Background

UNCDF is the UN’s capital investment agency for the world’s 47 Least Developed Countries (LDC). UNCDF uses its capital mandate to support LDCs pursue inclusive growth. UNCDF promotes financial inclusion, also through digital financial services (DFS), as a key enabler of poverty reduction and inclusive growth; and it demonstrates how localizing finance outside the capital cities can accelerate growth in local economies, promote sustainable and climate-resilient infrastructure development, and empower local communities. Using capital grants, loans and credit enhancements, UNCDF tests financial models in inclusive finance and local development finance; ‘de-risks’ the local investment space; and provides proofs of concept, paving the way for larger and more risk-averse investors.

With its capital mandate and instruments, UNCDF offers “last mile” financing models that unlock public and private resources, especially at the domestic level, to reduce poverty and support local development. UNCDF targets low-income and underserved populations and areas in the LDCs where resources for development are the scarcest; where market failures are most pronounced; and where increased national economic prosperity does not reach a large part of the population. UNCDF focusses on local development finance and inclusive finance, using its capital mandate paired with strong technical and policy support to help communities and individuals save, borrow and invest.

UNCDF’s objective is to develop inclusive financial systems in which a range of financial products are available to all segments of society, at a reasonable cost, and on a sustainable basis. UNCDF supports a wide range of providers (e.g. microfinance institutions, banks, cooperatives, money transfer companies) and a variety of financial products and services (e.g. savings, credit, insurance, payments, and remittances).

Introducing Digital Finance In UNCDF

UNCDF manages several initiatives in LDCs in Asia and Africa, to develop an inclusive digital finance eco-system that offers a wide range of financial services specially for low income vulnerable communities. Specifically, UNCDF provides a mix of policy, technical and financial support to a range of government and private sector actors in each country, as well as invests in research and other public goods that benefit all market actors. By supporting the development of digital finance eco-system in these countries, UNCDF aims to increase the financial security of low income and rural households through access to appropriate, affordable and secure means to receive, manage and save money.

Recently, UNCDF has formulated its strategy ‘Leaving no one behind in the digital era’ based on over a decade of experience in digital finance in Africa, Asia and the Pacific. UNCDF recognizes that reaching the full potential of digital financial inclusion in support of the Sustainable Development Goals aligns with the vision of promoting digital economies that leaves no one behind. The vision of UNCDF is to empower millions of people by 2024 to use services daily that leverage innovation and technology and contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals. UNCDF will apply a market development approach and continuously seek to address underlying market dysfunctions.

Financial Innovation Lab

UNCDF is expanding its work to focus on digital finance and innovations to both help digital finance reach its potential for the poor, but also to better use digital finance and other services to achieve the SDGs, anchored through a new initiative that will grow into a multi-country effort.  In each country, UNCDF will bring together companies to design, develop, test and refine digital solutions supported under a structured environment and with ready to use tools.  Those digital companies will be connected to enabling stakeholders, such as regulators, universities, think-tanks, providers, companies, other labs, and industry associations. Inspired by how technology can leapfrog limitations and pain points in today’s user experience, as well as imagine new uses for technology to address access, literacy, security, and other barriers. Ultimately, to create innovative user experiences that will help low-income people move from distrust, disenfranchisement, and exclusion to become confident and empowered.

The proposed approach focuses on supporting innovative solutions delivered by:

• Traditional stakeholders (companies, providers, government) by building innovation mindset, team and processes
• Small and start-ups companies by providing access to finance, crowdsourcing, human centered design support, industry sandbox, business to business linkages that will allow to scale.

Duties and Responsibilities

UNCDF is seeking a Community Associate in Malaysia who will be primarily supporting the work of UNCDF and working as part of the Financial Innovation Lab team, liaising closely with the UNCDF Malaysia country team, and would be working on developing, planning, curating and executing activities to build and bolster the community in Malaysia around the themes of inclusive innovation and financial health. S/he will report directly to the Regional Technical Specialist Asia or to designated lead at Financial Innovation Lab or others as designated.

The Community Associate will be responsible for the delivery of community related activities in Malaysia, either with partners or hosted independently. The final outcome of these engagements would be an active community comprised of key stakeholders in the financial services ecosystem who share knowledge with and learn from each other.

The objectives are:

• Establish the Lab as the center of excellence on, and an advocate for, financial health by facilitating learning and building knowledge
• Develop resources for organizations and assist them in delivering inclusive digital innovation solutions that can benefit the underserved market
• Drive conversations in the market that involve stakeholders and influencers to build partnerships for more inclusive digital economies

Specific activities and deliverables are listed as below:  

Payment will be made upon submission and approval of the following documents:

• Time sheet specifying activities and number of days (against items listed in table above)
• Approved Certificate of Payment

Competencies

Corporate Competencies

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards and acts in accordance with the Standards of Conduct for international civil servants;
• Advocates and promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNCDF;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism.

