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.

Starting in 2009, UNCDF has supported the development of digital finance through the Pacific Financial Inclusion Programme (PFIP) and the global programme UNCDF-MM4P. Digital services are now prominent in most of UNCDF’s financial inclusion work which cuts across different sectors and targets the most vulnerable population segments including women and youth. UNCDF also hosts the secretariat of the Better than Cash Alliance. The Better Than Cash Alliance (BTCA) is a partnership of governments, companies and international organizations that accelerates the transition from cash to digital payments in order to reduce poverty and drive inclusive growth.  

Digital services hold the potential to enable improved access to financial services (e.g. saving, credit, payments, transfers, management of funds) and can address challenges in access to services across other sectors such as energy, health, and education.

More information on PFIP: http://www.pfip.org/

More information on MM4P: http://mm4p.uncdf.org/mm4p/home

In partnership and with funding from Metlife Foundation UNCDF expanded its activities to Malaysia and China in 2018. While both countries show significant progress in terms of financial inclusion, low and middle income people in China and Malaysia have limited access and usage of financial services that address challenges and improve their daily lives. A key barrier is that (digital) finance providers do not prioritize reaching lower income markets, mostly because they are not convinced of the business case. 

UNCDF’s objective is to drive financial health by supporting the development of a start-up ecosystem for digital services strengthening the culture of innovation that focusses on the emergence of new or improved digital services that answer the needs of low and middle-income population segments. Through its innovation approach, UNCDF will introduce established service providers to new business models which involves crowding-in services and tools developed by start-up companies. Also, UNCDF will work closely with start-up companies to develop services that address the customer needs and barriers in access of lower income population segments, and consequently drive usage of financial services.

A summary of UNCDF engagement in Malaysia and China can be found at: https://nextbillion.net/internalizing-innovation-in-financial-inclusion/

UNCDF activities in Malaysia and China are part of Metlife Foundation i3 programme which is a four-country initiative in Bangladesh, China, Malaysia and Vietnam.

UNCDF is looking for a Results Measurement and Insights Consultant (RM Consultant) based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Regional Technical Specialist Digital Finance and the Research and Results Measurement Analyst (RRM Analyst), the RM Consultant will be responsible for implementing the results measurement and insights strategy in Malaysia and China, and other countries in the region as agreed. The overall role would include the focus on achievement of the following results:

Implementation of the Results Measurement Framework (RMF) in Malaysia and China

• Together with the Regional Technical Specialist and the RRM Analyst, refine the RMF for Malaysia and China within the context of the programme mission, objectives, Annual Work Plan (AWP), and partner agreements;
• Update the Malaysia and China RMFs on semi-annual basis with most recent data, including relevant general statistics on Malaysia and China, and ensure data quality;
• Conduct annual revision of the RMFs, assessing the relevance of the indicators, and the accuracy of the data and definitions; 
• Conduct regular analysis of the RM data, findings and reports and provide the Programme Manager and Regional Technical Specialist with relevant information for decision-making to increase programme effectiveness and sustainability.

Project Monitoring, reporting and evaluation in Malaysia and China

• Design project specific monitoring tools including project indicators, a data collection plan and reporting templates;
• Project monitoring: ensure partner reporting, manage the project data bases, conduct data quality checks, support monitoring of project progress and results, and conduct project evaluations;
• Train key-partners (e.g. contractors, partners with agreements) on the RM tools, and assist partners in fulfilling reporting requirements, as needed;

Implementation of the UNCDF learning and insighs strategy in Malaysia and China:

• Together with the Regional Technical Specialist and the RRM Analyst, develop the strategy to capture insights from programme activities in Malaysia and China that are relevant to the programme, industry players and other stakeholders (public and private);
• Identify potential relevant insights from programme activities in the design phase and ensure that RM and research activities capture the learnings;
• Extract and curate actionable insights from programme activities and market research, relevant to the programme, industry players and other stakeholders;
• Conduct mapping of knowledge gaps and needs of relevant stakeholders;
• Design and implement in-country market research and data collection activities, including the formulation of research questions, design of research tools, and selection of research firms;
• Plan, co-create and contribute to UNCDF publications (focus notes, research papers, blogs, etc.) highlighting programme results, learnings, challenges and opportunities, and assist the UNCDF Communication team in packaging and sharing learnings and results with stakeholders;
• Contribute to the implementation of the UNCDF Global Learning Agenda and contribute to the i3 programme learing agenda.

