Background
UNCDF:
UNCDF is the UN’s capital investment agency for the world’s 48 Least Developed Countries. UNCDF uses its capital mandate to support LDCs pursue inclusive growth. UNCDF promotes financial inclusion, also through digital financial services (DFS), as a key enabler of poverty reduction and inclusive growth; and it demonstrates how localizing finance outside the capital cities can accelerate growth in local economies, promote sustainable and climate-resilient infrastructure development, and empower local communities. Using capital grants, loans and credit enhancements, UNCDF tests financial models in inclusive finance and local development finance; ‘de-risks’ the local investment space; and provides proofs of concept, paving the way for larger and more risk-averse investors.
Mobile Money for the Poor (MM4P): UNCDF manages a number of initiatives related to digital financial services (DFS), of which the lead programme is Mobile Money for the Poor (MM4P). MM4P is a global thematic initiative that addresses the opportunities and challenges of implementing branchless banking and mobile money in LDCs in Africa and Asia. By supporting the development of DFS in these countries, MM4P works to increase the financial security of low income and rural households through access to appropriate, affordable and secure means to receive, manage and save money. To this end, MM4P supports the development of inclusive digital financial sectors such that a wide range of DFS are provided responsibly, and at reasonable cost, by sustainable institutions in a well-regulated environment. MM4P takes a market development approach to digital finance but also invests heavily in research.
MM4P is currently active in eight countries (Benin, Laos, Nepal, Malawi, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Uganda and Zambia). In each of these countries MM4P implements projects that aim to push the needle on financial inclusion through digital financial services.
Digital innovation
UNCDF is confronted to real challenges hindering the development of digital financial solutions and digital tools that can reach all levels of the market:
- Most products and services have been developed around payment and not 2nd generation financial services (savings, credit, etc.) use cases giving limited value to wallets or bank accounts for end-users.
- In most countries current digital finance services are not reaching the most vulnerable and do not offer a real long-term value proposition for end-users (farmers, women, youths, refugees, households, sme’s, government, etc.), particularly in rural areas.
- Most traditional digital and digital finance providers (MNOs, banks, microfinance, etc.) and government do not have the organization, structure and processes in place to develop the right services for end-users.
- The majority of entrepreneurs & start-ups in LDC countries does not have the necessary support to turn their ideas into scalable businesses. Most of the time, they are not going beyond the ideation stage.
Without the encouragement and support from interested partners, traditional service providers, companies, government are unlikely to provide services that significantly improve people’s lives. Furthermore, entrepreneurial firms such as FinTech, AgTech, HealthTech companies will likely focus on the middle-income market rather than the low-income market and meeting its basic needs.
UNCDF and specifically MM4P programme, with its focus on digital finance and innovations, is developing the structure for the next stage of its implementation around promoting digital innovations anchored through a global innovation platform and in-country innovation platforms with both physical and virtual aspects that could serve as incubator and accelerator of meaningful digital solutions for low-income customers.
The platform will bring together companies to design, develop and refine digital solutions supported under a structured environment and with ready to use tools. Those digital companies will be connected to enabling stakeholders, such as regulators, universities, think-tanks, providers, companies, other labs, and industry associations and a testing environment will be provided. Moreover, hackathons, design sprints and other idea generating activities to crowd in problem solvers or new idea creators would be facilitated through the platform around pre-planned windows/topics. The most promising partners and ideas or solutions worth incubating for scale will be selected and supported first through accelerator and then with test environment.
The proposed approach focuses on supporting innovative solutions by:
- traditional stakeholders (companies, providers, government) by Building innovation mindset, team and processes
- start-up companies by providing access to finance, crowdsourcing, human centered design support, industry sandbox, business to business linkages that will allow to scale.
MM4P seeks a consultant to support UNCDF in building and structuring the next stage of its implementation around promoting digital innovation
Duties and Responsibilities
The scope of engagement under this ToR is divided across three key deliverables that complement each other in defining the overall approach for UNCDF to work on digital innovations:
- Support UNCDF in defining the strategy and approach for around digital innovation that meets the needs of low-income people
- Define Guidelines and Standard Operating procedures (SOP) to set up innovation platform at country level and further run challenges.
- Map Donors and Investors.
More precisely, the duties and responsibilities of the consultant shall be as follows:
Support UNCDF in defining the strategy and approach around digital innovation that meets the needs of low-income people
- Identifying competitive advantage for UNCDF to work on digital innovation
- SWOT analysis of UNCDF – MM4P ability to work and engage on unlocking digital innovation and later enhanced the same with finalized approach.
- Comparative assessment with other donors and players working on the model of unlocking innovation, to identify the niche and focus area for UNCDF intervention.
