1. BACKGROUND TERMS OF REFERENCE RAFIKI DEPOSIT TAKING MICROFINANCE (K) HOUSING MICROFINANCE PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT In April 2013, Shelter-Afrique (SHAF) Board of directors approved a KSH100 million line of credit to Rafiki DTM in support of the rollout of its Housing Microfinance Product, which was launched in 2012 and is part of Rafiki DTM s focus on community empowerment. The facility is to be used to finance Rafiki s affordable housing initiatives through provision of housing loans. In addition to the line of credit, SHAF is also to extend some technical assistance to Rafiki in order to build up the institution s capacity and help it develop a proper housing product. Indeed, the product is currently faced by two challenges: i. The uptake seems lower than expected; ii. The outreach is constrained within Nairobi, whereas potent demand is believed to exist nation-wide. Therefore, Rafiki DTM proposes to undertake a market study and product restructuring that will respond effectively to these two challenges. The proposed market study shall cover the provision of the affordable houses, specifically targeting small to medium business entrepreneurs and salaried people. The study will also examine the relationship between customer preferences, construction cost and sustainable low cost building technologies, with a focus on cost reduction to the end user. The study should also identify possible developers with whom Rafiki could partner to provide affordable housing to customers, to ease the access to housing. Finally, the study shall include product testing, market surveys and subsequently review and refocus of Rafiki DTM s housing product deployment strategies. Such a study will enable emphasis for all counties where there is shortage of housing. Hence, Rafiki DTM aims at being inclusive, catalysing housing for base of pyramid populations and retaining clientele from both the formal and informal sectors where majority of Kenyans eke out their livelihoods. Shelter Afrique is a pan African housing finance and development institution established by African governments to address the need for sustainable housing delivery system and related infrastructure projects in Africa. Shareholders include 43 African countries, the African Development Bank, and the African Re-Insurance Corporation. Shelter- Afrique s mandate is to provide financing by way of debt, quasi-equity and equity to both public and private institutions for housing and urban infrastructure projects in its
member countries. More information can be obtained from our website: www.shelterafrique.org. Rafiki DTM is a Deposit Taking Micro Finance (DTM) Institution wholly owned by Chase Bank (Kenya) Limited and regulated by Central Bank of Kenya. It launched its operations in 2011 and has since grown to have a firm footing in the microfinance industry. More information can be obtained from its website: www.rafiki.co.ke. 2. OBJECTIVE Financial product restructuring is the primary objective of this assignment, backed by product testing, customer input surveys and development of suitable deployment strategies based on target market preferences. Moreover, this assignment would also requires examination of cross-product synergies with existing products such as business loans, asset finance, microinsurance and other potential household loan products such as those for renewable energy and energy efficiency. 3. SCOPE OF WORKS The consultant will inter alia cover the following: i. Undertake a market research that will inform appropriate and market-driven product restructuring and strategic development plan, targeting the mass market (but particularly small to medium business entrepreneurs and salaried people),; ii. iii. Review of existing legal and regulatory framework so that to identify the issues surrounding land ownership in Kenya, the challenges Rafiki will face in using land as collateral and also ascertain how Rafiki could obtain comfort in issuing loans backed by land without formal title but still have stable ownership. Determine the critical elements that will enable the product to achieve affordability and an optimal rural-urban-peri urban mix and a county bias. Pricing for affordability, housing market needs and preference on targeted clients and adoption of sustainable low cost building technologies, among other innovative approaches are called for. In principle, best practice in the sector with clarity on targeted clientele across Kenya, is also a desirable consulting research output; iv. Produce a comprehensive policy document for informing strategy implementation is a desired output, while touching on business/market development, risk management, supply offering etc;
v. Design a framework for product testing and conduct market surveys. This should be emphasized for key counties to benefit on the product which shall enable Rafiki DTM to intervene the shortage of housing in urban, peri-urban and rural localities; vi. Produce a TOT program and manuals for staff training within Rafiki DTM housing & Mortgage division, to support the restructured mortgage products. 4. METHODOLOGY The consultant will be expected to employ sound scientific, analytical and acceptable methodology and work plan in carrying out this exercise - including but not limited to the following: i. Workstream 1: Assessment of the current state of housing microfinance products in Kenya The Consultant shall investigate what other microfinance institutions - but also banks, mortgage companies, Non-for-Profit institutions and other players in the housing microfinance space - are doing in housing; the team will also look into current and previous social housing projects/experiences in Kenya to ascertain their outcomes and lessons learnt thusfar. ii. iii. iv. Workstream 2: Review of Housing legal and regulatory framework The Consultant will review all existing policies and relevant laws (e.g. enactment of the National Construction Authority Act and the consolidation of the land laws), so that to ascertain implications and opportunities for land tenure and for Rafiki s lending/credit operations and policy. Workstream 3: Need Analysis The Consultant will conduct surveys targeting low income segments of the population, housing developers and contractors in order to determine the housing needs, desires and behaviours of target households factors which shall directly inform the marketing message(s) and development of Rafiki housing product. Workstream 4: Selection of technology Solutions The team will consult housing professionals (i.e. architects, QS, engineers etc.) in order to examine alternative solutions involving low cost housing technologies and materials, with a focus on sustainability and green agenda. The crucial output of this analysis will be identification of potential technical partners for Rafiki DTM.
