Request for Proposal for Implementation Handbook on Interoperable Payment Solutions.I

Implementation Handbook on Interoperable Payment Solutions.I UNCDF is looking for a consulting firm to develop a handbook on the implementation of interoperable payments schemes led by Governments, Central Banks, or Regional Economic Community (REC) stakeholders. The handbook should guide these stakeholders through the process of planning, designing, launching, and governing a local/regional interoperability scheme. The handbook will build on the extensive existing literature. It will make appropriate use of this public knowledge (with clear referencing and permissions where required) and will provide easily adaptable guidelines, frameworks, and checklists that can transform this Body of Knowledge into a guide for action for the Governments, Central Banks, and RECs. To initiate this handbook assignment, UNCDF has identified an initial set of learning questions that may be of interest to Governments, Central Banks, or RECs when building an interoperability scheme: Legal, regulatory and oversight frameworks: 1. What are the legal and regulatory considerations to support the operations of the domestic and regional interoperability solutions? including overcoming gender biases and exclusion of marginalized customers? 2. What are the key considerations to ensure that the interoperability scheme aligns with the intent of protecting data ownership, ensuring safe storage, promoting privacy & security? 3. What are the key considerations for developing/updating an effective oversight framework for testing and monitoring new types of payment services offered through the domestic or regional interoperability solution? Customer Empowerment: 1. What is the importance of domestic and regional interoperability solutions as the basis for financial inclusion and resilience of (women) migrants and guaranteeing inclusive and gender responsive remittance services? in particular, how can interoperability solutions benefit women and other last mile groups and how will they lead to new kinds of specialized remittance products that meet women migrants specific needs with more convenience? Investment: 1. How much does it cost to implement/enhance a domestic interoperability or regional interoperability solution? What are the considerations for pricing of services. i.e., how will the system participants pay for the services utilized - on a cost recovery basis or for profit? 2. How can governments estimate the benefit of implementing/upgrading a domestic or regional interoperability solution, especially on the flow of inbound remittances?