Deliverables:
- SWOT analysis
- Comparative assessment
2. Support UNCDF in finalizing Vision and Approach
- Detail the vision of success, objectives and approach
- Establish KPIs to measure the success of future strategy that could enhance the existing theory of change for the MM4P programme
- Support in identifying global learning questions around the new scope of digital innovation
- Support in updating ecosystem approach of MM4P
- Develop high level governance structure both globally and for in-country delivery including the alliances that would need to be built to effectively deliver on the outcomes
Deliverables:
- Strategic document including vision, mission, theory of change, results and global learning agenda
- Inputs to update MM4P project document
3. Define Methodology Framework that outlines the approach further and detail out key drivers
- Develop framework and approach towards the working of the innovation platforms at country level and leveraging assets at global level
- Identify the guiding thematic areas and focus areas for implementation. Define the scope of work regarding digital innovation
- Identify target groups to drive country specific innovation
- Detail innovation platform set-up requirements and structure
- Outline the support required from various stakeholders such as government agencies, parastatal bodies, donor organizations, private sector, start-ups and technology companies, to sustain and accelerate the innovation value chain
- Identify target groups (including innovators, judges, mentors, Advisory committees, digital innovation partners, private sector and relevant government departments) to drive digital innovation in the target countries
- Ways to share learnings and facilitate growth under a South-South collaboration through this multi country approach.
- Ways to facilitate and support the scale up of supported participants through various level of capital interventions both by UNCDF and larger investor community.
Deliverables:
- Detailed methodology framework
Define Guidelines and Standard Operating procedures (SOP) to set-up at global and country level and further run challenges.
- Define standard operating procedures (SOP) for the global innovation platform and the in-country platform
- SOPs for the Digital Innovation Platform including Human Resources, manuals, Strategies and Guidelines and other reference materials. Eg. organogram, JDs, reporting & partnership structures include resource requirements internally and externally.
- Platforms Management guidelines that includes,
- Innovation management tools (Design Thinking, Need-finding, Intervention Strategy Workshops)
- Business Development Approach
- Community Engagement Approach
- Research and Development Methodology
- Documentation and storytelling Manuals
- Knowledge generation and sharing Manuals
- Monitoring & Evaluation framework
- Intellectual Property Right management.
Deliverables:
- SOP for Global Innovation Platform
- SOP for Country Innovation Platform
2. Define methodology to drive a culture of innovation
- Step-by-step methodology to foster innovation with traditional players (financial services providers, companies, government), including new techniques and processes (human centric design, behavioral changes techniques, etc.): Develop proposed approaches and ways to foster innovation with traditional players; Define foe each approach processes, proposed workshops, etc.; Define the key performance indicators
- Step-by-step methodology for hosting challenges at country level with entrepreneurs and start-ups. Create sequential-list of preparatory activities for hosting challenges leading to prototype testing engagement (In form of a ready to deploy framework which could be used by UNCDF teams across different countries, the content for this framework should be developed in close working with UNCDF teams):
- Develop Selection Process, Evaluation Criteria, Scorecards, etc;
- List of logistical and infrastructure required to host & run challenges;
- Design the key performance indicators and milestones to measure the success of the innovation challenges.;
- Define the metrics for evaluating success of challenges:
- Collaboration mechanism with external stakeholders
- Reporting structure of the platform executive teams
- Vendor management practices
- Community outreach and involvement
- Engagement between Mentors & Innovators
- Attracting Funders and Investor Community
- Provide approach to On-board successful teams to the platform including supporting UNCDF to manage one such challenge in a country of focus
- Develop detailed call challenges for some of the identified focus areas
- Guide the comms. team at UNCDF in developing awareness campaigns on Social Media, Universities, etc
- Develop the criteria for selection of the potential incubates along-with UNCDF.
- Design an objective selection process and evaluation criteria
- Devise a methodology for conducting due-diligence of the applicants who get selected to advance stages for the accelerator program
- Rehearse the entire process using one of the challenges as dummy;
- Learning Agenda and knowledge management: Support UNCDF KM team and the learning partner of UNCDF in defining learning agenda
Deliverables:
- Step-by-step methodology to foster innovation with traditional players
- Step-by-step methodology for hosting challenges at country level with entrepreneurs and start-ups
- Learning agenda and methodology to catch and disseminate learning at country and at global levels
Map Donors and Investors
- Undertake a landscaping exercise of:
- potential donors interested to support digital innovations
- potential investors (venture capital: angel, seed, start-up) and indicate their interest in terms of sector, region and level of maturity of the start-ups.
- Potential global private companies (FB, Google, etc.) focus on supporting innovation
- Packaged approach for these players based on their objectives.
Deliverables:
- Donor/investors landscaping
- Approach to these donors/investors
- Presentation Deck of the program for donors.
Competencies
· Strong interpersonal and communication skills;
· Strong analytical, reporting and writing skills;
· Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback
· Ability to plan, organize, implement and report on work;
· Proficiency in the use of office IT applications and internet in conducting research
· Excellent presentation skills.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Bachelor Degree is mandatory.
