The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) is a UN organization with a capital mandate (unique in the UN System) focused on reducing poverty and inequality first and foremost in the least developed countries (“LDC”s).   

UNCDF’s financing models work through three channels: (1) inclusive digital economies, which connects individuals, households, and small businesses with financial eco-systems that catalyze participation in  the local economy and provide tools to climb out of poverty and manage financial lives; (2) local development finance, which capacitates localities through fiscal decentralization, innovative municipal finance, and structured project finance to drive local economic expansion and sustainable development; and (3) investment finance, which provides catalytic financial structuring, de-risking, and capital deployment to drive SDG impact and domestic resource mobilization. 

The UNITLIFE programme is an innovative financing instrument hosted by the UNCDF dedicated to the fight against chronic childhood malnutrition in two priority areas: (a) reducing child stunting and other immediate effects of malnutrition; and (b) closing the gender gap in climate-smart agriculture. UNITLIFE has an innovative financing approach and instruments. The funds raised through these instruments will be directly channelled to funding in high impact projects addressing the immediate effects and root causes of chronic malnutrition. 

UNITLIFE funds interventions at different points of the food value chain that (i) position improved nutrition as a primary outcome; (ii) promote nutrition-sensitive and climate-smart agriculture; and (iii) place women at the center. Priority is given to (i) projects that are integrated and/or collocated with complementary interventions addressing other determinants of chronic malnutrition based on the context such as access to health services and adequate water, sanitation and hygiene; (ii) projects that demonstrate a strong sustainability approach to maximize long-term impact; and (iii) projects that include an innovation component.

To date, the portfolio of projects is focused on Sub-Saharan Africa, the region with the highest prevalence of chronically malnourished children. 

Scope of Work

The UNITLIFE Secretariat is seeking the services of a Individual Consultant with experience on field projects implementation, management and monitoring.

The Consultant will be requested to engage in specific tasks associated with the UNITLIFE projects portfolio. She/he will work under the supervision of UNITLIFE Programme Manager. The Consultant will work closely with UNITLIFE implementing partners, and UNITLIFE fund administrator, namely UNDP Multi-Partner Trust Fund (MPTF) office. 

In order to perform the tasks, the Consultant will have full access to UNITLIFE’s Standard Operating Procedures, as well as the MPTF processes and templates and all strategy documents developed, as well as in general,  all available literature. 

Description of  Responsibilities:  

Key results expected for this assignment are as follows: 

Months 1 - 2: For an on-going project and in close collaboration with the implementing partner, submission of one Board approved Project Document,  budget and logframe, together with a signed fund Transfer Request to the MPTF. 

Months 3 - 4: For 3 new projects and in close collaboration with the implementing partners, submission of one Board approved Project Document, budget and logframe, together with a signed Fund Transfer Request to the MPTF.

Months 5 - 6: Coordination of the audit of one project. This includes drafting the Terms Of Reference for the audit and ensure cooperation of the project’s main implementing partner. At the end of the audit, the Consultant is expected to validate the auditors report.

Months 7 - 8: Coordination of a field visit (monitoring visit) of an on-going project. This includes drafting the Terms Of Reference for the assignment, leading the visit on the field, and writing the final report.

Institutional Arrangement

The Consultant is expected to work under the supervision of UNITLIFE Programme Manager, in close collaboration with UNITLIFE Innovative Finance Specialist and the MPTF team in charge of disbursement and administration of funds. 

Scope of Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments

Price proposal should be in a Lump Sum Amount covering all cost elements to complete the work and deliver the outputs. The contract price is fixed regardless of changes in the cost components and timelines to complete the deliverables.

