UNDP Jobs - 78211- International Expert on Financial Analysis

International Expert on Financial Analysis

Location :

Monrovia, LIBERIA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

01-Jun-2018

Application Deadline :

23-Apr-18 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

15 Days Spanned Over 6 Months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

15 Days Spanned Over 6 Months

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 Government of Liberia (GOL), with the support of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), is designing a project to protect vulnerable coastal communities and infrastructure in the Monrovia Metropolitan Area from the impacts of the sea level rise (SLR) and related extreme events. The project will:

Strengthen local technical/institutional capacity to manage climate change induced coastal flooding from the expected sea-level rise; and
Implement critical soft and hard coastal protection measures to reduce the exposure of coastal communities in MMA to flooding caused by climate change induced sea-level rise and incidences of extreme precipitation events.

A time sensitive output of the proposed project is the implementation of critical hard (e.g. civil works, infrastructure) and soft (e.g ecosystem-based) measures to protect high priority economic and social assets from imminent threat of recurrent and worsening incidences of flooding.
Objective.
In the context of the development of the design for this proposed project, in collaboration with the GoL, UNDP is seeking the services of a consultant to conduct the financial appraisal for the proposed interventions. This includes a comparative analysis of the relative merits/demerits of financing the proposed interventions with alternative financial instruments (loan financing, guarantee scheme, reimbursable grant, performance-based grants) relative to a 100% grant financed initiative with co-financing from either public or private sources. The consultant will prepare a report of the findings of the financial appraisal including the justification for the optimal financial structure for the proposed intervention including amount of financing necessary from each type of financial instrument that should optimally be relied on to conform with the principal of minimum concessionality. The results of the financial appraisal will be used for the formulation of a project proposal in line with UNDP and Green Climate Fund (GCF) guidelines.

Objective
In the context of the development of the design for this proposed project, in collaboration with the GoL, UNDP is seeking the services of a consultant to conduct the financial appraisal for the proposed interventions. This includes a comparative analysis of the relative merits/demerits of financing the proposed interventions with alternative financial instruments (loan financing, guarantee scheme, reimbursable grant, performance-based grants) relative to a 100% grant financed initiative with co-financing from either public or private sources. The consultant will prepare a report of the findings of the financial appraisal including the justification for the optimal financial structure for the proposed intervention including amount of financing necessary from each type of financial instrument that should optimally be relied on to conform with the principal of minimum concessionality. The results of the financial appraisal will be used for the formulation of a project proposal in line with UNDP and Green Climate Fund (GCF) guidelines.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work

The Financial Expert is expected to provide substantive contribution to the development and finalization of the full funding proposal and the feasibility study, mainly but not limited to the Financial section(s) of the above-mentioned document. The role of the financial expert is to assess the different financing options available from the GCF, and in light of the GCF financing policy and the Liberia financial and economic development context, identify the most appropriate funding model for this project and justify why.
Tasks and activities including Deliverables
Working in coordination with other experts at the national and regional level, UNDP and the Government staff, the finance expert will be responsible to:

Review draft project concepts and documents and consult with UNDP staff to identify information needs to conduct the financial appraisal in lieu with GCF requirements on financial appraisal;
Organize, lead and coordinate with UNDP staff, both on-field and remotely, to gather data, documentation, contacts and insights relevant to the analysis;
Complete a financial appraisal of the project to inform the UNDP staff member of the implications of the project design in terms of performance metrics (such as payback time, IRR and NPV) and, where relevant, in terms of financial additionality (e.g. the IRR of the targeted project with funding vs a base-case or benchmark IRR);
Conduct the financial appraisal in a timely manner to ensure it does not result in delays in the concept development or proposal development in order to meet submission deadlines;
Based on the conducted appraisal findings, advice UNDP staff on different financial instruments/structures appropriate given the project’s risk/reward profile. The proposed structures should, as appropriate, aim to adhere to the principal of minimum concessional funding. Guidance will be provided by UNDP on factors to bear in mind in the context of minimal concessionality;
Lead the financial aspects of the planning discussions among the full funding proposal (FFP) development team, and provide substantive advice to the team, Government and stakeholders on the suitability of grant and non-grant instruments in developing a project funding model and partnerships and guidance on appropriate co-finance for the project;
Lead the stakeholder consultation on financial aspects of the proposed project design during the missions to develop the FFP, the consultation on the funding instruments, co-finance, partnerships and implementation arrangements;
Support the finalization of the financial analysis sections of the FFP and Pre-feasibility Study and accompanying documents.
Prepare and submit a financial appraisal of the project, including sensitivity analysis (Excel model is required);
Prepare a report of the financial appraisal. The report will be up to 15-pages and include description of the key elements of the project that were considered in the appraisal, the methodology for the analysis, description of data, assumptions and justifications, results including robustness, and conclusions. In particular, describe how the financial structure is adequate and reasonable in order to achieve the proposal’s objectives, including addressing existing bottlenecks and/or barriers, without crowding out private and other public investment, including the rationale for a GCF Grant;
As necessary, advise and make recommendations based on the financial appraisal to the project team, for further discussion during stakeholder consultations undertaken during the project development phase.

The tasks associated with this Terms of Reference are expected to be completed through a combination of (a) home-based preparatory work; (b) participating in country level missions (together with UNDP staff) in Liberia (if required); (c) remote technical assistance.

