Consultant (Payments and Settlement Systems Legal and Regulatory Frameworks) at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is a regional group of fifteen West African countries. Founded on 28 May 1975, with the signing of the Treaty of Lagos, its mission is to promote economic integration across the region.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Consultant (Harmonization of Payments and Settlement Systems Legal and Regulatory Frameworks in (ECOWAS))

Location: Abuja

Objective

• The main objective of the study is to harmonise the rules and regulations governing payments systems in ECOWAS, develop a regional oversight framework and policy for the payments ecosystem and strengthen both institutional and stakeholders’ regulatory capacity for payments and settlement system operation in ECOWAS.
• In this regard, the study will review the existing legal and regulatory frameworks of the countries or zones with respect to payments systems in order to propose a set of Rules and Regulations to be applied by all countries in the ECO WAS region.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Review existing policies, laws and regulations relating to payments and settlement systems in Member States and develop a draft ECOWAS
• Regulatory Framework for Cross Border Payments and Settlement.
• Review existing Oversight Policy Frameworks and inspection formats in Member States and develop a draft ECOWAS Payments and Settlement System (EPSS) Oversight Framework in line with Bank for International Settlement Principles for Financial Markets Infrastructure (BIS PFM).
• Develop a Regional policy on a common “Failure to Settle” arrangement.

Requirements

• For the realization of this study, the Commission intends to engage the services of a consultancy firm made up of a bilingual multi-disciplinary team with proven experience in economic, monetary, financial, ICT and legal fields and expertise in payments and settlement systems development.

Specifically, the multidisciplinary team will, among others:

• Have in-depth knowledge of payments and settlement systems, payment laws and regulations and related disciplines.
• Have at least ten (10) years’ experience in the field of payments and settlement systems development. and related disciplines in a developing region.
• Have a good understanding of the financial environment of ECOWAS as well as the specific features/peculiarities of the region’s economies.
• Be knowledgeable of the ECOWAS Monetary Cooperation Programme.

Application Closing Date
11:00 a.m (GMT+1);  24th May, 2018.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should provide all information supporting their qualification to perform the services (Kindly attach detailed Curriculum Vitae that highlights the following: Curriculum and Certificates; Past Experiences of similar jobs over the past ten (10) years; relevant ICT knowledge and experience; knowledge of the area; language and any other information useful for the accomplishment of this project).

The Expressions of interest (1 Original and 3 copies) must be delivered in sealed envelopes and clearly marked: “Recruitment  of a Firm for the Harmonization of Payments and Settlement Systems Legal and Regulatory Frameworks in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)”, do not open except in presence of the Tender Committee” to the address below :
The Office of the Executive Assistant of the Commissioner,
Administration & Finance,
5th Floor ECOWAS Commission,
101 Yakubu Gowon Crescent,
Asokoro District,
P. M. B. 401,
Abuja.

Note

• The selection procedure will be Quality Cost Based Selection method (QCBS) and the selected Consultant firm will be invited to produce Technical and Financial Proposals which will serve as the basis for negotiation for the conclusion of the Contract Agreement.
• Please note that the selected consultant firm will be expected to submit all required reports in English or French.
• The attention of interested Consultant firms is drawn to Article 87 of the ECOWAS Tender Code (“Infringements by Candidates; Bidders and Awardees”), setting forth corrupt or fraudulent practices in competing for or executing a contract. In addition, please refer to the following specific information on conflict of interest related to this assignment as perArticle 17. (h) of the ECOWAS Tender Code.
• Interested consultant firms may obtain further information at the address below during office hours: Monday to Friday from 9.00 am GMT+1 to 5.00 pm GMT+1. Procurement Division, Directorate of General Administration, ECOWAS Commission, Plot 101, Yakubu Gowon Crescent, Asokoro District, P. M. B. 401 Abuja Nigeria or by E-mail to the following addresses: [email protected] with copy to: [email protected] , [email protected]
• Electronic submissions are not accepted and therefore, will not be considered.
• The request for EOI can also be viewed on: www.ecowas.int/doing-business-in-ecowas/ecowas-procurement