Background

Briefly describe the project rationale / background and the objectives of the project

UNCDF is the UN’s capital development agency for the Worlds least developed countries. It’s mandate is to create new opportunities for poor people and their communities by increasing access to microfinance and investment capital. Although microfinance global outreach has increased tremendously over the past 30 years, an estimated 2.7 billion people around the world do not use formal financial services. About 56 percent of adults worldwide remain unbanked. Access to financial services, particularly deposit services, underpins the ability of low-income people to achieve sustainable progress on their own terms, enhance their capacities to weather shocks, smooth income streams, and save for the future. Yet providing these services, on a profitable basis, to low-income rural people remains a major challenge for most financial service providers. To provide deposit services to low-income rural people who are currently un- or under-banked in order to enhance their capacities to weather shocks, smooth income streams, and save for the future.

Briefly describe the context of the required services

ONE UN in Rwanda developed a joint program called Development and Implementation of Value Chains in Rwanda, whereby UNCDF was tasked to undertake the financial inclusion component. Under this program UNCDF conducted an analysis of the agricultural value-chain financing in Rwanda with the objective to identify key areas of intervention to develop the capacity of FSPs to deliver agriculture financing products.

The consultancy process included a Sector Assessment on Agricultural Value-Chain Financing; the identification of potential FSPs partners, institutional gap-assessments of two FSPs as well as development of Technical Assistance and Financial Facilities to implement AVCF products in such FSPs.

As output of this process, two (02) FSPs were selected to benefit UNCDF’s Technical Assistance to implement AVCF products: UNGUKA Bank and VFC Ltd. And relevant technical assistance proposal have been developed including proposals for financial facilities.

In other hand, notwithstanding the financial inclusion programmes in Rwanda implemented to date (such as BIFSIR 2009-2015), access to finance continues to be a crucial component of the contingent development plans for Rwanda as there is still a large room for improvement. A key issue is matching the supply of financial services better to the demand and another continuing challenge is including people from rural areas into the formal financial system. Therefore, UNCDF and UNDP in partnership with other UN Partners and the Government of Rwanda have agreed to continue supporting inclusive finance, building on best practices and lessons learned from former programmes. The new joint-programme is named Rwanda Financial Inclusion Programme (R-FIP). UNCDF and UNDP had started consultations with like-minded organizations to jointly mobilize resources for the implementation of this new project.

Emphasize the relevance/purpose of the work required and how it is linked to the project context

A national consultant is required to be responsible for (i) Technical Assistance to national institutions to developing and implementing appropriate VCF instruments; (ii) resource mobilization to source local funds and identify partners to implement R-FIP in Rwanda, during the inception phase of the Project.

List and describe the stakeholders for the project.

Key stakeholders of the project are:

• Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN);
• Central Bank of Rwanda (BNR);
• Rwanda Cooperative Agency (RCA);
• Ministry of Trade and Industry (MINICOM);
• Ministry of Agriculture (MINAGRI);
• Ministry of Youth & ICT (MYICT);
• Association of Microfinance Institutions Rwanda (AMIR);
• Commercial Banks;
• Rural and Community banks;
• Mobile Network operators;
• UN Agencies;
• Bi-lateral organizations;
• International and local NGOs;
• Private Businesses.?

If applicable, explain thoroughly the peculiarity of the setting of the project or the work required, if any (e.g., security risks involved in conducting the work in certain communities, certain cultures and practices unique to the stakeholders, etc.)

Duties and Responsibilities

List the results that the NC should achieve, and the major tasks expected to be undertaken by the Contractor.

Building relationships with strategic partners

• Identify and build relationships with donors, private sector, UN agencies and other development organizations that are critical to the delivery of UNCDF’s objectives and programs;
• Establish and maintain relationships with key contacts in strategic partner organizations;
• Develop ideas and projects for formal collaboration with targeted development Partners, agencies and other development organizations;
• Represent UNCDF in interagency and intergovernmental forums and other key meetings and events, participate in policy dialogue, discuss initiatives to influence setting of agenda and advocate UNCDF competencies and mandate.

Securing resource mobilization and project funding from key Partners and Donors

• Identify new opportunities for resource mobilization;
• Undertake initiatives for diversifying financial support base, including non-traditional donors, the private sector, international NGOs and the Government;
• Contribute to design and development of project proposals;
• Follow up with donors on project proposals to secure funding;
• Manage contracts with key Partners and Donors.

