UNDP Jobs - 69520- International Financial Institutions Partnership C

International Financial Institutions Partnership Consultant

Location :

Brussels, BELGIUM

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

01-Dec-16 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

estimated 1st January 2017 - 30th December 2017

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

approximately 224 working days

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

As part of UNDP’s global International Financial Institutions (IFIs) Partnerships strategy (https://intranet.undp.org/unit/pb/resmob/IFI%20Agreements%20and%20Templates/IFI%20Partnership%20Strategy%20-%20July%202016.pdf?Web=1), UNDP seeks to catalyze action that will help governments take advantage of multilateral funding for development and lead to new and innovative partnerships with IFIs in Europe and the CIS region.

Recognizing that traditional sources of development finance are increasingly limited, while the universal and comprehensive nature of SDGs calls for greater financing flows and national ownership, collaboration with IFIs is becoming more important to leverage greater development returns at a time of historic opportunities and significant risks.

Following two years of intense engagement with various IFIs active in the Europe and CIS region, the current assignment will contribute to the consolidation of UNDP’s’ partnership with IFIs such as the European Investment Bank (EIB), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) and the KfW Bank, and to translate the mutual interest to cooperate into tangible joint projects.

The EIB is a valuable partner, with which UNDP is developing a vibrant partnership, with mutual high expectations. Building on earlier ongoing cooperation in Armenia and intensive staff contacts, in October 2016, the MoU was signed with the Bank, followed by the first direct contract on early recovery in the Donbass Region in Ukraine. Cooperation opportunities with several countries in the region including Turkey, Serbia, Belarus, Georgia, Armenia, and Kazakhstan need to be further nurtured. With EBRD, following the signature of MOU in 2014,UNDP is exploring programmatic synergies in Eastern Europe/Commonwealth of Independent States and Middle East and North African regions, in areas including SME and local economic development, water and municipal infrastructure, inclusive/ sustainable growth and gender and climate change. There are mutually acknowledged opportunities for cooperation in several countries in the region, including Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Turkey. In 2016, discussions with the CEB have restarted on the elaboration of a new MoU and a preliminary action plan was agreed. Tangible partnership ideas will have to be further explored in 2017. With KfW, UNDP is developing a growing corporate relationship, including one joint project in Turkey and potential for cooperation in Ukraine and other countries of the region.

Overall objective of the assignment:
The Partnership Consultant, based in Brussels, will report to the Team Leader, New Partnerships and Emerging Donors, UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub, with day-to-day coordination with the Partnership Advisor, UNDP Brussels and regular coordination with the Financial Institutions Team, Bureau for External Relations and Advocacy (BERA), UNDP HQ.

Building upon the existing progress on IFIs partnerships in Europe and CIS, and in support of the implementation of the broader UNDP IFI strategy, the overall objective of this assignment is to build or support strong working-level relationships with EIB, EBRD, CEB and KfW support the development of a pipeline of potential joint initiatives with those IFIs.

Location:
Brussels, Belgium (with travel to Luxembourg, Istanbul, RBEC region, and global events as needed).

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work:

The consultant will:

Identify key bottlenecks, processes, and opportunities for advancing partnerships with the above-mentioned IFIs;
Support management relationship with those IFIs by liaising with their headquarters and regional and country offices;
Monitor the developments in the finance related aspects of UNDP’s partnership with the European Commission and with the French Development Agency (AFD);
Liaise with the UNDP Brussels office, BERA-HQ and relevant Regional Bureaus to ensure the necessary linkages within UNDP and with the above mentioned banks;
Assist Country Offices in developing 4-6 proposals for UNDP in the Europe and CIS region and, based on demand, 1-2 proposals from another region where UNDP operates to be implemented in collaboration with the IFIs.

