Background

The UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) has developed a regional programme called SHIFT (Shaping Inclusive Finance Transformations) to contribute to facilitating the transition, by the year 2020, of at least 6 million low-income people and MSEs in the ASEAN region, from using informal financial mechanisms to formally regulated higher-value financial services. To this end, the SHIFT programme will support at least 1 million people to be financially included in the ASEAN region as a result of technical and financial assistance to financial and support service providers in LDCs such as Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and lower MICs such as Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines. Furthermore, a further 5 million people will be included as a result of better region-wide data, knowledge, policies, training and support services architecture to leverage systematic market development.
 
Policy research is a key component of SHIFT, which aims to contribute to develop enabling conditions for adoption of coherent strategies and prioritize transformative mechanisms for more integrated pro-poor financial markets, supported by responsive regulation and supervisory arrangements. To this end, SHIFT will build a pro-poor financial sector development policy and advocacy agenda to influence and shape policy on the development of more inclusive national financial markets, supporting the environment for greater financial integration across the ASEAN region.

Duties and Responsibilities

Objectives of the Assignment
 
SHIFT seeks the assistance of a senior policy research expert to identify shared constraints and opportunities in building and strengthening pro-poor financial markets at the national and regional levels in the ASEAN region. The specific objectives of this assignment are to (1) produce one policy brief by elaborating on the role of Financial Inclusion in the framework of the post-2015 development agenda and the political economy of reform in the ASEAN member states, (2) defining the Terms of Reference (TOR) for a Policy Research and Advocacy Coalition that seeks to establish to translate policy research to action,(3) providing advisory services for the set-up of other SHIFT programme outputs  
The larger policy research agenda to be implemented over the course of the programme will be further defined based on further consultations with stakeholders, which will include policy makers from ASEAN member state governments, other public sector as well as private sector organisations that have a pro-poor focus and financial market development expertise and other market leaders in Financial Inclusion. The scope for policy research should include a consideration of the following issues:
  • Common financial inclusion policy and regulatory issues shared across the financial systems or across clusters of national systems;
  • Creating a policy space for non-bank financial institutions;
  • Shared non-financial development priorities that can be significantly advanced as a result of greater financial inclusion in areas such as agriculture, social protection
  • Other common financial inclusion issues.
Scope of Work

The senior policy research expert will ensure high quality and timely delivery of the following outputs:
 
Output 1: Policy Research:
 
The senior policy research expert will undertake policy research and produce one paper on the role of Financial Inclusion in the framework of the post-2015 development agenda and the political economy of reform in the ASEAN member states. This piece of research aims to establish a clear link between Financial Inclusion and the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) pillar of Equitable Economic Development and should address at least  the following themes::
  • Vulnerability and poverty alleviation;
  • Inequality in the context of economic growth;
  • Enhancing the capacity of the poor to meet basic needs and create or sustain livelihoods through greater access to formal financial services.
  • Financial Inclusion and the links to macroeconomic stability
The title and draft annotated outline of the policy brief, to be defined based on further consultation and research should be finalised before 15 August 2014. The senior expert is expected to participate in all meetings and teleconferences relating to the definition and finalisation of the policy brief.
 
The policy brief will be published and made available as a “public good” to a wide audience of policy makers, donors, practitioners, and financial and support service providers in the ASEAN region and globally to be launched during the ASEAN Forum on Financial Inclusion in early November 2014. The deadline for final draft of the policy brief (which incorporates all comments from the peer review as well as all additional edits) is 17 October 2014.
 
The senior expert is expected to work in collaboration with other consultants who may be engaged for the larger Policy Research output.
 
Output 2: Policy Research and Advocacy Coalition for Change:
 
The senior policy research expert will support and advice SHIFT on the creation of a policy research and advocacy coalition to leverage knowledge sector and facilitate the transition from policy research into practice. To this end, the senior expert will facilitate building up a network of relevant and influential players in the Financial Inclusion arena in ASEAN to serve as an advocacy group that raises the profile of Financial Inclusion in the public policy and larger development discourse. This network aims to be a coalition for change that ensures that research translates into practice.
 
