TERMS OF REFERENCE

STRENGTHENING THE PEOPLE’S CREDIT FUNDS NETWORK (STEP)

Consultant on IT & Digital

Transformation Strategy for Co-opBank
& PCF Network
By: STEP
June 2021
 Project AT0018 – TOR

TABLE OF CONTENTS

OVERVIEW ABOUT THE ASSIGNMENT ........................................................................................... 2

1. CONTEXT - DID and STEP project ................................................................................ 2
2. OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSIGNMENT .............................................................................. 3
3. SCOPE OF WORK ......................................................................................................... 4
3.1. Scope of works ................................................................................................ 4
3.2. Geographical area ........................................................................................... 4
3.3. Methodology .................................................................................................... 4
4. DELIVERABLES ............................................................................................................ 5
5. ASSIGNMENT PLANNING ............................................................................................. 5
5.1. Timeline ........................................................................................................... 5
To be completed in 12 weeks starting from 30 Jun 2021 until 30 Ocotober 2021 as
belows: .............................................................................................................. 5
5.2. Detailed activities ............................................................................................ 5
6. QUALIFICATIONS .......................................................................................................... 6
6.1. Eligibilities ....................................................................................................... 6
6.2. Sufficient Conditions....................................................................................... 6
7. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS ...................................................................................... 6
8. HOW TO APPLY ............................................................................................................ 7

LIST OF INITIALS AND ABBREVIATIONS

CBV: Co-operative Bank of Vietnam (Co-opBank)

DID: Développement international Desjardins
GAC: Global Affaires Canada
PCF: People’s Credit Fund
SBV: State Bank of Vietnam
STEP: Strengthening the People's Credit Funds Network

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 Project AT0018 – TOR

OVERVIEW ABOUT THE ASSIGNMENT

Objective(s): Consultant on Long-Term IT Strategy for Co-opBank & PCF Network

Start Date: 30 June 2021

End Date: 30 October 2021

Estimated Number of
50-man days (+10 optional)
Workdays:

Location(s): Hanoi, Vietnam

1. CONTEXT - DID and STEP project

Développement International Desjardins (DID) is a non-government-organization which belongs to

Desjardins Group in Canada. It was established with a mission to support the cooperative credit model
in the world in general and in Vietnam in particular. Since 1993, DID has implemented projects in
Vietnam to assist the establishment and development of the People's Credit Fund network.

In 2015, DID in collaboration with the Cooperative Bank of Vietnam (CBV) proposed a project to support
strengthening the People's Credit Fund network in Vietnam to Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and the
project was approved for implementation in eight-year period. The project name is "Strengthening the
People's Credit Funds network (STEP)".

STEP is jointly managed by the Cooperative Bank of Vietnam (Co-opBank) and Développement
International Desjardins (DID).

STEP’s goal is to contribute to reducing poverty in rural areas of Vietnam by increasing access to
financial services, as well as increasing financial security of male and female clients in the above-
mentioned areas through achieving two short-term objectives below:

1-Objective: Improved delivery of support and oversight services by Co-opBank to the PCF network.
2-Objective: Improved delivery of sustainable financial products and services by PCF adapted to the
needs of rural clienteles, especially women, provided in a profitable and a secure way.

In early 2020, the Government of Vietnam approved its National Financial Inclusion Strategy by 2025
with Orientation to 2030 which rationales that Financial inclusion requires the participation of and close
cooperation between the public and private sectors and the Strategy is coincident with the objectives of
STEP.

Vietnam is a fast-growing developing country and attracts numerous investments and assistances
financially and technically from international donors.

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Some objectives and tasks to be taken into consideration from the "National financial inclusion strategy
to 2025, orientation to 2030" in Vietnam:

- Application of modern technology and innovation is an important element to promote financial

inclusion.
- Promote the application of digital technology, enhance innovation in the design and distribution
of financial products and services in the direction of simplicity, convenience, ease of use, cost
reduction and conformity with demands and affordability of all people, businesses, especially
small and medium-sized enterprises, rural population, remote and isolated areas, low-income
and disadvantaged people.

