UNCDF Jobs - 35234- Inclusive Finance Specialist

Inclusive Finance Specialist - Business Development (Up to 3 positions)

Advertised on behalf of

UNCDF

Location :

Home based with possibility of travel to countries in Asia

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

01-Apr-2013

Application Deadline :

15-Feb-13 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

1 year

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

UNCDF invests its funding and technical capabilities in financial systems in LDCs and other developing countries by facilitating the development of microfinance markets at the macro, meso and micro levels. It maintains a strong emphasis on building retail capacity to deliver quality microfinance services to poor people, but it also invests in supporting discrete policy work and strengthening country infrastructures to support retain institutions where necessary to maximize outcomes of our investments at the retail level. UNCDF’s financial-systems approach and results have received strong endorsement from CGAP’s SmartAid for Microfinance Index. Highlighted strengths include UNCDF’s overall capacity to manage high quality microfinance programmes using best-practice interventions, its depth of in-house technical specialists and its strategic agility. UNCDF is looking to significantly expand the scope of its work in Asia. This will involve scaling up financial investments and technical assistance in mostly LDCs but also increasingly in non-LDCs as well. In some cases, UNCDF will be making independent investments; in others these investments will be done jointly with UNDP, especially in non-LDCs to comply with current UNDP policy requiring UNCDF to be the lead technical supplier and policy advisor on all UNDP microfinance related work globally. To meet growing demand and commitments, UNCDF will supplement its small core staff capability in the regional office by retaining, maintaining and growing a flexible network of technical specialists. The roster of technical specialists will be hired on rolling 1-year retainer contracts and whose services will be sought as and when needed.

Duties and Responsibilities

Objective of the Assignment:

The objective of this consultancy is to provide technical advisory support to UNCDF Senior Regional Technical Advisor for missions and provide assistance to beneficiary countries in the following the scope of work mentioned below.

Scope of Work:

Working under the direct supervision of the UNCDF Senior Regional Technical Advisor for Inclusive Finance and in close collaboration with the government and UNCDF country team.

The consultant will be responsible for:

Delivering high quality written concept notes and programme documents
Review literature, research on donor priorities
Facilitating project development workshops
Developing logical frameworks
Communicating and coordinating with relevant stakeholders
Conduct interviews, and writing and editing documents

The specific tasks will be defined in TOR for each assignment, and may cover some of the above-mentioned issues, depending on the needs of the country/UNCDF regional office, availability of the consultant and man-days set aside in the retainer contract.

Duration of Assignment, Duty Station and Expected Place of Travel:

Duration of assignment: From 1 April 2013 to 31 March 2014
Number of working days: Up to 130 working days

Deliverables/Outputs:

Project Document, Concept Note and Desk Reports.
Substantive reports and other inputs as requested by the UNCDF Senior Technical Advisor
Reports specifically indicated as an output in the assignment ToR.

Competencies

Strong analytical and writing skills and track record in producing relevant reports and other material
High level of communication and interpersonal skills and experience in working effectively in a multi cultural environment and fluency in English is required
Sensitivity to diverse opinions and difficulties arising from differing social and cultural perceptions

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Undergraduate qualification in social sciences, business, marketing and other related fields.

Experience:

At least 3 years of professional experience with proven competence in any of the any of the areas detailed in the scope of work.
Experience in inclusive finance programmes.
Strong proven functional skills in analytical writing skills, and producing reports and other material,
Knowledge about the UNCDF programmes in Asia and Pacific would be an advantage

Language Requirement:

Fluency in English is required.