Expression of Interest For Development Of Country-Specific Roadmaps For Invoice Trading Platforms In The Western Balkans

Expression of Interest for Development of Country-Specific Roadmaps for Invoice Trading Platforms in the Western Balkans. Publication Date: 06/26/2025 12:00 AM EDT EOI Deadline: 07/10/2025 11:59 PM EDT Description The assignment will be structured around the following key tasks: Task 1: Baseline Assessment per Country · Map existing IT infrastructure and relevant platforms: o E-invoicing systems (where available); o Tax administration and financial reporting systems; o Commercial registries and payment data ecosystems. · Assess: o Degree of digitalization in B2B invoicing; o Legal and regulatory status of electronic invoices as financial assets; o Role of financial institutions in factoring and short-term finance. · Identify existing invoice trading or supply chain finance platforms (if any) and assess: o Ownership, usage, scale, and technical architecture; o Integration capabilities with third-party systems; o Level of trust and perceived neutrality among users. Task 2: Market and User Needs Assessment · Conduct stakeholder interviews (banks, factoring companies, chambers of commerce, SMEs, fintechs, regulators) to: o Gauge demand for invoice trading platforms; o Identify key design requirements and interoperability concerns; o Assess capacity for digital onboarding and adoption among SMEs. Task 3: Identification of Key Gaps and Constraints · Identify: o Legal barriers to electronic invoice assignment and trading; o Technical limitations (e.g., lack of standardized APIs, absence of digital identity infrastructure); o Trust barriers or conflicting commercial incentives; o Gaps in data privacy, cybersecurity, and authentication protocols. Task 4: Strategic Options and Cost-Benefit Assessment · Compare models for platform development: o National public platform vs. private-regulated marketplace; o Hybrid models or regional solutions (cross-border or shared back-end); o One centralized platform per country vs. multi-node interoperable systems. · Assess the cost-effectiveness and sustainability of each model in light of: o Country size, transaction volumes, and market depth; o Existing digital public infrastructure; o Willingness of banks and alternative financiers to participate. Task 5: Roadmap Development per Country Each country-specific roadmap (Task 5) should provide a clear, actionable strategy for the development or enhancement of national invoice trading platforms. This includes: - A recommended implementation model (e.g., building a new platform, adapting an existing system, or integrating with regional or private solutions); - Clear institutional arrangements, including proposed ownership, governance structures, and operator responsibilities; - Legal and regulatory changes required to enable invoice trading, including the treatment of e-invoices as assignable financial assets; - Detailed technical requirements such as API standards, user interfaces, e-identification systems, interoperability protocols, and audit trails; - A phased implementation plan with a realistic timeline, resource needs (cost estimates, public-private funding options, donor support), and delineation of roles among key stakeholders; - Key milestones, risks, and monitoring indicators to track progress and ensure accountability during implementation. Tender Link : http://www.worldbank.org/en/about/corporate-procurement/business-opportunities/administrative-procurement?order=desc

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