Developing modern distribution channels based on the application of digital technologies to expand the
scope of low-cost financial products and services, especially via mobile phones.

- Promote payment via mobile devices, strongly develop digital banking products and services
for people living in rural and remote areas;
- Encouraging and creating conditions for financial technology and telecommunications
organizations to actively participate in the supply chain of financial products and services, on
the basis of healthy cooperation and competition with credit institutions;
- Encourage credit institutions to cooperate with financial technology organizations and payment
intermediaries to develop easy-to-use, low-cost, convenient, and safe payment technology
solutions, that is suitable with the individual payment transactions.

2. OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

To improve the projects / programs implemented and granted by other organizations, STEP is looking
for a consultant, individual, or business whose main goal will be to work in collaboration with STEP IT
Advisor and CBV in defining an IT Strategy for the PCFs Network, and CBV as an apex institution. The
concrete scope of works and deliverables are highlighted in section 3 & 4 below.

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3. SCOPE OF WORK

3.1. Scope of works

• Understand CBV’s legal framework and development strategy to 2025 with Orientation to 2030.
• Understand CBV’s operating model, organization structure, products & services, and key
business process.
• Clarify and confirm the strategic business objectives and key priorities that need to be
addressed with CBV’s executives.
• Meeting with BODs, BOMs, Department Head to understand and confirm business priorities,
pain points and IT needs.
• Understand and assess the IT current state and current capabilities:
o IT strategy/on-going plans;
o IT architecture & applications;
o IT infrastructure & security;
o IT governance, organization & resources.
• Scan the notable business & IT trends in financial service industry (e-government, digital
banking/transformation, mobile money, e-KYC, QR-Code Payment and other emerging
technologies etc.) and assess the applicability to CBV.
• Perform SWOT analysis and propose IT strategic priorities for the next 5-10 years.
• Identify and Analyze CBV’s strategic needs for IT for the next 5-10 years.
• Develop an IT future-state in 2025 with Orientation to 2030 comprises of:
o IT architecture & applications;
o IT infrastructure & security;
o IT organization & resources.
• Identify a portfolio of IT initiatives/projects to be carried out in the next 5-10 years.
• Estimate the investment budget for IT in the next 5-10 years.
• Develop the IT strategic plan & implementation roadmap for the next 5-10 years.
• Presenting & socialising the strategy, IT strategic initiatives & implementation roadmap with
relevant individuals and parties.
• Finalise the strategy & getting CBV executives’ approval for the execution.

3.2. Geographical area

The meetings, analysis, assessments, and composition efforts will be accomplished in Hanoi.

Although the scope should also take into consideration that the STEP project does currently operate in
14 provinces/central-level cities in Vietnam, more specifically in: Hanoi, Hung Yen, Ha Nam, Hai Phong,
Ninh Binh in the North; Thanh Hoa, Nghe An and Ha Tinh in the Centre and An Giang, Dong Thap, Soc
Trang, Tra Vinh, Can Tho, Kien Giang in the South – with expected potential impacts throughout all
provinces in Vietnam.

3.3. Methodology

The consultant should, at a minimum, and as described below:

• Work in collaboration with the STEP IT Advisor and CBV in charge of the dossier;
• Provide an outline of a workplan, from methodology, input indicators, and expected outputs;
• Present the proposed methodology and agree with STEP IT advisor and CBV;
• Obtain STEP two co-directors the approval of the methodology;
• Implement the described deliverables as agreed;
• Make recommendations to STEP and CBV executives accordingly.

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4. DELIVERABLES

• IT & Digital Transformation Strategy for CBV That aligns with CBV’s business development
strategy & plans and in line with on-going IT & Digital Transformation Strategy and Information
Security regulated by SBV and should include IT with Orientation to 2030, IT Mission, IT
Strategic Objectives, IT Future State, IT Strategic & Digital Transformation Initiatives & Plan that
aligns with Business Initiatives & Implementation Roadmap & Plan to 2025 and Indicative
Investment Budget.

