UNDP Jobs - 58587- Development Finance Expert (International)

Development Finance Expert (International)

Location :

Home-based, with Travel to Yangon and Nay Pyi Taw, upon Requests, MYANMAR

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

30-Jul-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

1 August to 15 October 2015

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 new Constitution and the November 2010 general elections brought unprecedented changes to Myanmar. The country is making rapid and rigorous efforts for democratic transitions and economic transformation through political and economic reforms. In 2014, the Government of Myanmar set a target to graduate as soon as possible from Least Developed Country (LDC) status and has accelerated its efforts to achieve development progress. Myanmar is now at the juncture of preparing for two critical transitions: the 2015 national election and the adoption of the globally-set post-2015 development agenda, Sustainable Development Goals.

The resulting liberalization has generated a lot of interest among the international community to increase investment and volumes of overseas development assistance. Tax revenues from the private sector also increased. According to the 2013 OECD data for ODA receipts (net disbursements), Myanmar ranked as the third country in Asia and its total ODA amounted to US$ 3,935 million (http://www.oecd.org/dac/stats/documentupload/4%20Asia%20- From financial year 2013/14, Myanmar’s tax revenues started picking up, but tax revenues are still low and tax base remains narrow (http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/scr/2014/cr14307.pdf.). For the financial year 2014/2015, foreign investments have grown sharply to US$8 billion, a more than 200% increase compared to the year before (Source: http://www.irrawaddy.org/business/foreign-investment-soars-to-record-8b-in-2014-15.html.). Myanmar’s 2014 chairmanship of the ASEAN has attracted various forms of south south cooperation to Myanmar. In addition to these relatively new financial sources, charity organizations in Myanmar are very active and have been a critical backbone of meeting the basic needs of the people. The 2014 World Giving Index scored Myanmar as one of the top giving countries.

In the past four years, Myanmar was able to achieve a GDP growth rate between 7 to slightly over 8 percent. The 2014 Asia-Pacific Regional MDG Report however pointed out that Myanmar’s progress on human development has fallen short of targets. As part of Myanmar’s efforts to improve socio economic conditions on the ground, Myanmar announced its acute interest in graduating from the LDC status and in adopting the SDGs. Myanmar’s aspiration towards a modern and developed country is set even higher and all stakeholders of Myanmar play important roles in achieving this goal together, thereby meeting the needs of its over 51 million people. So far, development cooperation discussions in Myanmar, however, have been focusing on setting development priorities and reviewing development achievements. As Myanmar is going through its important junctures, one critical aspect is to look at what sources of development assistance have been available to Myanmar and what financial scenarios Myanmar foresees for its development activities for post-2015.

Against this background, UNDP in partnership with the Foreign Economic Relations Department (FERD) of the Ministry of National Planning and Economic Development (MNPED), will conduct the Development Finance Assessment in two phases.

During the Phase I, the Development Finance Assessment (DFA) seeks:

to assess volume and trends in development finance flows and their allocation to national development priorities since 2011;
to project scenarios of future flows of each source; and
to propose recommendations on the use of the results from the Phase I. Development Finance Assessment.

Data and preliminary analysis collected during the Phase I will inform the scope of the Phase II. The Phase II may become a focused assessment on specific sector(s) and/or specific financial flows, or it may try to look at the development financial flows at the sub-national level.

This Terms of References (ToR) is, therefore, to outline key requirements for the Phase I.

Duties and Responsibilities

Objectives of the Assignment

The objectives of this assignment is to conduct the Phase I. Development Finance Assessment, in close consultations with the FERD/MNPED and various key stakeholders, including relevant government departments, international development partners, local and international NGOs and the private sector.

With a goal to finalize the Phase I. Development Finance Assessment (DFA) by 15 October 2015, and to a degree where data can be available, the outline of the Phase I. DFA is proposed as the following:

introduction, summarizing context of the Phase I. DFA as well as its key objectives;
an overview of the volume and trends of the development finance at both country and Region/State levels as well as their allocations to sectors (education, social services, health, etc.);
prospects for sustainability of development finance inflows in the next 5-10 years;
scenarios of development finance inflows in the next 5-10 years (i.e. how a policy change will affect the inflows of development finance sources);
policy recommendations on the use of results of the Assessment (eg. how this data can strengthen institutional management of different sources of development finance; how this data can support Myanmar to strategize implementation of its key development priorities such as the LDC graduation and the SDGs, etc.); and
suggestion for the Phase II. Development Finance Assessment

