Background

CleanStart Programme
The UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have developed a global programme to support 2.5 million poor people to obtain access to reliable and affordable clean energy through microfinance (called CleanStart). To this end, CleanStart will support 18 financial service providers (FSPs) across six countries in Asia and Africa to build their capacity in providing financing for clean energy systems. In parallel, the programme will also strengthen the supply chains of technologies being financed and advocate for policy and business environments that promote the growth of energy markets serving low-income people.
CleanStart (2012-2017, US$26.1) will be delivered through four outputs:
  •  Finance for Clean Energy to strengthen capabilities of 18 FSPs to provide microfinance for clean energy to low-income households and micro-entrepreneurs;
  • Technical Assistance for Clean Energy to remove barriers to the successful deployment of those technologies and services for which the selected MFIs will provide microfinance;
  • Global Knowledge and Learning to enhance understanding and awareness globally of the potential for microfinance to scale-up access to clean energy and make available the tools and knowledge needed to scale-up access to clean energy beyond the project; and
  • Advocacy and Partnerships to create an enabling policy and business environment to expand microfinance for clean energy.

Knowledge management and communication of programme results is a key component of CleanStart. Knowledge generated from the programme will support financial service providers and other stakeholders at all levels to gain confidence and learn from the results of CleanStart and beyond, leading indirectly to scaling-up end-user financing globally. This is both practically and strategically important for the development of a market for end-user finance for clean energy systems and services, particularly given the embryonic stage of this market.

To meet growing demand and commitments, CleanStart will supplement its core programme team 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.
The Programme Implementation Unit is housed in the UNCDF Asia-Pacific Regional Office in Bangkok, Thailand.
 
UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and Inclusive Finance
 
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.

Duties and Responsibilities

Objectives of the Assignment:
The objective of this consultancy is to provide support to the UNCDF CleanStart Programme Manager to develop a knowledge and communication strategy as well as specific products for CleanStart.
Scope of Work:
Working under the direct supervision of the UNCDF CleanStart Programme Manager, and in close collaboration with the CleanStart Programme and Knowledge Analyst and other CleanStart stakeholders as assigned, will be responsible for:
  • A knowledge management and communications strategy for CleanStart with different elements for different stakeholders/audiences
  • A number of specific knowledge & communication products or events for CleanStart
  • Quality control knowledge and communications outputs produced through CleanStart
The specific tasks will be defined in the TOR for each assignment, and may cover some of the above-mentioned issues, depending on the needs of the CleanStart Programme, availability of the consultant and man-days set aside in the retainer contract.
Duration:
  • Duration of assignment: 1 April, 2013 - 31 March 2014
  • Maximum number of working days: Up to 130 working days
Deliverables/Outputs:
  • Knowledge management and communications strategy for CleanStart
  • Specific knowledge and or communications products or events as requested by the CleanStart team
  • Quality control and design of knowledge and communications outputs produced through CleanStart

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:
  • Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
  • Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
  • Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
  • Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment

Functional Competencies:
  • Good interpersonal skills and experience in working effectively in a multi-cultural environment, with sensitivity to diverse opinion.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:
  • Postgraduate qualification in communications, journalism, media/film studies, social sciences, business, marketing, or knowledge management.
Experience:
  • At least 10 years of professional experience with proven competence in any of the any of the areas detailed in the scope of work.
  • Experience in delivering a range of communications and knowledge products for a various, diverse development projects or programmes in developing countries.
  • Experienced in developing, managing and executing multimedia projects, including developing video material, art work, or photographs.
  • Experienced in directing film projects, including script writing/development, organizing and directing shoots, editing footage (with audio lay-over where required), and producing video clips.
  • Strong knowledge of state-of-the-art techniques in communications and knowledge management.
  • Strong writing skills and editing skills, with a concise and compelling style; experienced in producing concise, executive-level presentations.
  • High-level presentation skills, using PowerPoint, PDF editing software, often incorporating graphics, flow-charts, diagrams, video material or other visual tools to convey information.
  • Knowledge about microfinance or energy lending at the micro-level, would be an asset.
Language Requirement:
  • Fluency in English is required; proficiency in French would be an asset.