UNDP Jobs - 74977- International Consultant

International Consultant – Project Coordinator (Financial Inclusion Project in partnership with Bangladesh Private Sector, Innovation Hub)

Location :

Dhaka, BANGLADESH

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

21-Oct-17 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

35 working days over a period of 2 months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

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

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Project Manager of the UNDP- UNV Innovation Hub, the Consultant will coordinate the implementation of Financial Inclusion Project in partnership with Bank Asia. The project seeks to develop a new model to digitally facilitate social-safety-net payments, thereby increasing financial inclusion. This new model will feature a new Payment Gateway Product (Mobile App) which will enable willing and capable entrepreneurs (shopkeepers, volunteers, etc.) to offer a number of financial services. Entrepreneurs will provide Rural Financial Services” with their Bank Account and phone. Any mobile banking customers of Bank Asia will be able to access these Rural Financial Services thereby expanding financial access points to any area of Bangladesh with 3G coverage.

The aim of the project is to enhance access to financial services but also to raise the level of financial literacy to further facilitate inclusion. The consultant will develop the framework of financial literacy training programme and implement the activities. With the progression of the project the consultant will monitor and evaluate the suitability of Payment Gateway and collaborate with Programme Manager to improve the efficacy of the project. As part of the project implementation, will secure partnerships with external training organisations as well as with projects under the UN umbrella and any other entities in private and public sector relevant to the project. The consultant may supervise/will be part of a team comprised of UNDP, UNV and Bank Asia Staff along with international and national consultants and volunteers.

The consultant will work in the framework of the UNDP’s programmes and projects and will work closely with the Programme Manager to ensure that training and other outputs are developed in an approach that is appropriate for the national context in Bangladesh.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work

UNDP Bangladesh needs a dedicated Project Coordinator in order to:

Coordinate and manage a team of subject-matter experts in designing and implementing the Financial Inclusion Project and ensuring the final outcomes of the project are achieved
Maintain relationship between all the key stakeholders of the project- officials of Bank Asia, UNDP, partner organization, Government of Bangladesh and others.
Develop a detailed Project Document, Annual Workplan and Resource Mobilization Plan aligned to the goals and objectives of the project. Secure approvals from all key project stakeholders.

Expected Outputs and Deliverables

The main components of this assignment will include:

Output 1

Coordinate and manage a team of subject-matter experts in designing the Financial Inclusion Project;
Compile literature review and first updated draft of the workplan;
Provide a detailed overview of the Annual Workplan and Project document;
Provide mentorship in the start-up phase to the team of subject-matter experts (Research, Communications, Financial Literacy);
Draft resource mobilization plan for 2018 with inputs from other internal Financial Inclusion projects.

Output 2

Ensure coordination and buy in of the Workplan and project document with all the key stakeholders of the project (officials of Bank Asia, UNDP, partner organization, Government of Bangladesh and others);
Kickoff Meeting with all relevant stakeholders (including Bank Asia and subject-matter expert);
Establish an effective communication channel between all stakeholders of the project;
Plan all necessary workshops and project design sessions; including field visits and stakeholder consultation sessions.

Output 3

Develop a final Project Document and Annual Workplan aligned to the goals and objectives of the project. The project document is to be co-drafted with the support of the subject matter experts;
Finalize a project a log-frame and theory of change;
Create final Project document and Annual Workplan for entire project period;
Coordinate the team of subject matter experts and their contribution to the annual workplan for each one of the three project components;
Solicit necessary inputs and secure buy-in from all internal and external stakeholders for Project document and Annual Workplan;
Final resource mobilization plan for 2018 in close coordination with other internal Financial Inclusion projects.

Institutional Arrangement

The Consultant will report to Innovation Hub Project Manager

Duration of the Work

The assignment will be completed over 35 working days over 2 months

Output 1: 10 working days
Output 2: 10 working days
Output 3: 15 working days

Duty Station

The Consultant will work from UNDP Bangladesh Country Office (one round-trip to Bangladesh required) field visits based on project needs (mentioned in scope of work and methodology).

Competencies

Corporate Competencies

Demonstrates commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality, and age sensitivity and adaptability
Highest standards of integrity, discretion, and loyalty

Functional Competencies

Strong interpersonal and communication skills
Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities skills;
Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback;
Ability to plan, organize, implement and report on work;
Ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines;
Proficiency in the use of office IT applications and internet in conducting research;
Outstanding communication, project management and organizational skills;
Excellent presentation and facilitation skills.
Demonstrates integrity and ethical standards;
Positive, constructive attitude to work;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Required Skills and Experience

Educational Qualifications

A Master’s degree in Business Administration/ Social Sciences/ or relevant discipline

Experience

Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in Financial Inclusion projects;
Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in project design;
Previous experience in capacity building and resource mobilization in a UN context /international development organization;
Previous experience with financial technology innovations.

Language requirements

Fluency of English language is required.

Evaluation of the Candidates

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology

Cumulative analysis

The candidates will be evaluated through Cumulative Analysis method. The award of the contract will be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

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.

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points in the technical evaluation would be considered for Financial Evaluation.

Technical Evaluation Criteria (Total 70 marks)

Minimum of 5 years of experience in Financial Inclusion Project - 25 Points;
Project Design experience in UN context - 25 Points;
Experience working in Private Sector - 5 Points;
Resource mobilization and partnership building - 5 Points;
Experience working with financial technology innovations - 10 Points.

Financial Evaluation (Total 30 marks)

All technical qualified proposals will be scored out 30 based on the formula provided below. The maximum points (30) will be assigned to the lowest financial proposal. All other proposals received points according to the following formula:

p = y (µ/z)

where:

p = points for the financial proposal being evaluated;
y = maximum number of points for the financial proposal;
µ = price of the lowest priced proposal;
z = price of the proposal being evaluated.

The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e. whether payments fall in installments or upon completion of the entire contract). Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR. In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (including travel, per diems, and number of anticipated working days).

Financial Milestone

1st Installment: 30% of the total contract amount will be paid after completion of Literature review, first updated draft of the workplan and project document and draft resource mobilization plan for 2018;
2nd Installment: 30% of the total contract amount will be paid after completion of full list of meetings with external and internal partners/stakeholders consulted to design the workplan & project document, Copy of meeting minutes for all stakeholder consultations; meeting and field visit schedule for full duration of project;
Final Installment: 40% of the total contract amount will be paid after completion of Final Project Document, Final Annual Workplan (AWP), Documented approvals from all key project stakeholders for Project Document and AWP and Resource mobilization plan for 2018.

Candidates are requested to submit their financial proposal using the template from the below link;

http://www.bd.undp.org/content/dam/bangladesh/docs/Jobs/Interest%20and%20Submission%20of%20Financial%20Proposal-Template%20for%20Confirmation.docx

Documents to be included when submitting the Proposals

Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP;
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;
Technical Proposal/Brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment and a workplan on how he/she will approach and complete the assignment.
Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs, as per template provided.