In terms of the sources of the development finance, to an extent possible, the following sources will be considered for the DFA:

In order to develop the Phase I. Development Finance Assessment (DFA) Report, the scope of the work will include the following:

Develop an inception report, summarizing timeline of the chapters of the Phase I. DFA, key data/interviews/consultations required (for data, indicate sources/web links to be used), as well as key work approach and methodologies to be used;
Analyze socio-economic and political context by referring to key relevant publications. While UNDP will provide a list of relevant publications, the Expert is expected to search for any other relevant materials to obtain comprehensive understanding of Myanmar’s socio-economic and political context, as much as possible. At this stage, the consultant is also expected to review outcome document (called, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda) from the Conference on Financing for Development, Addis Ababa, agreed on 16 July. Implications of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda to Myanmar will be included in the introduction chapter of the Phase I. DFA Report;
Collect necessary data and analyze volume and trends of the different sources of the development finance at both country and Region/State levels as well as their allocations to sectors (education, social services, health, etc.). UNDP’s Statistical Specialist will do the data calculation work;
Undertake interviews/consultations with relevant stakeholders to validate the data and seek further data, as needed;
Identify statistical methodologies and apply them to provide, to an extent possible, prospects for sustainability of development finance inflows in the next 5-10 years and scenarios of development finance inflows in the next 5-10 years (i.e. how a policy change will affect the inflows of development finance sources);
Provide policy recommendations on the use of results of the Assessment (eg. how this data can strengthen institutional management of different sources of development finance; how this data can support Myanmar to strategize implementation of its key development priorities such as the LDC graduation and the SDGs, etc.); and
Design a validation workshop to present the key findings from the Phase I. Development Finance Assessment and to discuss scope for the Phase II of the DFA;
Suggest possible options for the scope of the Phase II.

Throughout the whole process, the work of the Phase I. DFA will be guided by the Government Oversight Team.

Final Products

Products, Minimum requirements, Estimated work days to complete, Timeline, Payment milestones, and Anticipated travel (when possible, online means are preferred to reduce the travel).

Inception Report:

Timeline of the chapters of the Phase I. DFA;
Key data/interviews/consultations required (for data, indicate sources/web links to be used);
Key work approach and methodologies to be used;
3 days, 7 August 2015, Home-based.

First three chapters of the Phase I. DFA Report (Estimated length: 10-15 pages):

Introduction (including a linkage with the outcomes of the Conference on Financing for Development, Addis Ababa, 16 July 2015);
Socio-economic and political context (to a degree where data can be available) Overview of volume and trends of the development finance at both country and Region/State levels as well as their allocations to sectors;
10 days, 14 August 2015, 1st installment, Home, with travel to Myanmar (2 days in Yangon and 1 day in Nay Pyi Taw).

The remaining chapters of the Phase I. DFA Report (Estimated length: 10-15 pages):

Prospects for sustainability of development finance inflows in the next 5-10 years;
Scenarios of development finance inflows in the next 5-10 years (i.e. how a policy change will affect the inflows of development finance sources);
Policy recommendations on the use of results of the Assessment (eg. how this data can strengthen institutional management of different sources of development finance; how this data can support Myanmar to strategize implementation of its key development priorities such as the LDC graduation and the SDGs, etc.; how this data can support Myanmar to implement the Addis Ababa Action Agenda); and
Suggestion for the Phase II. Development Finance Assessment;
10 days, 4 September 2015, 2nd installment, Home-based;

Presentation of preliminary findings to the Government Oversight Team:

Presentation of preliminary findings based on the above work;
2 days, 31 August 2015, Travel to Myanmar (Nay Pyi Taw).

Revised DFA report:

Revised report, incorporated with feedbacks from the Government Oversight Team;
3 days, 4 September 2015, 3rd installment, Home-based.

Presentation of preliminary findings at the validation workshop:

Program of the validation workshop, including key discussion questions;
Presentation of preliminary findings, incorporated with feedbacks received from the Government Oversight Team;
3 days, 11 September 2015, 3rd installment, Home, with travel to Myanmar (1 day in Yangon);

Final DFA Report:

Revised and Final DFA Report, based on the comments received from the Government Oversight Team and the validation workshop as well as any further research/consultation meetings conducted (at this stage, consultation meetings will be undertaken remotely);
Executive Summary;
5 days, 30 September 2015, 3rd installment, Home-based.

