UNCDF Jobs - 83671- Framework agreement for the services of an Individ

Framework agreement for the services of an Individual Contractor Engaged on On-Call Basis, Communications Consultant UNCDF/SHIFT SAARC and ASEAN, CleanStart and Pacific, up to 2 consultants

Advertised on behalf of

UNCDF

Location :

Home-based with possible travels to countries in Asia and Africa

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

01-Apr-2019

Application Deadline :

10-Mar-19 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Up to 240 days per year

Languages Required :

English French

Expected Duration of Assignment :

With a possibility of extension up to a maximum of three (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

About UNCDF

The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) makes public and private finance work for the poor in the world’s 47 least developed countries. 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: 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. By strengthening how finance works for poor people at the household, small enterprise and local infrastructure levels, UNCDF contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 1 on eradicating poverty and Goal 17 on the means of implementation. UNCDF also contributes to other SDGs by identifying those market segments where innovative financing models can have transformational impact in helping to reach the last mile and address exclusion and inequalities of access. To achieve these goals, UNCDF is providing financial support and technical expertise to the public and the private sector. It provides capital financing – in the form of grants, soft loans and credit enhancement products – and the technical expertise to unleash sustainable financing at the local level.

About SHIFT ASEAN and SAARC

UNCDF’s ‘Shaping Inclusive Financial Transformations’ (SHIFT) program aims to catalyze access to formal financial services to advance women’s economic empowerment and gendered financial inclusion for millions of women and small businesses in the ASEAN and SAARC markets. SHIFT leverages product and business model innovations, data analytics, technical training, and policy advocacy services at different levels to change the behavior of market players. Data and research crosscuts into all SHIFT’s activities as the shaping of inclusive financial transformations cannot be accomplished without the use of good data and research to inform and facilitate markets and address the gender research gap. SHIFT advocates evidence-based financial inclusion policies and practices that expand access and usage of financial services for women by facilitating, informing and incentivizing FSPs, regulators and governments and by stimulating collective dialogue between them.
The programs works through four interrelated outputs: The Data and Analysis Hub produces and disseminates knowledge on supply, demand and regulation in financial markets to strengthen the evidence base and investment decisions of providers, regulators and policy makers to advance women’s financial inclusion. This is closely integrated with the Learning and Skills Development facility that capacitates technical service providers to scale viable learning and training models for financial institutions. The Policy and Advocacy component stimulates dialogue among policy makers in FSPs and governments to enable financial market policies to be more responsive to the needs of women. Finally, the Innovation Facility offers various types of incentives to FSPs to pilot new prototypes and scale viable innovative (digital) finance business models to advance access to and usage of finance for women.

SHIFT ASEAN has been established in 2014 with initial funding from the Australian Government and focuses on ASEAN’s frontier economies of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Viet Nam (CLMV).
SHIFT SAARC has been established in mid-2016 with initial funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the European Union. SHIFT SAARC in Bangladesh aims for Digital Finance Services to become widely recognized by regulators and providers as enabler of financial inclusion and thereby increasing its use among the adult population from 9% to 30% by 2019.

About other UNCDF projects

UNCDF’s CleanStart works in close collaboration with SHIFT to catalyze digital energy finance (or Pay-Go energy systems) as a promising solution to reduce energy poverty for over 175.000 consumers, in particular women and poor people in rural areas. The programme is currently active in both Asia and Africa.
UNCDF in Myanmar is currently implementing Expanding Financial Access (EFA), a country programme aimed at increasing formal inclusion in Myanmar from 30% to 40% by 2020. The programme will provide a full range of affordable, quality, effective and responsible financial services to MSME, small-scale farmers, women-led enterprises, youth, poor and low-income clients by encouraging stakeholders to work together in an integrated manner.
UNCDF in the Pacific is helping more than two million low-income Pacific islanders gain access to formal financial services and financial education. It does so by funding innovative approaches in development of financial services, supporting policy and regulatory initiatives, and empowering consumers.

About Digital@UNCDF

UNCDF Financial Inclusion Practice Area is focusing on Digital Financial Services and how they can improve financial inclusion for the vulnerable groups. For this reason, all the ongoing projects will focus more and more on promoting DFS as the main tool to promote financial inclusion.

UNCDF would like to enter into a non-exclusive Framework Agreement, also known as Long-Term Agreement (LTA), with a roster of consultants, not exceeding 2 individuals (for Asia and Africa), that will perform the services described in this TOR on a need-basis. In UNCDF, an LTA is a framework agreement by and between UNCDF and a company or individual where the latter may, at any time within the duration of the LTA, be required to render the agreed services at the agreed and fixed unit prices. An LTA can be valid for a minimum period of 12 months, with potential extension for up to two (2) additional years, depending on satisfactory performance of the individual / company.