The topics which have been identified as priority areas for the ASEAN region and which will guide the research and advocacy agenda of this coalition include:
  • National Financial Inclusion Strategy and the use of data in supporting the development of enabling conditions for greater Financial Inclusion by guiding policy makers and regulators to set targets and strategies on the basis of robust evidence;
  • The role of a proactive state to develop and regulate financial markets and reduce market failures, including agricultural finance;
  • The fiscal role of the State in increasing the capacity of people to access and use formal financial services – G2P and Social Protection;
  • Client Empowerment (consumer protection and satisfaction, financial education and inclusiveness) from a gender perspective;
  • Inter-connected retail payment systems and cross-border remittances;
  • Innovations to increase access to and usage of formal financial services that substantially lowers the cost of financial intermediation (innovative technology, service delivery channels, and partnerships) with a specific focus in CLMV.
Specifically, the senior expert will be responsible for the:
  • Identification of key themes and research questions where applicable;
  • Identification and recommendation of potential members of the coalition
  • Design of TOR for experts/ coalition members which specifies objectives and outputs of the group as well as a brief elaboration of identified priority thematics and proposal for advocacy plan.
Output 3: Advisory for SHIFT programme
 
The senior policy research expert will act as an advisor to the SHIFT programme management unit on the definition and elaboration of other programme outputs. This will require the participation of the senior expert in meetings, teleconferences and desk-review of documents related to the following:
 
Participation and synthesis of discussion in key meetings:
  • Meeting with ASEAN Heads of Finance Delegation from Myanmar, Philippines and Indonesia in end-August
  • ASEAN Forum on Financial Inclusion
  • Additional ‘Think-shops’ (tentative) relating to defining the broader policy research agenda for SHIFT
 
Review of key documents and knowledge products:
  • Making Access Possible (MAP) synthesis for Thailand and Myanmar and framing of the implications of this data for larger ASEAN context
  • Defining the scope of the Regional Hub of Excellence on Statistical Research which is aimed at consolidating and supporting capacity building of financial inclusion data and knowledge management for the ASEAN region
Specific Responsibilities:
 
The consultant will work under the direct supervision of the Senior Regional Technical Advisor (SRTA) based in Bangkok and in close collaboration with the SHIFT programme management unit and any other expert or institution as designated by the SRTA.
 
Deliverables:
 
The consultant will deliver the following final products with the indicated delivery dates, keeping in mind the requirements under (3) Scope of Work
 
Output 1: Policy Research
  • Annotated outline for policy brief by mid-August, 2014;
  • Final draft by mid-October, 2014.
Output 2: Policy Research and Advocacy Coalition
  • First draft of TOR for Policy Research and Advocacy Coalition by mid-August 2014;
  • List of potential candidates for Research Coalition by mid-August 2014;
  • Finalized TOR for Research Coalition by mid-October 2014.
Output 3: Advisory Services for SHIFT
  • Participation in meeting with Head of Finance delegations from selected ASEAN member states in August 2014 and synthesis notes for emerging key policy priorities
  • Participation and presentation in ASEAN Forum on Financial Inclusion in November 2014 and synthesis notes for future policy research agenda
  • Participation in SHIFT related ‘think-shops’ (dates to be informed 2 weeks before meeting).

 

Competencies

Functional competencies:
  • Excellent research skills;
  • Excellent understanding of the political economy of countries in the ASEAN region;
  • Access to a wide network of international researchers with experience in the ASEAN region;
  • Access to a wide network of senior policy makers from ASEAN member state governments;
  • Ability to deliver high quality policy papers by set deadlines (requiring minimal editing);
  • Strong presentation and communication skills;
  • Strong planning and coordination skills.

Corporate competencies:

  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
  • Highest standards of integrity, discretion and loyalty.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:
  • Masters or PhD in business, finance, economics, and other related fields.

Experience:

  • At least 25 years of working experience in the macroeconomic/microfinance sector, preferably in multiple countries and those included in the list above;
  • Previous experience with international organizations and government in the ASEAN region;
  • Excellent understanding of the political economy of countries in the ASEAN region;
  • Experience in undertaking high quality public policy research specificly relating to financial sector development and macroeconomic policy research;
  • Experience in managing other policy research experts;
  • Experience in the countries mentioned is an asset;
Language Requirement:
  • Proficiency in written and spoken English.
Evaluation Criteria:
  • Technical Criteria weight: 70%
    • Education and experience in required field: 35%;
    • Expertise in ASEAN region macro-economic policy: 30%
    • Written exam (Answering the questions in this Vacancy Announcement Online): 10%
    • Availability: 25%.
Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% technical points would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.
  • Financial Criteria weight: 30%
The award of the contract will be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined (i) Responsive/compliant/acceptable; and (ii) Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.