Enhancing the National Payments System of Ethiopia

The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) or Banque Africaine de Développement (BAD) is a multilateral development finance institution. The AfDB was founded in 1964 and comprises three entities: The African Development Bank, the African Development Fund and the Nigeria Trust Fund. The AfDB’s mission is to fight poverty and improve living conditions on the continent through promoting the investment of public and private capital in projects and programs that are likely to contribute to the economic and social development of the region. The AfDB is a financial provider to African governments and private companies investing in the regional member countries (RMC).

Ethswitch S.C. has received a financial assistance from the African Development Bank/ Africa Digital Financial Inclusion (ADFI) Special Fund to finance the Enhancing the National Payments System of Ethiopia.

The principal objectives of this project are to :

The objective of the project is to enhancing the National Switch of Ethiopia to a robust, multichannel interoperable, secure and open digital payment platforms. To this end this project aims to put in place the following platforms (Goods):

• Real-time retail payment platform
• Payment Gateway
• Shared wallet and digital channels

The procurement of the above three platforms was through a tender process which have been going on for the last 12 months and Ethswitch is in the verge of signing a contract. Non-consultancy projects to be procured through this project include onboarding international expert, site visit of software vendors, benchmarking of best in class switch operators, as well as various technology, payment and management trainings.

The on boarding of an international expert will be trough a competitive process of recruitment where the job will be advertised. The procurement of training will be done on a direct procurement as the trainings are industry standard training with sole or exclusive training providers.

The project includes the following components:

• Procurement and implementation of payment platforms (tender process has be progressing for the las twelve months);
• Onboard an international expert
• Deliver various technology, payment and management trainings

Procurement of goods and/or works will be in accordance with the Bank’s Rules of Procedure for the Procurement of Goods and Works. Acquisition of the services of Consultants will follow the Bank’s Rules of Procedure for the Use of Consultants. Bidding documents are expected to be available in (state month and year).