UNCDF Jobs - 42314- Consultancy: Facilitation of a Training on “Managi

Consultancy: Facilitation of a Training on “Managing Product Diversification and Savings Product Development Successfully” During MLE Grantees Workshop

Advertised on behalf of

UNCDF

Location :

Kigali, RWANDA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

15-Jan-2014

Application Deadline :

07-Jan-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

January to March 2014

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

3 months

UNDP 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. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) was founded as an independent organization within the UN system in 1966, with a mission “to assist developing countries in the development of their economies by supplementing existing sources of capital assistance by means of grants and loans”. Its creation was part of a larger effort to complement technical assistance and pre-investment activities of the UN Development Programme (UNDP), as well as those of larger partners such as the World Bank. In 1973 UNCDF’s mandate was narrowed to focus “first and foremost” on the least developed countries (LDCs). UNCDF today remains a capital investment organization for the LDCs. Its work is designed to help reduce poverty and achieve the objectives of the Brussels Program of Action for the LDCs, as well as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). It has special expertise in 1) microfinance / inclusive finance; and 2) decentralization and local development.

UNCDF’s Financial Inclusion Practice (FIPA) area operates programmes in 25 LDCs, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa. In addition, UNCDF / FIPA provides technical assistance to UNDP inclusive finance programmes around the world, and partners with other UN organizations on issue-specific aspects of the larger financial inclusion agenda (e.g. ILO on micro-insurance; IFAD on remittances).

The importance of microcredit is widely recognized but there is a high demand for savings from poor families and small and micro enterprises in developing countries. Similarly, savings-based microfinance institutions that fund themselves primarily through local deposits are better positioned to weather periods of financial downturns and local funding is generally more stable and carries no foreign-currency risk. Recognizing (i) the importance of ‘market leaders’ to drive sector development and (ii) the demand for safe, convenient savings products by low income populations, in 2008 UNC DF launched, with the support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the LDC Fund to Develop Savings-led Market Leaders (MicroLead).

In 2011, with the support of The MasterCard Foundation, the MicroLead Expansion (MLE) programme was launched which continues with the focus on microsavings and beyond support to greenfield also includes capacity building by technical service providers to FSPs poised for significant growth in low-income savings mobilization. MicroLead Expansion also emphasizes issues such as outreach to rural areas and women, technology innovations, responsible finance, and financial education and broadens the programme’s target countries to include non-LDC s as well as LDCs.

MicroLead Expansion and its funder, The MasterCard Foundation, are committed to sharing knowledge and developing a learning platform for and with their partners and grantees. As part of this platform, MLE will organize its first workshop for its Financial Service Providers (FSP) and Technical Service Providers (TSP) grantees in February 2014. Representatives of the grantees will be invited to participate in the workshop to share learning with Programme’s peers, donors and other stakeholders. In addition, the participants will be provided trainings around specific topics of interest during the workshop in order to support them in their grant implementation.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the guidance of the MicroLead Program Advisor and in consultation with the workshop’s facilitator, the consultant is responsible for delivering a one-day training on the topic of “Managing Product Diversification and Savings Product Development Successfully”. The training will be completed on the first day of the three-day workshop that will be held in Kigali (Rwanda).

Prior to the training, the consultant will complete a learning needs assessment (LNA) to understand the learning needs of the participants to the training. Based on the results of the LNA, the consultant will facilitate an introductory webinar for the training’s participants that will be held between two to four weeks before the workshop. The webinar will help introduce key concepts and frameworks on the topic to be covered during the workshop such as what is a product diversification, types of product diversification, value from client and MFI perspective, market development Vs. product development, different growth strategies.

The training will be based on the toolkit “Making Micro?nance Work: Managing Product Diversi?cation” developed by the ILO and will have the following objectives:

Raise awareness around the opportunities and risks that product diversification presents;
Discuss pitfalls, challenges and lessons learnt from grantees’ experiences during product diversification in general and particularly in the savings product development process;
Share tools and methodologies for successful savings product development;
Encourage a more pro-active product management process within the participants’ organizations.

A critical element of the training will be the Individual Action Plan that will be built by each participant throughout the course. It will consist of a two-part approach to record actions that participants themselves plan to take when they return to their institutions as well as recommendations for action by others within their institution.

The methodology of the training should:

Employ adult learning principles and practices;
Integrate the experiential learning cycle in each session;
Adopt a participatory approach that uses a variety of activities (role-play, debates, exercises, group discussions) to give participants opportunities to maximize their learning exchanges;
End each session with a wrap-up discussion to synthesize key lessons learned.

Specifically, the consultant will:

Complete a Learning Needs Assessment (LNA) for all participants in the workshop in order to understand their learning needs and gaps to be covered during the training;
Facilitate a webinar to introduce all participants to key concepts and notions that will be referred to during the training;
Adapt MMW2 training materials based on participants learning needs and the training objectives;
Deliver the one-day training;
Compile training evaluations into a final training report.

Output and Processes:

Prior to the training, the consultant should provide UNCDF with a summary of the LNAs and the adapted agenda of the training (sequence of the training sessions). After the training, the consultant will produce a final training report including an overview of the different elements covered during the training and the results of the training evaluation completed by the participants.

Any expense related to training logistics, training materials printing, travel and accommodation of the consultant will be responsibility of the UNCDF.

Timing:

The consultant shall work during the period of January 15th 2014 to March 15th 2014 with the following schedule:

Deliverables:

LNA report, January 20th , 2014;
Introductory webinar, February 3rd, 2014;
Training delivery and Training Evaluation, February 26th, 2014;
Final training report, March 7th 2014.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Analytical and problem solving skills of a high order, including the ability to formulate recommendations and advice;
Demonstrated excellent written and oral communication skills in English;
Ability to work independently, manage time, scheduling and logistical issues;
Strong ability to communicate and function effectively in international/multicultural environment;
High level planning, organizational and time management skills, including flexibility, attention to detail and the ability to work under pressure to meet changing deadlines;
Well-developed interpersonal skills, including the ability to liaise effectively at senior levels;
High level of communication and interpersonal skills and experience in working effectively in a multi cultural environment;
Sensitivity to diverse opinions and difficulties arising from differing social and cultural perceptions.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master's Degree or equivalent.

Experience:

The vacancy is open to any individual consultant that has training experience and is a Making Microfinance Work (MMW) certified trainer;
The training will be conducted in English.

Language:

Strong written and spoken English.

Application:

Interested and qualified candidate should upload the following documents as one document:

Methodology and approach;
Quote including number of days required to complete the activities and Daily rate;
Up-to-date CV;
Notice of availability to travel to Kigali, Rwanda from 25-27 February.