Background

UNCDF is the UN’s capital investment agency for the world’s 47 least developed countries (LDCs). With its capital mandate and instruments, UNCDF offers “last mile” finance models that unlock public and private resources, especially at the domestic level, to reduce poverty and support local economic development. UNCDF’s financing models work through two channels: savings-led financial inclusion that expands the opportunities for individuals, households, and small businesses to participate in the local economy, providing them with the tools they need to climb out of poverty and manage their financial lives; and by showing how localized investments – through fiscal decentralization, innovative municipal finance, and structured project finance – can drive public and private funding that underpins local economic expansion and sustainable development. UNCDF financing models are applied in thematic areas where addressing barriers to finance at the local level can have a transformational effect for poor and excluded people and communities.
 

UNCDF’s Local Development Finance Practice aims to be a centre of excellence and innovative fund for local government finance and local economic development finance in the world’s 47 LDCs. As part of UNCDF’s development goals, it promotes and supports transformative investment through local governments and domestic banks in LDCs by piloting and scaling up innovative financing mechanisms and policies in the public and private sectors. The vision is a world in which LDCs will have robust policy environment, strong institutional capacity and effective financing vehicles that contribute to diverse, inclusive and resilient local economies and societies by 2030.

Local Development Finance (LDF) at UNCDF adopts a transformative impact financing approach to promote service delivery, infrastructure investment and local economic development that retains value within the local territory. This builds local fiscal space and local fixed capital formation. Working with local governments, domestic banks and local businesses, LDF designs, pilots and tests out financing mechanisms and business models in both public and private sectors that support locally designed public investments and revenue generating capital investment projects. The investment financing toolboxes include Fiscal Decentralization, Local Development Funds for public capital investment programming, Structured Project Finance, Municipal Finance, SME Finance, and Public-Private Partnerships.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work

Under the supervision of Senior Investment Manager, Local Development Finance Practice, the Consultant will support in various tasks related to the coordination, analysis and management of the global pipeline of revenue generating investments within the Local Development Finance Practice and will provide support to the advocacy of its portfolio and financial instruments within UNCDF, the UN agencies and external partners:

Technical review of investments, submissions and quality assurance:

• Support the LD Senior Investment Manager in the review of investment proposals prior to submission to the Practice Investment Committee (LDIC).
• Support the LD Senior Investment Manager in the review of loan and guarantee proposals prior to submission to the Impact Investment Committee.
• Support the LD Senior Investment Manager in preparing investment opinions on project proposals.
• Responsible for drafting the minutes of the LDIC meetings and ensures that records are kept filed appropriately and circulated in a timely manner.
• Support the LD Senior Investment Manager to update and maintain the Revenue Generating Pipeline of Investable Projects database containing each UNCDF supported investment.
• Support the LD Senior Investment Manager to maintain online and printed investment documentation and records pertaining to the Revenue Generating Pipeline and liaise with the Investment Officers as requested.

Business relationship and development:

• Support the LD Senior Investment Manager in reviewing legal arrangements for investments, including but not limited to: memorandum of understandings, letters of agreement, investment teasers, non-disclosure agreements and targeted advocacy materials such as donor proposals, through research and writing.
• Conduct research and provide summary reports in areas related to Local Development Finance and private sector finance as requested.
• Assist in organizing High-Level and Expert Group Meetings.

Impact Monitoring and Reporting:

• Support the LD Senior Investment Manager in further improving the online tools for the monitoring and management of investments.
• Support in collecting data for the measurement of financial and impact indicators against the portfolio of investments.
• Support in the development of formulas and equations to automate performance.
• Maintain the database. 

Expected Outputs and Deliverables

Any delay in the completion of the outputs, if not attributed to the performance of the consultant, shall be addressed through a no-cost time extension.

The above deliverables are continuous in nature, and updated on yearly basis, including the organizing of the yearly events.

Institutional Arrangement

This assignment will be under the overall direction and day to day supervision of the LD Senior Investment Manager.   