Deliverables:

The following deliverables are expected from the consultancy:

Analytical reports or concept notes (12 reports or concept notes, 1 every month) - performing comprehensive research and analysis on a broad set of IFI partnership engagement topics, including concept notes for joint portfolio discussions, partnership review meetings, joint visibility events, regular updates of work plans, as agreed with the respective banks and others as needed;
Partnership support for UNDP Country Offices, Regional Bureaus and UNDP HQ through partnerships intelligence, data collection, briefs, analysis and specific recommendations (6 documents to support Country Offices written, 1 every two months);
Project proposals support for UNDP country Offices through field missions to identify and formulate tangible partnership opportunities between the banks and UNDP (approximately 12 support missions, 1 per month, depending on the requests for support from COs).

Timeframe:
Approximately 224 working days over estimated period of one year from the start of the assignment.

Payments will be made in 12 equal installments (once a month) upon submitted satisfactory progress report against deliverables and upon its acceptance by the Supervisor/Certifying Officer. All deliverables should be submitted to UNDP by the Consultant in English. Travel costs related to the possible missions to Europe and CIS region (and other regions as per needed), will be paid separately to the Consultant following UNDP’s rules and regulations.

Competencies

Corporate competencies:

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:

Strong analytical, research, reporting and writing abilities;
Ability to work under pressure and stressful situations;
Strong organizational and process management competencies;
Team working competencies and ability to effectively work in teams;
Ability to assess complex situations in order to screen succinctly and clearly critical issues and draw forward-looking conclusions.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s degree in Finance, Economic, Business Administration, International Relations, Law, European Union studies, international Development, Economic development are related topics.

Experience:

At least 6 years of working experience in programming, project management, technical assistance, or policy advice in or for international financial institutions, the European Union, United Nations or similar organizations;
Working experience with European International Financial Institutions (preferably in EIB/EBRD/CEB/KfW) is a significant asset;
Proven track record of developing partnerships with international financial institutions or partnerships with the private sector on international development issues (minimum 2 similar/relevant assignments);
Proven relevant experience in developing partnerships in Europe and the CIS countries is an asset.

Language:

Excellent written and spoken English;
Knowledge of French or one of the region’s languages is an advantage.

Evaluation of Applicants:

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on a cumulative analysis taking into consideration the combination of the applicants’ qualifications and financial proposal.
The award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

responsive/compliant/acceptable, and
Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical (P11 desk reviews and interviews) and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

Only candidates who will get at least 70% of points in each step of the process (desk review and interviews) will be considered for financial evaluation.

Technical Criteria - 70% of total evaluation – max. 35 points:

Criteria A (Education) – max points: 5;
Criteria B (Experience in programming, project management, technical assistance, or policy advice in or for international financial institutions, the European Union, United Nations or similar organizations) – max points: 7;
Criteria C (Experience with European International Financial Institutions) – max points: 8;
Criteria D (Interviews - Experience with developing partnerships with international financial institutions or partnerships with the private sector on international development issues; experience in developing partnerships in Europe and the CIS countries) – max. points: 5;
Criteria E (Interviews - experience in developing partnerships in Europe and the CIS countries) – max points: 5;
Criteria F (Interviews - Language skills) – max points: 5.

Financial Criteria - 30% of total evaluation – max. 15 points.

Application procedures:

Qualified candidates are requested to apply online via this website. The application should contain:

Cover letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the advertised position. Please paste the letter into the "Resume and Motivation" section of the electronic application.
Filled P11 form including past experience in similar projects and contact details of referees (blank form can be downloaded from http://europeandcis.undp.org/files/hrforms/P11_modified_for_SCs_and_ICs.doc ); please upload the P11 instead of your CV.
Financial Proposal* in USD - specifying a) total lump sum amount for tasks specified in this announcement, b) travel to join duty station/repatriation travel.
Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials

*Please note that the financial proposal is all-inclusive and shall take into account various expenses incurred by the consultant/contractor during the contract period (e.g. fee, health insurance, vaccination, personal security needs, travel to join duty station/repatriation travel and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services...).

Payments will be made only upon confirmation of UNDP on delivering on the contract obligations in a satisfactory manner.

Individual Consultants are responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director. Consultants are also required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under dss.un.org
General Terms and conditions as well as other related documents can be found under: http://on.undp.org/t7fJs.

Qualified women and members of minorities are encouraged to apply.
Due to large number of applications we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process.