Antecedentes

• Members’ savings are not protected by any existing legislation and no statutory institution has responsibility for registration and reporting on saving groups;
• A number of efforts are donor-funded programmes. When donor funding ends, the question of support and monitoring of the existing groups remains a challenge. Ensuring sustainability is therefore a critical strategy in a programme to support the expansion of savings groups. Such strategies, including facilitation by local NGOs, the graduation of savings groups into cooperatives and the use of independent agents will be explored as part of the strategy development work:
• There is a variety of approaches to setting up savings groups practiced by different organisations. Coordination among organizations supporting saving groups has started in 2013 through the creation and development of the Saving Groups Technical Working Group (SGTWG) - composed by UNDP, UNCDF, CARE, Oxfam, CARITAS, World Vision, CRS, Mercy Corps, World Neighbours, Raebia (Ex USC Canada), Seeds of Life and Plan International. Distilling best practices suited to the TL situation will result in more sustainable and robust savings groups. Active coordination and collaboration between SGTWG and Government of TL is seen as mutually advantageous:
• Information gathering on savings groups has already started. There has been several assessments conducted and INFUSE is preparing digital maps on the distribution of SGs;
• Government of TL has shown interest in supporting the development of savings groups.
  

Deberes y responsabilidades

• Review of the existing experiences, methodologies and lessons learned through consultations and learning workshops with NGOs promoting and facilitating savings groups and other relevant stakeholders as well as visits to the existing saving groups;
• Through interviews and observation of savings groups and consultations with members of the SGTWG, identify key principles and methods. Such principles would take into account the experience of stakeholders and the socio-economic and cultural context of TL as well as relevant international practices/learning. It would be based on principles of sustainability, responsibility and accountability and be accepted by key stakeholders.

• Validate the request by savings groups to be more formally linked with the Government of TL through some form of registration process; 
• Assess the feasibility and benefits of registration and what responsibilities this would entail on the part of savings groups in terms of compliance and reporting and which agency would be the appropriate authority to register savings groups;
• Make recommendations on the design of the registration and reporting process, including the kind and frequency of reports taking into consideration the level of capacity that exists in the majority of savings groups;
• Develop a training programme for implementation of the registration and reporting process if found feasible;
• This task may include the review of the applicability of adopting a common MIS and reporting process using international reporting and monitoring tools including SAVIX - Saving Groups Information Exchange, which will allow for international comparison.

• Design a strategy for the up-scaling of savings groups – identifying the key stakeholders which will support the roll out and how the key principles and methods can be integrated into the strategy. The strategy shall have quantitative targets and a time line;
• Develop a training programme and materials for saving groups facilitators as well as independent agents who would be willing to provide facilitation and support services to savings groups;
• Make recommendations on roll-out in terms of scale and costs, capacity-building and financing of the support institution.

• Inception report, including analysis of the initial situation and consultancy workplan; 
• A scaling-up strategy with quantitative targets and timeline incorporating key principles and methods for establishing , facilitation and recommended mechanism for sustaining the development and growth savings groups (beyond the life of donor support); 
• In conjunction with INFUSE, plan and facilitate a consensus building workshop which will likely be delivered in the Tetum language; 
• Recommendations and process for registration and reporting system as deemed feasible– manual and formats, guidelines; 
• Training programme for saving group facilitators and agents; 
• Roll-out  plan and costing which can form an integral component of the second phase of INFUSE; 
• Final report

Competencias

• Expertise in microfinance and community-based saving group models and methodologies; 
• Demonstrated knowledge related to building inclusive financial sectors in developing economies; 
• Excellent inter-personal, networking and partnership building skills; 
• Well-developed skills to communicate and create partnerships at community level, including in rural remote areas;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
  

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

• A Master’s degree in economics, public/business administration, social sciences or related discipline.

• At least 10 years of professional experience with proven competence in any of the areas detailed in the scope of work;
• Track record with similar assignments, including research, implementation, monitoring and evaluation in relation to microfinance programmes and community-based saving models; 
• Experience in coordination and partnerships with NGOs and community based organisations;  
• Previous work in the Pacific Region is advantage, but not a requirement.

• Offeror’s letter confirming interest and availability; 
• Updated CV of proposed consultant; 
• Relevant writing sample; 
• Names and contact details of at least 2 referees