Where a request for service arises, UNCDF can engage the individual hold an LTA through a “call-off” of the LTA. Every call-off shall have specific tasks, scope of services and outputs to be delivered within a specific period of time. For this particular work, the call-off shall be formalized through the issuance of a Purchase Order, attaching thereto the TOR, and any other document relevant to the call-off. Financial commitments will only be established each time a Purchase Order for the specific services/TOR for Individual Contractor is issued.
The LTA shall have a cumulative ceiling amount that may accrue to the individual contractor during the life of the LTA, but said amount shall remain as an upper limit, and must not and cannot be interpreted nor understood as neither a financial commitment nor guarantee of business volume. It is important to note that, under an LTA, UNCDF does not guarantee that any specific quantity of services shall be made during the term of this agreement. The LTA does not form a financial obligation nor commitment from UNCDF at the time the LTA contract is signed.

Purpose of the Consultancy
Selected consultants will focus on the following aspects:

Manage UNCDF communications strategy and its implementation;
Lead the design and development of communications products (publications, newsletters, brochures, leaflets, the SHIFT and CleanStart website, and other promotional materials);
Social Media Management and Content Curation - Oversee programme communications including social media, newsletters, blogs, development of video communications, etc;
Support the UNCDF programme teams in the organization of workshops, conferences and other events

Monitoring and Progress Control

The consultant will work under direct supervision of SHIFT ASEAN/SAARC Programme Manager and/or his designate, and in close collaboration with in-country teams. The consultant is responsible for providing his/her own laptop during the course of his/her engagement with UNCDF.

Payment to an Individual Contractor will be made based on the actual number of days agreed with UNCDF as reflected in the call off (PO) and upon receipt, certification of satisfactory performance, and acceptance of the output by the SHIFT ASEAN/SAARC and any other project Programme Manager and/or his designate. All time extensions beyond what is originally indicated by UNCDF in the call-off PO shall have to be mutually agreed in writing by UNCDF and the consultant, as basis for payment.

The following supporting documents will serve as conditions for disbursement: (i) submission of an invoice and Certificate of Payment (COP); (ii) review, approval and written acceptance of each deliverable by the SHIFT ASEAN/SAARC and any other project Programme Manager and/or his designate; (iii) submission of a time-sheet and expenses with relevant supporting documentation; and (iv) an authorization of payment disbursement from a direct supervisor. Where payment is based on days worked and not on milestone outputs, the submission of time sheet and expenses with relevant documentation may be required by UNCDF.

