Background:

The World Bank Group MSME Growth, Innovation and Inclusive Finance Project with Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), effective since June 2015, is funded through a loan of $500 million and counterpart funding of $50 million. The project development objective is to improve access to finance of MSMEs in manufacturing and service sectors from early to growth stage, including through innovative financial products. It supports innovative financial products, frameworks and tools for MSME financing, to cater for India’s evolving economic structure that is shifting toward technology and services, in particular early stage and startups finance, franchisee financing and use of technology to mitigate information asymmetries and credit risk.

Parallel technical assistance (TA), funded by coordinated development partner funding of an expected amount of USD 5 million accompanies the Project. The TA focuses on product development and innovation for start-up/early stage firms and entrepreneurs, service sector financing and manufacturing financing (including cluster financing) and incorporates gender aspects. It also supports capacity building, outreach and related dissemination activities.

For the TA implementation, two key local positions of “Lead coordinator/technical advisor for SIDBI” have been identified: one for the “early stage finance and risk capital” component of the project and the other one for the “services and manufacturing sector including indirect financing/refinancing” components of the project.

Below are snapshots of responsibilities. Detailed descriptions and application information can be found through the following links [#job 1211959: http://wrld.bg/YsUpN and #job no. 1211942 : http://wrld.bg/YsUpN]. Since the TA is Bank-executed, the consultants will get a WBG contract and report to the WBG. Deadline for application is to March 7, 2016.

 -        Lead Technical Coordinator Start-Ups financing and Risk Capital

The Lead Technical Coordinator (Advisor) will support SIDBI Project Implementation Unit (PIU) in managing the technical needs of the Startup and Risk Capital component of the project as well as play a key role in fostering partnerships, innovations and evangelizing startup debt.
Responsibilities will cover four main areas:  i. innovative product development and frameworks (including National Innovations Financing Program (NIFP), Fund of Funds), ii. build partnerships between industry and SIDBI, iii. expand pipeline and improve sourcing, iv. enhance SIDBI processes, capacity, efficiency and knowledge sharing. It is expected that the Lead Technical Coordinator will play a role in active monitoring of key milestones and targets, coordinate technical consultancies and hires to ensure relevance and quality of outputs, and actively contribute to the overall strategic approach to reaching the targets of this component. The Lead Technical Advisor is supported by the PIU Support Unit and Data & Analytics Team and reports to the World Bank Group.

-        Lead Technical Advisor Services, Manufacturing and Refinancing

The Lead Technical Advisor for Services, Manufacturing and Refinancing will support and advise SIDBI Project Implementation Unit (PIU) on innovating, developing and scaling up lending to the service and manufacturing sectors and on promoting and developing SIDBI refinancing lines through partner financial institutions to maximize outreach and development impact.
Responsibilities will cover three main areas:  (i) product development for services and manufacturing; (ii) direct financing pipeline development, processes enhancement and portfolio growth for services and manufacturing; (iii) portfolio growth in indirect financing /refinancing. It is expected that the Lead Technical Advisor will play a role in active monitoring of key milestones and targets, coordinate technical consultancies and hires to ensure relevance and quality of outputs, and actively contribute to the overall strategic approach to reaching the goals of the project. The initial focus will be on developing partnerships for refinancing and product development on franchise financing, asset light and new manufacturing sector products (including cluster financing). The Lead Technical Advisor is supported by the PIU Support unit and Data & Analytics Team and reports to the World Bank Group.