Background

Introducing UNCDF

UNCDF is the UN’s capital investment agency for the world’s 47 Least Developed Countries (LDC). UNCDF uses its capital mandate to support LDCs pursue inclusive growth. UNCDF promotes financial inclusion, also through digital financial services (DFS), as a key enabler of poverty reduction and inclusive growth; and it demonstrates how localizing finance outside the capital cities can accelerate growth in local economies, promote sustainable and climate-resilient infrastructure development, and empower local communities. Using capital grants, loans and credit enhancements, UNCDF tests financial models in inclusive finance and local development finance; ‘de-risks’ the local investment space; and provides proofs of concept, paving the way for larger and more risk-averse investors.

With its capital mandate and instruments, UNCDF offers “last mile” financing models that unlock public and private resources, especially at the domestic level, to reduce poverty and support local development. UNCDF targets low-income and underserved populations and areas in the LDCs where resources for development are the scarcest; where market failures are most pronounced; and where increased national economic prosperity does not reach a large part of the population. UNCDF focusses on local development finance and inclusive finance, using its capital mandate paired with strong technical and policy support to help communities and individuals save, borrow and invest.

UNCDF’s objective is to develop inclusive financial systems in which a range of financial products are available to all segments of society, at a reasonable cost, and on a sustainable basis. UNCDF supports a wide range of providers (e.g. microfinance institutions, banks, cooperatives, money transfer companies) and a variety of financial products and services (e.g. savings, credit, insurance, payments, and remittances).

Introducing Digital Finance in UNCDF

UNCDF manages several initiatives in LDCs in Asia and Africa, to develop an inclusive digital finance eco-system that offers a wide range of financial services specially for low income vulnerable communities. Specifically, UNCDF provides a mix of policy, technical and financial support to a range of government and private sector actors in each country, as well as invests in research and other public goods that benefit all market actors. By supporting the development of digital finance eco-system in these countries, UNCDF aims 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.

Introducing UNCDF’s Digital Finance Intervention Nepal

UNCDF launched its Digital Finance interventions in Nepal in 2013 and focused on creating an inclusive environment for inception and scale up of digital financial services.  UNCDF has been supporting the digital financial service providers, banks and other stakeholders in the country to develop the eco-system.

In 2017, Nepal Rastra Bank issued the Payment Service Provider (PSP) license to the first set of non-bank companies. This led to a growing number of registered customers using mobile wallets for a range of payment services. UNCDF works with its partners IME Digital and Prabhu Pay to implement and scale last mile adoption of digital financial services. Considering Nepal is an agro based economy with more than 60% of population engaged in agriculture, UNCDF with its partners Prabhu Management, SunFarmer and Swift/IME Digital developed use cases around dairy value chain digitization, Pay-as-you-go for solar irrigation pumps, farm operations digitization and digital credit market place. These pilots provided in-depth learning on linking digital with agriculture to drive adoption of digital services at the last mile. In 2019, UNCDF under the larger FinLabs initiative, launched the Nepal AgriTECH challenge for pre-seed and established start-ups engaged in agri-tech sector.

UNCDF is also closely engaged with Nepal Rastra Bank, central bank of the country to support in formulation of data based policies. In 2018, Nepal Rasta Bank launched the Nepal Financial Inclusion Portal with technical support from UNCDF. NFIP is a data reporting and management tool that allows NRB to map level of financial inclusion in the country.

As UNCDF continues to engage with private sector, regulators and the government to scale up DFS eco-system in Nepal, learning consolidation and dissemination is an integral part of our approach. In this context, UNCDF plans to hire a Knowledge Management and Communication Consultant – National Nepali, who will be part of the existing Digital Finance team in Nepal and work closely with technical team as well as  UNCDF partners to consolidate learnings, develop communication collaterals and support in wider dissemination.

Duties and Responsibilities

The KM and Communication Consultant will report to the Country Technical Specialist with oversight from KM and Communication Leads. Following are the main activities and timelines of deliverables for one year:

• Throughout the year, the KM consultant will be responsible to capture UNCDF activities and share them through social media in coordination with KM team in Brussels and New York.
• KM consultant will also coordinate the UNCDF events in Nepal and other countries.
• KM consultant will be responsible for publishing monthly news letter, coordination with local media for print and TV coverage and updating the contact list for regular information sharing.

