Background

United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF)

UNCDF is the UN’s capital investment agency for 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 has been active in the area of financial inclusion over the past 25 years, through a market development approach combining support to governments and regulators, as well as to the private sector in order to develop scalable products and services for under-served and un-banked populations.

UNCDF mission 2030 is to accelerate the development of services leveraging digital finance & innovation by providing the right balance of technical expertise and financial support to government, private & non-profit sectors & academia. UNCDF 2024 goal is to empower millions of people to use services leveraging innovation and technology that contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

UNCDF inclusive digital economy strategy

UNCDF strategy ‘Leaving no one behind in the digital era’ is based on over a decade of experience in digital finance in Africa, Asia and the Pacific. UNCDF recognizes that reaching the full potential of digital financial inclusion in support of the Sustainable Development Goals aligns with the vision of promoting digital economies that leave no one behind.

UNCDF will focus on understanding the intersection of six categories of digital services entailing (i) agriculture, (ii) transport, (iii) energy, (iv) education, (v) health and (vi) finance across five categories of users: (i)women, (ii)youth, (iii)refugees,  (iv) migrants and (v) MSMEs.

To implement this strategy UNCDF will continue to apply a market development approach at country level. The objective of such an approach is to continuously seek to understand and intervene in select market systems to address underlying market dysfunctions that lead to improved efficiencies, effectiveness and sustainability.  The approach will seek to (1) leverage the roles and behaviours of current players in the marketplace, support them to continue doing what they do better or to change their behaviour, and (2) strengthen the systems and relationships among the various market and sector actors (3) work with current players to de-risk new business models to make digital solutions more inclusive for key segments and reduce the digital divide.

UNCDF inclusive digital economy strategy in Uganda

Since 2013, UNCDF has been implementing a market development approach on digital finance in Uganda.  With the support of the Sweden Development Agency (SIDA), UNCDF will execute the “Leaving no one behind in the digital era” strategy in country in a 5-year programme.  The Programme has the aim to develop an inclusive digital economy in Uganda with a specific focus at empowering rural communities, smallholders farmers, agri-business and refugees - to lead productive and healthy lives, by expanding access and usage of digital services.

The main expected outcomes of this new initiative include:

1. Rural community members in Uganda (smallholders farmers, agri-business & refugees) have the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed to access and use digital services. They have better access to training and education through digital channels.
2.  New business models and technologies for delivering services are scaled for rural communities in the education, health, finance, agriculture and energy sector.
3. Rural community members have improved access to and increasingly use digital payment accounts.
4. The Government of Uganda implements policies that enable access and usage of digital services.

Health and Education are two of the focus sectors of the  Uganda programme.  UNCDF is looking for a Digital Transformation consultant with extensive expertise in the health and / or education sectors

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of the work

The Digital transformation consultant for the health and education sectors will be responsible of assuring the programme delivery and monitoring in the two sectors.

Precisely, she/he will be responsible of:

• Undertaking sectoral and market systems analyses at macro, meso and micro level to inform UNCDF’s digital strategy and programme interventions that enable improved access to quality health and education for target population segments in Uganda
• Designing, managing and monitoring projects related to leveraging digital innovation and technology to improve access to and delivery of quality education and health among target population segments in Uganda
• Leading UNCDF’s ecosystem development efforts within the different sector wide stakeholder forums on digitisation of the health and education sectors in Uganda and other countries.
• Support UNCDF in other countries to expand the digital health and education portfolios in other countries and provide technical expertise, when needed.

Detailed Activities

Leading UNCDF’s ecosystem development efforts within the different sector wide stakeholder forums on digitisation of the health and education sectors in Uganda.  

