
Orient Express Bank
22 Frunze Street
Khabarovsk 680000
Russian Federation
Tel: + 7 4212 48-57-31
Fax: + 7 4212 75-55-63
E-mail: kazna@express-bank.ru

Further, three copies in English and one in Russian should be submitted to the EBRD by the same closing date (email submissions are acceptable).

Johan Bert
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
One Exchange Square
London EC2A 2JN
United Kingdom
Tel: + 44 20 7338 7030
Fax: + 44 20 7338 7451
Email: bertj@ebrd.com

Note: Following this Invitation for Expression of Interest, a shortlist of qualified firms will be formally invited to submit proposals. Shortlisting and selection and contracting will be subject to the availability of funding.