Competencies

Competencies related to the position

• Knowledge of communication, information and editing standards and techniques (typographic rules and syntactic rules, layout, multimedia writing, multimedia ergonomics).
• Ability to organize, structure, and write content by adapting it to the intended audience.
• Be able to listen and collaborate with a wide range of actors.
• Ability to work independently and pro-actively.

Knowledge Management and Sharing

• Excellent computer skills and ability to use software and other relevant applications; design and / or maintenance of websites.
• Ability to manage events and coordinate contributions from different stakeholders.
• Development and operational efficiency:
• Knowledge of UNCDF and the UN system and / or the donor community.

 Leadership and Autonomy

• Focuses on the outcome for the client and reacts positively to the criticism received.
• Always adopts a dynamic, positive and constructive attitude at work.
• Remains calm, self-possessed and in a good mood, even under pressure.
• Demonstrates openness to change and the ability to handle complex situations.
• Interacts with others in a professional, respectful and friendly manner.
• Communicates clearly and convincingly.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

• A Master’s degree in international development, communication, journalism, marketing, social sciences or a related discipline.

OR

• A Bachelor’s degree with an additional two years of experience could also meet this requirement;
• Additional training related to communication for development is highly desirable.

Experience

• A minimum of three (3) years dedicated experience in with progressive responsibilities, in knowledge management or communication or another relevant area.
• 1-year experience in event management is desired;
• Existing network with in local media groups and other related industry associations is a plus
• Experience working with international organizations, developing country governments, donor agencies and / or NGOs and other civil society groups involved in various sectors of international development.
• Experience with a UN organization/agency would be a plus.

Language:

• Excellent written and oral English is mandatory.
• Fluency in Nepali is a plus but not mandatory.

Timeline, total number of working days, duty station:

Timeline: September 2019 to September 2020

• Total Number of Working Days for Assignment: Max of 240 working days within 12 months (renewable for another 12 months based on performance and available funding)
• Duty station: Kathmandu, Nepal

For unforeseeable travel, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed. 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.   

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

 Progress Controls & Payments:

Payment will be made against each satisfactorily achieved deliverables. All payments are subject to the clearance and approval of the Country Technical Specialist and the regional lead for Comms and PR.

Final payment shall require a signed performance evaluation of the consultant.

Application process:

Interested individuals must submit the documents mentioned below as proposals in order to demonstrate their qualifications (Note: the system does not allow multiple uploads of documents. 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 Terms of Reference (TOR);
• Earliest availability and proposed schedule for consultancy;
• Curriculum Vitae;
• Signed financial proposal for the assignment outlining: All-inclusive fee (including professional fees and other professional expenses, such as insurance, taxes, etc.), Available at http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_file.cfm?doc_id=29916). The consultant’s hosting is provided by UNCDF, therefore no DSA or living allowance is to be quoted in the financial proposal.
• Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials. 

 Evaluation: 

Step 1: Longlisting: 

Applications will be screened and only applicants meeting the minimum criteria will progress to the pool for shortlisting.

• A Master’s degree in international development, communication, journalism, marketing, social sciences or a related discipline.

or

• A Bachelor’s degree with an additional two years of experience could also meet this requirement;
• Additional training related to communication for development is highly desirable.

Step 2: Shortlisting by Desk Review (100 points x 20%):

UNCDF will produce a shortlist of candidates and technically evaluate candidates as follows:

• A minimum of three (3) years dedicated experience in with progressive responsibilities, in knowledge management or communication or another relevant area. - 50 points
• Experience working with international organizations, developing country governments, donor agencies and / or NGOs and other civil society groups involved in various sectors of international development. - 50 points

As applicable, up to 3 applicants scoring the highest in the desk review and achieving minimum 70 points shall be invited for an interview.

Step 3. Interview: (100 points x 80%): 
A competency-based Interview shall be conducted with the top 3 shortlisted candidates who will be asked on the following:

• Relevant experience
• Sector Knowledge  
• Communication Skills

Step 4: Financial Evaluation: Only candidates with scores above 70% of the technical evaluation  will be considered. 

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

Payment will be made against each satisfactorily achieved deliverable. All payments are subject to the clearance and approval of the Regional Technical Specialist – Asia.

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