Duties and Responsibilities

KEY SOW	Details	Final Deliverables	Estimated # of days per year
1. Manage UNCDF communications strategy and its implementation	Update and implement communications strategy both for internal and external communications targeting UNCDF staff and relevant stakeholders active in financial inclusion space in the Asian region and beyond; Draft and edit a wide range of materials, including media products, blog posts, web content, brochures and presentations. Liaise with the Partnerships and Communications teams in HQ for necessary approvals and support for implementation; Ensure the timely release of SHIFT and CleanStart knowledge products compliant with UN editorial guidelines and UNCDF’s branding guidelines; Define a clear timeline for the development of publications so that they can be presented to the UNCDF Publications Board; Elaborate the communication campaigns outline and timeline, defining the various means of communications to be used at various points in time as well as relevant stakeholders to be reached; Work closely with the project team to fine-tune relevant messages to be communicated during the campaigns; Identify the best communications tools and means to reach stakeholders (i.e. new and traditional channels) and engage with them to ensure programmes content and messaging are widely disseminated. Ensure the facilitation of knowledge management related to the project by widely sharing best practices, success stories, lessons learned and stakeholders’ contributions; Contribute to knowledge networks and communities of practice within and outside UNCDF; Manage the list of subscribers with the support of the team, coordinate the management of multiple contact list and potential subscribers. Support the production, sourcing and liaison with vendors for the production of print/digital/web-based publications and communication materials; Manage communication related consultants (ie. editors, videographers and graphic designers). Maintain relationships key stakeholders, partners and donors for the dissemination and sharing of programme related communications products; Advise and create branding and communications strategy and material for the Uganda Solar Energy Association.	Updated programme’s communication strategy Blogs Web content Brochures Presentation design Communications campaign Tweets Stories/lessons learned blogs Subscriber list	50 days
2. Lead the design and development of communications products (publications, newsletters, brochures, leaflets, blogs, and other promotional materials);	Identify and draft contents that can be disseminated to various stakeholders using different communication channels (emails, facebook, linkedin, twitter, blogs, Television, radio, newspapers, discussion forums etc.) and implement; Develop a series of short clips/videos to promote and share lessons from the business models under SHIFT’s Challenge Fund and other relevant activities (minimum 5). Support the programme team with drafting content and work closely with team members to ensure up to date content for communications material; Produce a monthly SHIFT/CleanStart/Asia region newsletter using mailchimp; Coordinate the development of campaign assets such as snapshots of publications, infographics and animations; Undertake field visits to document beneficiary stories and photo documentation; Draft press releases, speaking notes, news items and other related content for distribution on behalf of the SHIFT/CleanStart programmes; Oversee the development of blogs, with key stakeholders working in Financial Inclusion. Develop monthly blogs (at least 1 per month) for both CleanStart and SHIFT programmes. Maintain and upkeep of printed materials in the office Support SHIFT and CleanStart results measurement through support to the design and development of online surveys. Disseminate surveys to stakeholder lists. Support UNCDF regional communications through the production of regional investment leaflets and other communications materials. Support UNCDF’s regional communications and stakeholder engagement through providing support to UNCDF regional and country teams as required.	Design of publications Design of leaflets 6 Blogs Per year Month newsletters Promotion campaigns 5 Challenge Fund Videos Social Media posts Survey design	60 days
3. Social Media Management and Content Curation;	Support the expansion of both SHIFT and CleanStart’s programme social media presence by 50% through increased followers and/or engagements; Monitor readership and identify ways that newsletter readership and reach can be extended; Issue a daily twitter feed on key financial inclusion and clean energy news/issues within ASEAN countries and CleanStart countries; Boost followers on various social media accounts of the programme; Be aware of social media communication behaviors in emerging and developing countries; Coordinate social media activities with UNCDF headquarters, donors and partners Manage programmes social media accounts ensuring new content is posted on a regular basis, re-sharing of tagged items; Create and maintain content on the programmes website (shift.uncdf.org and http://www.uncdf.org/cleanstart), using the content management system, ensuring that the SHIFT and CleanStart websites are fully operational with all relevant content by end 2018. Identify new and/or innovative communications methods in order to further publicize the programme, activities and achievements. Produce evaluation reports on the impact of programme’s communications activities on social media platforms. Report on developments, trends and attitudes regarding women led financial services. Track UNCDF, SHIFT and CleanStart’s presence in the news and document this for results tracking and information sharing purposes.	Monthly communications report Boost social media following by 50% Boost social media engagement by 20% Website content Twitter calendar	70 days
4. Support the UNCDF programme teams in the organization of Board meetings, workshops, conferences and other events:	Organize regular coordination meetings of the organizing team via tele- and/or video conference. Support in the preparation of the agenda of the meetings and draft and circulate the minutes with key decisions taken and roles and responsibilities defined; Prepare and manage a task/project management plan that outlines all milestones with respective roles and responsibilities and delivery dates. This task plan should be regularly updated and made available online; Serve as the central focal point for the event management agency; Coordinate the development of an event website that includes all information for participants planning to attend the event. Draft a ToR for the event management agency that could be contracted to support event organisation; Help with the content drafting of the event website; Develop and maintain an invitation list; Develop and maintain a participant list/database with all contact information, travel dates and accommodation. Follow up, where needed, with invitees who confirmed participation to ensure the database is always up to date and complete; Support the organizing team with any tasks related to speaker invitations and session design; During the event, work closely with the event organizers and the event management agency to ensure smooth implementation of all aspects of the event, including protocols, participant travel (international and local), accommodation, official dinners and lunches, sessions, and field visits; Support relationship management with the relevant stakeholders throughout all phases of this initiative; Support the production of any knowledge products (signage - poster boards, name tags, folders and documents, post-conference video)	Website content and development Video Branding and event material design Stakeholder list/database management Blogs	60 days
Total number of days per year			240 days

Competencies

Corporate Competencies

Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of the UN Capital Development Fund.
Displays cultural, gender, region, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
Treats all people fairly without favoritism.
Demonstrates results-oriented and “can-do” attitude.

Functional Competencies

Innovation: adopts ideas to context; creates independent, collaborates & integrates consistently, and conceptualizes more effective approaches to programme development and implementation and to mobilizing and using resources; willing to step out of core skill set or discipline to find the appropriate solution to a challenge.
Result Orientation: results driven, problem-solver with structuring and analytical capabilities, anticipates constraints in the delivery of services & identifies solutions & alternatives; demonstrates openness to change & ability to manage complexities and resolve problems; focus on impact and results; approaches work with energy and positive attitude, responds positively to constructive feedback.
Communication: Strong verbal and oral communicator serving multiple functions and audiences as needed, strong analytical and writing skills and ability to communicate effectively to different audiences.
Interpersonal skills: strong ability to work in a multi-cultural environment and with diverse stakeholders (governments, donors, financial services providers) with sensitivity to diversity of opinions.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

