Financial Sector Development in Central and Western Asia

National Financial Sector Consultants (4 experts from Central and West Asia, 12 person-months total) The national consultants shall have experience working in the financial sectors of Central and West Asian countries. Their primary task will be to provide assistance to international consultants and their responsibilities will include but not be limited to the following: Survey sector needs. They will help survey financial sector development needs and help international consultants identify constraints to effective financial intermediation for further in-depth research and analysis. The areas they will cover will include insurance and contractual savings, debt capital markets, housing financing, SMEs, and infrastructure. They will assist in identifying relevant training needs and in developing seminar and training programs as needed. Action plans. They will help prepare results-based, product-focused financial sector action plans. Products may include debt instruments, micro and SME finance, and contractual savings. Working papers. They will help prepare and disseminate research and policy recommendations on financial sector development in selected Central and West Asian countries in at least one working paper