UNCDF reporting and program evaluations

• Train the UNCDF Malaysia and China team in using the RM systems and tools for timely and accurate monitoring and reporting (country and project-level data);
• Support the UNCDF Malaysia and China team in fulfilling planning and reporting requirements to the Investment Committee, UNCDF and other funders;
• Provide input to project appraisal documents for presentation to the IC, donors and partners;
• Support the Regional Technical Specialist in reporting on digital finance and innovation activities and developments in country;
• Support program evaluations that are conducted in Malaysia and China;
• Support acquisition and proposal writing.

Competencies

• Excellent knowledge of methodologies for results measurement;
• Proven ability to draw insights from data and other form of research;
• Proven ability to extract actionable insights from data and curate insights relevant to industry players and other stakeholders;
• Knowledge of quantitative and qualitative research methodologies and tools;
• Strong IT skills, including software related to results measurement and analysis, and project management
• Strong analytics and excellent written 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 5 years of professional experience in results measurement for programmes that work with private sector players is mandatory;
• Minimum 3 year of experience in extracting actionable insights from programme activities and market data, and curating learnings relevant to industry players and other stakeholders is mandatory;
• Knowledge of innovation and technology for financial inclusion is considered a plus;
• Experience in measuring social and commercial impact of digital products and services is considered a plus;
• Experience in Malaysia and/or China is preferred but not mandatory.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English;
• Mandarin or Malay would be considered a plus but not mandatory.

Timeline, duration of assignment, duty station and expected places of travel:

• Timeline: 12 months (renewable up to another 12 months based on need, performance and budget);
• Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia;
• Total Number of Working Days for Assignment: 240 work days/year (20 days per month
• 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. UNCDF would cover the cost of stay for the selected person.
• Please note that UNCDF cannot guarantee residence permits or visas for consultants. Consultants are responsible for securing their work documentation. UNCDF can facilitate the consultant to receive the visa letter required for the residence and work permit. 
• Regular travel to the field and other relevant locations may be required and will be compensated according to UN polices.

Provision of Monitoring, Progress Controls & Payments:

• The consultant will work under the direct supervision of the Regional Technical Specialist with indirect supervision of the Research and Results Measurement Analyst (based in Brussels);
• Payment will be made at the end of each phase against satisfactorily achieved deliverables. All payments are subject to the clearance and approval of the MM4P Results Management Analyst, based in Brussels, Belgium.
• 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:

• Cover letter with a summary statement of competencies in relation to the TOR;
• Earliest availability and proposed schedule for consultancy;
• Curriculum Vitae (CV);
• Completed P11 Personal History Form with names and current contacts of 3 referees (available from http://sas.undp.org/documents/p11_personal_history_form.doc);

• Financial proposal for the full assignment outlining: All-inclusive fee (including professional fees and other professional expenses, such as insurance, taxes, etc.), and relocation travel costs (e.g. daily subsistence allowance (DSA) and the cost of one return ticket to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from place of origin). Financial proposal: 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.

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: 40 Points + Step IV: 40 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: Written test

A written test will be administered to the top 4 shortlisted candidatesThe test will be scored with pass/fail, the minimum score to pass being 70%. As part of the test candidates will also be asked to provide writing samples.

Step IV: Interview

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

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% on the total of Steps II (20 points) + III (30 points) + IV (50 points) will be considered as technically qualified and will be reviewed further for financial evaluation.

Step V: 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.