Background

UNCDF

UNCDF is the UN’s capital investment agency for the world’s least developed countries (LDCs). Established by the General Assembly in 1966 and with headquarters in New York, UNCDF is an autonomous UN organization affiliated with UNDP which creates new opportunities for poor people and their communities by increasing access to microfinance and investment capital.  UNCDF focuses on Africa and the poorest countries of Asia and the Pacific, with a special commitment to countries emerging from conflict or crisis.  It provides seed capital – grants and loans – and technical support to help  financial service providers  reach more poor households and small businesses, and local governments finance the capital investments – water systems, feeder roads, schools, irrigation schemes – that will improve poor peoples’ lives.

UNCDF works to enlarge peoples’ choices: it believes that poor people and communities should take decisions about their own development.  Its programmes help to empower women – over 50% of the clients of UNCDF-supported microfinance institutions are women – and its expertise in microfinance and local development is shaping new responses to food insecurity, climate change and other challenges.  UNCDF works in challenging environments – remote rural areas, countries emerging from conflict – and paves the way for others to follow. Its programmes are designed to catalyze larger investment flows from the private sector, development partners and national governments, for significant impact on the Millennium Development Goals, especially Goal 1: Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger, Goal 3: Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women, and Goal 7: Ensure Environmental Sustainability.

UNCDF operates several global thematic initiative (GTI) programmes see http://www.uncdf.org/en/global-programmes) that are offering needed and innovative financial services. The Better Than Cash Alliance (BTCA, see http://betterthancash.org/) is housed at UNCDF and works closely with these other programmes.

Better Than Cash Alliance

The Better Than Cash Alliance is an alliance of governments, private sector and development organizations committed to accelerating the shift from cash to electronic payments. 
Billions of dollars in cash payments are made daily in emerging and developing economies, including payment of salaries, social welfare and relief, payments to suppliers, etc. The problems with these cash payments include a lack of transparency, accountability and security, as well as inefficiency. Furthermore, the individuals who receive the cash are excluded from the formal financial sector. There were approximately 2.5 billion people excluded from the formal financial sector in 2012.

Shifting these payments from cash to electronic has the potential to improve the livelihoods of low-income people by advancing financial inclusion and enabling people to save, while giving governments, the development community and the private sector a more efficient, transparent and often safer means of disbursing payments

The Better Than Cash Alliance seeks to leverage the leadership of governments, the networks of development organizations and the expertise of the private sector in payment technologies to replace the use of cash in their programming and payment streams with electronic payments, where appropriate. It also seeks to build the financial capability of low-income clients who will benefit from electronic payments and a wider range of financial services.

 The Better Than Cash Alliance:

• advocates for the use of all forms of electronic payments where they provide a preferable payment option to cash;
• collaborates with program partners to mobilize available technical expertise and resources to identify; and
• implements the most effective approach to make the transition from cash to electronic payments;  and
• conducts research, documents good practices and produces knowledge products to address the barriers to adoption and drive the effective shift from cash to electronic payments globally.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Consultancy

The BTCA is seeking a National Consultant to support the Alliance’s goals by leading program design and implementation on an in-country basis for initiatives intending to promote the use of electronic payment methods. The Consultant will act as the key representative for local programme implementations, working with local partners to manage grant disbursement, oversee program implementation schedules, and relay information between in-country programs and the BTCA. The Consultant is also expected to contribute to the BTCA through the development of knowledge management products and will be seen as the local focal point for electronic payments and financial inclusion.

The successful candidate will be added to our roster to be engaged on an assignment basis. These assignments may suppose short-term or long-term contracts which will be discussed with the candidate, who will be free to accept or decline the offer for each assignment.

The consultant hired for this position will be working for the BTCA. The BTCA is inviting applications from highly qualified individual consultants with expertise in digital finance established in the following countries:

• Kenya
• Philippines
• Senegal
• Peru
• Colombia
• Afghanistan
• Malawi
• Mexico
• Liberia
• Benin
• Uganda
• Zambia
• Laos
• Nepal
• Ghana
• Rwanda
• Tanzania
• Haiti
• Ethiopia
• Myanmar
• Fiji
• Papua New Guinea
• Solomon Islands

The consultant must prove knowledge of one or more of the following subjects:

• Digital finance
• Mobile and electronic payments
• Mobile banking
• Mobile Money
• Payment systems
• Telecommunications
• Financial inclusion
• Public affairs

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work

The scope of work is specific to the country / project assigned. The following is indicative:

• Key objectives: Support elaboration of an informed and sound ecosystem strenthening strategy for electronic payments and digital financial services; follow-up on its implementation; manage activities and institutional relations for in-country projects / programmes; help promote and accelerate the transition from cash payments towards electronic payments and financial inclusion;
• Interaction with UNCDF programmes: primarily through the Better Than Cash Alliance, with contribution to Mobile Money for the Poor, Pacific Financial Inclusion Programme and potentially other UNCDF programmes, as assigned.