Presentation of key/final findings at the dissemination meeting:

Presentation(s) of key/final findings at the dissemination meeting;
2 days, 15 October 2015, Travel to Myanmar (Nay Pyi Taw).

Lessons learned report:

Maximum 3 pages;
Summary of actions undertaken during the assignment;
Challenges experienced;
Recommendations to improve the process and the contents of the DFA;
1 day, 15 October 2015, Final installment, Home-based.

Institutional Arrangement:

Oversight arrangement

The work of the consultant will be guided by the Government Oversight Team. All final outputs will undergo UNDP’s internal reviews, which usually take around 1 to 5 days of turn-around time;
Structurally, the consultant will be placed under the Development Planning and Effectiveness Output of UNDP’s Democratic Governance Programme and have a direct reporting line to the Development Planning and Effectiveness Specialist;
The consultant is required to submit a one pager weekly progress report, according to a template provided by UNDP.

Logistical arrangement:

For all international travels

The consultant is requested to include international travel costs in the financial proposal (See section 9. Financial Proposal below) and arrange the flight;
UNDP will provide support for the visa process and pay for the visa fee, when needed.

For all domestic travels:

UNDP will cover costs related to all domestic travels – such as transport, per diem, accommodation - in accordance with its regulations and policies;
UNDP will provide logistical support to arrange transportations and accommodations.

Interpretation/Translation:

UNDP will arrange, as needed, and cover the costs.

Duration of Assignment:

From 1 August 2015 to 15 October 2015.

Duty Station and Expected Places of Travel

Duty Station:

Home.

It is anticipated that this assignment would include around 4 times of travels to Myanmar (Yangon and Nay Pyi Taw). When possible, remote means such as tele-conference and emails are preferred to reduce the travel.

Scope of Financial Proposal

The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, inclusive of all costs except the local transportation costs in Myanmar. The following list provides key instructions for the financial proposal.

All inclusive implies that all costs (professional fees, International travel cost, living allowances, communications, consumables, etc.) that could possibly be incurred by the Contractor during this assignment. International travel cost should be based on the most direct and economic option;
There will be no living allowance when the work is done at a home base;
The financial proposal does not need to include transportation costs for domestic travels; these will be arranged by UNDP according to its travel policy;
The financial proposal should provide payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e. whether payments fall in installments or upon completion of the entire contract) as stated in the table of “Final Products”;
The financial proposal should include a breakdown of costs including professional fees, per diems for travels outside duty station, international travel cost and number of anticipated working days.

Payments of the proposed fees to the consultants are based upon satisfactory completion of the services and products specified in this ToR.

to get soft copy of P-11 and Template for Confirmation of Interest and Submission of Financial Proposal visit;

http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=23988

Competencies

Core Competencies:

Demonstrates Integrity by modeling the UN's values and ethical standards;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP.

Functional Competencies:

Ability to consolidate information from multiple sources;
Able to prepare strategic information for decision makers;
Ability to advance and provide timely advise;
Ability to identify issues and to use sound judgment in applying technical expertise to resolve a wide range of problems; and
Ability to work under extreme pressure in a highly stressful environment;
Developing People/Coaching and Mentoring & Fostering Innovation and Empowerment;
Self-Management/Emotional Intelligence;
Excellent communication skill, including the ability to write in a clear and concise manner;
Appropriate and transparent decision making;
Analytical and strategic thinking and results orientation/commitment to excellence; and
Knowledge sharing/continuous learning.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree in economics, finance, statistics, political science, or any other relevant field.

Experience:

A minimum of 7 years’ experience in the areas such as public finance management, development effectiveness, and national/sub-national planning;
Proven record of research/analysis work with a focus on domestic and international financial resources;
Demonstrated knowledge in the flows of different sources of development finance;
Experience in leading research/analysis work in partnership with a government;
Excellent interpersonal and oral and written communication skills;
Ability to work well in multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural teams;
Previous experience in conducting a research similar to the Development Finance Assessment in South East Asia is a strong advantage.

Language:

Excellent command of written and spoken English.

Selection Criteria

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the cumulative analysis of the technical evaluation (weight: 70%) and financial criteria (weight: 30%). Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70 points from the technical evaluation would be considered for the financial evaluation.

Technical – 70% (100 points):

Relevant experience in public finance management, development effectiveness, and national/sub-national planning (35 points);
Experience in conducting a research similar to the Development Finance Assessment in South East Asia (35 points);
Proven record of research/analysis work (15 points);
Experience in leading research/analysis work in partnership with a government (15 points);
Financial – 30%.