Core Banking System Analysis Volunteer Expert

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Core Banking System Analysis Volunteer Expert

Location of Assignment: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Proposed Level of Effort: 3 weeks (approx.)

Anticipated Start Date: September/October 2017

Objectives of the Assignment

The main objective of this volunteer assignment is to assist CBW conduct an assessment of their current and future management information system needs and to help CBW leadership determine from the available CBS options, which ones are best suited for the bank.

Background

The Tanzania Enabling Growth through Investment and Enterprise Program (ENGINE) is a four-year, USAID-funded Feed the Future activity awarded through the Volunteers for Economic Growth Alliance (VEGA), that aims to streamline and enhance many of the regulatory, informational and financial channels that encourage domestic and foreign investment in the southern mainland agricultural regions of Mbeya, Morogoro, and Iringa, and in Zanzibar.

ENGINE works at the district level, using a broad-based approach to engage with district Local Government Authorities (LGAs), private sector associations, business development service providers, financial institutions and small and medium enterprises. The program’s activities are divided into three main components:

1. Implement policies for growth. Build the capacity of the private sector to effectively dialogue with the government to set the policy agenda and improve the capacity of the public sector to implement policies.

1. Equip businesses for growth. Strengthen SME capacity and foster the growth and capacity of a sustainable market for business development services (BDS) in Tanzania.

1. Access to finance for growth. Broaden access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), especially women and youth entrepreneurs and those working within agricultural value chains, to facilitate increased investment and growth.

Problem Statement

Tanzania’s Covenant Bank for Women (CBW) has grown exponentially since its founding in 2012. Despite having only one branch, CBW has nearly one thousand clients spread across all over the country. The bank is poised for continued growth but hampered by their current core banking system (CBS).

Tasks

The Expert Volunteer will complete the following tasks:

1. Attend an orientation meeting with ENGINE Program staff;
2. Accompanied by relevant ENGINE staff, attend an introductory meeting with CBW’s leadership to discuss the Expert Volunteer assignment and to review its objectives;
3. Work closely with CBW staff-in groups and individually-to ascertain the current challenges precipitated by the current CBS.
4. Conduct a market analysis based on their identified needs, priorities and budget
5. Develop the required elements of a formal CBS process for CBW - including both the necessary knowledge and documentation.
6. Liaise with service providers group members to elicit their input/feedback on prioritization of tasks to achieve rapid results in creating a new core banking system for CBW.
7. Draft an Annual Budget to quantify funding needed to implement the CBS process for the bank.
8. Write a Final Report summarizing findings, conclusions and recommendations related to the analysis, as well as a discussion of CBW’s core banking system challenges and proposed solutions;
9. Provide exit debriefings to CBW leadership, ENGINE and relevant anchor institutions/key stakeholders that provide an overview of the assignment and CBW’s organizational development challenges and proposed solutions.

Deliverables The Expert Volunteer will submit the following deliverables to ENGINE and CBW:

1. Action Plan
2. Draft Annual Budget
3. Discussion of assignment objectives and how they were met or why they were not met.

Further, the Expert Volunteer will submit a Final Trip Report to the ENGINE Program that includes the following sections: A. Introduction; B. Methodology; C. Findings, Conclusions, and Recommendations related to CBW’s Action Plan for implementing a new core banking system;

Additionally, the Expert Volunteer will provide exit debriefings (Task I above).

Expert Volunteer Qualifications

The ideal CBW new core business system implementation Expert Volunteer will have the following skills and qualifications:

• 10+ years of experience working in business banking;
• Advanced knowledge of Oracle SQL, PL/SQL, T-SQL, BI Reporting tools, scripting languages;
• Experience of the lending market in either retail or corporate environments, preferably having functional knowledge in areas such as interest calculations, repayment schedules, sanctioned limits, etc;
• Knowledge of banking regulations;
• Knowledge of banking payment systems would be considered an asset;
• Experience working with banking, lending, or financial application systems, including administration, reporting, structured testing, documentation, and user support;
• Well-developed technical writing skills and documentation;
• University degree in banking, finance, economics, engineering, computing or related field;
• Self-motivated, proactive, detail-oriented, mature, professional team player, who is a strong people person and communicator, with good inter-personal skills;
• Ability to address issues, challenges, questions, and concerns in a professional, respectful, logical, and timely manner;
• Ability to deal with a variety of problems and choosing the best decision among many available alternatives;
• Works well in a multi-cultural setting;
• Good computer skills in MS Office.