Background

 The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) is a UN organization with a capital mandate (unique in the UN System) focused on reducing poverty and inequality first and foremost in the least developed countries (“LDC”s).   To support the realization of UNCDF’s Business Plan and drive the rapid expansion of the organization’s capacity to assist LDCs to meet their graduation goals, respond to LDC demand for its services, and increase its geographical coverage of and average investment size in LDCs, UNCDF requires a partnership and business development strategy.  This strategy encompasses specific, and interlinked, strategies for partnerships, branding and communications, and resource mobilization, which capitalize on mandate-specific partnership building, inter-governmental/client relations, and specific business development opportunities.

Against this backdrop, UNCDF/FIPA (Financial Inclusion Practice Area) provides seed capital and technical support through Inclusive Finance programmes to ensure that more households and small business gain access to financial services that expand opportunities and reduce vulnerabilities. Its ability to provide risk capital directly to the private sector is helping bring new financial products to underserved and hard to reach markets and spurring innovations. Through flexible grant and loan instruments, UNCDF supports a wide range of providers (e.g. FSPs, banks, cooperatives, money transfer companies, and mobile networks operators) and financial products and services (e.g. savings, credit, insurance, payment services, remittances).

UNCDF/FIPA manages a number of initiatives related to digital financial (DF). 

Mobile Money for the Poor (MM4P), a global thematic initiative to address the opportunities and challenges of implementing branchless banking and mobile money in challenging markets in Africa and Asia.  MM4P’s long-term mission is to help low income and rural households in LDCs increase their financial security through appropriate, affordable and secure means to receive, manage and save money through these “digital financial services” (DFS). MM4P is active in two countries in Asia, Nepal and Lao PDR.

Better Than Cash Alliance

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.

These two UNCDF programmes are together more frequently.  Nepal is considering becoming a BTCA country.  

UNCDF in Nepal, Lao PDR and Myanmar

UNCDF has been active in Nepal in the digital finance space for over a year with funds from UNCDF’s MM4P program laying the groundwork for a full-scale country interventions and programs including MM4P. It has worked closely with the central bank and the banks and non-banks most advanced in the thinking and piloting of branchless and mobile financial services. In the coming years a heavy focus will be on improving the policy and regulatory environment and supporting the most promising DF providers in the market.  At the same time, MM4P’s work is in partnership with the UNCDF’s country programme, known as UNNATI-Access to Finance, a 5-year programme to promote sustainable inclusive growth by reducing poverty and raising living standards implemented by the government and funded by the Government of Denmark.  The strategic focus of UNNATI is on private sector development, particularly on the value chains of three agricultural commodities – tea, ginger and dairy in seven hilly districts in the Eastern part of the country (EDR).  UNCDF is responsible for implementing the Access to finance (A2F) is a sub-component of UNNATI. Digital finance will play a key role in linking various parts of the agricultural value chains together.  Nepal is also considering becoming a member of BTCA.

UNCDF has been active in Lao PDR in the digital finance space for 18 months.  The work is done through the Making Access to Finance More Inclusive to Poor People (MAFIPP), a joint UNCDF-Bank of Lao PDR project, funded by UNCDF and the Australian Government. MAFIPP’s objective is to increase access to financial services to low income households and microentrepreneurs on a sustainable basis.  MAFIPP interventions are at micro, meso and macro levels.   At macro level MAFIPP will undertake, for the first time in the Lao PDR, a comprehensive financial diagnostic survey to provide market information on the depth of financial inclusion in the Lao PDR, and it will make this information available to the market actors. In addition, MAFIPP will work on regulatory and policy issues. At meso level MAFIPP will build capacity of financial service support organizations so that they can provide continuing support to the retail sector. Finally, at retail level MAFIPP will provide technical assistance and financing support to a broad array of market players to strengthen institutional capacity and facilitate the development of the retail actors to advance financial inclusion. MM4P has played a strong technical advisory role in helping to initiate digital finance in Lao PDR, including working with the central bank to allow providers to offer such services and working with several providers to develop strategies and business cases. The first launch of DF is likely to be in 2015.

In Myanmar, UNCDF is helping to create inclusive financial sectors by providing access to financial services for individuals and micro and small businesses through the Making Access Possible Programme (MAP) and the Microlead Expansion Programme. The purpose of MAP is to expand financial services for individuals and small businesses by defining the financial inclusion agenda in Myanmar and aligning resources with key priorities, based on a rigorous evidence-based diagnostic exercise concluded by intense stakeholder dialogue and decision making. Microlead is pursuing a savings-based approach to expand operations to underserved markets. The programme’s goal in Myanmar is to reach 525,000 new clients by 2016 at least half of whom are women and at least half of them are rural dwellers.

