R -- Georgia Microfinance Stabilization and Enhancement Activity (GMSE)

USAID/Caucasus/Georgia intends to issue a solicitation for Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee completion contract for the Georgia Microfinance Stabilization and Enhancement Activity (GMSE). GMSE aims to create stable and operationally sustainable Microfinance Institutions (MFIs), including rural credit in Georgia. It provides funds, technical assistance and training to increase the stability of selected institutions in Georgia through the emulation of best practices worldwide. It further seeks to enhance the long term sustainability of MFIs through innovative product development, improved lending methodologies, and the development of fora for sharing of information and common monitoring procedures. The activity outlined is planned to be implemented over four years to focus on improving the stability of small and microfinance institutions in Georgia and enhancing their capacity to provide sustainable financial services to small and micro enterprises. USAID estimates the total cost of GMSE not to exceed $10 million, including funds for grants. The Georgia Micro-Finance Stabilization Activity addresses the Mission's Strategic Objective 1.3 'Accelerated Development and Growth of Private Enterprises'. It will support the achievement of Intermediate Result (IR) 1.3.1. 'Improved Policy and Operating Environment' and specifically IR 1.3.2, 'Increased Access to Credit'. The GMSE activity will be implemented through the following seven inter-related tasks: task 1 - promote the establishment of unambiguous legal status and tax treatment of non-bank MFIs; task 2 - increase operational and financial sustainability of non-bank MFIs; task 3 - develop partnerships between commercial banks with branch networks and non-bank MFIs to provide additional financial services to MFI clients; task 4 - increase MFI institutional capacity; task 5 - develop baseline indicators and small and microenterprise financial/market information and statistics; task 6- develop a public information program to promote the values and practice of sustainable microfinance; and, task 7 - design, launch, manage and monitor the Credit Innovation Grant Program. It is anticipated that up to $5 million will be available from USAID/Caucasus for the Credit Innovation Grant Program. Funds for the grants will be provided to the contractor on an incremental basis. Respondents should propose indicators in order to monitor and measure achievement of the results. The indicators proposed by the winning contractor shall be used as the minimum basis for determining a final set of indicators. Since a number of donors are active in small and microfinance in Georgia, collaboration with other donors is necessary to assure that all programs have complementary objectives and methodologies. The contractor shall coordinate with other donors on a number of tasks under this activity as described above.USAID/Caucasus/Georgia anticipates issuing the solicitation on or about February 14, 2003.