Banking and Financial Sector Development in Myanmar

The financial sector of Myanmar is not able to sustainably and sufficiently render financial services needed by small and medium enterprises.

The goal of this project is to improve the regulative and operative framework of the financial sector in Myanmar and SMEs can offer demand driven and economic services.

Local Partner in in Myanmar is the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development of Myanmar

Implementation Partner is the Central Bank of Myanmar, Banking Training Institute and other Institutions of the financial sector

SME-finance is basically non-existent in Myanmar. The current regulatory framework restrains banks in engaging with SME. Interest rate limits, as well as excessive collateral, liquidity and capital requirements pose sincere challenges for banks to engage in business with SME. We expect a more enabling regulatory framework to be implemented towards the end of 2013 / beginning of 2014.

Human capacities in the financial sector do not fulfil international standards.

The project operates in  four major areas:

  1. The first area aims at supporting the Central Bank of Myanmar to create a regulatory framework for formal financial institutions
  2. The second area aims at strengthening the legal framework as well as human capacities with respect to financial accounting and auditing.
  3. The third area aims at developing human capacities in the banking sector. In order to prepare bank employees for upcoming opportunities (also in the SME-sector), training institutions, such as the Myanmar Bank Training Institute, are to be strengthened in developing and offering appropriate courses to banks
  4. The fourth area aims in assisting selected pilot institutions (Financial Institutions, FI) in offering demand-oriented and sustainable financial services to SME.

The tender will be related to the fourth area of the project, the strengthening of the FI with regards to capacity building and offering SME financial products.

The selection of partaking banks is based on common criteria of integrity, adherence to good governance and best practices. Confidentiality of the data and knowledge of internal topics of the banks is to be granted.

The strengthening of the FI will consist of several modules to be developed and methods to train and support demand driven the banking staff in the management and operational functions. The methods may contain general trainings to operational staff and management, “on-the-job” trainings, seminars, consultancy, exchange platforms, formats for information sharing, other support (study tours, exchange events, market studies)

Activities to support the selected banks with respect to SME-Finance may include amongst others:

  • Individual needs analysis per selected bank
  • Development or adjustment implementation of proper MIS
  • Design and implementation of modules for trainings (loan officers, management)
  • On-the-job training
  • Support on strategy development
  • Support on the organizational structure and development

Next to the intensive support of the selected pilot banks, the required tasks will also include measures to increase awareness, knowledge, and capacities of the whole banking industry with respect to SME-Finance. Lessons learnt of the pilot banks should be shared with other interested banks. General trainings regarding SME finance openly offered may complement the services rendered.

Monitoring, evaluation and reporting are integral parts of the required tasks.

Qualifications: 

In order to fulfill the upcoming tasks it is expected, that the consultants are capable of providing advice, guidance and operational support to the management and operational level of the sector, requiring knowledge and consultancy on all levels.

Gender and integrative aspects (do-no-harm approach) have to be appropriately addressed in the activities.

For the fulfillment of the task at least the following qualifications needed

  • Economist, banker (or similar background) with sound experience in Development Cooperation with focus on financial systems development.
  • Extensive hands on experience in SME finance is required.
  • Work experience in an SME development bank is an asset.
  • Work experience in a developing country, preferably an ASEAN member country, is furthermore required.

The expert is required to travel inside the country. Up to four weeks working in bank branches in- and outside Yangon to better understand the bank and the domestic banking sector are planned in the beginning of the expert’s stay in Myanmar.

The long-term expert should be an international expert who is familiar with GIZ's Capacity WORKS management model.

Professional knowledge of English is required; Myanmar language is an advantage.

  • Minimum 8 years experience in SME finance/banking
  • Min. 5 years experience in strategy development and institutional reforms (including setting up new structures and processes)
  • Min. 2 years of professional experience in development cooperation
  • Min. 2 years experience in management of complex projects
Start / Duration: 

Beginning 03/2014 – duration 18 month 

If you are interested to cooperte with AFC Consultants in Myanmar, please send you most recent CV to

Barbara.Braun [at] afci.de

Thank you!