Functional Competencies

• Knowledge about the UNCDF programmes would be an advantage;
• Strong analytical and writing skills and track record in producing relevant reports and other material.
• Ability to adapt to uncertainties, take initiative and create realistic action plans.
• Excellent communication skills, written and verbal.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree in business, economics, law, marketing, social sciences, psychology and/or related discipline.

Experience and skills

• At least two-years of experience working in Asia region, preferably Malaysia;
• At least two-years of work experience in the area of financial technology, financial services and products, emerging technology, entrepreneurship, and/or innovation, preferred.
• Experience in event planning, managing logistics, managing partner relationships, and/ or moderating discussions, preferred.

Language

• Fluency in English (written and oral) required
• Fluency in Malay preferred

Monitoring and Progress Control

Monitoring of progress shall be measured both according to the activities of the contractor as well as the performance of UNCDF partners. 

The consultant will report directly to the Regional Technical Specialist Asia or the appointee in seeking approval/acceptance of outputs.

Payment will be made on periodical basis in accordance with number of days worked and upon receipt and approval of deliverables. All payments are subject to the clearance and approval of the direct supervisor according to the schedule under the ‘deliverables’ section

The Consultant is responsible for providing his/her own laptop during the course of his/her engagement with UNCDF.

The following supporting documents will serve as conditions for payments to an Individual Contractor: (i) submission of an invoice and Certificate of Payment (COP); (ii) review, approval and written acceptance of each deliverable by the Regional Technical Specialist (RTS) and any other Project/Programme Manager designated by RTS; (iii) submission of a time-sheet and expenses with relevant supporting documentation; and (iv) an authorization of payment disbursement from a direct supervisor.

Where payment is based on days worked and not on milestone outputs, the submission of time sheet and expenses with relevant documentation may be required by UNCDF.

Application Process

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications. Proposers who do not submit below mentioned documents will not be considered for further evaluation. (NOTE: THE SYSTEM DOES NOT ALLOW MULTIPLE UPLOADS OF DOCUMENTS THEREFORE APPLICANTS MUST MAKE SURE TO UPLOAD ALL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS IN ONE FILE). Failure to submit all the below mentioned documents may result in rejection of the application.

• A one-page cover letter responding to the competency criteria, indicating why the candidate considers himself/herself suitable for the required consultancy as well as stating the earliest availability.
• Detailed updated CV or P11,  with at least two (2) signed professional references or three references’ contact details; Link to P11: http://sas.undp.org/documents/P11_Personal_history_form.doc
• Filled in and duly signed Letter of Intent including a financial proposal which can be downloaded from:

https://popp.undp.org/_layouts/15/WopiFrame.aspx?sourcedoc=/UNDP_POPP_DOCUMENT_LIBRARY/Public/PSU_%20Individual%20Contract_Offerors%20Letter%20to%20UNDP%20Confirming%20Interest%20and%20Availability.docx&action=default

• At least one (1) sample or detailed summary of works with relevant links – that you consider to be the best and most relevant example to this ToR.

Evaluation Criteria

Applications will be rated on both technical and financial submissions. The following selection method will be used: Highest rated proposal using the combined scoring method, which assigns the weight distribution between the technical and financial proposals. The overall combined score will be 100 points, where weight distribution shall be 70% technical (30% desk review + 40% interview) and 30% financial

Step I: Screening
Applications will be screened and only applicants meeting the following minimum criteria will progress to the pool for shortlisting:
Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree in business, economics, law, marketing, social sciences, psychology and/or related discipline.

Experience

• At least two-years of experience working in Asia region specially Malaysia;
• At-least two-years of work experience in the space of financial technology, financial services, emerging technology, entrepreneurship, and/or innovation preferred.

Step II: Shortlisting by Desk Review: (100 Points)
UNCDF will conduct a desk review to produce a shortlist of candidates and technically evaluate candidates as follows:

• Level of relevancy of working experience in planning and organizing events - 30 points
• Functional competencies for assignment (event planning, managing logistics, managing partner relationships, and/ or moderating discussions) - 50 points
• Advanced knowledge and experience in space of financial inclusion, financial services and products, entrepreneurship, innovation - 20 points

Applicants scoring a minimum of 75 points in the desk review shall be invited for an interview.
Step III. Interview:
A competency-based Interview shall be conducted with shortlisted candidates who will be asked on the following:

• Relevant experience
• Sector Knowledge  
• Communication Skills
• Demonstrated ability to use data to drive financial inclusion practice and policies

Step IV: Financial Evaluation:
The shortlisted candidates will be rated on both technical and financial submissions, providing a weight of 70% to the Technical offer (Desk Review (40%) + Interview (60%)) and 30% to the Financial offer.

The following formula will be used to evaluate financial proposals:
Lowest priced proposal/price of the proposal being evaluated x 30%.

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.  If the consultant is over 65 years old, UNCDF reserves the right to require full medical certification and clearance from the consultant’s physician prior to commencing the travel.

Please include all documents into one file when submitting your application.

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