Historique

The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) is the flagship catalytic financing entity of the United Nations for the world’s 46 Least Developed Countries (LDCs). With its unique capital mandate and focus on the LDCs, UNCDF works to invest and catalyse capital to support these countries in achieving the sustainable growth and inclusiveness envisioned by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Doha Programme of Action for the least developed countries, 2022–2031.   

UNCDF builds partnerships with other UN organizations, as well as private and public sector actors, to achieve greater impact in development; specifically, by unlocking additional resources and strengthening financing mechanisms and systems contributing to transformation pathways, focusing on such development themes as green economy, digitalization, urbanization, inclusive economies, gender equality and women’s economic empowerment.  

To deliver the actions necessary to fulfil the targets outlined in the Global Biodiversity Framework, UNCDF has established a nature-based financing service line – the Nature Asset Team (NAT). In collaboration with UN agencies, national and international governments, private sector institutions and other key partners, NAT works to strengthen institutional capacities, catalyze resource flows, and improve access to technical expertise, thereby creating the context for sustained investment in nature assets and long-term distribution of co-benefits. 

UNCDF in collaboration with the Central African Forest Initiative (CAFI), AFD Group and other partners is seeking to launch Forest Investments for Responsible and Sustainable Transformation (FIRST), a vehicle designed to create pathways to capital markets for the purpose of achieving forest preservation and climate resilience in Central Africa. FIRST will engage in capital market operations, offering instruments that are standardized and liquid. As a platform focused on crowding in the private sector by issuing Forest Performance Bonds (FPBs) and extending loans to forest-positive initiatives, the vehicle’s instruments will be structured on prevailing market terms making them replicable and scalable.  

FIRST seeks to leverage capital markets to deliver the following key objectives:  

• Accelerating the energy sector transition by improving access to renewable energy, thereby reducing emissions and forest loss associated with unsustainable fuelwood extraction, charcoal production and dependence on large diesel generators to power agroindustry 

• Scaling-up investment in inclusive, sustainable, and deforestation-free commodity supply chains and transformative agroindustry, thereby reducing deforestation driven by agricultural production and improving the adaptive capacities of regional food systems; and 

• Accelerating the growth of forest-positive SMEs that provide diversified and sustainable livelihoods for local populations and drive climate-smart innovations with the potential for replication.  

Within this context, UNCDF is seeking to hire a Senior Consultant, Capital Markets to support the implementation of FIRST. The Senior Consultant will oversee various components of the rollout and execution of the vehicle in close alignment with UNCDF’s partners. 

Devoirs et responsabilités

UNCDF is seeking the services of a Senior Consultant to provide dedicated support to UNCDF Nature Assets Team (NAT) on their stewardship of the implementation of FIRST. He/she will propose a draft implementation plan of action, lead consultations on the set up of the vehicle’s governance structure, as well as the operationalization of the strategic and technical processes required for an orderly launch. 

Specifically, the scope of the work will cover coordination of UNCDF’s contributions to the launch and implementation of FIRST as follows: 

• Oversee UNCDF’s contributions to the successful launch of FIRST; 

• Contribute UNCDF inputs to FIRST strategy and investment criteria, as applicable; 

• Aid in the vetting and selection of potential host jurisdictions for FIRST, as applicable; 

• Put forward structural options for FIRST, covering legal, tax, and other elements for consideration; 

• Ensure disciplined participation of UNCDF in governance structures of FIRST, as applicable;  

• Assist in the creation of governing board Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), as applicable; 

• Help identify, support and nurture high quality pipeline for FIRST in line with UNCDF commitment; 

• Support efforts to build a performing portfolio of investments, consistent with the thesis of FIRST; 

• Spearhead communication and strategic engagements with partners in FIRST, as needed;  

• Develop funding proposals as part of UNCDF resource mobilization strategy for FIRST; 

• Monitor and flag implementation risks for UNCDF and recommend mitigating actions

Deliverables, Payment terms and Indicative Submissions

Institutional Arrangements 

The Senior Consultant, Capital Markets will report to the Director, Capital Markets for Development at UNCDF and will provide regular updates via verbal and as-needed written updates (see deliverables section). During the assignment, the Senior Consultant will be expected to work collaboratively with members of NAT, as well as other staff members and programme partners, as appropriate or directed. 

Duration of Work 

The assignment duration is for the period 18 October 2023 through 30 April 2024 but may be extended based on the progress of implementation of the vehicle and needs of UNCDF and its partners. 

Duty Station

The assignment is home based. Travel is foreseen once every quarter (maximum).

Applicants should include travel estimates for two (2) trips from their home base to Europe and one (1) trip from their home base to East/Central Africa.

Applicants are informed that travel locations will be confirmed during the course of the consultancy and are subject to change.

Compétences

Required competencies are incorporated under Qualifications. 

Qualifications et expériences requises

Minimum Qualifications:

Education: An advanced university degree (master’s) in Business, Finance, Economics, Engineering, Environmental Science, Management or similar is required; AND

Experience: 8-12 years of experience in commercial banking, development finance, fund management, impact investing, investment banking, management consulting, private equity, treasury operations, or venture capital. 

EVALUATION

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, where weight distribution shall be 70% for the technical and 30% for the financial proposal.

Step 1: Screening

Applications will be screened and only candidates meeting the Minimum Qualifications above will progress to the pool for shortlisting.

Step II: Shortlisting by Desk Review (Technical Evaluation)

Candidates will be evaluated at desk review based on the following: 

Skills and Experience: 

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70 points on technical will be considered for financial evaluation.

Step III: Financial Evaluation:

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

Step IV: Contract award

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

• Responsive/compliant/acceptable vis-à-vis the requirements of the TOR and the project operating environment; and
• Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical (70%) and financial (30%) criteria

Scope of Price Proposal and Schedule of Payment 

The contract price shall be all-inclusive and shall include expenses incurred by the consultant during the period of the contract. 

Payments will be made to the consultant based on deliverables/output as per the payment terms described under Deliverables, Payment terms and Indicative Submissions above, and after submission of invoices to UNCDF.  As also noted above, applicants should include travel estimates for two (2) trips from their home base to Europe and one (1) trip from their home base to East/Central Africa

All outputs shall be subject to written final acceptance by the Senior Technical Advisor of UNCDF and subsequent authorization to disburse the payment. 

Recommended Presentation of Offer

The interested parties should accomplish the online submission form and upload the CV in this jobsite; the Letter of confirmation and availability (financial proposal) must be submitted through uncdf.procurement@uncdf.org. 

1. Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability (Please click here for document)
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. Financial Proposal (the same as item #1 above) that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs, as per template provided. 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 UNCDF.