Experience:
- At least ten year experience in the development of innovation strategies and providing thorough guidance in working with start-up eco-system and establish players to unlock innovation creating a community of practice around innovation is mandatory;
- At least five-year experience in successful setup and/or operations of innovation platform or working with the start-up eco-system is mandatory;
- Track record of working with potential funders from the Development Finance Institutions (DFI’s) / Multilateral Finance Institutions / impact investment community/Global Private Sector Companies is mandatory.
- Solid knowledge of the Innovation approach, as well as state-of-the-art approaches and best relevant international practices in digital innovation (assessment will be made by evaluation of publications and practical experience content) is mandatory;
- Proven understanding of digital financial solutions and digital tools that can target low-income people would be added advantage;
- Proven and tracked-record experience in innovation space;
- Excellent writing skills.
Language:
- Excellent command of English is required.
- Malay is desired but not mandatory.
Timeline, locations, and number of working days:
- Timeline: 01 March 2018 – 28 February 2019
- Locations: Home-based, with travel to Malaysia, Belgium and Uganda.
- Number of working days: up to 120.
Travel: the applicant shall not quote any travel expense in the financial proposal. All travels shall be agreed upon in advance and shall be reimbursed to the consultant according to UN policies.
Please note that consultants residing in the duty station will not be compensated for living expenses.
Please note that UNCDF cannot guarantee residence permits or visas for consultants. Consultants are responsible for securing their work documentation. In the case of national consultants, applicants that are not nationals of the duty station requested will have to prove their residence status
Provision of Monitoring, Progress Controls & Payments:
- The consultant will work under the direct supervision of the Team Manager Digital Finance & Innovation and the Regional Technical Specialist, Digital Finance & Innovation Asia, with support of some in-country consultants.
- Payment will be made on periodical basis in accordance with number of days worked and upon satisfactorily achieved deliverables. All payments are subject to the clearance and approval of the direct supervisor.
- Final payment shall require a signed performance evaluation of the consultant.
Application:
Interested individuals must submit the following as proposals in order to demonstrate their qualifications: (NOTE: the system does not allow multiple uploads of document. Applicants must make sure to upload all documents in one PDF file).
All applications must contain the following information:
- (i) Cover letter with a summary statement of competencies in relation to the TOR;
- (ii) Earliest availability and proposed schedule for consultancy;
- (iii) Curriculum Vitae;
- (iv) Completed and signed P11, Personal History Form with names and current contacts of 3 referees (available from http://sas.undp.org/documents/p11_personal_history_form.doc);
- (v) Signed financial proposal for the full months assignment outlining - Total professional fee (including professional fees and other professional expenses (such as insurance, taxes, etc.). Available at http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_file.cfm?doc_id=29916).
Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials.
Evaluation:
Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology:
- Preliminary Evaluation - Step I: Screening
- Technical Evaluation Weight - 70% x (Step II: Shortlisting (20 points), Step III: Interview (80 points) = 100 Points)
- Financial Evaluation Weight - 30% = Step IV.
Step I: Screening:
Applications will be screened and only applicants meeting the following minimum criteria (listed under education and experience) will progress to the pool for shortlisting.
Step II: Shortlisting by Desk Review:
UNCDF will conduct a desk review to produce a shortlist of candidates and technically evaluate them.
As applicable, only the first top 3 ranked applicants achieving 70% of the points at this stage shall be invited for an interview.
Step III: Interview:
A competency-based interview shall be conducted for the candidates. The maximum score for the interview is 80 points.
Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% on the total of Step II (20 points) + Step III (80 points) will be considered as technically qualified and will be reviewed further for financial evaluation.
Step IV: Financial Evaluation:
The following formula will be used to evaluate financial proposal:
Lowest priced proposal/price of the proposal being evaluated x 30%.
Award Criteria:
The contact shall be awarded to the best applicant whose offer have been evaluated and determined as: responsive/compliant/acceptable and having received the highest combined weight (technical proposal & Interview) 70% + financial 30%= 100%.
Please note that UNCDF cannot guarantee residence permits or visa´s for consultants. Consultants are responsible for securing their work documentation. In the case of national consultants, applicants that are not nationals of the duty station requested will have to prove their residence status.
Any individual employed by a company or institution who would like to submit an offer in response to a Procurement Notice for IC must do so in their individual capacity (providing a CV so that their qualifications may be judged accordingly). Please not that in such case the company institution will be asked to issue an RLA http://www.undp.org/content/dam/vietnam/docs/Legalframework/Reimbursable%20Loan%20Agreement.doc.
Women candidates or women-owned businesses are strongly encouraged to apply.
(Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA): A legal instrument between UNCDF and a Company/institution, according to which, the latter makes available the services of an individual delivering time-bound and quantifiable outputs that are directly linked to payments. An RLA is governed by the provisions of this policy.)