Post Context - UNCDF requires a Technical Specialist in Digital Finance to implement DF activities in Asia, with a focus on Nepal and Lao PDR. The Technical Specialist in Digital Finance (TS DF) will have the primary responsibility for the implementation of MM4P’s country strategies in the Nepal and Lao PDR and potential additional assigned countries in the future, recruiting and managing a small local team complemented by a range of technical service providers (TSPs).  

S/he will also oversee or provider technical input to other DF technical assistance in Asia or other assigned countries. The Technical Specialist will report to the Lead Technical Specialist, DF based in Kampala, Uganda with secondary reporting to the UNCDF Regional Technical Advisor – Asia, based in Bangkok.  For corporates support, the specialist will work with the Programme Manager and support all annual planning and reporting, fundraising, and knowledge generation and sharing activities.  This position will be based in Kathmandu, Nepal.  

The incumbent is accountable for the identification and implementation of Cross-Practice collaboration with LDFP and the sound articulation of country-level strategies and opportunities related to UNCDF mandate while ensuring gender equality and empowerment of women in strategic and operational activities of UNCDF. In doing so, she/he must translate corporate strategy into country programming and regional positioning, ensuring the development of synergies of technical/programme support and relationships with LDCs through a sound collaboration with UNDP and the UNCT at the regional and country levels. This programme positioning is also to be ensured through the conception and formulation of country / regional /global programmes embedded in the UNDAF and national priorities.

In close collaboration with the UNCDF Directorate and the PPCU (Partnerships, Policy and Communications Unit) the incumbent should actively contribute to the development and implementation of UNCDF strategy for partnering with UN Agencies around UNDAF, Post 2015 and other potential joint programming opportunities at HQs and at the global, regional and country office levels.

GTI (Global Technical Initiatives) staff will work together with other UNCDF Units and coordinating parties.  One RTA (Regional Technical Advisor) is designated as the primus inter pares who will facilitate inter alia UNCDF coordination in its regional integration, partnership outreach and business development, UN representation, technical collaboration, and on-site prioritization (as needed) of the work of local support staff. While GTI staff will continue to report to their respective Practices (and operations support staff to MSU), work processes and incentives (including through performance assessment) will be put in place to drive active engagement, dialogue, and prioritization for country engagement so as to gain coherence, optimize resource use, and facilitate greater flow of information.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of key functions:

• Contribute to the recruitment of a small support team in the assigned countries to provide financial, administrative and knowledge management support;
• Develop country strategies for Digital Finance based on UNCDF’s agreements with its funders and partners for current assigned countries (Nepal, Lao PDR), develop annual work plans and budgets per country;
• Oversee ecosystem activities in assigned countries (workshops, research, key meetings, etc.) and take active role in some of these key activities;
• Develop a pipeline and portfolio of scalable branchless and mobile financial services projects that reach underserved clients, including women and rural users;
• Select partners based on MM4P and BTCA policies, as well as those of the respective country programmes (MAFIPP, UNNATI-A2F) including completing due diligence and project appraisals as needed;
• Develop technical assistance plans and terms of references to support partners and other key stakeholders, including market research, and oversee their implementation;
• Oversee partner performance and provide the necessary assistance to ensure their achievement of outcomes;
• Provide all technical input for procurement, drafting TORs and reviewing and evaluating technical proposals;
• Assist in managing relationship with key stakeholders in focus countries;
• Conduct branchless banking and mobile money scoping missions  in other countries;
• Train local UNCDF and UNDP staff in focus countries to assist in DF project oversight;
• Contribute to knowledge generation and sharing activities of the programme;
• Support the Project Manager in annual planning and reporting, as well as corporate and fundraising responsibilities.

Recruit and manage a small in-country implementation teams in the assigned countries / a well-trained project team in the assigned countries effectively implementing a wide range of DF activities and projects (20%):

• Works with existing UNCDF staff in the assigned countries (Nepal, Lao PDR) to train them on the MM4P and BTCA programmes;
• In Nepal, recruits and hires DF National Officer, Knowledge Management Associate, and finance and administrative assistant;
• In other countries, recruits DF National Officer and finance and administrative assistance, as needed and budgeted, based in Kathmandu;
• Supports the recruitment of a contracted DFS Expert for each assigned country;
• Provides technical training as well as training on all UNCDF policies and procedures related to Direct Technical and Financial Support;
• Works with in-country teams to develop annual performance plans, provide mid-term and annual review;
• Provides advice and technical input to in-country team, ensuring quality of their work and deliverables;
• Maintains daily contact with in-country teams, organizing regular calls and meetings;
• Identifies, design, and manage cross-country technical efforts to ensure consistent quality.

