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 would like to hire a Results Measurement consultant to support UNCDF in designing RM frameworks for sector level  strategies, country workplans and specific interventions  for the strategy ‘Leaving no one behind in the digital era’

Purpose of the Framework Agreement

UNCDF would like to enter into a non-exclusive Framework Agreement, also known as Long-Term Agreement (LTA), with the Results Measurement consultant who will perform the services described below 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 for a minimum period of 12 months, with potential extension for up to two (2) additional years, depending on satisfactory performance.

Under an LTA, UNCDF does not guarantee that any specific quantity of services shall be purchased during the term of this agreement.  The LTA does not form a financial obligation or commitment from UNCDF at the time the LTA contract is signed and that such an agreement is non-exclusive.   

Where a request for service arises, UNCDF can engage the individual on 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.   For this 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 committed.

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.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of UNCDF Research and Results Measurement Analyst the Results Measurement Consultant will complete the following activities and deliverables.

• Global Results Measurement activities: Based on the programme’s Theory of Change (Toc) and market development approach the consultant will design global RM frameworks and relevant learning questions, prepare related curricula, materials, tools and trainings for staff and partners and link the country and global RMFs, 

• Country Results Measurement activities: Based on UNCDF work plans the consultant with develop country level ToCs. The consultant will also formulate date collection plans, support research and data collection activities, conduct supply side surveys (called Partner surveys) and analyze relevant market level data. 

• Project level Results Measurement activities: Based on UNCDF agreements with partners the consultant will support selected grantees in developing results chains, identifying Key Performance Indicators and developing data collection plans. He/she will also train partners in data disaggregation by segments (i.e. gender, youth, MSMs, vulnerable groups, etc.), set realistic RM objectives, and support the evaluation of results.

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. 

All outputs shall be subject to review and written acceptance by the Research and Results Measurement Analyst who shall also authorize the disbursement of payment to the individual.

Competencies

• Proven ability to extract actionable insights from data
• 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 and in control under pressure.

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 of 2 years of work experience is mandatory.
• Minimum of 1 year of work experience in data analysis and reporting is mandatory.
• Proficiency in data visualization software is preferable but not mandatory.
• Previous experience in analyzing market level data is preferable but not mandatory.
• Work experience with developing partners in Asia and/or Africa is preferable but not mandatory.
• Previous experience working with digital finance providers data sets (i.e. customer, agents, transactions etc.) is preferable but not mandatory.
• Good knowledge of financial inclusion and digital financial services is preferable but not mandatory.
• Knowledge of DCED standards and the Market Systems Development approach is preferable but not mandatory.
• Experience with UN organizations is preferable but not mandatory.

Language:

Fluency in English and French is mandatory.

Evaluation: 

Step I: Screening: 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 70 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%.

Timeline, total number of working days, duty station:

Timeline: February 2020 – January 2022

Total Number of Working Days for Assignment: 513 working days spread over a period of 36 months.

Duty station:  Home-based, except when called by UNCDF to attend meetings or conduct missions. 

Travel, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses shall be agreed upon as per UNCDF policy, between the respective business unit and Individual Consultant, prior to travel. Please note that consultants residing in the duty station of travel will not be compensated for living expenses.

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;
• CV and/or Completed 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.). All unit prices Indicated In the financial proposal shall remain the same for the duration of the IC, including amendments thereto.

  Award Criteria

  The contact shall be awarded to the 3 best applicants 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.