Announcements

RE- ADVERTISEMENT
NATIONAL SOCIAL SECURITY AND INSURANCE TRUST
EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI)
DATE OF ISSUE: 21ST JUNE, 2019
BACKGROUND
The National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT) is a statutory Public Trust charged with the responsibility of administering Sierra Leone’s National Pension Scheme. By the National Social Security and Insurance Trust Act No. 5 of 20th July 2001, the Scheme was established to provide retirement and other benefits to meet the contingency needs of workers and their dependants, and to provide for other related risks. The Act provides the mandate for the Trust to invest the excess funds not immediately required for the payment of benefits. Over the years, the Trust has invested in a wide range of assets held in its Portfolio. The Investment portfolio has over the years comprised fixed and non-fixed income assets categorised according to the needs of the Trust as they fall due.
The Trust now request for Expression of Interest from eligible and core financial firms to submit EOIs for the aforesaid assignment with Procurement Number: NASSIT/ INVEST/FC/EOI/ICB/19/0015
OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSIGNMENT
The primary objective of the reference assignment is for an experienced Investment and Financial firm to undertake a technical appraisal of all the Trust’s investments and provide specific recommendations on the way forward in terms of how the Trust can better position itself for a viable future. The assessment covers the entire portfolio: placements with commercial banks, equity companies, shares and stocks, debentures and real estate. Ongoing projects that are yet to transform to either equities or real estates are excluded from this exercise. Through this consultancy, the following objectives are expected to be met:
- Determine the investment performance of the Scheme over the last ten (10) years.
- Provide case studies of a select number of Social Security Schemes with sizeable domestic investment portfolios with a view to identifying a comparative framework based on social security objectives, legal establishment, institutional structure, investment and exit policy, project selection criteria, due diligence processes, reporting, and other relevant parameters.
- Recommend an exit strategy for the Trust in terms of its existing non-performing investments
C. SCOPE OF THE ASSIGNMENT
In order to achieve these objectives, the successful Firm will be required to:
i. Review the current Investment Policies of the Trust including provisions in the NASSIT ACT and sections on the Actuarial reports relating to Investments.
ii. Conduct an extensive technical appraisal of all the Trust’s investments and identify grey areas
iii. Review the investment performance of the Trust in terms of adherence to the investment policy and asset mix.
iv. Recommend modifications to the investment policy and asset mix in a bid to exit some of the investments where possible
v. Examine and compare benchmarks related to investment selection criteria.
vi. Provide a discussion on eligibility of assets, as relating to the characteristics of the national and regional capital market, and to the Investment’s mandate
vii. Critically examine the investment decision making processes, risk tolerance and portfolio exposure limits, risk management instruments including insurance, and hedging in relation to other successful Social Security Scheme(s).
viii. The valuation of all financial instruments held by the Trust
ix. Undertake a SWOT analysis of the investments for the attention of Management
D. SPECIFIC OUTPUTS/DELIVERABLES
The Firm will produce:
i. An inception report presenting the methodology for carrying out the assignment
ii. Mid assignment update to Management
iii. End of assignment meeting and submission of final report
E. INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS
The Firm shall work in close collaboration with Management through the Investment Division.
F. DURATION OF ASSIGNMENT
The assignment shall be for a period of 3 months subject to review. The Firm shall perform the services during the period commencing from August 2019 or any other period as may be subsequently agreed by the parties in writing.
I. REQUIRED QUALIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE
Qualifications: The Lead Consultants - at least a Master’s Degree in Investment, Economics, Finance, Accounting or related fields. An ACCA or CFA is an added advantage.
Experience:
i. Minimum of ten (10) years’ experience
ii. Proven practical experience in related assignment
iii. Excellent written and presentation skills (English)
iv. Strong communication skills
v. Ability to work under tight schedule
vi. The necessary computer skills with competence in MS office package
All EOIs shall be accompanied by the following statutory documents
- Valid NASSIT Clearance Certificate where applicable
- Valid NRA Tax Clearance Certificate
- Business Registration Certificate and Certificate of incorporation
- Certification of membership issued by a professional body relevant to this assignment.
Only firms that the meet the minimum requirement will be contacted and requested to submit their proposals for the said assignment. Detailed terms of reference (TOR) will be provided for the submission of the said proposals.
Each Expression of Interest must be submitted in sealed envelopes marked on the outer envelope EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FOR INVESTMENT AND FINANCIAL CONSULTANT, addressed to Head, Procurement, National Social Security and Insurance Trust, NASSIT HOUSE, 32 Walpole Street. EOIs must be submitted on or before 12noon on Thursday, 8th August, 2019.
NATIONAL SOCIAL SECURITY AND INSURANCE TRUST
CONTACT: PROCUREMENT DEPARTMENT
FIRST FLOOR, NASSIT HOUSE
32 WALPOLE STREET, FREETOWN, SIERRA LEONE