Background

UNCDF is the UN’s capital investment agency for the world’s least developed countries. It creates new opportunities for poor people and their communities by increasing access to microfinance and investment capital.  UNCDF focuses on Africa and the poorest countries of Asia and the Pacific, with a special commitment to countries emerging from conflict or crisis.  It provides seed capital – grants and loans – and technical support to help microfinance institutions 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.

Mobile Money for the Poor (MM4P)

UNCDF manages several initiatives related to digital financial services (DFS), of which the lead programme is Mobile Money for the Poor (MM4P). MM4P addresses the opportunities and challenges of implementing DFS in LDCs in Africa and Asia with the objective to build an inclusive digital financial ecosystem that offers a wide range of DFS provided responsibly, and at reasonable cost, by sustainable institutions in a well-regulated environment. Specifically, MM4P provides a mix of policy, technical financial support to a range of government and private sector actors in each country, as well as investing in research and other public goods that benefit all market actors. 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. 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.

For more information on the UNCDF MM4P program, see http://mm4p.uncdf.org

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Research and Results Measurement Analyst (RRM Analyst), the Results Measurement Consultant will be responsible for:

  • Analysis of DFS provider data to inform programme design, capture results and insights on DFS market performance, and improve monitoring. Examples of datasets UNCDF has access to:
    • UNCDF Annual Provider Survey data: Each year UNCDF conducts a survey among DFS Providers in the programme countries where there is a lack of market-level data on DFS. The survey captures quantitative data on indicators such as number of customers and agents, number of and value of transactions, commissions paid, etc. The survey also includes qualitative questions on institution performance, challenges and engagement with the UNCDF-MM4P programme. The collected data is aggregated and analyzed, and the findings are presented in the State of the Market report. All participating institutions receive a benchmark report, outlining the institution’s performance compared to the market.
    • Mobile data analytics platform in Uganda: UNCDF supported the development of a data analytics platform in Uganda, which visualizes anonymized and aggregated MIS data from one Mobile Network Operator in Uganda. The platform includes information on number of customers, transactions volume and value, and agent performance, for different geographic levels (national, district, tower level).
    • Nepal Rastra Bank compliance reporting platform: UNCDF supported the development of a data reporting and management system at NRB, used by Financial Institutions for compliance reporting.
    • Individual DFS provider data: For some of its partners, UNCDF-MM4P has access to the MIS data on customer and agent activity.  
  • Analysis of customer survey data: UNCDF and other development partners commission customer research, to better understand customer behaviour, challenges and opportunities in the adoption and usage of DFS. The RM Consultant will further mine existing customer survey data sets and support the implementation and reporting of upcoming customer research.
  • General support to programme Results Measurement activities. Activities include:
    • Conduct literature reviews;
    • Support project evaluations.

Deliverables:

Timeline

Activities

Deliverables

Payment schedule

Phase 1

  • Analyze DFS State of the Market data collected through the UNCDF Annual Provider Survey

 

  • DFS State of the Market analysis and report (Zambia, Senegal, Benin)
  • Benchmark reports for DFS Providers

 

  • 20%

Phase 2

  • Analyze data extracted from NRB compliance reporting platform
  • Develop template for presenting market-level data extracted from NRB platform

 

  • Report presenting findings of NRB data analysis
  • NRB template for presenting market-level data

 

 

  • 15%

Phase 3

  • Suppport customer research (tool development, literature review, data analysis)
  • Conduct analysis of partner data on agent performance

 

  • Report presenting findings on customer research data analysis
  • Report presenting findings of partner data analysis on agent performance

 

 

  • 15%

Phase 4

  • Conduct review of existing project evaluation tools and methodogies
  • Support the analysis of quarterly partner reporting

 

 

  • Summary report outlining existing project evaluation tools and methodogies
  • Summary report on partner performance

 

  • 15%

Phase 5

  • Support project reviews
  • Conduct data analysis for policy impact assessment

 

  • Evaluation report for one project
  • Summary report of policy impact assessment

 

  • 15%

Phase 6

  • Support annual programme reporting
  • Support the development of the Annual Provider Survey 2019

 

  • Questionnaire for the Annual Provider Survey 2019

 

 

  • 20%

 

Competencies

  • Experience in data analysis related to digital financial services;
  • Proven ability to extract actionable insights from data;
  • Strong IT skills, including software related to results measurement and analysis;
  • Very strong analytics and writing skills.
  • Excellent excel skills. 

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • A master’s degree in technology, economics, public/business administration, social sciences, or related discipline or the equivalent experience is mandatory.

Experience: 

  • Minimum of 1 year of relevant work experience in data analysis and reporting is mandatory;
  • Previous experience working with DFS provider data sets is considered a plus;
  • Good knowledge of financial inclusion and digital financial services;
  • Work experience in Asia and/or Africa.

Language Requirements:

  • Fluency in both English and French are required.

Timeline, duty station, total number of working days for assignment and travel:

  • Timeline: 6 months
  • Duty station: Brussels, Belgium
  • Total number of working days for assignment: 120 working days.

Please note that this is a national position, therefore no travel costs are to be included in the financial proposal. Travel to the field and other relevant locations may be required and will be compensated according to UN polices.  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.  Please note that consultants already residing at the duty station will not be compensated for living expenses.

Provision of Monitoring, Progress Controls & Payments:

  • The consultant will work under the direct supervision of the Research and Results Measurement Analyst (based in Brussels, Belgium)
  • Payment will be made at the end of each phase if all the deliverables assigned for that phase have been satisfactorily delivered.
  • All payments at the end of each phase 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:

Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials.

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology:

  • Preliminary Evaluation - Step I: Screening
  • Technical Evaluation Weight - 70% x (Step II: 20 Points + Step III: 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) and that will have provided samples of writing 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 the candidates. Only candidates that obtained 80% of the points at this stage shall be invited for the next step.

Step III: Interview

A competency-based Interview shall be conducted for the candidates who passed the written test:

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% on the total of Steps II + III 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 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%.

Both individual consultants and individual 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.

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.

If you are experiencing difficulties with online job applications, please contact jobs.help@undp.org.