Providing Technical Assistance? to 2 FSPs (UNGUKA Bank and VFC Ltd) to developing and implementing appropriate VCF instruments ?that serve small-scale farmers with a focus on horticulture, vegetable production

• Conceptualize/Design the key VCF products for development and identify the capacity needs of the partner FSPs to developing and implementing appropriate VCF instruments;
• Assist FSPs on capacity building and introducing appropriate financial products that serve small-scale farmers with a focus on horticulture, vegetable production;
• Provide continued support to the FSPs in testing and launching the new developed products.

Program support and reporting

• Identify, engage key stakeholders and ensure increased coordination and internal communications with them to ensure their full engagement in the process
• conduct a quick sector baseline survey to update the R-FIP indicators data base
• Organize stakeholders’ s consultations to validate those baseline
• Finalize the M&E framework of R-FIP
• Coordinate overall program implementation by partners to ensure key performance indicators are met and program impact is in line with strategy
• Manage and coordinate scheduled reporting to meet institutional donor reporting requirements

  Expected Outputs and Deliverables

• List down the outputs and specific deliverables in sequence, corresponding to the work and their corresponding target delivery dates;?
• If the specific dates are contingent on too many variables and cannot yet be defined, the span of time from the commencement of the work could be indicated (e.g., 2nd week from contract signing, within 2-3 months from contract signing, etc.);
• If there are multiple reviewers/certifying authorities for each output/deliverable, they shall be properly identified and indicated in this section;
• If feasible, a table similar to the one below is desired in order to clearly summarize the above details.

  No.	Deliverables / Outputs	Estimated Duration to Complete	Review and Approvals Required (Indicate designation of person/Unit who will review output and confirm acceptance)
  1	Identify and build relationship with at least 01 donor per month	__05_ Working days	UNCDF Regional Technical Advisor-IF
  2	Prepare concept note to present to donors and partners	__05_ Working days	UNCDF Regional Technical Advisor-IF
  3	Prepare proposals and Secure at least funding from 1 donor	__05_ Working days	UNCDF Regional Technical Advisor-IF
  4	Follow up with all donors and potential partners	__05_ Working days	UNCDF Regional Technical Advisor-IF
  5	Technical assistance to FSPs in VC (workshop, 2 new products to support VC, tools and methodologies, trainings)	__30_ Working days	UNCDF Regional Technical Advisor-IF
  6	Program support and Reporting	__10_ Working days	UNCDF Regional Technical Advisor-IF

Institutional arrangement /Reporting relationships? Identify the specific authority/ies who will directly supervise the Contractor, and to whom he/she? will be directly responsible to, reporting to, seeking approval/acceptance of output from (e.g, the Project Manager, or National Project Director, etc.)

The NC will work under the Supervision of the UNCDF Regional Technical Advisor, based in Dakar, Senegal.

• Indicate the frequency of progress reporting, if required (e.g., weekly, monthly, fortnightly, etc.), the recommended formats, if any.? If any of the reports must be presented, indicate the audience/body and expected location and venue.

The NC is expected to present weekly updates + monthly and quarterly reports to the Supervisor

• Identify institutions/organizations/individuals with whom the Contractor is expected to liaise/interact/collaborate/meet with in the course of performing the work (e.g., other agencies, project co-implementers, donors, communities, local government units, etc.)
  • Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN)
  • Central Bank of Rwanda (BNR)
  • Rwanda Cooperative Agency (RCA)
  • Ministry of Trade and Industry (MINICOM)
  • Ministry of Agriculture (MINAGRI)
  • Ministry of Youth & ICT (MYICT)
  • Association of Microfinance Institutions Rwanda (AMIR)
  • Commercial Banks
  • Rural and Community banks
  • Mobile Network operators
  • UN Agencies
  • Bi-lateral organizations
  • International and local NGOs
  • Private Businesses?
• Define roles / extent of participation of entities involved in the management/implementation of the contract (e.g., as respondents to survey, resource persons to confer with, approving authority, evaluating performance, etc.)

All issues concerning the implementation of this contract shall be handled by the UNCDF Regional Technical Advisor-IF. All activities shall be approved by the UNCDF Regional Technical Advisor-IF

Specify if the project will be able to provide (or not) any facilities, support personnel, support service, or logistical support, what they will be, and at what stage of the work.

UNCDF will provide basic working tools and the necessary support to enable the NC function effectively on the job.

Logistics and Administrative support to prospect IC? Detail list of all inputs and services which will be provided to the prospect NC including but not limited to Office Space; Equipment; Secretarial services; Local transport service; Arrangement of workshop(s) (if validation is required), . . .

UNCDF will provide office space and furniture, laptop computer, printer and office stationery. In addition, UNCDF will provide means of transport for official duties and per diem and accommodation in case the NC travels out of Kigali. Travel outside duty station shall be authorised by UNCDF and travel expense paid according to UN rates.

