Background

The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) makes public and private finance work for the poor in the world’s 46 least developed countries.

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 is working with the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) to create the conditions to increase the financial inclusion of the population and small and medium-sized enterprises.

The BCEAO is the joint issuing institute for the eight member states of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU): Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, and Togo.

The BCEAO is committed to continuously improving its analytical capacities, which are essential for processing economic and financial information.

A data-collection system has therefore been established to help inform the decision-making process. Having quality data facilitates the monitoring of progress, particularly on financial inclusion, as the needs of underserved populations can be consistently addressed.

Most of the data used to calculate financial inclusion indicators in the WAEMU are collected manually from the relevant financial institutions, i.e., banks, decentralized financial systems, digital currency institutions, postal services, national savings banks, and national treasuries. The way in which these data are collected and processed does not allow for optimal use of the information. In addition, with the continually growing requirements for categorized data to enable more detailed analysis, the capacity to collect data is becoming increasingly limited.

Finally, to improve understanding of access, there is a need to supplement the current BCEAO data-collection system with a financial service outlet geolocation tool to help locate such outlets within the country and understand the types of financial services that they offer.

It is therefore important for the Central Bank to continue modernizing its financial inclusion data-collection and processing tools.

This modernization should help to produce more reliable data that will better describe the state of financial inclusion in the WAEMU. It should also improve understanding of the degree of penetration of financial services in the Union, help identify barriers to financial inclusion and facilitate the formulation of effective policies to remove these barriers.

The purpose of this call for applications is to identify one Expert Data Architect.

The Expert Data Architect will be responsible for assisting the BCEAO in defining the technical specifications and terms of reference for the roll-out of a system for automated collection of financial inclusion data, monitoring, and geolocation of financial services access points in the WAEMU.

Duties and Responsibilities

In close coordination with UNCDF Lead Specialist, Migration and Remittances portfolio, the BCEAO and a statistical expert in data analysis (yet to be selected),

the Expert Data Architect will be responsible for achieving the following outcomes:

 

  1. Designing a system for automated collection of financial inclusion data, monitoring, and geolocation of financial services access points in the WAEMU. The system design should include a proposal on how new categories of data will be collected and how they will be incorporated into the new system.
  2. Developing the functional specifications file, the scoping note, and the roll-out plan for the automated collection system of financial inclusion data.
  3. Defining a data-collection framework in a file format that can be easily configured by contributors.
  4. Designing mechanisms for automating the calculation of financial inclusion indicators in the WAEMU.
  5. Defining a balanced scorecard for monitoring financial inclusion via the automated collection system.
  6. Defining the project requirements, in particular the necessary information technology (IT) developments, levels of reliability, security, flexibility and ergonomics, and the operating constraints.

 

Expected outputs and Deliverables

 

The table below outlines the major activities, deliverables, and estimated dates of completion.

Activities

Deliverables

Target completion from contract signature

Approval required

Draft an inception report on the current system for automated collection of financial inclusion data, and a proposal of different scenarios for the roll-out of the automated financial inclusion data-collection and geolocation system of WAEMU financial services access points, based on best practices from other countries and monetary unions.

Inception report that identifies the adjustments to be made to existing systems to centralize the financial inclusion data collected for financial inclusion monitoring, and a comprehensive inventory of existing financial inclusion data-collection systems.

 

Month 1

Lead Specialist, Migration and Remittances portfolio

Brainstorm on the functional solution, including the structure, processes, and controls, to develop the future functional solution for an automated collection of financial inclusion data, monitoring, and geolocation of financial services access points in the WAEMU.

Report detailing the functional architecture design of the proposed automated collection system of financial inclusion data. The report shall detail all the key components of the proposed system that includes among others (hardware and software requirements, structure and implementation modality for data collection, data aggregation, monitoring and set-up of a geolocation system, definition of all operational processes.

 

Month 2

Lead Specialist, Migration and Remittances portfolio

Draft the specifications for the automated collection of financial inclusion data, monitoring, and geolocation of financial services access points in the WAEMU.

Specifications for the automated collection of financial inclusion data, monitoring, and geolocation of financial services access points in the WAEMU.

 

 

Month 3

Lead Specialist, Migration and Remittances portfolio

Develop the functional specifications file, the scoping note, and the project management plan.