5. ASSIGNMENT PLANNING

5.1. Timeline

To be completed in 12 weeks starting from 30 Jun 2021 until 30 Ocotober 2021 as belows:

Strategic Business Current State Defining Future State & IT IT & Digital Execution/Commu
Requirements & IT Assessment & Gap Strategic Initiatives to Transformation nication/Change
Needs Analysis Analysis bridge the gaps Strategy Report Manaement Plan
<3 weeks> <2 weeks> <3 weeks> <3 weeks> <2 week>

5.2. Detailed activities

The consultant shall propose a relevant activity planning in their proposal. It will be refined during the
kick-off phase.

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6. QUALIFICATIONS

6.1. Eligibilities

• For organizations:

a/ Be enterprises, scientific and technological organizations or other organizations which are

professionally capable, established, and experienced in the consultancy domains, as well as
registering their operation according to the provisions of law;

b/ Have working offices and facilities;

c/ Have at least 02 qualified persons as prescribed in Clause 2 of this Article.

• For individuals:

a/ Possess college, university, or higher degree in the domains where they practice consultancy,
or consultancy practice certificates in the cases prescribed by law;

b/ Have good moral qualities;

c/ Have full civil act capacity;

d/ Not be currently examined for penal liability or be subjected to administrative measures in the
domains where they practice consultancy;

e/ Presently operate in a certain consultancy organization.

• Officials and public employees shall be permitted to participate in providing consultancy services
provided that such participation is not contrary to the Ordinance on Officials and Public
Employees.

6.2. Sufficient Conditions

• Knowledge and experience in the financial field, banking / microfinance / accounting sectors;
[Required]
• Knowledge and experience in the IT field, including networking / hardware / software sectors;
[Required]
• Experience in conducting business assessments and executive presentations; [Required]
• At least 2 projects successfully conducted in a similar set-up. [Required]
• Familiar with international consultative donors in Vietnam; [Recommended]
• Familiar with laws & regulations related to finance (SBV) in Vietnam; [Recommended]

7. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

• Continued contact and feedback with STEP FPD and technical advisors, in particular immediate
information in case obstacles occur;
• Written reports as per the list of deliverables.

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8. HOW TO APPLY

Interested consultants should submit their Proposal which also indicates budget required, inclusive of
applicable taxes and breakdown by person-day and hourly rates clearly stating their motivation,
proposed methodology, and fit for this assignment. Please note that local travel will be reimbursed based
on specific conditions of the contract. The Proposal should be supported by consultant’s CV, company
profile including consultant’s CVs (in case of an organization), a portfolio of projects of similar set-up,
and 03 references, and submitted by email to info@did-step.com and/or claude.lafond@did.qc.ca,
clearly indicating email subject of reference “Proposal DID05.2021 - Consultancy Service”.

Please kindly note that each email submission may not exceed 10MB in size.

The deadline for submission is 4 PM, June 25th, 2021, Hanoi time.

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 Développement international Desjardins (DID) is a
world leader in the deployment and strengthening of the
inclusive finance sector in developing and emerging
countries.

Our expertise is based on over one hundred years of

experience accumulated by the Desjardins Group, the
leading cooperative financial group in Canada and sixth
largest in the world.

We draw on the best practices tested in collaboration

with our numerous partners to support the setup, growth
and strengthening of financial institutions as well as the
development of individual and collective wealth.

Consulting expert, investor and operator of

financial institutions, DID provides its specialized
expertise in the following fields:

▪ Mobilization of savings
▪ Agricultural Finance
▪ Technological Solutions
▪ Financing for entrepreneurs
▪ Investments
▪ Social Performance
▪ Training
▪ Surveillance
▪ Gender Equality
▪ Governance
▪ Green Finance

Focused on the future, DID makes use of all its

resources in order to increase access to financial
services for communities in developing and emerging
countries. Together, we create the future. It is the
ultimate reason for our existence.

www.did.qc.ca/en

59, avenue Bégin, Lévis (Québec) G6V 4C3

Tel.: (418) 835-2400 | Fax: (418) 833-0742
Email: info@did.qc.ca