UNDP Jobs - 73083- Senior Business Incubation and Development Consult

Senior Business Incubation and Development Consultant

Location :

Dili and Oecusse, Timor Leste

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

10-Jul-2017

Application Deadline :

03-Jul-17 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

90 days

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

90 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

Over the past decade, Timor-Leste has created the preconditions for successful development. It has emerged from a crisis of internal violence and political instability in 2006-2007. Although still classified as a Least Developed Country (LDC) Timor-Leste achieved lower middle-income status in 2011. Nonetheless, poverty remains persistenTimor-Lestey high and employment, particularly around youth, remains a priority. While a greater proportion of poor reside in rural areas, the high rate of rural to urban migration underscores the need to address the emerging issue of urban poverty and employability. With a nascent private sector, absorption capacity remains low. Skills development and entrepreneurship focused on youth are a prime opportunity for intervention.

With 60 percent of the population under the age of 25, Timor-Leste is one of the youngest countries in the world. To create job opportunities for youth, sustain inclusive growth, and prepare for a future of potentially declining natural resource returns, Timor-Leste needs to diversify its economy and sources of revenue, elevate the quality of health and education services, and equip the population with viable skills. There is widespread consensus among government and development partners that efforts to put Timor-Leste on a sustainable development trajectory must be underpinned by capable institutions with a strong and consistent focus on policies that nurture private investment.

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) play a key role in transition and developing countries. They typically account for more than 90% of all firms outside the agricultural sector, constitute a major source of employment and generate significant domestic and export earnings. As such, SME development emerges as a key instrument in poverty reduction efforts. The Government of Timor-Leste has retained a firm strategic commitment to a market-led economy with the private sector as one of the primary engines of growth. However, the nascent private sector of Timor-Leste, especially the SME sector, has so far been unable to spur sufficient economic development for the rapidly increasing population. Based on evidence, access to longer-term investment finance has been identified as a key constraint to growth. On the supply side, the financial service providers note that there are very few bankable proposals from enterprises, and that the market risks[1] are too high for longer-term lending. The constraints on the demand and supply sides are exacerbated by weaknesses in the enabling environment (financial sector).

UNDP has adopted innovation and entrepreneurship as the new priority area. UNDP Timor-Leste forges partnerships with the private sector and government institutions to address development challenges and social problems while creating and strengthening markets. Innovation for development is about identifying more effective solutions that add value for the people affected by development challenges. UNDP firmly believes that achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) requires deliberate, calculated investments in testing new ways of triggering change; The project strategy uses the power of the market to promote innovation for development solutions without undermining the commercial interests of businesses; thus people and their governments, are the project end users and clients.

Achieving the agenda 2030 in Timor-Leste calls for alternative economic models of development transforming Timor-Leste traditional and subsistence economy from the infancy stage into modern economy. The SDGs require a paradigm shift whereby:

Economic policy measures for growth has stronger impact on social and ecological human development;
Embracing a bottom-up policy approach that enhance equitable participation and enjoyment of economic dividends.
Increased labour productivity through private sector development as the main driver of early stage of economic transformation and diversification[2]; responding to human needs associated with poverty in all its dimension.

The overall objective of this project is to induce basic transformative changes in the non-participating labour force in Timor-Leste to overcome the fact that entrepreneurs do not just spontaneously emerge in infant economies.

To create a catalytic effect that enhance the emergence and thrive of enterprises with great potential of contributing to the Sustainable development; project strategy for developing and nurturing of the budding private/entrepreneurial frontiers:

Creation of the right conducive learning environment and knowledge product to overcome the steep learning curve of starting up business in Timor-Leste,
Adapting innovative technologies for doing businesses and understanding market demands that overcome infrastructure and remoteness challenges.
The project approach is based on positive discrimination in favor of women's economic empowerment focusing on women-owned businesses, either start-ups or existing ones, to enable them to increase their incomes to become self-sustaining and access markets.
The project will also utilize development evidences and knowledge generated from the implementation process to support development of the right laws and institutions for private sector

Guided by the fact that fostering innovation is a goal and a mean to attain the development impact of the agenda 2030 in Timor-Leste; both the government and UNDP are passionate about bringing together entrepreneurs, creative private sector, youth, researchers, academia technology, and all drivers to facilitate positive social change enabling the SDGs achievement.

Through this project partnership, UNDP and the government in Timor-Leste are seeking to design and deliver innovative service model that empowers and engages youth entrepreneurs to internalize innovation, co-design and develop the next generation of services by prototyping new ideas and solutions that address national priorities and can be scaled by the Government or Private Sector Partners.

Duties and Responsibilities

Develop a training of trainer programme for Incubation in coordination with IADE and Sefope
Refine the implementation strategy including partnership with existing entities (Government and Private Sector)
Oversee effective implementation strategy of components and sourcing of products and services
Provide clear and precise advice to UNDP and the Project Managers for decision-making.
Suggest platforms, forums, and conferences, to promote the One stop shop center concept and work towards mobilization of future resources four sustainability and expansion.
Provide physical and financial reports
Informing the need for adjustment and new programmatic opportunities

Ongoing business advisory services to Youth business proposals

Business development plans development
Analysis of business plan and growth projections
Market and social benefit return analysis
Opinion of team – their technical and soft skills
RMAP (Risk Management Action Plan)
strategic risk assessments,
operational risk assessment,
risk mitigation and risk management support
performance monitoring
failure management
advise on negotiations and contracts

Competencies

Excellent interpersonal and networking skills, including the ability to liaise effectively at senior levels;
High business planning, modelling, and analytical skills;
Ability to communicate and function effectively in an international, multicultural environment; and
Ability to work effectively in a team.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master degree in Business Administration, Economics, Accounting or Finance or other fields relevant to the assignment.

Professional Experience:

At least 10 years of professional experiences in management consultancy, strategic planning, business development, or finance related positions.
Relevant experiences in business management and financial planning.
Demonstrate ability to effectively build and strengthen partnerships with key stakeholders, including government, civil society, local community, private sector and development partners.
Experience conducting training and other capacity development activities.
Ability to work effectively with MS Office.
Regional experience in Southeast Asia or the Pacific region, particularly in post-conflict context, is a plus, especially if in Timor-Leste.

Language Requirements:

Proficiency in written and spoken English is a must.
Knowledge and ability to communicate in Tetum, Portuguese, or Bahasa Indonesia is an advantage.

TOR, P11 and financial proposal template are accessible via this link http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=38624