Develop and implement Country Strategies for DF Development / a broad and effective range of activities that designed and implemented to move the markets into the solid expansion phase (10%)

• Based on agreements with funders, maintains and updates the 5 year country strategy for digital finance supported by work plans and budgets to achieve the targets in assigned countries;
• Secures no objections from governments to implement DF activities and projects in assigned countries;
• Works with stakeholders to get input and win acceptance for the Country Strategies, building a common approach with others;
• Manages all aspects of implementation of the strategies, coordinating all MM4P and on-site consultants to complete annual work plans;
• Drafts annual work plans and budgets for MM4P and for the DF components of the country programmes;
• Identifies and pursues funding opportunities to implement strategies.

Oversee ecosystem activities in assigned countries (workshops, research, key meetings, etc.) and take active role in some of these key activities / a range of activities involving main stakeholders and high quality information (current trends, market conditions and focused topics) is shared within the ecosystem (20%)

• Plans, write/review TORs and implement ecosystem activities (workshops, researches, conferences, trainings, exposure visits, etc.);
• Develops a market research support strategy, draft TORs, procure and manage consultants for market research to identify clients’ needs, demands, behaviors and attitudes;
• Develops and maintain partnerships with relevant regional and national stakeholders including the central banks, telecommunication companies, financial service providers and donors;  
• Takes active role in some key activities to support work done by TSPs (animate workshop, participate to meetings, etc.);
• Prepares/ reviews workshop materials, research documents, learning documents, etc. to insure high quality level information in assigned countries;
• Travels on a regular basis in assigned countries to meet with key stakeholders, TSPs;
• Identifies learning, training, and knowledge sharing opportunities for partners and key stakeholders and provide scholarships for attendance;
• Drafts research and short notes to share experience and lessons learned from partners;
• Writes short briefing notes to share experiences from the field;
• Supports communications and outreach activities locally, drafting press releases, blogs, social media commentary and other media.

Identify, vet, and assess DF projects and monitor their progress / a diverse mix of strong DF projects that meeting their targets, including the underserved, women and rural users (20%)

• Collaborates with key partners and stakeholders for research and development of innovative, cutting-edge strategies and approaches to sharpen delivery of mobile financial services;
• Develops a pipeline of potential projects that help the DF programmes achieve its outcome;
• Works with partners and technical consultants to design and develop projects;
• Develops project descriptions, including all activities, deliverables, timelines and targets that meet key programme objectives;
• Develops project appraisals for IC consideration based on partners submissions and interactions;
• Maintains regular contact with partners, identify issues and assist them in overcoming them;
• Reviews and respond to quarterly reports, ensuring partners are reporting accurately;
• Monitors progress under performance-based agreements, verify milestones and targets for disbursements;
• Seeks opportunities for coordinating and co-funding projects with other funders, ensure the programme’s efforts complete those of other mobile financial services initiatives.

To ensure the success of projects, provide or secure targeted technical assistance for partners and other relevant stakeholders and actively foster partnerships in the assigned countries/ Partners and other stakeholders have necessary support to build a successful DF ecosystem (20%)

• Acts as primary resource person for DF in the assigned countries for UNCDF, UNDP and other funders, helping to provide information, make introductions, coordinating efforts around the plan;
• Provides on-going technical advice to partners on the implementation of their projects, including sharing of information and updates on innovations;
• Provides advice as needed to other stakeholders in assigned countries, including central banks, on mobile money to build overall awareness and acceptance of services;
• Assists partners in identifying opportunities with others, including recommending or fostering strategic, financial or technical partnerships;
• Provides technical input to all procurement activities of TSPs, drafting project descriptions, technical TORs, and conducting technical reviews of the same;
• Contributes to legal and regulatory stocktaking efforts in host countries and share with others;
• Working with partners and DF technical team, drafts technical terms of reference for TSPs to support partners;
• Provides all technical input for procurement, drafting TORs and reviewing and evaluating technical proposals;
• Manages TSPs for on-time, quality provision of services to UNCDF and partners;
• Reviews all deliverables by TSPs to ensure quality.

Provides support to UNCDF management on corporate initiatives and activities, focusing on achieving the following results:  (10%)

• Builds effective and efficient partnerships at the operational level with major donor agencies to coordinate financial inclusion, including financial literacy, activities in country;
• Provides technical input on some cross-countries areas (agent management, regulatory, payment, product development, high-volume, etc.) based on lessons learned in assigned countries;
• Participates to key DF conferences;
• Provides inputs for corporate annual work plan and budget;
• Provides inputs for semi-annual reporting;
• Assists in implementation of mid-term and final evaluations of the programme;
• Supports the development of UNCDF programme and business strategies and to annual reviews;
• As requested, assists in fundraising and relationship management with donors.