• Provide Technical leadership and strategic support in the area of digitisation of health and education sectors
• Contribute to conducting research and provides technical assistance to policy makers and regulators on how to embed and enable digital in the health and education sectors
• Foster dialogue between private sector and public sector on specific matters concerning digital health and digital education and specific issues identified through the research undertaken
• Provide inputs and technical documents or presentations to private / public sector convening’s (forums) on digital strategies and solutions for health and education
• Provide inputs to exposure (workshops / visits) for policy makers and regulators to global practices and success stories in digital for health and education

Designing, managing and monitoring projects related to leveraging digital innovation and technology to improve access to and delivery of quality education and health among target population segments in Uganda

•  Support the design, pilot and scale of projects relating to e-school payments solutions (e.g Digital payment of school fees, Digital “Pay As You Learn application, dedicated school fees savings and loan product)
• Support the design, pilot and scale of projects relating to e-learning solutions and blended learning for teachers and students
• Support the design, pilot and scale of projects relating to e-school management solutions
• Introduce and build stakeholder capacity in data analytics for school management and the sector at large
• Support the design, pilot and scale of projects relating to Digital solutions to improve:
  • Community health delivery systems, including: the management, efficiency and effectiveness of community health systems extension workers (CHEWs)
  • Health financing and affordability, including:  Digital health wallet solution like (health savings wallet; health loan option; health insurance option; bill payment option)
• Support the development and implementation of appropriate go to market strategies for the digital solutions to ensure utmost awareness, uptake and sustained usage of the digital solutions
• Introduce and build stakeholder capacity in data analytics for health (support the design of a dashboard to support operational / financial decision making for health facilities –micro level (health facility) and Macro level (ministry)

Please note that programme delivery will include this set of activities

• Conduct ideation sessions with partners to define innovation challenge or project activities, target market, product options, and project parameters; the preparation of the ideation session can include market research;
• Draft project documents and legal documents needed to provide grants, technical assistance or other mentoring services;
• Provide quality advisory services to partner institutions relating to product development and the design of the solutions
• Monitor and effectively manage the funded projects to assure the timely results attainment and the intended scale and impact and ensure that project stakeholders are working as a team and the right resources are assigned by partner institutions;
• Draft and/or review policy documents, manuals and terms of reference related to health and education; 
• Manage the introductory services between partner institutions and strategic partners that can add value to the expansion, and sustainability of the funded initiative.
• Document and analyse the innovation journey or project, business case, and customer impact resulting from the partnership working in close collaboration with results and insights team;

Undertaking sectoral and market systems analyses at macro, meso and micro level to inform UNCDF’s digital strategy and programme interventions that enable improved access to quality health and education for target population segments in Uganda

• Support relevant inter-sectoral and interagency collaboration and coordination, national and international partnerships on Health and Education together with the Country Technical Specialist;
• Collaborate with relevant ministries and other stakeholders to undertake joint initiatives and learning sharing platforms at national, regional and global level
• Provide inputs and quality support to blogs, white papers, reports
• Provide inputs to UNCDF’s global work in health, education innovation where the Uganda experience can add value.
• Sharing learnings from Uganda with other markets across Asia, Africa, and Pacific related to health and education.

Support UNCDF in other countries to expand the digital health and education portfolios in other countries and provide technical expertise, when needed.

• Asses the feasibility of sharing best practice from the Uganda health and education portfolio across other UNCDF countries.
• Assist scoping missions for the health and education sector in other UNCDF countries
• Support global events and meetings to share key learnings.
• Support other peers in UNCDF countries on key topics related digital health and education, providing guidance on the quality and best practices of digital health and education.

The table below outlines the list of key deliverables, due date and payment structure foreseen.

Institutional Arrangement

The Consultant will be based in Kampala, Uganda, and will work under the supervision of the Country Technical Specialist in Uganda.

• The Consultant will be supervised by the Country Technical Specialist
• Reporting will be done through weekly meetings with the Country Technical Specialist
• All deliverables will be approved by the Country Technical Specialist
• UNCDF will provide an office.
• Payments will be made upon receipt and acceptance by UNCDF of the contractor’s Certificate of Payment form specifying the outputs delivered as per agreed workplan and deliverable timeline.

