Background

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office (MPTF Office) provides dedicated fund administration services when UNDP is appointed by the UN System and national partners to serve as the Administrative Agent (AA) for Multi-Donor Trust Funds (MDTFs) and Joint Programmes (JPs) using the pass-through fund administration modality. The MPTF Office is the AA for 95 % of all UN MDTFs thereby functioning as the de facto central service center in the UN for the provision of transparent and accountable fund administration services. The Office provides a one-stop shop with focused support and service to UN Country Teams (UNCTs), national governments and donors. It enhances the UN’s accountability for its growing role in MPTFs established in the context of humanitarian, transition, reconstruction, development and climate change programmes.

Increasingly, and in complement to UN MDTFs, Governments turn to the MPTF Office requesting its assistance in fund management for National Trust Funds on behalf of national Governments where the main implementing entities are national institutions, with the UN System providing support in capacity development.   Examples of national funds administered by the MPTF Office include: DRC Fonds National REDD+, Mali Climate Fund, and Ethiopia Climate Resistant Green Economy Facility.  Full descriptions are available on http://mptf.undp.org/.

Fund management includes three distinct functions: 1) fund administration; 2) fund operations; and 3) fund implementation as defined below:

Fund Administration

Tasks

  • Develop fund governance architecture and performance matrix;
  • Support to resource mobilization;
  • Receive and safe management of donor contributions, including investments and reporting on fund availability;
  • Disburse funds to recipient organizations in accordance with instructions from the Steering Committee (on behalf of the Steering Committee);
  • Consolidate programming and financial statements and reports, based on submissions provided to the AA by recipient organizations;
  • Oversee fund operational and finance closure.

Fund Operations

Tasks

  • Administrative support to the Steering Committee;
  • Prepare resource mobilization strategy and investment plan;
  • Manage accreditation process for implementing entities;
  • Prepare operational manual and procedures;
  • Appraise project proposals and manage public communications;
  • Monitor/evaluate portfolio performance and advice the Steering Committee on remedial actions as required.

Fund Implementation

Tasks

  • Project identification, eligibility assessment, formulation, implementation support and evaluation in accordance with the Fund’s eligibility criteria and procedures;
  • Mobilization of project co-financing;
  • Policy dialogue with Trust Fund Council, Secretariat and Trustee;
  • Procurement of services and equipment for project activities;
  • Project financial management;
  • Application of environmental and social safeguards;
  • Result-based and Knowledge management.
In line with the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness, the Accra Agenda for Action and other development frameworks, it is envisaged that Funds will include a nationally-administered funding window and/or in due course the fund administration of National Trust Funds will be handed over to an appropriate national institution, using national systems, processes and procedures with strengthened capacities.  
 
In order to facilitate this process as well as support national capacities to manage funds, the MPTF Office seeks the services of a pool of highly qualified consultants to perform a variety of tasks related to:
 
Fund Implementation
  • Develop a generic assessment tool to assess the ability of national institutions to implement funding received from national funds in accordance with international standards for fiduciary management and safeguards.  Areas to assess would include funds flow, staffing accounting policies and procedures, internal and external audit, reporting and monitoring and information systems;
  • Develop options for enhancing the implementation capacity of national partners and formulate a capacity development road map;
  • Develop a capacity development plan for implementation.

Fund Administration

  • Assess national regulatory frameworks’ consistency with UNDP’s Financial Regulations and Rules;
  • Assess national capacity for fund administration, develop options for handing over fund management functions to national partners, and based on this experience, develop a generic assessment tool;
  • Develop a capacity development plan associated with the selected option.

In completing the tasks noted above, the consultants are requested to conduct any or all of the following:

  • Review assessments carried out by development partners (e.g., World Bank assessments—PEFA, PER, CFAA, etc.; CPFM-SAT, OBI, etc.) of the national Public Financial Management (PFM) System, identifying capacity gaps in carrying out fund administration and fund management functions;
  • Identify on-going capacity development activities that are currently being undertaken by development partners that can be leveraged for improved capacity for fund administration, operations and implementation;
  • Develop options for handing over (a) fund administration and/or (b) implementation to national counterparts.  As examples, options may include full use of national systems including the support needed to ensure adequate capacity; use of hybrid systems to until national systems have appropriate capacity; use of a support unit until national systems can be fully used;
  • Develop country specific capacity development and transition plan.
This vacancy announcement aims to establish Long Term Agreements (LTAs) for consultants who will be deployed to countries (francophone or anglophone) where the MPTF Office administers national funds, as well as to develop generic tools and advise on their use.  Consultants who are issued a Long-Term Agreement may be requested to conduct similar work for other national funds, as part of the advisory services provided by the MPTF Office.      
 

Duties and Responsibilities

Consultants are expected to conduct any of the following tasks under the overall guidance provided by the MPTF Office Executive Coordinator and the Senior Portfolio Manager to draft prepare the deliverables detailed below.

Tasks and Deliverables:

Fund Administration

 Task- Assess national regulatory frameworks’ consistency with UNDP’s Financial Regulations and Rules.  
Deliverable - Document indicating to what extent the national regulatory framework is consistent with UNDP’s Financial Regulations and Rules.

Task - Assess national capacity for fund administration.    
Deliverable - Paper describing the current capacity for fund administration based on already existing reviews, areas where there are capacity gaps and on-going efforts to address the gaps. Identification of areas needing capacity support as well as criteria to indicate when capacity needs are met.

