UNCDF Jobs - 79403- Financial Inclusion Fundraising and Proposal Writi

Financial Inclusion Fundraising and Proposal Writing Consultant, Shaping Inclusive Finance Transformation (SHIFT) in ASEAN and SAARC

Advertised on behalf of

UNCDF

Location :

Bangkok, THAILAND

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

16-Jul-2018

Application Deadline :

26-Jun-18 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

189 working days intermittently

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

1 Year with potential for extension based on performance and funding up to 3 years

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

UN Capital Development Fund

The UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) is the UN’s capital investment agency for the world’s 47 least developed countries. It creates new opportunities for poor people and their small businesses by increasing access to microfinance and investment capital.

UNCDF provides seed capital – grants and loans – and technical support to help financial service providers reach more poor households and small businesses, and local governments finance the capital investments – water systems, feeder roads, schools, irrigation schemes – that will improve poor peoples’ lives.

UNCDF programmes help to empower women, and are designed to catalyse larger capital flows from the private sector, national governments and development partners, for maximum impact toward the Sustainable Development Goals.

Shaping Inclusive Finance Transformations (SHIFT) Programme ASEAN and SAARC

UNCDF has developed a regional programme titled SHIFT (Shaping Inclusive Finance Transformations), aimed at facilitating the transition, by the year 2020, of low-income people, micro-entrepreneurs, and small and medium enterprises in the ASEAN and SAARC regions, from using informal financial mechanisms to formally regulated higher-value financial services.

Gender based policy and advocacy is a major component of the SHIFT ASEAN and SAARC programmes. SHIFT’s Policy and Advocacy work is generated based on data insights and stakeholder engagements, resulting in publications, guidelines, input to government’s National Financial Inclusion Strategies, south-south learnings and knowledge sharing, etc. SHIFT’s policy work aims to support and influence the regulatory and policy frameworks in SAARC and ASEAN, to ensure an inclusive financial system which is responsive to the needs of low-income individuals. In support of SHIFT’s policy work, the programme maintains a Data Hub, which undertakes big-data analysis, combined with supply and demand side sector analysis, which is used to inform SHIFT’s direction, market level changes and inform SHIFT stakeholders – specifically Central Banks and relevant Ministries.

The Consultant would be responsible for supporting SHIFT ASEAN and SAARCs policy and advocacy work, and would collaborate with the data analysis team to ensure data driven insights are captured and presented through SHIFT’s policy engagements.
UNCDF shall enter into a non-exclusive Framework Agreement (FA) with the selected consultant(s) and shall provide specific deliverables and time frames for each task, as and when required.

Prospective individuals are requested to take note of the following:

Framework Agreement is a mutual arrangement between UNCDF and an individual to provide the required services at prescribed prices or provisions over a period of 12 months, with potential extension for up to two years, depending on satisfactory performance and /or budget availability.
Under Framework Agreement, UNCDF does not warrant that any quantity of services shall be purchased during the term of this agreement. Where a request for services arises, UNCDF shall directly contract the consultant based on its need to carry out those activities. A specific Terms of Reference (TOR) outlining the outputs for each assignment shall be provided and a Purchase Order (PO) would be issued to the consultant, detailing the time frame.

Objectives of the Assignment

With the SHIFT programme now having been in implementation for several years, the learnings gained and opportunities identified needs to be tapped into for mobilizing additional resources to ensure that the programme meets its intended outcome. The Consultant will support the existing SHIFT team in developing required concepts, proposals and partnerships towards resource mobilization for the SHIFT programme as well as UNCDF’s work regionally. This role includes building on SHIFT’s existing work streams and undertaking ideation and concept development for future work stream proposals.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of work

The individual call-off will define the specific tasks and outputs to be delivered within a specific duration. The nature of the work under each call off shall fall under any of the following broad and general scope:

Market assessments on Resource availability

Work closely with colleagues responsible for budget planning to identify funding gaps, prioritize fundraising needs.
Undertake analysis of ODA and donor funding streams in order to formulate a donor pipeline and strategically target donors and partners for engagement.
Build on existing research on prospective donors, foundations, impact investors and corporations including current and upcoming RFPs and priority areas of giving.
Undertake market analysis and research to identify key trends in both the financial inclusion space and associated ODA trends, in order to strategically inform SHIFT.

Partnership development

Undertake a review of the SHIFT partnership and resource mobilization strategies – based on the donor and potential partnership environment strategically focus SHIFT’s partnership and resource mobilization strategies and messaging.
Based on potential donors identified, facilitate in setting-up meetings to explore opportunities for collaboration and funding – bringing together core UNCDF staff with funding agencies. Follow-up on leads and ensure continued UNCDF engagement with relevant donors.