Impact of Results:

The key result expected is the successful implementation and attainment of targets of the Mobile Money for the Poor programme in the assigned countries. The DF Specialist will pursue the following key results of the programme:

• DF team in assigned countries are established and serving all required technical needs of UNCDF;
• Sustainable, scalable, replicable DF providing access to affordable, demand-driven, appropriate, cost-effective financial services, particularly savings and remittances, to low income people in underserved areas;
• Well supported partners with access to the necessary technical knowledge and oversight to ensure the timely achievement of results;
• Knowledge generated, including market research, and disseminated among providers, host country regulators and  policy makers, donors and other stakeholders related to mobile money.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:             

Advocacy/Advancing A Policy-Oriented Agenda

Analysis and creation of messages and strategies

• Creates effective advocacy strategies;
• Performs analysis of political situations and scenarios, and contributes to the formulation of institutional responses.

Results-Based Programme Development and Management

Contributing to results through provision of information

• Provides information for linkages across programme activities to help identify critical points of integration;
• Provides information and documentation on specific stages of projects/programme implementation;
• Provides background information to identify opportunities for project development and helps drafting proposals;
• Participates in the formulation of project proposals.

Building Strategic Partnerships

Identifying and building partnerships

• Effectively networks with partners seizing opportunities to build strategic alliances relevant to UNCDF’s mandate and strategic agenda;
• Identifies needs and interventions for capacity building of counterparts, clients and potential partners;
• Promotes UNCDF’s agenda in inter-agency meetings.

Innovation and Marketing New Approaches

Developing new approaches

• Seeks a broad range of perspectives in developing project proposals;
• Identifies new approaches and promotes their use in other situations;
• Creates an environment that fosters innovation and innovative thinking;
• Makes the case for innovative ideas from the team with own supervisor.

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing

Developing tools and mechanisms

• Makes the case for innovative ideas documenting successes and building them into the design of new approaches;
• Identifies new approaches and strategies that promote the use of tools and mechanisms.

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise

In-depth knowledge of the subject-matter

• Understands more advanced aspects of primary area of specialization as well as the fundamental concepts of related disciplines;
• Keeps abreast of new developments in area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop him/herself professionally;
• Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments;
• Demonstrates comprehensive understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and project management tools and utilizes these regularly in work assignments.

Global Leadership and Advocacy for UNCDF Goals

Analysis and creation of messages and strategies

• Performed analysis of political situations and scenarios, and contributes to the formulation of institutional responses;
• Uses the opportunity to bring forward and disseminate materials for global advocacy work and adapts it for use at country level.

Client Orientation

Contributing to positive outcomes for the client

• Anticipates client needs;
• Works towards creating an enabling environment for a smooth relationship between the clients and service provider;
• Demonstrates understanding of client’s perspective;
• Solicits feedback on service provision and quality.

Core Competencies:

• Promoting ethics and integrity, creating organizational precedents;
• Building support and political acumen;
• Building staff competence,creating an environment of creativity and innovation;
• Building and promoting effective teams;
• Creating and promoting enabling environment for open communication;
• Creating an emotionally intelligent organization;
• Leveraging conflict in the interests of UNCDF & setting standards;
• Sharing knowledge across the organization and building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member;
• Fair and transparentdecision making; calculated risk-taking;
• Ability to address gender equality and empowerment of women considerations in strategic and operational activities of UNCDF.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master’s degree in technology, economics, public/business administration, social sciences, or related discipline or the equivalent experience.

Experience:

• A minimum of five (5) years’ experience in progressively more responsible positions in the financial services and/or telecommunications field;
• Of which a minimum of two (2)  years’ experience working with digital finance, preferable a mix of bank and non-bank;
• Experience in working with the implementation of digital finance projects, including banks and mobile network operators.

Technically relevant experience sought:

• Strong knowledge on the technology of Digital Finance;
• Knowledge of national payment systems and technical infrastructure of payment and clearing systems;
• Familiarity with the concepts in to financial inclusion, a broad knowledge of related disciplines, as well as an in-depth knowledge of relevant organizational policies and procedures;
• Adequate understanding of legal and regulatory issues related to DF, such as know your customer and bank agency rules;
• Exposure to telecommunications platforms, including mobile money platforms;
• Experience working with the mass market, including rural or low income communities, preferably related to financial services;
• Experience managing or conducting research, particularly related to product development or client demand;
• Working knowledge of current developments in microfinance, including mobile financial services and one or more of the following: savings, micro-insurance, remittances, financial literacy;
• Working knowledge of international donor organizations and preferably experience in preparing proposals for funding;
• Strong ability and experience working with MS Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint and other relevant financial applications and tools.                        

Language Requirements:

• English Proficiency orally and in written form;
• Command of a second UN language a comparative advantage as well as the knowledge of Nepali or closely related language.

Note:

Applicants are strongly encouraged to upload (as a *pdf attachment) the completed and signed UNDP Personal History form (P-11) which can be downloaded fromhttp://sas.undp.org/Documents/P11_Personal_history_form.docx  Completion of all the fields is required.

Please group all your documents into one (1) single PDF document as the system only allows to upload maximum one document.