The Role
IT consultant for HMF project
- Project Background and objectives
The International Finance Corporation (“IFC”), the private sector arm of the World Bank Group (“WBG”), fosters sustainable economic growth in developing countries by financing private sector investment, mobilizing private capital in local and international financial markets, and providing advisory and risk mitigation services to businesses and governments. Private sector financial development is essential to the promotion of successful and sustainable economies in low- and middle-income countries around the world. Sound and efficient financial markets can ensure that resources are allocated where they are most productive, assisting job creation and spurring economic growth.
The Financial Institution Group (“FIG”) at IFC has three main objectives: 1) financial inclusion 2) servicing the real economy and 3) mobilizing third-party resources. Through the financial inclusion initiatives, IFC helps to increase the availability and affordability of financial services both for corporate entities and individuals. Our priorities are, inter alia, to strengthen bank and non-bank financial institutions, develop financial infrastructure, and improve the legal as well as regulatory framework.
One the of IFC’s global initiatives associated with increasing financial inclusion is focused on improving access to housing finance for low-income people. Housing is a basic human need. Adequate shelter is central to improving the lives of people and is positively correlated with wealth creation, higher educational attainment, and overall social stability. Yet lack of adequate housing is one of the biggest challenges facing Africa today.
A substantial number of people in the low-income segment in Africa and in many other regions live in single-family houses. These houses are in poor condition, but people cannot afford to purchase new houses due to their limited income. Therefore, they improve existing houses (change or mend roofs, floors, doors, etc.), extend their houses, add new rooms, or incrementally build new houses step-by-step. In most cases they either build houses themselves or hire semi-qualified labor. They sometimes borrow for that purpose from Microfinance Institutions (MFIs), including SACCOs, Community Banks, Non-Deposit Taking Institutions, Microfinance Banks, Commercial Banks, etc.
Since most homeowners are not experts in construction, they need to get not only money to improve, extend or incrementally build their houses but also construction technical assistance (CTA) enabling them to do it properly. Such CTA may include preparation of Bills of Quantities (BOQs) and drawings, advice on technology, on selection of good quality construction materials and on implementation of the works.
To assist with the above, IFC is introducing an innovative Housing Microfinance (HMF) lending product combining provision of money (financial services) with CTA (non-financial services) to support lending for home improvement/extension/ construction.
To avoid extra costs the CTA is provided by loan officers operating CTA tools developed by IFC. The key CTA tool is a software package that enables tailoring specific features of the house of a particular client (size of the building, roof height, window/door sizes, finishing, etc.) and prepares a bill of quantities for the works that the client intends to implement and the major relevant drawings. The tool is applicable only for home typical for low-income people and is modelled on typical structures used by the low-income people in the country (ie, single floor, quadrangular, etc). It is easy for loan officers who do not have architectural or engineering education to operate CTA tools.
IFC has developed and piloted CTA tools under the HMF product that was successfully introduced in Kyrgyzstan.
Assignment objective
Housing Finance which is a part of the FIG Advisory Services (AS) is seeking to recruit a Short-Term Consultant (STC) to adapt the CTA tools Software to specifics of Tanzania.
- SCOPE OF WORK
- The Project is procuring services of an individual Consultant to amend the tools software addressing minor issues identified during the pilot in Kyrgyzstan, work with a Tanzanian architect to adapt the tools to address Tanzanian specifics (building codes and norms, materials, architectural solutions), coordinate with IT specialists of local financial institutions while piloting the introduction of the tools.
- Deliverables / Specific Outputs Expected from Consultant
The Consultants will work with IFC staff and other consultants and implement the following:
- Review and provide recommendations for the amendment of the existing CTA tools to address the issues identified in the Kyrgyzstan pilot.
- Convert typical designs of low-income segment Tanzanian houses (in cooperation with the consultant architect/engineer) into the CTA tools software models enabling users to prepare bills of quantities and drawings for low-income clients.
- Coordinate with the IT specialists of local financial institutions on integrating the client-server architecture of the software tool into the financial institution’s IT system.
- LEVEL OF EFFORT
The level of effort for this assignment is up to a maximum of 150 days. Any expenses such as flights, per diem, hotel, visa fee, transportation to and from airport and clients will be covered by IFC and reimbursed upon the submission of the receipts.
- COPYRIGHT
The deliverables and other creative work of the Consultant called for by this Project, including all written, graphic, audio, visual and any other materials, contributions, applicable work product and production elements contained therein whether on paper, disk, tape digital file or any other media, (the Deliverable Work) is being specially commissioned as work for hire in accordance with the copyright laws of the United States. IFC is the proprietor of the Deliverable Work from the time of its creation and own all rights, title and interest therein throughout the work including, without limitation, the copyright and, all related rights.
To the extent that it is determined that the Deliverable Work does not qualify as a work made for hire within the meaning of the copyright laws of the United States, then the firm hereby irrevocably transfers and assigns to IFC all of its right, title and interest, throughout the work and in perpetuity, in and to the Deliverable Work, including without limitation all of its right, title and interest in copyright and related rights free of any claim by firm or any other person or entity.
All intellectual property rights arising from the execution of these Terms of Reference are assigned to IFC. The contents of written materials obtained, used or created in this assignment may not be disclosed
to any third parties without the expressed advance written authorization of IFC.
Ideal Profile
- Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in software engineering or related disciplines;
- A minimum of 5+ years of experience in software development.
- Experience with software development for Financial Institution.
- Skills/experience in software development for architectural design (CAD tools) is a big plus
- Excellent communication skills, both written and oral in English;
- Ability to work under limited supervision at most stages;
- Knowledge of CTA software developed for HMF in Kyrgyzstan is a strong plus
- Knowledge of Russian or Kyrgyz language is a plus.
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