Background

UNCDF is the UN’s capital investment agency for the world’s least developed countries. It 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 microfinance institutions 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.

Starting in 2009, UNCDF began to support for digital finance because we are concerned that the countries that need it the most are succeeding the least. As an early supporter, UNCDF saw its potential and challenges. UNCDF first supported digital finance through the Pacific Financial Inclusion Programme (PFIP) out of which it developed UNCDF MM4P to focus on Africa and Asia. Digital now features prominently in most of UNCDF’s financial inclusion work and UNCDF increasingly focuses on digital solutions for specific uses such as clean energy and population segments, particularly women and youth. 

UNCDF also hosts the secretariat of the Better than Cash Alliance. The Better Than Cash Alliance (BTCA) is a partnership of governments, companies and international organizations that accelerates the transition from cash to digital payments in order to reduce poverty and drive inclusive growth.

MM4P is interested in expanding to Malaysia, a leading example of driving usage of financial services where technology plays a key role. MM4P requires a communication consultant to establish and consolidate its presence in Malaysia and ensure that the various endeavours under the programme are well communicated and gets the right attention within and outside the region.

UNCDF is looking for a communication consultant based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Regional Technical Specialist for Digital Finance and Innovation and Knowledge Management Senior Associate, the communication consultant will provide support to the MM4P team in Malaysia and also other countries in the region (other countries of the region are staffed with their own teams and it would be expected to provide them backstopping support as required).

The role would focus on achieving of the following results:

Assist in developing activities that raise stakeholders’ knowledge and capacity on Digital Finance:

  • Support the packaging of the learnings gathered by the programme in Asia, by drafting short versions of report and designing them for dissemination (creating compelling presentation, infographics or publications for digital dissemination or print).  In the process, work closely with the result and learning advisor for Asia that is based out of Kuala Lumpur.
  • Draft conference / workshop proceedings, lessons learned reports supported by result and learning consultant; Develop survey and feedback tools, analyse and provide feedback to teams; Develop action item follow up list to ensure that expected results are met.
  • Support the team in producing compelling presentations for events and different workshops;
  • Engage directly on supporting the start-up and other eco-system actors to conduct customer journey mappings, visualizations and provide mentoring related to field of communication, support the design of prototypes and communication assets for new innovative products and services
  • Conceptualize, produce and procure the production of events, products, publications that use innovative means of making digital finance knowledge accessible and interesting. Ensure that branding of each of event is consistent with UNCDF branding guidelines and each programme funders’ requirements.

Deliverables: At least 3 events/workshops by the end of 2018 and 5 events/workshops in 2019; Speaking assignments - tbd according to demand by the various cohorts for the start-ups in 2018; Coordinate the production of at least 1 video and 2 in-depth reports and bite size versions for each report for Malaysia with result and learning advisor; Produce at least 4 decks presenting the state of the market and the programme’ s accomplishments; Create and feed the image bank of the programmes with at least 5 to 10 high resolution pictures of projects and events.

Contribute to development of community of practise within Malaysia that is focused on driving usage of financial services through digital means and also support the programme in production and dissemination of knowledge in various formats:

  • Define a communication strategy and plan to engage with the community of practice.
  • Be responsible for developing and maintaining list serves and contact database for partners and other stakeholders.
  • Liaise with BNM, MDEC, SC, UNDP Malaysia and/or other key country level stakeholders for information sharing.
  • Ensure regular engagement with the community through online channels and in live events to maintain level of awareness of the programmes’ mission, vision and accomplishments and disseminate its learnings. Create a repository of learnings that can be accessed by the entire community.
  • Ensure publications and communication assets are of the highest standards and in various formats to ensure they are accessible and useful to the community of practice;
  • Motivate team members and coordinate their contribution to blogs and social media. Contribute to UNCDF’s social media platforms including: drafting social media packages for the dissemination of publications, curating content related to DFS and Malaysia and the region specially China.

Deliverables: Propose a plan for increasing networking and cross-learning among MM4P programme partners in Malaysia and China (supported by the local advisor based in China) based on the country Annual Work Plan; Coordinate the writing and editing of at least 4 to 6 blog post/press release in 12 months; Provide support in the quarterly report on research and learning activities in Malaysia and region for funders and make the reports visually more appealing; Include partners in region on groups that could drive creation of community of practice;

Assist in the development of innovative ideas, plans and projects and support the implementation of the programme.