Duration of the Work

This assignment will have a duration of 3 years (36 months) with 250 working days per year.  The performance control/ monitoring mechanism will be applied from the start date. However, before the end of each year (every 12 months), UNCDF will determine the viability of extension subject to availability of funds and the performance.

Duty Station

• The duty station/location for the contract duration is New York, USA; This is an office-based consultancy.
• If there is any approved travel, UNCDF will pay separately travel expenses (economy airfare, terminal expenses and per diems which include hotel and food expenses) according to standard UN rates based on evidence of approved and actual travel.

Competencies

• Excellent interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills and writing skills;
• Ability to perform a broad range of specialized activities aimed at effective and efficient functioning of unit;
• Focus on results for the clients and responds positively to feedback;
• Demonstrate excellent organizing, planning and time management skills with strong interpersonal skills;
• Ability to work under pressure in a well-organized, flexible and calm manner in fast-paced environment;
• Promote a knowledge sharing and learning culture in the office.

Functional/Technical Competencies:

• Keep abreast of new developments in area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop herself or himself professionally;
• Demonstrate comprehensive understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and project management, investments management and financial management tools and utilizes these regularly in work assignments;
• Ability to efficiently handle and share information and knowledge;
• Development and Operational Effectiveness;
• Demonstrate a high degree of initiative and independence in delivering required outputs within tight timeframes, exercising problem solving and negotiation skills while at the same time demonstrating flexibility and ability to get the job done effectively;
• Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments;
• Ability to finalize key products in the absence of supervisors.
• Understanding of legal templates for business engagements such as MOUs, LOAs, NDAs etc.

Required Skills and Experience

• Master’s degree in economics, public administration, finance, policy, or related Development field.
• Demonstrates a high degree of initiative and independence in delivering required outputs within tight timeframes, exercising problem solving and negotiation skills while at the same time demonstrating flexibility and ability to get the job done effectively;
• Ability to finalize key products in the absence of supervisors.
• Advanced computer skills especially in data base management;

Experience:

• At least 5 years of relevant working experience in the public sector, development finance and investments, capital markets or related development field;
• Experience with UN agencies in local development finance or capital investments or project finance or municipal finance;
• Experience in drafting proposals and reports for development programmes is highly desirable;
• Proven experience in data collection, data analysis and reporting to senior management is a must;
• Proven experience in reviewing legal documentation and business engagement modalities such as non-disclosure agreements, MOUs, Letters of Agreements etc. is considered an advantage
• Proven Experience in handling or managing databases or investment tools.

Languages:

• Fluency in English, both oral and written, is required;
• Working proficiency in another UN official language is desirable.

Scope of Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments

Payments will be made based on the percentage of contract price corresponding to the deliverables stated in Section D above, and upon confirmation of UNCDF that the individual has delivered on the contract obligations in a satisfactory manner. 

Recommended Presentation of Offer

The following documents are requested:

• Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability;
• 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;
• 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.
• Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive Daily Fee price. If an Offeror is employed by an organization/company/institution, and he/she expects his/her employer to charge a management fee in the process of releasing him/her to UNCDF under Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA), the Offeror must indicate at this point, and ensure that all such costs are duly incorporated in the financial proposal submitted to UNCDF. 

Criteria for Selection of the Best Offer

Consultants will be evaluated based on UNDP’s cumulative analysis method. When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract shall be made to the consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

• Responsive/compliant/acceptable vis-à-vis the requirements of the TOR and the project operating environment; and
• Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical (70%) and financial (30%) criteria.

UNCDF will conduct a review of a profile (technical evaluation) that matches applicants experience and expertise to the key tasks outlined in the consultancy. These are detailed under each of the following Key work areas noted above:

• Technical review of investments, submissions and quality assurance (40 points);
• Relevant UN experience in Business relationship and development (30 points);
• Impact Monitoring and Reporting (30 points).