National Payments Expert for Reserve Bank of Fiji

Request for Expressions of Interest

(INDIVIDUAL CONSULTING SERVICES)

Payments System Advisor to the Reserve Bank of Fiji (RBF)

Project Name Pacific Strengthening Correspondent Banking Relationships Project

Project Number P502591

Website

https: //projects.worldbank.org/en/projects-operations/project-detail/P502591

Activity and Reference Number (STEP) Payments System Advisor (Fiji) - FJ-PIFS-577115-CS-INDV

Implementing Agency Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS)

Country FIJI

PIFS, on behalf of the participating member countries, now invites eligible individuals (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services (attach curriculum vitae and a cover letter with description of experience in similar assignments, similar conditions, etc.). Firms’ staff may express interest through the employing firm for the assignment and, under such situation, only the experience and qualifications of individuals shall be considered in the selection process. The attention of interested Consultants (including firms) is drawn to paragraph 3.14, 3.16 and 3.17 of the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers, dated September 2025 (“the Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest. A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the individual consultant selection method set out in the World Bank Consultant Guidelines. The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment is attached below and provides details of the scope of the services required along with specific deliverables expected. Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours 09.00 to 17.00 hrs Fiji Time.

Expressions of Interest must be delivered in written form by email no later than:

Wednesday, 11 November 2026 at 17: 00 hours (Fiji Time)

Address for Enquiries and Submission of EOIs: Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat

Attn: [contact details removed]

Private Mail Bag, Suva PO Box 856, Suva, Fiji.

Tel: [contact details removed]

E-mail: cbrprocurement@forumsec.org

TERMS OF REFERENCE

CONSULTING SERVICES – INDIVIDUAL SELECTION Payments System Advisor to the Reserve Bank of Fiji (RBF) Project Overview Project Name Pacific Strengthening Correspondent Banking Relationships Project

Indicative Activity / Budget Line

Component 2: Enabling Environment and Regulatory Harmonization - Payment System Oversight and Regulation.

Activity Reference Number (STEP) FJ-PIFS-577115-CS-INDV

Assignment Title Payments System Advisor to the Reserve Bank of Fiji (RBF)

Location of role Suva, Fiji, with remote inputs. The balance of on-site and remote support will be agreed with RBF and PIFS against the implementation schedule.

Implementing Agency on behalf of participating countries Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS)

Primary Counterpart Reserve Bank of Fiji (RBF)

Duration of Assignment Approximately six (6) months for the core assignment. Limited follow-up support for participant onboarding may be agreed through 30 June 2027.

Contract Type and Level of Effort Time-based individual consultant contract. The expected level of effort is up to 120 working days over 6 months. Payments will be based on approved timesheets and eligible reimbursable expenses, rather than fixed-price deliverables.

Agency Description The Pacific Islands Forum brings the region together to address shared issues and support cooperation. It works through regional governance, shared resources and policy alignment to support economic growth, sustainable development, good governance and security.

Selection Method Competitive Selection of an independent individual consultant, subject to procurement plan adjustment, justification, conflict-of-interest review, and World Bank no-objection requirements where applicable.

Country Supported Fiji. The assignment provides country-specific technical assistance under the regional CBR Project.

Overall Project Objective To enable continuous access to correspondent banking services in the participating Pacific Island Countries.

Project Length August 2024 to September 30, 2030

Project Background The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) has received financing from the World Bank Group's International Development Association (IDA) for the Pacific Strengthening Correspondent Banking Relationships (CBR) Project. The project supports participating Pacific Island Countries to maintain access to correspondent banking services and address payment, regulatory and financial integrity constraints that contribute to de-risking. Component 2 includes support for payment system oversight and regulation. The Reserve Bank of Fiji (RBF) issued the Fiji QR Code Standard and Guidelines to the payments industry on 30 October 2025. RBF has also issued a directive and implementation timeline requiring payment service providers that currently offer QR payment services, or intends to introduce them, to align with the prescribed standards and guidelines by 30 June 2027. RBF’s planned implementation includes a cloud-based solution to act as the QR payments Certificate Authority (CA) for participating payment service providers, to be operated by RBF. At the time of its August 2026 feedback, RBF expected the vendor to be appointed by the end of that month, followed by approximately three months of development and implementation. RBF will confirm the procurement status and implementation timetable before the assignment commences. The CA vendor is responsible for the platform-specific technical work and documentation included in its contract. RBF has requested technical assistance at the overall QR project level, covering implementation leadership, project management guidance, technical advisory support, quality assurance, participant integration, user testing, project documentation and training. The assignment will also support RBF