Payment Terms 

Deliverable 1 (end of Month 2): For an on-going project and in close collaboration with the implementing partner, one Board approved Project Document,  budget and logframe, together with a signed fund Transfer Request submitted to the MPTF. 20% of total payment

Deliverable 2 (end of Month 4): For 3 new projects and in close collaboration with the implementing partners, one Board approved Project Document, budget and logframe, together with a signed Fund Transfer Request submitted to the MPTF. 20% of total payment

Deliverable 3 (end of Month 6):  Audit of one project coordinated. This includes: the Terms Of Reference for the audit prepared and cooperation of the project’s main implementing partner ensured. The auditors report validated by the consultant at the end of the audit.  30% of total payment

Deliverable 4 (end of Month 8): A field visit (monitoring visit) of an on-going project coordinated. This includes : the Terms Of Reference for the assignment prepared, the visit on the field conducted, and final report submitted. 30% of total payment

The following supporting documents will serve as conditions for payments to an Individual Consultant : 

1. submission of an invoice and Certificate of Payment (COP); 
2.  submission of all deliverables / workplan / progress report with the relevant supporting documentation; and 
3. review, approval and written acceptance of each deliverable by the UNITLIFE Programme Manager and/or his/her designate.
4. Final payment shall require a signed performance evaluation of the consultant.           
    

Competencies

• Leadership: ability to work in an autonomous way and take the lead on the assignment 
• Communication: ability to listen, adapt, challenge information and identify solution 
• Delivery: ability to get things done in a timely manner 

Skills, Education, and Experience 

1. The minimum level of education acceptable for this assignment is Master’s degree. Fields acceptable are in international development, international finance, social sciences, law or economics. 
2. Candidates must have thematic experience of 5 years minimum on nutrition-sensitive, climate-smart investments, and women economic empowerment.
3. Candidates must have at least 3 years of demonstrated technical expertise in nutrition.
4. Experience living or working in Sub-Saharan Africa is required.
5. Candidates must have worked in United Nations or an International NGO projects, with demonstrated experience on the field, coordinating implementation, evaluation,  monitoring and audit. 
6. Verbal and written knowledge of English and French is required.

Recommended Presentation of Offer

Interested Candidates should submit an offer by providing the following documents: 

1. Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP;
2. Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references;
3. Brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment, and a methodology, if applicable, on how they will approach and complete the assignment. A methodology is recommended for intellectual services, but may be omitted for support services.
4. Signed Financial proposal for the assignment, outlining All-inclusive fee (including professional fees and other professional expenses, such as insurance, taxes, etc.). Available at http://procurement- notices.undp.org/view_file.cfm?doc_id=29916). 

If an Offeror is employed by an organization/company/institution, and he/she expects his/her employer to charge a management fee in the process of releasing him/her to UNDP under Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA), the Offeror must indicate at this point, and ensure that all such costs are duly incorporated in the financial proposal submitted to UNDP. 

Failure to submit all the below mentioned documents may result in rejection of the application 

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: 

• The minimum level of education acceptable for this assignment is Master’s degree. Fields acceptable are in international development, international finance, social sciences, law or economics. 
• Candidates must have thematic experience of 5 years minimum on nutrition-sensitive, climate-smart investments, and women economic empowerment.
• Verbal and written knowledge of English and French is required.

Step II: Shortlisting by Desk Review: (100 Points X 30%) 

UNCDF will conduct a desk review to produce a shortlist of candidates and technically evaluate candidates as follows: 

Step III: Technical interviews (100 points x 40%) 

A competency-based Interview shall be conducted with the top three or four candidates who score the highest in Step II (minimum of 70 points). Candidates will be tested on the same key work areas, in greater depth, with the same weighting, namely: 

• Relevant experience including field experience
• Related Nutrition Technical Knowledge
• Program Development and Management 

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% on the total of Step II: Desk Review and Step III: Interview will be considered as technically qualified and will be reviewed further for financial evaluation. 

Step IV: Financial Evaluation: 

The following formula will be used to evaluate financial proposal: 

Lowest priced proposal/price of the proposal being evaluated x 30%.

Step V: Award Criteria

The contact shall be awarded to the applicant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

• Responsive/compliant/ acceptable;
• Having received the highest combined weight (technical scores) 70% + financial 30% 

Both individual consultants and individual employed by a company or institution are welcome to apply. 

Any individual employed by a company or institution who would like to submit an offer in response to a Procurement Notice for IC must do so in their individual capacity (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 persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. 

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. 

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

CONSULTANT’S PRESENCE REQUIRED ON DUTY STATION/UNCDF PREMISES 

X Full time

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