Background
Meeting the 2030 Agenda will require unprecedented investments in areas such as health and education, environmental protection, infrastructure and sustainable energy, rural development, peace and security and actions to tackle climate change. It is estimated that achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will take between US$5 to $7 trillion, with an investment gap in developing countries of about $2.5 trillion. Governments hold a significant share of the resources needed to achieve the SDGs. The World Bank estimated that between 50 and 80 percent of what’s required will come from domestic resources. While financing needs for the new agenda are unquestionably high, there are also more opportunities for countries to mobilize new and additional sources of finance, as well as experiment with innovative new financing approaches. Private funding and private capital hold a great potential for growth.
In the region of Europe and Central Asia (ECA), the UN Country Teams have been developing a number of strategic collaborations between international development organizations, impact investors, social entrepreneurs, and other players to support the host governments in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. To accelerate the country level efforts, the Regional UNDG for Europe and Central Asia, which unites over 20 UN entities[1] with regional or sub-regional mandates, is developing a comprehensive and strategic support package for the UN Country Teams to facilitate navigating a changing development finance landscape in the region. This support package will include, among other things, a dedicated training on development finance solutions and collection of materials for the UN Resident Coordinators and UN Country Teams members, members of partnerships and resource mobilizations teams, Resident Coordinator’s Offices, and other colleagues. The present mapping is part of this support package and aims to serve as a quick reference guide for the UN staff working in the region at different levels of engagement with the host governments, traditional and emerging donors, the private sector, and other partners.
[1] Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO); International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); International Labour Organization (ILO); International Organization for Migration (IOM); International Telecommunication Union (ITU); Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS); Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR); Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR); United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF); United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE); United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO); United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-WOMEN); United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP); United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat); United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO); United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS); United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA); World Food Programme (WFP); World Health Organization (WHO)
Duties and Responsibilities
The primary objective of the proposed mapping of the development finance solutions for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in Europe and Central Asia is to broaden and deepen the understanding of key concepts and approaches, tools, as well as regional and country trends, and key involved and to-be-involved partners that can help accelerate, attract and direct investments to areas where greater co-benefits and multiplier effects can be achieved. It should be based on the regional and countries realities and take into account the specifics of the regional UN development system operation modalities on the ground.
The regional mapping will consist of four parts:
1. Introduction that will offer a snapshot of the global Financing for Development architecture, reference to the global development effectiveness architecture, current sustainable development frameworks and global agreements, as well as the ongoing process of re-positioning the UN Development System to support the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
2. An outline of additional financing solutions available for Europe and Central Asia (approaches, instruments, tools and mechanisms), focusing on public and private external financing flows (domestic flows are not the subject of this study).
This section should be introduced by an analysis of the regional development finance trends, including the lessons learned and the challenges that need to be taken into account in view of the dynamic and changing financing environment. This analysis will provide a general reference to external financial flows: Official Development Assistance, Foreign Direct Investment, remittances. It should also make a direct link to the MAPS Missions.
Further, the section should provide an outline of additional financing solutions at the regional level, with a general outline of advantages and disadvantages and prerequisites for their application and usage at the country level. Particularly, the study should include (but not necessarily limited to) the following categories:
- Blended Finance
- Green and Blue Bonds
- Credits with Guarantees for Development
- Impact Investing
- Enterprise Challenge Funds
- Social and Development Impact Bonds
- Crowdfunding
- Debt-for-Nature Swaps
3. An overview of the main partners (traditional and emerging donors, IFIs, impact investors, etc.) with short descriptions of the projects/funding already implemented or in the process of implementation. These should follow the categories from part II above. This section will also include existing partnerships and engagement of UN agencies with the identified external partners.
4. A concluding part with an emphasis on key approaches for UNCTs to better leverage financing for the SDGs through UN Development Assistance Frameworks, support human centred approach and help the host governments re-shape business-as-usual financing.
The mapping will also contain the links to additional key resources within the UN system (at the regional and global level) on the available and documented tools, methodologies and initiatives to support financing the SDGs implementation.
Duties and Responsibilities
Within the framework of this Terms of Reference, the consultant is expected to perform the following tasks and duties:
- Work together with the Regional UNDG Secretariat, as well as the members of the Peer Support Group (if necessary), and the UN agencies represented in the ECA region (list to be provided by the R-UNDG Secretariat) on designing the outline of the proposed mapping with a break-down into sections and sub-sections.
- Undertake a necessary review of existing documentation and hold consultations as necessary;
- Undertake a series of consultations with the relevant experts within the regional UN development system, as recommended by the R-UNDG Secretariat.
- Discuss the developed outline with the R-UNDG Secretariat, review and respond to the suggested revisions and comments.
- Collect additional comments from the regional UN agencies and UN Country Teams (with the facilitation from the RC Offices), if necessary and based on the consultations with the R-UNDG Secretariat.