Master’s Degree in communications, journalism, international relations, public policy or related fields;

Experience

At least three years of experience in the field of communication for non-profit organizations and/or companies. This should include professional experience with social media channels, particularly Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook, including knowledge of monitoring tools (years of experience can overlap with other categories);
At least 1 year of professional experience in writing and editing social media content, blogs and media products (years of experience can overlap with other categories);
Prior work experience (1 year) in the area of financial inclusion desired (years of experience can overlap with other categories);
Prior work experience (1 year) in the ASEAN region desired (years of experience can overlap with other categories);

Language

Excellent writing and editing skills in English language.
Excellent writing and editing skills in French language.

Evaluation process/Methodology

Applications will be rated on both technical and financial submissions. The following selection method will be used: Highest rated proposal using the combined scoring method, which assigns the weight distribution between the technical and financial proposals. The overall combined score will be 100 points, where weight distribution shall be 70% technical and 30% financial.

Shortlisting Criteria
UNCDF will conduct a desk review to produce a shortlist of candidates and technically evaluate candidates as follows:

Criteria	Maximum Points Attainable
At least 1 year of professional experience in writing and editing social media content, blogs and media products (years of experience can overlap with other categories)	30
Prior work experience (1 year) in the area of financial inclusion desired (years of experience can overlap with other categories)	30
Prior work experience (1 year) in the ASEAN region desired (years of experience can overlap with other categories)	20
Quality (visual design) of work samples	20
Maximum points	100

A competency-based interview shall be conducted with the top four shortlisted candidates who passed 70 points threshold and obtained the highest scores during desk review.

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% on the total of Desk Review (20%) + Interview (80%) will be considered as technically qualified and will be reviewed further for financial evaluation.

The following formula will be used to evaluate financial proposal:
Lowest priced proposal/price of the proposal being evaluated x 30%.

Contract duration: The assignment, under this Framework Agreement (On Call basis), is expected to have a duration of a maximum of 3 years. The initial contract would be for one year with an option for renewal in subsequent years upon project needs, availability of funds and satisfactory performance of the consultants. The duration of each call-off shall be clearly indicated in the TOR that supports the PO that signals the call-off.
Number of working days: Estimated 240 days per year.

Duty station: The individual contractor(s) is home based, with possible travel when and as need to countries where SHIFT and other UNCDF programmes operate: Bangladesh, Cambodia, DRC, Ethiopia, Fiji, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Nepal, Samoa, Uganda, Vanuatu, Vietnam among others. The schedule of travel will be negotiated with the consultant according to the requirements of each programme.

Travel: Travel costs associated to the assignment will be paid as reimbursable basis and following the UNDP/UNCDF rules and regulations which states that consultants shall only be paid the most direct and most economical ticket, as will be quoted by the official UN travel agency. Any amount in excess of the said quotation, such as class and airline preference of the consultant, shall be borne by the consultant and the daily living allowance will be paid as per UN Rate.

Contract Award

The purpose of the Consultancy is to select up to 2 consultants –one English speaking consultant and one bilingual English and French speaking consultant.

The top TWO candidates that achieved the highest cumulative score, taking into account their linguistic abilities, will be recommended for a contract award to serve Asia and Africa regions.

UNCDF reserves the right to increase or decrease this number depending on the quality of the applications that will be received.

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 If the consultant is over 65 years old, UNCDF reserves the right to require full medical certification and clearance from the consultant’s physician prior to commencing the travel.

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). If the company or institution that employs them will charge a management fee, the said amount must be incorporated in the financial proposal that the individual will submit. No further changes to reflect additional costs shall be accommodated by UNCDF at the point of awarding the LTA.

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

Application process

Interested individuals must submit the following as proposals in order to demonstrate their qualifications: (NOTE: THE SYSTEM DOES NOT ALLOW MULTIPLE UPLOADS OF DOCUMENTS THEREFORE APPLICANTS MUST MAKE SURE TO UPLOAD ALL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS IN ONE FILE). 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.
CV or P11, indicating all past experiences from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email, telephone, skype) of the Candidate with at least three (3) professional references. Link to P11: http://sas.undp.org/documents/P11_Personal_history_form.doc
A cover letter responding to competency criteria indicating why the candidate considers himself/herself suitable for the required consultancy as well as stating earliest availability. Please paste this letter into the “Resume and Motivation” section of the electronic application.
Confirmation of interest and Financial proposal: link
Two (2) sample or links to writing and editing social media content, blogs and media products; or detailed summary of similar works with relevant links– that you consider to be the best and most relevant example to this ToR.