UNCDF Jobs - 88069- Framework agreement for proposal writer EU proposa

Framework agreement for proposal writer EU proposals Home Based

Advertised on behalf of

UNCDF

Location :

Brussels, BELGIUM

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

02-Dec-2019

Application Deadline :

08-Nov-19 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

12 months

Languages Required :

English French

Expected Duration of Assignment :

12 months

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

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.

Recently, UNCDF has formulated its strategy ‘Leaving no one behind in the digital era’ 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. The vision of UNCDF is to empower millions of people by 2024 to use services daily that leverage innovation and technology and contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals. For further detail on UNCDF strategy, refer to; https://www.uncdf.org/article/4931/global-strategy-leaving-no-one-behind-in-the-digital-era

UNCDF has presented a concept note to the Call for Proposal ACP digital financial services (Digital4Inclusion) under the 11th European Development Fund Reference: EuropeAid/161066 https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/europeaid/online-services/index.cfm?do=publi.welcome&nbPubliList=15&orderby=upd&orderbyad=Desc&searchtype=RS&aofr=161066.

UNCDF would like to hire a proposal writer with EU experience to support UNCDF in fundraising for the strategy ‘Leaving no one behind in the digital era’.

The proposal writer is expected to be engaged through a non-exclusive Framework Agreement formalized through an Individual Contract (IC). A Framework Agreement is known in UNCDF as an agreement that establishes the terms, conditions and prices that will govern future contract or contracts (known as “call offs”) arising from the said Agreement, which could be issued at any time within the duration of the IC.

Duties and Responsibilities

The below activities have been outlined based on the some of the broader outcomes that have been outlined above and are representative and can be more than that.:

1. Review calls for proposals, websites and other solicitations for funding (Expected Level of Effort: 5 days).

Monitor web and seek referrals for call for proposals and other solicitations.
Identify key requirements, necessary outcomes and limitations of possible funding.
Put together a calendar for submissions.
Develop initial concept notes with team input to address the solicitations.

2. Draft Concept Notes and Proposals (Expected Level of Effort: 55 days).

With team inputs, draft concept notes and/or initial applications for projects.
Develop outlines for full proposals.
With key inputs from team, write a draft of the technical portion of proposal.
Assemble all annexes.
Work with Results Measurement Analyst to complete log frames and indicators.
Work with relevant staff to edit and finalize bids.

Competencies

Excellent analytical skills;
Strong written communication skills;
Focus on impact and results for clients and stakeholders;
Committed to team work, working with other stakeholders;
Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

A Master’s degree in economics, administration, social sciences, or related discipline.

Experience:

Minimum of five years of experience in the design, proposal writing is mandatory.
Prior demonstrated experience developing proposals for institutional donors is mandatory.
Demonstrated experience of successful grant applications is mandatory.
Demonstrated experience of grant applications with the European Union is preferred.
Working knowledge of concepts in digital financial inclusion, including mobile money and other technologies is preferred but not mandatory.
Experience working with international organizations is preferred but not mandatory.
Experience in projects with financial inclusion is preferred but not mandatory.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English is mandatory.
Proficiency in French preferred but not required.
Other EU languages are an asset but not mandatory.

Timeline, total number of working days, duty station:

Timeline: 12 months.
Total Number of Working Days for Assignment: up to 60 working days.

Framework Agreement:

It is important to note that, at the time of the issuance of the IC that serves as the Framework Agreement, both parties understand that no financial obligation or commitment is formed on the part of UNCDF, and that such an agreement is non-exclusive (i.e., it does not prohibit UNCDF from entering into another such framework agreement with another individual or entity). Financial commitments will only be established each time the services are requested within the scope of the IC, through the agreed triggering action or document (e.g., PO with attached output-specific TORs) that signals the commencement of an engagement (“call-offs”).

This IC is intended for on-call intermittent engagement for a maximum of 60 working days spread over a period of 36 months. Any extension is subject to satisfactory performance review, project funding situation or other factors impacting the project operating environment.

During this period, specific service requests (also known as call-offs) shall be placed by UNCDF, in the form of issuance of Purchase Orders, supplemented by a specific Terms of Reference (TOR), and these documents will indicate the total cost of the services for the duration of the call-off, a brief description of the work, indicating the, and the number of days that will be required to complete the services, among other call-off-specific work.

A total contract value, which shall be based on the unit price agreed by UNCDF and the individual, will be agreed by both parties that will sign the IC, and the said contract amount shall serve as the maximum cumulative value of the call-offs that UNCDF will place over the duration of the IC.

Standard travel costs and living expenses:

Please quote an economy class return ticket and 5 days of living expenses from your home base to Brussels in your financial proposal. Kindly note that living expenses may not exceed Brussels Daily Sustainable Allowance rates referred to in the https://icsc.un.org/ map.

Progress Controls & Payments:

The consultant is to be compensated based on a daily fee payable upon satisfactorily completion of each Deliverable and submission of related reports during every call-off. The daily fee shall remain fixed for the duration of the IC, including any extension that may be executed.

Payments shall be made following certification by the Technical Specialist that the services related to each deliverable have been satisfactorily performed and the deliverables have been achieved by or before the due dates specified in the call-off.

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 and motivation rationalizing how the applicant meets the qualifications and can deliver the requirements of the Terms of Reference (TOR);
Earliest availability and proposed schedule for consultancy;
Complete and signed P11, Personal History Form with names and current contacts of 3 referees (available from http://sas.undp.org/documents/p11_personal_history_form.doc)
Signed financial proposal for the assignment outlining: all-inclusive fee (including professional fees and other professional expenses, such as insurance, taxes, etc.). Template for this is aavailable at http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_file.cfm?doc_id=29916).

Please make sure you have provided all requested materials.

Evaluation:

Step I: Screening & longlisting: Applications will be screened and only applicants meeting the mandatory criteria will progress to the pool for shortlisting.

Step II: Shortlisting (20 points)

UNCDF will produce a shortlist of candidates and technically evaluate candidates from 1 to 100% as per experience requirements in the Terms of Reference. As applicable, only applicants scoring 80% or more shall be considered for an interview.

Shortlisting scoring:

20%- Education/Qualification;

50%- Mandatory Experience.

30%- Preferred Experience.

Step III: Technical test (50 points). Applicants from the shortlist will be requested to take a written test. The test will be scored from 1 to 100 points. The passing score being 71 points.

Step IV: Interview (30 points): An interview shall be conducted to candidates having passed the test.

Step V: Financial Evaluation: Only candidates with scores above 70% of the technical evaluation (70 Points or above) will be considered.

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 scores) 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.