  • Support the country expert teams in all project descriptions, appraisals, and endorsements from the perspective of communication.
  • Support the Technical Specialist and DFS Experts in their regular analysis of the market and support the design of the briefs on the evolving trends in the country.
  • Contribute to the RMF and learning design for the country and the analysis of the data to be communicated, e.g., co-designing data-collection strategies, as well as define the messaging and narrative around the data collected.

Deliverables: The communication consultant will draft the communication strategy and identify knowledge deliverables with the RM and learning consultant. 

Competencies

Key competencies:

  • Excellent communications skills;
  • Excellent writing skills;
  • Ability to manage events, oversee contributions of other actors;
  • Ability to convey concepts through visuals, graphics, storyboards, and mockups;
  • Strong design fundamentals (color, form, type, layout) and the ability to experiment;
  • Keen attention to detail and execution in craft;
  • Time Management: experience managing multiple and competing deliverables;
  • Focuses on result for the client and responds positively to feedback ;
  • Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
  • Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure;
  • Actively works towards continuing personal learning, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • A Bachelor Degree in social sciences, communication and marketing, business, development or related discipline is mandatory.

Experience: 

  • At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in field of communication or other relevant field is required at the national or international level is mandatory;
  • Experience in branding, communications and experience in media relations, graphic design and video production is mandatory;
  • Fluency in digital design tools, such as InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator;
  • Experience in field of visualizations for infographics and presentations;
  • Fully proficient computer skills and use of relevant software and other applications, web design and/or maintenance;
  • Experience in overseeing documents and report production, print and electronic publishing;

Language:

  • Fluency in English is required.
  • Additional language skills either in Mandarin or Malay would be plus.

Timeline, duration of assignment, duty station and expected places of travel:

  • Timeline: 24 months
  • Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
  • Total Number of Working Days for Assignment: 264 work days per annum (528 work days per 24 months).

Travel:

  • Regular travel to the field and other relevant locations may be required and will be compensated according to UN polices.  

Provision of Monitoring, Progress Controls & Payments:

  • The consultant will work under the direct supervision of Regional Technical Specialist, Digital Finance and Innovation with indirect supervision of Knowledge Manager (based in Brussels);
  • Payment will be made on periodical basis in accordance with number of days worked and upon satisfactorily achieved deliverables. All payments are subject to the clearance and approval of the direct supervisor;
  • Final payment shall require a signed performance evaluation of the consultant.

Application:

Interested individuals must submit the following as proposals in order to demonstrate their qualifications: (NOTE: the system does not allow multiple uploads of document. Applicants must make sure to upload all documents in one PDF file).

All applications must contain the following information:

Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials.

Please note that UNCDF cannot guarantee residence permits or visas for consultants. Consultants are responsible for securing their work documentation. In the case of national consultants, applicants that are not nationals of the duty station requested will have to prove their residence status. 

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology:

  • Preliminary Evaluation - Step I: Screening;
  • Technical Evaluation Weight - 70% x (Step II: 20 Points + Step III: 30 Points + Step IV: 50 points = 100 Points);
  • Financial Evaluation Weight - 30% = Step V.

Step I: Screening

Applications will be screened and only applicants meeting the following minimum criteria (listed under education and experience) and that will have provided samples of writing will progress to the pool for shortlisting.

Step II: Shortlisting by Desk Review

UNCDF will conduct a desk review to produce a shortlist of candidates and technically evaluate the candidates. A written test will be administered to the top 4 shortlisted candidates.

Step III: Written test

A written test will be administered to the top 4 shortlisted candidates. The test will be scored with pass/fail, the minimum score to pass being 70%.

Step IV: Interview

A competency-based Interview shall be conducted for the candidates who passed the written test.

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% on the total of Steps II (20 points) + III (30 points) + IV (50 points) will be considered as technically qualified and will be reviewed further for financial evaluation.

Step V: Financial Evaluation

The following formula will be used to evaluate financial proposal:

Lowest priced proposal/price of the proposal being evaluated x 30%.

Award Criteria

The contact shall be awarded to the applicant whose offer have been evaluated and determined as:

Responsive/compliant/acceptable; and Having received the highest combined weight (technical proposal & Interview) 70% + financial 30%= 100%.

Both individual consultants and individual employed by a company or institution are welcome to apply. 

Any individual employed by a company or institution who would like to submit an offer in response to a Procurement Notice for IC must do so in their individual capacity (providing a CV so that their qualifications may be judged accordingly). Women candidates or women-owned businesses are strongly encouraged to apply.

 

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.