v. Workstream 5: Design of the Housing Product The Consultant will: Define/recommend a range of key parameters necessary for a successful country-wide housing microfinance product; propose the appropriate loan product structure; simulate the relevant business case for Rafiki DTM, based on the product structure proposed including modelling the commercial performance of such product.. vi. Workstream 6: Testing of the Housing Product Consultant will conduct product testing and market surveys in key counties to benefit on the product and where Rafiki intends to increase its footprint - e.g. Nairobi, Kiambu, Mombasa, Kajiado, Makueni, Vihiga, Uasin Gishu. vii. viii. ix. Workstream 7: Product Policy Documentation The Consultant shall produce a policy document that will inform strategy implementation of Rafiki s restructured housing product, while touching on business/market development, risk management, supply offering, etc The goal is for Rafiki s senior management to ultimately submit this document for its Board s approval. Workstream 8: Staff Training The Consultant shall propose and implement an education and capacitybuilding programme for Rafiki s staff covering inter alia the following: the best ways to reach the consumer marketing messaging that would influence the consumer financing models available to and preferred by the consumer cultural implications of a shift in tradition for the consumer; on ground training to assist the officers in the launching of this product... The Consultant shall also produce all necessary manuals to be used within Rafiki DTM housing & Mortgage division, to support its restructured mortgage / housing products. Worsktream 9: Borrowers education programme The Consultant should produce all necessary materials to enable Rafiki to educate its borrowers so as to empower them from a financial perspective and boost their appetite for housing loans. 5. PROJECT SCHEDULE AND OUTPUT The consultancy is expected to span over a period of three (3) months from the date of commissioning. These will be broken down into preparation and desk work,
data collection and analysis, preparation, review, on field support and sign-off of required documents. During the project implementation period, the consultant will spend significant time working side by side with Rafiki DTM s staff. The consultant shall also submit regular progress reports to Shelter-Afrique. This will be undertaken in the following stages: Stage % Fee payment (i) Consultant mobilization 10% (ii) Diagnosis report following completion of Workstream 1 10% to 4 (iii) Housing Product Design Report 30% (iv) Outcome report following Product Testing 10% (v) Housing Product Policy Document 20% (vi) Staff training report + design of Borrower s education 10% programme (vii) Consultancy completion - final/exit report 10% 6. GOVERNANCE 1. Selected Consultant will report to a Project Committee that will be established to oversee supervision and monitoring of the assignment. 2. Role of the Project Committee: Ensure that the outputs and deliverables are consistent with the overall objectives of the assignment; Ensure the appropriate reviews of issues encountered during the lifespan of the assignment; Verify that the required approvals and directions for the assignment are obtained at every stage of the assignment; Approve recommendations and documents submitted by the consultant. 3. The project committee will comprise: 3 staff nominated by Rafiki DTM s 2 staff nominated by Shelter Afrique. 7. BIDDING GUIDELINES The consultancy shall be carried out by a firm of consultants. The consultants should have relevant and broad expertise and experience in microfinance and housing, especially in Africa. The consultant will be expected to provide at least two consultants
with experience in different aspect of the assignment but should be at liberty to advise on the use of more consultants if need be. The Bid must contain the following parts: 1. Background/Administrative information including: Name of applicant, full address, telephone and fax numbers and e-mail address; Legal status; Physical address; Date of establishment or registration; Details of the organization structure; Statutory registration documents (Tax compliance certificate, PIN and VAT certificate, operating license). 2. Technical content of the bid including: Interpretation, comments or suggestions of the Terms of Reference; Detailed CV of the proposed team of consultants - key information should include number of years experience and degree of responsibility held in various relevant projects during the last five years - as well as an explanation of the nature and extent of their availability for this project; Description of relevant professional experience emphasizing their experience relevant areas as explained above. Description of the consultant s work programme, methodology, execution plan, staffing and monitoring for undertaking the proposed assignment. 3. Financial proposal including: Full details of the proposed price for the project stated in US$. All costs associated with the consultancy services should be indicated including: basic fee and reimbursable expenses (e.g. subsistence, transport ).If appropriate, those should be broken down by activity. The Financial Proposal should clearly indicate as separate amounts: taxes, duties fee, levies and other charges imposed under the law on consultants, subconsultants and their personnel. The Financial Proposal should be submitted in a distinct email attachment. The proposal shall remain valid for 60 days after submission date. During this period, the consultant is expected to keep available the professional staff proposed for the assignment. Shelter-Afrique will make best effort to complete negotiations within this period.
8. SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS Applicants are requested to submit their technical and financial proposals as separate email attachments to: Nelly Defo, Team Leader Special Products Shelter Afrique Longonot road 3, Upper hill PO Box 41479 00100 Nairobi, Kenya Email: ndefo@shelterafrique.org Cc: smurithi@shelterafrique.org Closing date for receiving offers is 15 th February 2014, 12a.m EAT. 9. SELECTION AND EVALUATION CRITERIA Selection will be based on 70% technical and 30% financial. Evaluation of Technical Proposal: The proposals shall be evaluated on the basis of their responsiveness to Terms of Reference, applying the evaluation criteria as follows: CRITERIA POINT Quality and Qualification of the consultant s staff/team 20% Significant track record in the fields of : 30% - Microfinance - Housing - Product Development - Review and formulation of organization policies and procedures - Project and change management - Staff training Description of similar or relevant prior assignments undertaken 30% Description and coherence of proposed work programme with regards : 20% Technical approach and methodology Proposed planning and performance indicators including milestones expected to be achieved; Team organization set to implement the assignment; Responsiveness to Terms of Reference. Total 100% 1 1 total of 100% to be weighted to 70%
Each response will be given a Technical score. A proposal shall be rejected at this stage if it does not respond to important aspects of the Terms of Reference or if it fails to achieve the minimum technical score of 75%. The consultant, best qualified as per the technical score, shall be invited for fee negotiations. The formula for determining the final scores (sf) is the following: Sf = 100 x Fm / F, in which Sf is the financial score, Fm is the lowest price and F the price of the proposal under consideration. Final Score = 0.3 Sf + 0.7 St.with St being the technical score.