UNCDF Jobs - 55637- Consultant: Youth Policy Advisor

Consultant: Youth Policy Advisor

Advertised on behalf of

UNCDF

Location :

Home-Based

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

18-May-2015

Application Deadline :

28-Apr-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

8 months non-concurring

Languages Required :

English French

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

In 2010, UNCDF in partnership with The MasterCard Foundation launched the YouthStart (YS) programme, Building Youth Inclusive Financial Sectors in Sub-Saharan Africa, as a regional pilot. This innovative programme has worked with 10 partner FSPs in eight countries in sub-Saharan Africa, granted access to financial services to over 514,000 young people (of which 46 percent are young women), and trained almost 502,000 youth in financial education (46 percent young women). Youth that have opened savings accounts with YS partners have accumulated $14 million in savings and accessed over $7.3 million in loans (see figure 1). Early findings from research conducted by the regional pilot access financial services (eg. savings, loans etc.) in order to open their own business or to reduce risks associated with the transitions that youth undergo (eg. dropping out of school).

UNCDF has learned from the different approaches in which financial inclusion can help address the youth employment challenge through the regional pilot. In particular, UNCDF gained a deeper understanding of a) the types of financial services that best meet the needs of youth according to their socio-economic context and developmental stages, b) the types of financial services that can best mitigate the risk of lending to youth; c) the business models that FSPs can use to deliver financial education to youth, d) the business case for YFS; e) the types of trainings and tools necessary for FSPs to gain a better understanding of the youth market; and, f) the changes needed in the policy and regulatory environment to increase access to financial services for youth.

However, UNCDF also learned that, if we want to have greater and long-lasting impact in the youth economic opportunity (YEO) sphere, we need to go beyond financial inclusion. We need to ensure that while young people access relevant and affordable financial services they also gain access to entrepreneurship training, mentoring, apprenticeships and other relevant non-financial services that support their transition from school to work, secure decent work and/or start/expand their own business. We also need to ensure that the right policies and regulatory frameworks are in place to support these transitions and greater access to economic opportunities for youth.

UNCDF will take the best practices from the FSPs that participated in the regional pilot and scale them up, as well as improve the programmes based on lessons learned within the framework of a new programme entitled YouthStart Global. The programme will be implemented in 3 phases:

An inception phase that entails a country specific analysis of the youth economic opportunities ecosystems in each country and getting the necessary government support;
A phase 1 that consists on selecting the right partners to work with in each country; and
A phase 2 that consists in supporting selected partners to develop, test and scale up relevant, accessible and affordable services to youth.

Duties and Responsibilities

Objectives of the Assignment:

The Inception Phase will engage an institutional partner (i.e. NGO, consulting firm) which will be responsible for conducting in depth mapping of the youth economic opportunities ecosystem in Benin, Mozambique, Rwanda, and Zambia (please click here for the RFA). One of the major objectives of the inception phase will be to ensure a complete review of the regulatory environment is conducted to identify the gaps and opportunities for relevant policies.

As such, UNCDF is seeking a policy advisor to support UCDF during the YouthStart Global Inception Phase in identifying opportunities and constraints within the policy and regulatory framework in each country and develop a roadmap with stakeholders in the youth economic opportunities ecosystem.

Scope of Work:

The Advisor will be expected to:

Task 1: Support Structure of Research Plan and Survey Tools

Support the institutional partner engaged for the inception phase in reviewing the current national legislation, policies, planning, programs, procedures and provisions of related regulations focused on youth employment and financial services for youth;
Advice the institutional partner engaged for the inception phase to identify implementation gaps and inconsistencies to help determine what limits adoption and implementation of policies at the local, national and (where relevant) regional levels;
Provide guidance to the institutional partner engaged for the inception phase to identify key stakeholders and key partners who are fundamental in influencing the implementation of key youth policies at the local, national, and regional level;
Provide support to the YouthStart team in designing research questions to identify regulatory parameters and policy implications affecting youth economic opportunities (YEO).

Task 2: Support data collection

Shortlist key policy makers and stakeholders to interview;
Support the YouthStart team in making sure the necessary data is being collected during interviews with policy makers and key stakeholders intervening in the YEO ecosystem in each country.

Task 3: Data analysis

Support the YouthStart team with the analysis of the data collected from the different sources (i.e. literature review, interviews);
Develop a diagnostic of the regulatory framework for youth employment and financial services including areas of need (i.e. where government is unable to influence the functions of actors), existence or lack of policies; and line ministries and agencies which UNCDF should engage with for further discussions/partnerships;
Provide detail input for policy implications for each country specific situation analysis of the youth economic opportunities ecosystem (country reports).

Timeline and Duration of Assignment

Starting Date: 18th May 2015. End date: 31 December 2015. Exact days will be agreed with consultants based on availability. .
Total number of working days: estimated days: 15.

Final Products and Deliverables:
The consultant will deliver the following:

Detailed feedback on stakeholder mapping, research design, and country maps;
One to two-pager on the analysis of the existing youth related policies in the areas of youth employment and financial services (diagnostic of gaps, challenges, and opportunities);
Detailed input on final country reports and presentations.

Payment to consultants will be linked to the satisfactory completion of deliverables.

The consultant will report to the YouthStart Programme Manager.

Competencies

Analytical and problem solving skills of a high order, including the ability to formulate recommendations and advice
Demonstrated excellent written and oral communication skills in English;
Ability to work independently, manage time, scheduling and logistical issues;
Strong ability to communicate and function effectively in international/multicultural environment;
High level planning, organizational and time management skills, including flexibility, attention to detail and the ability to work under pressure to meet changing deadlines;
Well-developed interpersonal skills , including the ability to liaise effectively at senior levels;
High level of communication and interpersonal skills and experience in working effectively in a multi-cultural environment
Sensitivity to diverse opinions and difficulties arising from differing social and cultural perceptions.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced degree in Social Sciences, Public Administration or related fields, preferably in public/social policy and with a focus on youth.

Experience :

Minimum 10 years of post-Master’s relevant experience in delivering policy advisory and technical support services directly to governments, bilateral, and/or multilateral organizations;
Extensive experience in strategic policy and research on youth issues, with focus on policy analysis, advisory services and communication;
High-level understanding of policy assessment tools;
Experience working in a developing country context, preferably in a strategic policy capacity;
Excellent skills in facilitation of workshops, trainings, round table and multi-stakeholder consultations;
Excellent skills in participatory methodologies and working with diverse stakeholders;
Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, and handling of web-based management system.

Languages:

Fluency in English, both written and verbal;
Proficiency in French.

Interest candidates must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

Copy of CV;
Completed P11 form available here.

Only qualified applicants will be contacted to provide a financial offer and continue with the hiring process. Applications will be rated on both technical and financial submissions, providing a weight of 70% to the technical offer and 30% to the financial offer.