Report detailing the functional specifications of the automated collection system of financial inclusion note detailing the scoping note and project management plan of the automated collection system of financial inclusion data.

Month 5

Lead Specialist, Migration and Remittances portfolio

Draft the terms of reference for the selection of a company that will set up and deploy the automated collection of financial inclusion data, monitoring, and geolocation of financial services access points in the WAEMU, with the specifications, functional specifications file and project management plan attached.

Terms of reference for the selection of a company that will set up and deploy the automated financial inclusion data-collection system and the WAEMU financial service outlet geolocation system, with the specifications, functional specifications and project management plan attached.

Month 6

Lead Specialist, Migration and Remittances portfolio

 

Competencies

  • Ability to build strong working relationships with institutions and administrators from various stakeholders
  • Ability to work in a multicultural environment and be aware of political sensitivities
  • Ability to think and act strategically

Excellent communication skills, including the ability to articulate solutions for high-level stakeholders and present designs to governance forums.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic qualifications:

A Master’s degree (or equivalent qualifications) in data science, mathematics or computer science is required.

 

Experience:

  • Minimum seven years of experience in IT architecture, including the application of architecture principles to IT solutions design
  • Proven expertise in data-driven solutions or financial services/payment systems solutions
  • Proven experience in providing and/or implementing Regtech/Suptech solutions (e.g., anti-money-laundering, transaction monitoring, fraud detection)
  • Proven expertise in defining, implementing, and operating database management platforms.

Language:

  • Fluency in French is mandatory (excellent comprehension, verbal, and written communication skills).
  • Fluency in English is mandatory (good comprehension, verbal, and written communication skills).

 

 

Institutional Arrangement

 

Duration: Six months, from 1 April 2022 to 30 September 2022.

Location: Dakar, Senegal.

 

Travel and standard living expenses:

Please include one round-trip economy ticket from your home to Dakar, Senegal in your financial proposal as well as living costs. Please note that UNCDF cannot guarantee residence permits or visas for consultants. Consultants are responsible for securing theirwork documentation. In the case of national consultants, applicants that are not nationals of the duty station requested will have to provetheir residence status. Please note that consultants residing in the duty station of travel will not be compensated for living expenses.

The consultant is responsible for providing his/her own laptop computer and mobile phone for use during this assignment.

 

Provision of Monitoring, Progress Controls

The primary contact for reporting for this  assignment is UNCDF Migration and remittances Lead Specialist, based in New York.

Monitoring of progress shall be measured both according to the activities and deliverables of the consultant.

In addition, the consultant will organize  weekly debriefing calls on progress made with UNCDF Migration and remittances Lead Specialist.

The contractor will organize regular monthly  progress calls with the UNCDF team in West Africa to provide updates on activities and results attained.

The contractor will provide a summary report of all activities and deliverables submitted.

 

Payment Milestones:

Payments shall  be made upon  satisfactory completion and UNCDF’s written acceptance of each deliverables by the Migration and Remittances Lead Specialist. Disbursement of the final payment will require a signed evaluation of the consultant’s performance.

 

Deliverables

Payment as % of total contract price

Target completion from contract signature

Review and approvals required

Inception report that identifies the adjustments to be made to existing systems to centralize the financial inclusion data collected for financial inclusion monitoring, and a comprehensive inventory of existing financial inclusion data-collection systems.

Monthly Progress Reports

20%

Month 1

Lead Specialist Migration and remittances

Report detailing the functional architecture design of the proposed automated collection system of financial inclusion data. The report shall detail all the key components of the proposed system that includes among others (hardware and software requirements, structure and implementation modality for data collection, data aggregation, monitoring and set-up of a geolocation system, definition of all operational processes.

Monthly Progress Reports

30%

Month 3

Report detailing the functional specifications of the automated collection system of financial inclusion note detailing the scoping note and project management plan of the automated collection system of financial inclusion data.

Monthly Progress Reports

30%

Month 5

Terms of reference for the selection of a company that will set up and deploy the automated collection of financial inclusion data, monitoring, and geolocation of financial services access points in the WAEMU, including the specifications, functional specifications file and project management plan as attachments.

Monthly Progress Reports

20%

Month 6

 

 

Application process

Interested applicants must submit the following documents as proposals in order to demonstrate their qualifications: (NOTE: THE SYSTEM DOES NOT ALLOW FOR MULTIPLE DOCUMENT UPLOADS, SO APPLICANTS MUST ENSURE THAT THEY UPLOAD ALL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS IN ONE FILE).

