Background

The UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) is the UN’s capital investment agency for the world’s 49 least developed countries (LDCs). It creates new opportunities for poor people and their businesses by increasing access to microfinance and investment capital. UNCDF focuses on Africa and the poorest countries of Asia, 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. UNCDF programmes help to empower women, and are designed to catalyze larger capital flows from the private sector, national governments and development partners, for maximum impact toward the Millennium Development Goals.

UNCDF offers a unique combination of investment capital, capacity building and technical advisory services to promote microfinance and local development in the Least Developed Countries (LDCs):
  • UNCDF's microfinance programmes provide poor households and enterprises with enhanced access to a wide range of financial services by promoting inclusive financial sectors and providing investment capital for emerging microfinance institutions (MFIs) and other financial service providers (FSPs) in the LDCs. 
  • UNCDF’s Local Development Finance (LDF) programmes provide and leverage local capital assistance through local governments to support achievement of the MDGs.
Context
 
The substantive increase in volume of UNCDF interventions during the past 5 years has been primarily driven by a strong increase in earmarked resources from an increasingly diverse pool of donors. Although this diversity in donors is a sign of a healthy development in terms of demand and support for UNCDF's interventions, the level of contributions to core resources remains insufficient to sustain operations in 40 LDCs and hence is a serious concern for the agency.
 
Core resources represent the bedrock of UNCDF's multilateral capital development mandate, as they provide UNCDF with the greatest programmatic flexibility. Core resources also enhance UNCDF's ability to plan and to attract non-core contributions. The achievement of UNCDF resource mobilization target of USD25 million per year in contributions to UNCDF core resources, as envisaged in the UNCDF 2008-2011 Investment Plan supporting 40 LDCs by 2011, still remains a challenge. A new UNCDF funding model must ensure that UNCDF has access to the necessary levels of core resources and that these are as predictable as possible.
 
To achieve these objectives in the current difficult funding environment, UNCDF has initiated a broad stakeholder discussion on a range of future funding options for UNCDF. As such, the organization seeks the capacity to engage donors in a dialogue on options to secure UNCDF’s minimum requirement for core/unearmarked contributions, including options for soft earmarking.
In order to strengthen the capacity of the Partnerships and Communications Unit (PCU) to build and maintain strategic partnerships, including the engagement with donor development partners within the framework of the Stakeholder Consultations process, a consultant will be contracted for up to one year reporting to the head of the PU. The consultant will also be assigned other functions related to partnerships, resource mobilization, communications and executive board relations as listed below.

Duties and Responsibilities

Objective of the Assignment
 
The objective is to support PCU in building and maintaining strategic partnerships, including the engagement with development partners, including – but not limited to - within the framework of the on-going UNCDF Stakeholder Consultation process and in efforts related to partnerships, resource mobilization, communications and executive board relations.
Scope of Work
 
Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Chief of Partnerships and Communications Unit, the Consultant will be responsible for supporting the UNCDF’s partnership-building and resource mobilization in implementing the UNCDF Partnerships and Communications Strategy, and related strategies and processes, focusing on the following areas:
  • Revenue projections and tracking (in collaboration with MSU)  
  • preparation of donor intelligence; 
  • donor relations including consultations, correspondence and support to mission planning and follow-up; 
  • advising, drafting, negotiating and legal clearance of donor or multi-partner contribution agreements;
  • Follow up on donors contributions bank transfers and check issuances to ensure timely processing; 
  • quality assurance support to programme units related to donor reporting; 
  • management of the UNCDF donor reporting portal; 
  • support to PU and the Executive Office in conjunction with executive board, stakeholder consultations and other UNCDF-related meetings and events; 
  • support to programme units in drafting of proposals, programme brochures etc;• supporting in the design, negotiations and roll-out of new funding modalities and/or investment vehicles which are consistent with
 UNCDF’s investment mandate;
  • Supporting the Chief of PCU in internal and external audits, by preparing requested documentation etc.
  • Perform tasks related to PCU budget management focusing on: 
  •  Assisting the supervisor in preparation and modifications of budgets for PCU projects according to the approved work-plan and follow-up on annual spending limits; 
  • performing regular reviews of PCU expenditures (including expenditure analysis) and budget revisions as requested;
  • Preparing PCU E-requisitions and payment vouchers with complete supporting documents;
  • Ensuring that payments are in line with approved budget and have adequate supporting documentations
  • Performing other functions as guided by the Chief of PU.
 Deliverables

In addition to donor relations tasks assigned by the Chief of PCU, the consultant will submit upon request:
  • Bi-weekly updates on donor contributions;
  • Reviews  on revenue projections, list of outstanding agreements and donor reports;
  • Review of PCU expenditures;
  • Key strategy documents/papers on new financing mechanisms and/or covering related research. 
  • Drafting or commenting on documentation related to the Stakeholder Consultations.

Competencies

  • Proven expertise in advising, drafting and clearing of legal documents and agreements with development partners; 
  • Solid understanding of the work of the United Nations; 
  • Excellent organizational, time management and strong interpersonal skills; 
  • Effective oral and communication skills; 
  • Attention to detail, problem-solving ability and strong follow-up skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

  • Advanced university degree in international development, finance, business studies, social sciences and/or other relevant field; 

Experience:

  • 8-10 years of relevant national/international working experience.
  • Expertise in development finance, preferably related to one or all of following areas: risk analysis, including currency risk, project finance, guarantees and loans, impact investing and/or innovative financing mechanisms;
  • Capacity to engage effectively (correspondence and in person) with donor development partners - both donor government and private sector donors;
  • Work experience from UN agencies and/or International Finance Institutions is a strong asset; 

Language

  • Fluent (oral and written) in English, working knowledge of French an asset;?

Evaluation of Applicants

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on a cumulative analysis taking into consideration the combination of the applicants’ qualifications and financial proposal.
 
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 predetermined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation. Only the highest ranked candidates who would be found qualified for the job will be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Technical Criteria Weight - 70%
Financial Criteria Weight - 30%
 
Criteria for Technical Evaluation:
  • Relevant experience  working in international development  - 20 points 
  • Knowledge of development finance, innovative financing mechanisms - 30 points 
  • Demonstrated ability to engage with bilateral donor, foundations and private sector -30 points 
  • Experience working in an organization/IFI with multi-country operations - 20 points 
Application procedure
Qualified candidates are requested to apply online via this website. All the required documents should be compiled into one file which must be uploaded with your application online.
 
The application should contain:
Completed P11 form including past experience in similar projects and contact details of references
(blank form can be downloaded from:  http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/library/corporate/Careers/P11_Personal_history_form.doc  
Financial Proposal – applicant need to specify a daily rate for the tasks specified in this announcement.