Background
UNCDF is the UN’s capital investment agency for the world’s 47 least developed countries (LDCs). With its capital mandate and instruments, UNCDF offers “last mile” finance models that unlock public and private resources, especially at the domestic level, to reduce poverty and support local economic development. UNCDF Local Development Finance Practice (LDFP) promotes and supports transformative investments through local governments and domestic banks in LDCs by piloting and scaling up innovative financing mechanisms and policies in the public and private sectors. Specifically, LDFP works with LDC governments to: mobilize additional capital for local development including from the domestic public and private sectors (for example, by promoting fiscal decentralization, increasing own revenue of local authorities and stimulating investment finance by domestic banks); design appropriate allocation mechanisms for this capital (intergovernmental fiscal transfers, public-private partnerships, structured project finance, municipal debt instruments); support local investments that provide a demonstration effect and lead to upscaling and mainstreaming of these mechanisms (including supporting UNCDF’s pipeline of investible projects); secure these investments within an accountable institutional environment that sustains and promotes local development (legal, political, administrative, social). UNCDF’s approach to Local Development Finance acknowledges the challenges for LDCs in enhancing local basic services, promoting local economic development and increasing local resilience to shocks in an increasingly uncertain world. The approach recognizes that LDC economies have reached levels of domestic capital (public and private) significantly greater than a decade ago. Yet underinvestment at the local level remains a feature of LDCs that is holding back structural transformation. In addition to external sources of development finance, there is an additional need to find ways of channeling domestic resources for local development – including in rapidly growing urban areas. Post context The Municipal Finance Consultant (MFC) will support the development and management of the global Municipal Investment Finance (MIF) programme, which has the objective of supporting towns, cities and urban areas in LDCs in order to secure the capital and recurrent financing required for their growing infrastructure and service needs. The aim of the MIF Programme is to increase the ability of local governments and other sub-sovereign entities to address key urbanization challenges through access to sustainable sources of capital financing. The Programme will improve resilience and quality of life in LDC cities in Africa and Asia, especially for the poor. Specific objectives include (i) improving access to capital for investment in critical urban infrastructure and services in LDC cities targeted by the program, (ii) creating or strengthening financial markets and market intermediaries so that they can facilitate capital access for cities, and (iii) establishing policies, standards, and practices that improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the capital financing process in beneficiary countries. Reporting to the MIF Programme Manager, the MFC will support the provision of technical assistance to local governments (urban and rural) and local banks as partners of choice and builds on the platform and reputation of UNCDF’s support to LDCs. This includes piloting and testing improved mechanisms, instruments and tools for: fiscal transfers from central to local government institutions; improvements in local taxation and fees; debt instruments (borrowing, special purpose project vehicles and bonds) for Municipal Finance; and project / SME finance for infrastructure largely in the productive sectors. |
Duties and Responsibilities
Working under the supervision of the MIF Programme Manager, the MFC will have the following deliverables and responsibilities: Summary of key Deliverables:
These deliverables will directly support the work of the MIF Programme Manager and will include access to privileged business information on investment tools and about individual transactions. The consultant will be requested to sign a non-disclosure agreement with regard to relevant materials. Responsibilities: The responsibilities of the MFC include but are not limited to:
Impact of Results The MFC will have a major impact on the overall effectiveness and growth of UNCDF’s support to urban development finance in MIF programme countries. The MFC will enhance UNCDF programming in municipal investment, generating concrete opportunities for municipalities to develop and launch key investment instruments. The MFC will contribute to achieving LDFP Business Plan objectives, which include policy impact, leveraging of additional resources for local development and positive impact of the projects themselves. The performance of the MFC will have a major impact on the reputation of UNCDF as partner to LDCs and as a center of excellence for local government finance and local economic development finance. Success in engaging key actors, in strategic partnerships and in joint programming of local development and public finance projects will contribute to the development goals of partner countries. Results will also have a significant impact on resource mobilization for UNCDF and its capacity to expand coverage to other LDCs. |
Competencies
Advocacy
Partnership Building
Innovation and Communication
Core Competencies:
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Required Skills and Experience
Education:
Experience:
Language Requirements:
Evaluation
Cumulative Analysis:
Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% or above on the scoring of the technical aspect of their proposal will be considered for financial evaluation.
Financial: Maximum of 30 points The following formula will be used to evaluate financial proposal: |
Travel:
The consultant may be requested to conduct specific missions to the field. If requested, UNCDF will arrange and cover the cost of the Travel in line with UNCDF’s rules and regulations.
Application Guidelines
- Interested candidate should submit the following information as part of the application package:
- When applying for this consultancy position, please apply with your official name as shown in the government issued identification document (e.g. passport and/or driver license). Contract award is subject to this verification;
- Detailed updated CV including past experience in similar projects or P11 link: http://sas.undp.org/documents/P11_Personal_history_form.doc;
- 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;
- Confirmation of availability to take up assignments for the whole period;
- Three professional references including name, affiliation and email addresses;
- Financial proposals will be requested only from the shortlisted candidates.
Individual Consultants are responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when traveling 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
References
UNDP’s Individual Consultant’s General Terms and Conditions are provided here: http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/documents/procurement/documents/IC%20-%20General%20Conditions.pdf