Scope of responsibilities:

The scope of work is specific to the country / project assigned.

The following is indicative:

Act as a subject matter expert in one or more of the following areas:

• Financial inclusion and access to finance;
• Payments (payments systems, retail / corporate payments, national infrastructure);
• Digital financial services and delivery channels (Cards, Mobile Money, Agent Networks).

Project design, management, monitoring and evaluation:

• Support in the elaboration of an overall country strategy, project designs, oversight and rollout;
• Identify opportunities for strategic partnerships, local resource mobilization and shared projects;
• Manage and implement ongoing projects;
• Stay updated with national developments and provide strategic advice; and
• Support project monitoring and evaluation.

Be a local focal point for Better Than Cash Alliance activities:

• Communicate and develop relationships with Governments, private sector and development organizations stakeholders, including representing the Alliance at events, meetings  and committees;
• Support country-level working groups and networks, local champions and partners;
• Prepare briefing and presentation materials;
• Organizing and participating in missions and preparing mission reports;
• Support development of local advocacy plan; and
• Contribute to developing and disseminating knowledge products such as publications, panel sessions, webinars;

Contracting Arrangements:

Successful candidates will be included in BTCA’s Digital Financial Ecosystem Coordinators Roster. Inclusion in the expert roster does not guarantee a contract with BTCA.

When a request for services arises, the hiring unit/office shall:

• Contact the roster manager or search the roster to select at least three (3) qualified experts;
• Send the procurement notice and ToRs for the assignment to the selected experts with a request to confirm availability;
• Review the submissions and financial proposals;
• Select an expert for the assignment based on the ‘Best value for money’ approach;
• Issue an Individual Contract to the expert;
• Notify the roster manager of the decision and of the duration of the contract issued to the expert.
• Submit an evaluation of the expert to the roster manager once the assignment is completed; and before the final payment is issued.

The contracting unit/office will create a specific contract including Terms of Reference (ToR) for each assignment. The contract will detail the time frame, and frequency/modality of payments.

Conditions of a particular assignment may be negotiable.

Hours:

Assignments may require half-time or full time during the period of employment but for UN public holidays. An agreement with the successful candidate for him or her to work hours which facilitate attendance other personal responsibilities may be considered on a case by case basis.

Work permits:

Candidates are required to have all work permits and residence in order to work locally at the time of applying and throughout the duration of the contract. The candidate must either be a national or a foreigner with a long lasting professional and cultural relationship to the country.

Pay:

A daily fee will be provided which will help BTCA score the application. This daily fee will be added as a reference if the candidate makes the roster. Nevertheless, candidates will be able to provide a different rate for specific assignments.  Payments will be made to the consultant based on the number of days worked only.  The daily fee is all inclusive and shall take into account various expenses incurred by the consultant during the period of the contract, including professional fees, insurance, risks and inconveniences related to work under hardship and hazardous conditions, and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services under the contract.  Payments will be based on timesheets and invoices approved by the supervisor

Travel:

Since this is a local hire no travel allowances will be provided to the successful candidate for their appointment nor for their repatriation at its conclusion. In-country business travel may be anticipated in which case it will be included under the assignment contract (estimated 10-20%) and agreed with supervisor.  No international business travel are anticipated but if there is any approved travel, UNCDF will pay separately travel expenses (economy airfare, terminal expenses and per diems which include hotel and food expenses) according on standard UN rates based on evidence of approved and actual travel.

Competencies

• Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment;
• Self-development, initiative-taking;
• Acting as a team player and facilitating team work;
• Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively;
• Creating synergies through self-control;
• Managing conflict;
• Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others;
• Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member;
• Informed and transparent decision making.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• A completed bachelor degree (or equivalent) required;
• A completed or in progress tertiary qualification or technical certification relevant to this TOR is desirable but not required.

Experience:

• A minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience at the national or international level in a professional environment including exposure to one or more of the key responsibilities of this position is required;
• Demonstrated exposure to corporate or retail electronic payments systems, financial services, financial inclusion, international development, multi- or bi-lateral agencies (especially the UN) or government is desirable;
• Excellent attention to detail, a proactive approach to achieving key results, and a high level of thoroughness in a complex multitasking and matrix management environment;
• Excellent MS Office skills are required;
• Experience in project management is desirable but not required.

Languages:

• Fluency in English and the national language is required;
• Proficiency in existing national dialects is an asset.