- Draft the mapping, based on the inputs collected and provided; seek comments and revisions from the R-UNDG Secretariat and specified RC Offices, if deemed necessary; provide through the R-UNDG Secretariat, the final draft to the R-UNDG Team for comments and clearance;
- Submit the final draft of the mapping to the R-UNDG Secretariat by the required deadline.
Expected Deliverables:
The key products to be delivered are as follows:
- Detailed assignment work plan (within 5 days of the start of the assignment).
- Draft outline of the mapping with the break-down into chapters/sections and sub-sections and an initial list of resources for desk review and bibliography, prepared based on the consultations with the R-UNDG Secretariat and respective resource people described above (within 15 days of the start of the assignment).
- Draft mapping with the respective bibliography and sources, based on the consultations with the R-UNDG Secretariat and respective resource people described above (within 20 days of the start of the assignment)
- Final draft of the full mapping after the incorporation of the comments provided and revisions (by the end of the assignment).
- Presentation of the mapping findings and virtual participation (specified connection details to be available later) in a session of the training on Development Financing for the SDGs in Bangkok, Thailand in May 2018 (dates to be defined).
Payment for Services
The consultant shall receive payments in two installments as follows:
60% upon preparation and acceptance of the assignment work plan, draft outline with the break-down into sections and sub-sections and the bibliography, and full first draft of the mapping.
40% upon submission and acceptance by the R-UNDG Team of the final full draft of the mapping.
Responsibility for Expenses and their Reimbursement
This is a lump sum assignment. The Consultant will be responsible for all personal administrative (and travel expenses, if any) associated with undertaking this assignment including office accommodation, printing, stationary, telephone and electronic communications, copies incurred in this assignment.
Responsibility for Managing People and the Work Plan
The principal responsibility for managing the consultant will lie with the R-UNDG Secretariat.
Competencies
Core Competencies
- Demonstrated commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values;
- Sensitivity and adaptability to cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age;
- Highest standards of integrity, discretion and loyalty.
Functional Competencies
- Excellent analytical and research skills;
- Excellent communication skills (spoken, written and presentational);
- Good interpersonal skills and ability to work in and with teams;
- Ability to set priorities and manage time effectively.
Required Skills and Experience
Education
- Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in finance, development economics, business administration, international relations, development, public administration or other related field, a PhD is an advantage;
Experience
- At least 10 years of relevant professional experience in the area of development finance, preferably with the middle-income countries at the national, regional or global level;
- Proven experience in evaluation of financing instruments, instruments including grants, reimbursable grants, loans, guarantees and bond purchases;
- Proven experience in developing reports, mappings, guidance notes or other relevant materials for national level work either for the governments or international organizations;
- Profound knowledge of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and respective funding and financing requirements and gaps is required;
- Previous experience with the UN system is an advantage;
- Previous experience of successful resource mobilization and record of success in building partnerships, negotiating financing, reporting to and managing grants from development partners is an advantage.
- Experience of work in the Europe and Central Asia region is an asset.
Languages
Excellent English writing skills are essential.
APPLICATION PROCEDURES
The application should contain:
- Duly completed Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability (please find template here: Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability template link; In a separate file include a financial proposal with “all-inclusive (*)” daily fee.
- Your CV and/or P11 indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the consultant; short-listed candidates will be asked to submit their P11 and at least three (3) professional references;
- Brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment, which addresses the required qualifications and evaluation criteria;
(*) “all-inclusive” implies that all costs (excluding mission travel) that could possibly be incurred by the Contractor are already factored into the final amounts submitted in the proposal
Incomplete submissions may not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials.
Evaluation of Applicants
Selection method: Desk review and follow-up interview.
The cumulative analysis will be applied for the evaluation of proposals. Under the cumulative analysis scheme, a total score is obtained upon the combination of weighted technical (70) and financial attributes (30).
When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:
a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, and
b) having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.
* Technical Criteria weight: 70
* Financial Criteria weight: 30
Evaluation Criteria:
1. Technical (100 points):
- Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in finance, development economics, business administration, international relations, development, public administration or other related field, a PhD is an advantage (5 points– Master’s or equivalent; 10 – PhD).
- At least 10 years of relevant professional experience in the area of development finance, preferably with the middle-income countries at the national, regional or global level (30 points maximum).
- Proven experience in evaluation of financing instruments, instruments including grants, reimbursable grants, loans, guarantees and bond purchases (10 points maximum).
- Proven experience in developing reports, mappings, guidance notes or other relevant materials for national level work either for the governments or international organizations (10 points maximum)
- English language writing skills (10 points maximum)
- Interview scoring (30 points maximum)
Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% of 100 points in the Technical Evaluation will be considered for the Financial Evaluation.
2. Financial
The maximum number of points assigned to the financial proposal is allocated to the lowest price proposal and will equal to 30. All other price proposals will be evaluated and assigned points, as per below formula:
30 points [max points available for financial part] x [lowest of all evaluated offered prices among responsive offers] / [evaluated price].
The proposal obtaining the overall cumulatively highest score after adding the score of the technical proposal and the financial proposal (A+B) will be considered as the most compliant offer and will be awarded a contract