Task - Develop a generic assessment tool to assess the ability to administer funds pooled funding in accordance with international standards for fiduciary management and safeguards including clear criteria for meeting the standards.       
Deliverable - General assessment tool for fund administration.

Task - Develop options for handing over fund management functions to national partners.      
Deliverable - Options paper presenting different options for national actors to perform fund administration functions, including the different implications for national ownership, use of national systems, expected time to develop capacities and related costs.

Task - Capacity development plan for handing over fund administration functions to national partners.      
Deliverable - Detailed action plan on steps, criteria and milestones for developing national capacity for fund management based on the selected option by its Government and the Fund steering committee.

Fund Implementation

Task - Assess national capacity for fund implementation.                                                 
Deliverable - Paper describing the current capacity for fund implementation, areas where there are capacity gaps and on-going efforts to address the gaps. Identification of areas needing capacity support as well as criteria to indicate when capacity needs are met

Task - Capacity development plan for implementation functions based on capacity assessment.  
Deliverable - Detailed action plan on steps and milestones for developing capacity for fund implementation.

Task - Develop a generic assessment tool to assess the ability to implement funds in accordance with international standards for fiduciary management and safeguards including clear criteria for meeting the standards.    
Deliverable - Generic assessment tool for fund implementation.

Task - Using the results of the assessment on the ability to implement funds, develop options for enhancing the implementation capacity of national partners and formulate a capacity development road map.             
Deliverable - Application of the tool mentioned above with a document indicating:  Current status of capacity, Identification of capacity gaps, Options for filling capacity gaps, and Formulate a capacity development road map including clear indicators of when capacity has been reached.

Consultants are expected to maintain regular contact with the MPTF Office, Government stakeholders, and UNDP Country Office.

The consultants will work from home but will also be requested to travel and must demonstrate a willingness to work in a collaborative manner while taking responsibility for individual deadlines and deliverables as outlined above and in the contract.

Time-frame:

2-8 weeks per task, per country. 

Competencies

  • Strong ability to think strategically and creatively, and analyze and synthesize information to provide well-structured and high quality products (options and workplans);
  • In-depth and up-to-date knowledge and understanding of the assessments and capacity development efforts in improving PFM systems;
  • In-depth and up-to-date knowledge and understanding of fund administration;
  • Strong organizational skills and readiness to work flexible hours to ensure that the agreed upon timeline is adhered to;
  • Ability to build consensus with government officials and development partners;
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills;
  • Proven capacity to work collaboratively in a multi-cultural settings, while taking responsibility for individual deadlines and deliverables;
  • Excellent writing skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

  • Advanced university degree in development studies, public administration, business administration, finance or other relevant social science.

Experience

  • Equivalent of 10 years relevant professional experience in development, or financial management systems;
  • Experience working for/with IFIs, UN and/or other multi-lateral organizations;
  • Experience carrying out  Public Financial Management assessments in developing countries;
  • Experience carrying out capacity assessments and preparing capacity development proposals;
  • Good computer skills;
  • Familiarity with the UN Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfers is an asset (http://undg.org/archive_docs/7110-Framework_for_Cash_Transfers_to_Implementing_Partners.doc).

Language Requirement

  • Fluency in English and/or French is required. Working knowledge of the other language is desirable.

Application Process

Candidates should indicate which Tasks under Duties and Responsibilities they are interested in conducting, as well as provide a description of the work approach or work methodology they would take. Candidates are not required to select all of the Tasks under Duties and Responsibilities but may choose 1 or more Tasks.

Interested candidates should follow UNDP standard online application procedure, mindful of the following instructions:

After submitting the online form, please upload a document containing a cover letter specifying the Task(s) you would like to do, the Financial Proposal in USD and Description of Approach per Task along with your CV.

Selection Process

  • The selection process will be led by the UNDP MPTF Office;
  • Short-listed candidates will be requested to: Provide the Personal History Form (P11); Submit sample options and work plans in English or French; and Participate in an interview with the selection panel.

The technical selection will be based on a balanced assessment of the candidate(s)': (i) knowledge and analysis of the subject matter; (ii) relevance of previous experience and technical expertise; (iii) educational background; and (iv) language skills. The selection of the Consultant will be made in accordance with the quality and cost based selection method (70% technical component and 30% price/cost component).

Contracting Arrangements

The successful candidates will be requested to enter into a Long Term Agreement (LTA) and will be included in the MPTF Office’s list of LTAs for a period of 3 years.

The LTA does not necessarily mean that a contract with the MPTF Office is guaranteed.  This will depend on forthcoming needs. Where a request for services arises, the MPTF Office shall directly contract the consultant without the need for further selection process. A specific Terms of Reference (ToR) outlining the outputs for each assignment shall be provided and an Individual Contract (IC) or a Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA), whichever is applicable, will be issued to the consultant, detailing the time frame. Conditions of a particular assignment may be negotiable.

Estimated Timeframes

It is expected that the consultant(s) will sign an LTA for a period of 3 years. The Individual Consultant (IC) contract or Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA) contract, whichever is applicable. The length and timeline of the IC consultancy will be based on the specific assignment to be completed, with the estimated total number of days and the time period for the work assignment.