 

Applicants who do not submit all the documents listed below may not be considered.

All applications must contain the following information:

  • Cover letter addressing the competency criteria and indicating why the applicant considers themself suitable for the required consultant post and earliest availability. Please paste this letter in the “CV and motivation” section of the electronic application.
  • CV or P11 indicating all experience on similar projects, as well as contact information (email, phone, Skype) for the applicant plus contact information for at least three professional referees (email addresses, phone numbers).

Link to P11: https://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_file.cfm?doc_id=267495.

  • Earliest availability and proposed schedule for consultations.
  • Applicants who are employed by an organization/company/institution and expect their employer to charge a managing fee as part of the contracting process with UNCDF under a reimbursable loan agreement must indicate this and ensure that all such costs are properly incorporated into the financial proposal submitted to UNCDF. Please use the form available at http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_file.cfm?doc_id=29916.
  • Applicants must provide their financial proposal in a lump-sum format and indicate the cost of each deliverable and the travel expenses indicated in the travel section.

 

When applying for this consultant position, please use your official name as indicated on your government-issued identification document (e.g., passport and/or driving licence). Award of the contract is subject to this verification.

Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please ensure that you have provided all requested materials.

In general, UNCDF will not accept travel costs above economy class. Applicants who wish to travel in a higher class must do so at their own expense.

In the event of unscheduled travel as part of this mandate, payment of travel expenses, including tickets, accommodation, and terminal dues, must be agreed between UNCDF and the individual consultant prior to travel. Reimbursement will be paid according to the UNCDF daily subsistence allowance rates.

 

Evaluation:

 

Applications will be scored based on technical and financial submissions. The following selection method will be used: highest rated proposal using the combined scoring method, which assigns weight between the technical and financial proposals. The overall combined score will be 100 points, where the weighting will be 70 per cent technical (30 per cent document review + 40 per cent interview) and 30 per cent financial.

 

Step I: Screening

Applications will be reviewed and only those applicants meeting the following mandatory criteria will progress to the pool for shortlisting:

  • A Master’s degree (or equivalent qualifications) in data science, mathematics, or computer science
  • Minimum seven years of experience in IT architecture, including the application of architecture principles to IT solutions design
  • Fluency in French is mandatory (excellent comprehension, verbal, and written communication skills).

Step II: Desk review (100 points)

 A desk review will be conducted to  produce a shortlist of applicants  based on the following criteria:

 

  • A Master’s degree (or equivalent qualifications) in data science, mathematics, or computer science (10 points)
  • Minimum seven years of experience in IT architecture, including the application of architecture principles to IT solutions design (30 points)
  • Proven expertise in data-driven solutions or financial services/payment systems solutions (20 points)
  • Proven experience in providing and/or implementing Regtech/Suptech solutions (e.g., anti-money-laundering, transaction monitoring, fraud detection) (20 points)
  • Proven expertise in defining, implementing, and operating database management platforms (20 points).

Only the top three applicants who obtain the highest score on the desk review out of a minimum of 70 points in the desk review will be considered for technical interviews.

Step III: Interview

A competency-based interview shall be conducted with the top three candidates who achieve the highest score in Step II (minimum of 70 points). Applicants will be evaluated on:

  • relevant experience
  • knowledge of the sector
  • communication skills.

Only applicants who achieve a minimum of 70 per cent on the total of Step II (desk review) and Step III (interview) will be considered technically qualified and will be subject to further review for a financial evaluation.

 

Step IV: Financial evaluation

The following formula will be used to evaluate financial proposals:

lowest priced proposal/price of the proposal being evaluated x 30 per cent.

 

Step V: Award criteria

The contract will be awarded to the applicant whose application has been evaluated and determined to be compliant/acceptable and received the highest combined score (technical proposal and interview) 70 per cent + financial 30 per cent = 100 per cent.

Individual consultants and people employed by a company or institution are invited to apply.

Any individual employed by a company or institution who would like to apply in response to an individual consultant procurement notice must do so as an individual (providing a CV so that their qualifications may be judged accordingly).

Women candidates or women-owned businesses are strongly encouraged to apply.

UNCDF is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, and culture. Individuals from minority groups, Indigenous groups and people with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.