• ? Whether the assignment requires partial, intermittent or full time presence on the UNDP premises. If it prerequisite full presence of the NC, it requires strong justification.

The assignment requires partial and intermittent presence on the UNDP premises

• Who will be in-charge for offering both administrative and logistics supports

UNCDF

Duration of the work

• State expected duration of work / total no. of days/weeks/months of the assignment including effective person-days, if applicable.?
  • 2.5 days per week, 10 days per month and 60 days over 6 months
• Emphasize the expected date of full completion, if time is of the essence, indicate the consequences of any delay
  • 30th November 2017

• Indicate target date for the start of work and expected completion date, including conditions to determining both dates in the table under Roman No. III above
  • The contract will start in June 2017 and end on 30th November, 2017

• ?Provide the estimated Lead Time (LT) for UNDP or Project Implementing Partners to review outputs, give comments, certify approval/acceptance of outputs, etc.?
• Explain special reason for urgency, if any, and serious consequence/impact of any form of delay in the completion of the work (e.g., deferment of the succeeding phase to the following year, cancellation of the budget allocation for the project, other potential losses to any party involved, etc.).

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

• Knowledge and/or special skills such as analytical skills, conceptual, leadership, repot writing, research sills, presentation skills, decision making, communications abilities, teamwork, working in diversity, emotional intelligence;
• Competencies in organization management;
• Conceptual and analytical skills in formulating development strategies and policies;
• Excellent public speaking and presentation skills;
• Computer skills: full command of Microsoft applications (word, excel, PowerPoint) and common internet applications will be required.

Core Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favouritism; and
• Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Required Skills and Experience

Qualification of the successful Individual Contractor (IC)

Education:

• An Advance University (Masters) degree is required in the areas of business administration, development studies or other social science
• An understanding of the financial landscape in Rwanda
• A minimum of 10 years’ experience working for an international NGO
• Must possess excellent written and oral communication skills in English with demonstrable experience of having undertaken similar assignments in Rwanda.

Experience:

• Experience in rural finance and value chain
• Experience in product development ?
• Experience in digital finance, mobile money and agency networks
• Experience managing organizations such as local NGOs
• At least 10 years working experience in a development organization
• Experience in managing project budgets and donor relationships
• Previous experience with UN and or international nongovernmental organizations would be an asset.

Language:

• Ability to read, write and speak English fluently, including the ability to set out a coherent argument in presentations and group interactions;
• Demonstrated capacity to communicate and build relation with different stakeholders (civil society, government authorities, local communities, project staff);
• Ability to speak at least one local languages spoken in Rwanda
• To speak French would be an asset.

Criteria for selecting the best offer

• Upon the advertisement of the Procurement Notice, qualified Individual Consultant is expected to submit both their CV and a Financial Proposal. Accordingly; Individual Consultants will be evaluated based on Cumulative .

Analysis as per the following scenario:

• Responsive/compliant/acceptable, and
• Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation. In this regard, the respective weight of the proposals are:
  • Technical Criteria based on CV weight is 70%
  • Financial Criteria weight is 30%?

  • Criteria		Weight	Max. Point
    Technical Competence (based on CV, Proposal and interview (if required))		70%	100
    An Advance University (Masters) degree is required in the areas of business administration, development studies or other social science		5%
    An understanding of the financial landscape in Rwanda		7%
    A minimum of 10 years’ experience in a development organization		7%
    Experience in rural finance and value chain		13%
    Experience in financial product development		12%
    Experience in digital finance, mobile money and agency networks		7%
    Experience managing organizations such as local NGOs		7%
    Experience in managing project budgets and donor relationships		7%
    Previous experience with UN and or international nongovernmental organizations would be an asset.		5%
    Financial (Lower Offer/Offer*100)		30%	30
    Total Score	Technical Score? * 70% + Financial Score * 30%

Payment Milestones and Authority

• Specify the key outputs or milestone activities for which payments will be made, the corresponding percentage of the contract price that will be paid per milestone/output, including all the conditions/documentations required prior to the release of any tranches of payment.

The qualified consultant shall receive his/her lump sum service fees upon certification of the completed tasks satisfactorily, as reflected in the monthly report certified by the direct supervisor.

Confidentiality and Proprietary Interests

The Individual Consultant shall not either during the term or after termination of the assignment, disclose any proprietary or confidential information related to the consultancy service without prior written consent. Proprietary interests on all materials and documents prepared by the consultants under the assignment shall become and remain properties of UNDP.

Important Note:

The Consultant is required to have the above mentioned professional and technical qualifications. Only the applicants who hold these qualifications will be shortlisted and contacted