Deliverables
Submission of first drafts of the project financial analysis (excel sheet) and the Liberia detailed financial analysis, funding model and rationale for a GCF Grant and required annexes: 11 days 50%;
Submission of final drafts of the project financial analysis (excel sheet) and the Liberia detailed financial analysis, funding model and rationale for a GCF Grant and required annexes: 2 days 30%;
Submission of the final versions of the project financial analysis (excel sheet) and the Liberia detailed financial analysis, funding model and rationale for a GCF Grant and required annexes addressing GCF comments: 2 days 20%.

Reporting Lines:
A Joint UNDP HQ, Regional and Country Office and Government of Liberia Project development and facilitation Team will be established to guide and assist the preparatory process. This team will consist of climate change adaptation UNDP/GEF Head and assigned regional RTA, UNDP CO Program Specialist & Analyst Poverty & Environment, UNDP Liberia DRR–P as head of programs, UNDP Liberia DRR-O as head of operations and Project, Environment Protection Agency (EPA) representatives and Focal Points in the key ministries to ensure close collaboration with the Government. The consultant will report to this team. The company will also work closely with other staff in the UNDP Addis Regional Hub as well as other the Bangkok regional Hubs.

Reporting Language:
The reporting language will be in English.

Locations of Work:
Home based with travel to Liberia (5 days). In order to obtain the required information for completion of the assessment, the contractor is expected to travel to Liberia as and when necessary for the duration of the assignment. All costs related to travel shall be borne by the contractor such as visa issuance, tickets, daily living allowances, transportation etc. Therefore, the contractor shall quote for all relevant costs in his financial proposal as applicable.

Terms of Payment:
Payments shall be processed within 30 days from receipt of signed and stamped invoice specifying the achieved deliverables as specified in this ToRs with relevant documents evidencing achievement of the given output. All of the deliverables are subject to approval from UNDP Project manager in order to process payments to the contractor. UNDP will not accept any payment request outside of this TOR.
All payments shall be made in USD. All planned costs related to this consultancy must be specified in the proposal by contractor for this assignment.

Contracting Authority:
Contracting Authority for this ToR is UNDP - Liberia Country Office, and the contract amount will be provided through the assigned budget under Liberia GCF Project.

Tax Obligation:
The Contractor is solely responsible for all taxation or other assessments on any income derived from UNDP. UNDP will not make any withholding from payments for the purposes of income tax. UNDP is exempt from any liabilities regarding taxation and will not reimburse any such taxation to the contractor.

Monitoring and evaluation:
All activities will be monitored and evaluated based on qualitative and quantitative information. Within the proposal the contractor is requested to submit an M&E plan highlighting what types of data and information will be available when; which will ensure that activities and outputs delivered as part of this activity, is of good technical quality and contribute to the achievement of the project outcomes.

Confidentiality:
The contractor undertakes to maintain confidentiality on all information that is not in the public domain and shall not be involved in another assignment that represents a conflict of interest to the prevailing assignment.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies

Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN values and ethical standards;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Treats all people fairly without favouritism;
Excellent analytical and organisational skills.

Functional Competencies

Knowledge Management and Learning;
Promotes a knowledge-sharing and learning culture;
In-depth knowledge of development issues;
Ability to provide and advocate for policy advice;
Actively works towards continuing personal learning and successfully applies newly acquired skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master degree or higher in economics, finance, public administration, environmental economics, natural resource economics or other closely related field.

Experience:

At least 7 years of relevant work experience in project financial analysis and developing project funding models
Experience in developing GCF proposals on climate change adaptation is highly advantageous;
Demonstrated ability to communicate complex issues in a concise and clear manner
Highly organized with strong analytical and research skill;
Experience working within the UN system or other international, governmental entities;
Working experience in Liberia, and/or Africa is preferable.

Languages:

Fluency in written and spoken English is required.

echnical proposal:

(i) Explaining why they are the most suitable for the work;
(ii) Providing brief methodology on how they will approach and conduct the work.
Financial proposal
Personal CV including past experience in similar projects and at least 3 references (please use the UNDP P11 form provided in Annex 2 @ the following links) http://www.lr.undp.org/content/liberia/en/home/operations/procurement/? ;http://procurement-notices.undp.org/).
The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount. Payments will be made to the Individual Consultant based on specific and measurable deliverables as specified in the TOR upon completion of the deliverables.
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). Please use the Financial Proposal Form provided in Annex 3 for the submission of your financial proposal @ the following links) http://www.lr.undp.org/content/liberia/en/home/operations/procurement/? ;http://procurement-notices.undp.org/).

Travel
All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. This includes all travel to join duty station/repatriation travel. In general, UNDP should not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources.
In the case of unforeseeable travel, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed.

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology:

Cumulative analysis

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.

* Technical Criteria weight: 70%;
* Financial Criteria weight: 30%;

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% of the maximum points would be considered for the Financial Evaluation

Criteria Weight Max. Point
Technical
Relevance of Academic Qualifications 10.5% 15;
Professional Experience in similar projects 24% 35;
Appropriateness of proposed methodology for the requirements 30% 20;
Adequacy of competencies and skills 10% 7;
Financial 30 points x price of the lowest price proposed / price of proposal 30%.