Concepts and Proposal Development

Prepare proposals and concept notes based on SHIFT’s existing work streams.
Undertake ideation with stakeholders and UNCDF staff to develop new and innovative funding proposals. Create new proposals as preparation for building new areas of work (trends and opportunities for financial inclusion) that will drive SHIFT to its long-term objectives, and in response to new funding opportunities (EOIs, RFPs) and partnerships as they arise.
Work closely with UNCDF programme and head quarter colleagues on opportunities for integrated proposals and information exchange on donors.
Work in collaboration with programme team members to develop, as required, background and outreach materials on work targeted at the donors.

Duration of assignment, Duty Station and Exepcted Places to Travel

Contract duration: 1 year (with potential for extension based on performance and funding)
Number of working days: up to 189 working days, spread over the initial duration of 12 months. The call-offs will indicate the duration of the work specific to the assignment for each call-off.
Duty station: The duty station of this consultation is the Bangkok regional office for UNCDF, however a home-based assignment could also be possible, depending on the requirements of the specific call- off. considered.
Travel: Travel will be required to Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Viet Nam, Bangladesh, ASEAN and SAARC member states. A separate ToR with clear deliverables, budget and timelines will be prepared and agreed prior to each mission. In general, UNCDF 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.

Final Products

During any of the call-offs, tThe consultant will deliver be required to deliver the following final products:

Meet fundraising targets as agreed with SHIFT management;
Updated dashboard of the fundraising pipeline;
Identification of funding opportunities and development of at least 5 proposals;
Summary report on new high-level funding partnership facilitation.

Payment

Payment shall be made upon submission of final output(s) to the satisfaction of the UNCDF supported by the Certificate of Payment. The valuation of the outputs and the tranches of payment per output shall also be defined in the specific TOR that will be issued during each of the call-off.

Monitoring and Progress Control

At any given time during each call -off, Tthe consultant will work under the direct supervision of the SHIFT Programme Manager based in Bangkok and in close collaboration with other relevant colleagues and any other expert or institution as designated by the Programme Manager.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies

Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards and acts in accordance with the Standards of Conduct for international civil servants;
Advocates and promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNCDF;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Treats all people fairly without favoritism.

Functional Competencies

Knowledge about the UNCDF programmes would be an advantage;
Strong analytical and writing skills and track record in producing relevant reports and other material.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

She/he will have a Masters in development, business, gender studies, finance, economics, international relations or similar studies.

Experience

The consultant shall have a minimum of 3 years of experience in fundraising, partnership or proposal writing;
She/he must have a strong track record of proposal development, at least 2 years of previous experience (Please note that 2 years of experience are within the 3 years of overall experience required);
It is preferred if the candidates fundraising experience is clearly stating in the application indicating the amount of funds raised;
Expertise in financial inclusion or market development programmes is preferred;
Preferred candidates would be familiar or have experience working within the UN systemIdeal candidates would be familiar or have experience working within the UN system.

Language

Fluency in English is required (written and oral);
Excellent interpersonal skills and experience in working effectively in a multi-cultural environment, with sensitivity to diverse opinion.

Evaluation of the Candidates

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology.

Cumulative analysis
The award of the contract will be made to the individual consultant up on Cumulative Analysis/evaluation and determined as:

Responsive/compliantto the requirements of the TOR;
Offers the best value for money.

The above shall be determined by determinign the offeror who will receive the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and finan cial criteria specific to the solication.

Only candidates obtaining a minimum 70% mark in technical evaluation will be considered eligible for financial evaluation.

Technical Evaluation Criteria (Total 70 marks):

Level and relevance of Education obtained; (10 marks)
At least 5 years’ experience in climate change related project development under the Global environment facility, Least developed country fund, adaptation fund, green climate fund, etc. (20 marks)
Very good understanding of the NAP formulation process; (20 marks)
Proven experience (at least one assignment) in holding stakeholder consultations and evolving consensus on project issues; (20 marks)

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.

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications. Proposers who shall not submit below mentioned documents will not be considered for further evaluation.

When applying for this consultancy position, please apply with your official name as shown in the government issued identification document (e.g. passport and/or driver license). Contract award is subject to this verification;
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; link to P11: http://sas.undp.org/documents/P11_Personal_history_form.doc;
Brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment, and a methodology, if applicable, on how they will approach and complete the assignment;
Cover letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the advertised position. Please paste the letter into the "Resume and Motivation" section of the electronic application;
Three professional references including name, affiliation and email addresses.

Individual Consultants are responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when traveling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director. Consultants are also required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under dss.un.org

Both individual consultants and individuals employed by a company or institution are welcome to apply. 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).

Women candidates or women-owned businesses are strongly encouraged to apply. UNCDF 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.

Please include all documents into one file while submitting your application.

References

UNDP’s Individual Consultant’s General Terms and Conditions are provided here:
http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/documents/procurement/documents/IC%20-%20General%20Conditions.pdf