Duration of the Work

• Maximum number of working days required for the assignment is 480 days spread over two years. The assignment might be renewed for other 240 days.
• The target starting date is 1st September 2019.

Location of the Work

The Consultant will be based in Kampala, Uganda, and conduct regular in-country travel. In addition, it is foreseen that 20% of her/his time will be assigned to provide support in other UNCDF countries on digital health and education.

Travel to the field and other relevant locations may be required and will be compensated according to UN polices.

Please note that consultants already residing at the duty station will not be compensated for living expenses.

Competencies

• Thorough knowledge of administrative, financial and management principles and practices.
• Excellent organizational and analytical skills complemented by sound interpersonal skills and the ability to work in a multicultural environment.
• Demonstrated ability to act independently and exercise sound judgment
•  Ability to work closely in harmony with government and international officials at all levels.
• Proficient in MS Office Software applications, data analysis and technical presentations.  

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Degree in economics, international development, public health, education or related field

Experience:

• 6 years of experience in managing educational or health programme delivery schemes for improving quality education or health for the most marginalized populations, particularly in low/middle income countries.
• Knowledge and experience of education systems or health systems in a developing country context, demonstrated expertise in health or education systems, strategies and policies and organisations and institutions as well as keeping abreast of developments in the global evidence base
• At least two years of experience in implementing digital solutions in the education or health, especially for improving quality education or community-based health systems in rural and underserved areas in in low/middle income countries.
• Demonstrated ability to establish strong working relationships with education or health sector institutions and administrators; media, civil society, and private sector leaders; international donors; and other stakeholders

Language requirements:

• Outstanding writing and oral skills in English are mandatory.

Award of the contract

The award of the contract shall be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as a) responsive/compliant/acceptable; and b) having received the highest score out of set of weighted technical criteria (70%). and financial criteria (30%).

Financial score shall be computed as a ratio of the proposal being evaluated and the lowest priced proposal received by UNDP for the assignment.

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology.

• Technical Evaluation Weight - 70% x [(Desk review 100 Points X 20%) + (Interview: 100 Points*80%) = 100 Points]
• Financial Evaluation Weight 30% 

The Technical Evaluation will entail three key steps

Step 1: Longlisting.

1. Longlisting.

UNCDF will produce a longlist of candidates Applications will be screened and only applicants meeting the following minimum criteria will progress to the pool for shortlisting.

• Degree in economics, international development, public health, education or related field
• 6 years of experience in in managing large-scale, high-impact educational or health programme delivery schemes for improving quality education or health for the most marginalized populations, particularly in in low/middle income countries.

Step 2: Shortlisting criteria for Desk Review and Interview (Maximum 100 points *20%) are as follows:

• Knowledge and experience of education systems or health systems in a developing country context, demonstrated expertise in health or education systems, strategies and policies and organisations and institutions as well as keeping abreast of developments in the global evidence base- max 40 points
• At least two years of experience in implementing digital solutions in the education or health, especially for improving quality education or community-based health system in rural and underserved areas in low/middle income countries- max 40 points
• Demonstrated ability to establish strong working relationships with education or health institutions and administrators; media, civil society and private sector leaders; international donors; and other stakeholders- max 20 points

Only top three candidates that obtained 70% of the points at this stage shall be invited for a competency-based interview (max 100 points *80%).

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% after the competency based interview will be considered as technically qualified and will be reviewed further for financial evaluation.

Step 3: Financial Evaluation

The following formula will be used to evaluate financial proposal:
Lowest priced proposal/price of the proposal being evaluated 100 points 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%.

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.

All applications must contain the following information:

• 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.
• CV 
• Earliest availability and proposed schedule for consultancy.
• Confirmation of interest and Financial proposal: Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP. The Financial Proposal shall indicate the all-inclusive daily fee, supported by a breakdown of costs, as per template provided.

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. 

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

In general, UNCDF shall 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 event of unforeseeable travel not anticipated in this TOR, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and the Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed.

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

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.