TA-6532 REG: Promoting Digital Finance Solutions for Inclusive Finance Among Partner Financial Institutions - Senior Gender & Finance Specialist (E-054250-001)

1. Project objective

Objective and Purpose of the Assignment

1.

The Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Private Sector Operations Department is supporting Fuse Financing,

Inc. (Fuse), a financial institution partner in the Philippines, through technical assistance (TA).

The

TA aims to empower women entrepreneurs and borrowers in the Philippines – particularly those who are at

the bottom of pyramid, currently unbanked or underbanked with limited access to finance due to

structural barriers including a lack of credit history or collateral.

By leveraging GCash’s innovative

digital platform, the TA will improve women users’ financial literacy and management skills, fostering

financial and business acumen, thereby enabling more informed economic and/or business decisions.

GCash’

s platform, an already very popular fintech solution in the country, offers a promising opportunity that

will reach an even wider audience, supporting increased access to finance among women borrowers as well

as sustainable growth in women-led businesses.

2.

The Senior Gender Finance International Expert to be procured as resource person (RP) will report to

the TA Lead from ADB’s Climate Change and Gender Equality Division (CCGE) and will be responsible for

applying quality assurance for all tasks under the assignment which are expected to be carried out by a

national consultant in tandem with a lead international consultant, in coordination with Fuse.

Scope of Work

3.

The expert will support CCGE and the consultants by providing technical expertise during the launch

of the research of the assignment with Fuse and supervising stakeholder engagement activities.

Detailed Tasks and/or Expected Output

4.

Key Tasks and/or Expected Output:

i.

Gender Assessment of Digital Finance Model: The RP will oversee the launch and progress of the

assessment, supervise and ensure quality of drafted insights emerging from the assessment, with

particular attention to the following activities:

ii.

Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with women entrepreneurs to examine gaps in financial literacy and

basic business management knowledge among current and potential women borrowers

iii.

Assessment of sex-disaggregated data (SDD) of Fuse’s clients and analysis of insights from

interviews and FGDs with women entrepreneurs which includes financial, business, and digital finance

needs and how Fuse’s current customer value proposition addresses these needs and where it could be

adjusted.

iv.

Review of Fuse’s existing financial offerings and their alignment with women’s business conditions

and needs and identification of areas where Fuse could strengthen its operational approach with women

entrepreneurs in terms of financial and non-financial offering to help them consolidate and expand their

businesses

v.

In-depth interviews with Fuse’s relevant departments’ personnel, GCash’s IT team, heads of local nongovernment organizations (NGOs) (to be identified in consultation with Fuse) to identify ways in which

Fuse can better track SDD to gauge the impact of lending on women-owned micro, small, and medium-sized

enterprises (WMSMEs) consolidation and growth, through leveraging FinTech capabilities.

vi.

Consultations with regulatory institutions such as the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and the

Securities and Exchange Commission of the Philippines to assess alignment with national financial

inclusion priorities, as well as to identify areas for SDD improvement.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

5.

The expert shall have the following qualifications:

i.

More than 15 years of relevant experience in digital finance MSME focused gender finance research and

designing tailored customer value propositions for WMSMEs

ii.

Extensive experience in development of training contents in the financial sector for WMSME finance

segments

iii.

Operational experience at a bank and/or non-bank financial institution, with a focus on MSME/

business finance

iv.

Strong research and cross-referencing skills for developing and reviewing curriculum materials

v.

Proven ability deploying and overseeing training activities

vi.

Track record in coordinating teams and activities to ensure high quality of work under pressured and

deadline-driven circumstances

vii.

Comfortable engaging with a financial institution across different levels and nationalities within

the organization and with stakeholders outside of ADB

viii.

Outstanding written and spoken English

ix.

A strong leader and team player;

collaborative approach to working

x.

Excellent instructional, presentation, facilitation and client orientation skill

xi.

Highly organized and meticulous attention to detail

xii.

Adaptable and comfortable with ambiguity

xiii.

Understanding of ADB's organizational structure preferred

xiv.

Experience working with ADB developing member countries is preferred

xv.

Expert working within Asia time zone is preferred

Minimum General Experience 10

Years

Minimum Specific Experience (relevant to assignment) 10

Years

Regional/Country Experience Required

Desired

Not Required

Deliverables

Details Name Type Estimated Submission Date

Pre-mission technical review and inputs Others 06-Nov-2026

Post-mission assessment report Report 11-Dec-2026

Final technical report Final Report 29-Jan-2027

Schedule and Places of Assignment (chronological and inclusive of travel)

Schedule Type Continuous

Intermittent

Max.

Working Days/Week Home Office 5

Field 6

City and Country Working Days Estimated Start Date Estimated End Date Other Details (use if place selected is Others)

Home Office, Other Search and Select: Place

1 03-Nov-2026 30-Nov-2026

Manila, Philippines Search and Select: Place

5 01-Dec-2026 18-Dec-2026

Davao, Philippines Search and Select: Place

3 19-Dec-2026 31-Dec-2026

Home Office, Other Search and Select: Place

1 01-Jan-2027 29-Jan-2027

Total

10

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