Background

The UN 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. UNCDF financing models are applied in thematic areas where addressing barriers to finance at the local level can have a transformational effect for poor and excluded people and communities.

By strengthening how finance works for poor people at the household, small enterprise, and local infrastructure levels, UNCDF contributes to SDG 1 on eradicating poverty and SDG 17 on the means of implementation. 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, UNCDF contributes to 28 of 169 SDGs targets.

Leaving No One Behind in the Digital Era

The widespread use of digital financial services in Kenya helped lift around 1 million people out of extreme poverty between 2008 and 2014. Since 2008 and the launch of M-PESA in Kenya, digital finance has revolutionized access to financial services for the unbanked, both individuals and enterprises.  The mobile money only sector opened access of 690 million people worldwide to formal financial services . Often starting with payment as entry points (money transfer, bill payment, government payment), it has now expanded to a range of service like savings, credit, loans, insurance and remittances.

Based on 2017 Findex data and trend analysis from 2011 and 2014 , it is clear that digital finance has become the primary route to financial inclusion. Inclusive financial services are transforming the lives of the unbanked by enabling them to better manage irregular resources, smooth income flows, build assets, overcome shocks, protect against risks, access social benefits more cheaply and invest in economic opportunities. Digital technology further expanded access and usage by offering lower cost of provision of services, greater convenience and ubiquity as services can be available around the clock, lower costs for user and greater range of services for the poor/low income people. In that respect inclusive digital financial services are directly contributing to reaching a number of SDGs, as described in the recent compendium developed by the Better Than Cash Alliance, UNCDF, the World Bank, and the UN Secretary-General’s Special Advocate on Inclusive Finance for Development, Her Majesty Queen Máxima of the Netherlands.

With 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 to the SDGs lies with the vision of promoting digital economies for the following reasons:

• The value of digital financial services is not obvious, especially for the poor and vulnerable populations, as it is not closely linked to their ability to respond to their specific constraints and needs around agriculture, education, health, energy and other key aspects of their daily lives.
• New innovative services should be developed to address these unmet needs.  Innovation will come from traditional providers but mainly by a range of new players (entrepreneurs, start-ups in various sectors & platforms like Facebook, WeChat, Grab, etc.)

This is the reason why the promotion of “Inclusive digital economies where everyone can thrive” is an integral part, and the ultimate vision of UNCDF’s new strategy on Digital Finance.

UNCDF in Rwanda

Over the next five years, UNCDF will work to directly enable at least 500,000 rural people in Rwanda to be economically included, financially resilient, and face reduced inequality, by expanding access to and usage of digital services (including finance) that contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.  UNCDF will also work to ensure that policy makers and regulators have increased capacity to create an enabling environment that proactively supports Rwanda’s aspiration to achieve a cashless economy by 2024. Through an iterative testing approach, a range of service providers will test and implement financial-services, digital and non-digital, that are accessible, affordable and relevant to Rwandan customers.  

Initial implementation of the Rwanda Country Strategy will focus on building upon UNCDF’s strengths in the following workstreams: empowered customers, inclusive innovation, and enabling policy and regulation. First, UNCDF will work at the demand and supply side of the market to assist in a manner that is effective, accountable and ensures resilience especially for financially excluded populations. Affordable access to financial services can help people cope with negative shocks, reduce exposure to risk and stimulate economic activity at community levels.  Second, UNCDF will support the Rwandan start-up ecosystem to understand better the policy and regulatory regime governing innovation and the FinTech sector. 

Duties and Responsibilities

Objectives of teh Assignment

UNCDF is seeking a Financial Inclusion and Gender Expert to collaborate with the Government of Rwanda, Financial and Technical service providers to jointly support UNCDF’s work on financial inclusion and innovation in Rwanda and the integration of gender into UNCDF’s programming. This includes developing, advising and providing technical support to a variety of projects focusing on savings and savings groups, digital finance, digital and financial literacy and FinTech’s and the following customer segments- women, youth, farmers, refugees and MSMEs and start-ups etc.

This program aims to increase access to Savings Group and Digital Savings, Digital Finance and Digital and Financial Literacy for up to 25,000 financially excluded and underserved Rwandans in 6 Districts of Rwanda over the next 3 years.

Reporting to the Programme Specialist, the Financial Inclusion and Gender Expert will be responsible for the following deliverables: :

Duration of Assignment, Duty station

Contract duration: The assignment, is expected to have a duration of one year with the possibility of extension for one (1) more year, based on the satisfactory performance of an individual consultant, project needs and funding availability.

Number of working days:  up to 60 working days per year.

Duty station: The consultant is expected to be remote with travel to  Kigali, Rwanda as needed.  The schedule of travel will be negotiated with the consultant according to the requirements of each task.

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.

Monitoring and Progress Control

The consultant will work under direct supervision of the UNCDF Programme Specialist and/or his designate, and in close collaboration with the in-country team.

The consultant will have regular communication with the supervisor via email and skype for coordination and guidance purposes, ensuring consultant’s output quality and targets.
The consultant is responsible for providing his/her own laptop during the course of his/her engagement with UNCDF.

Payment to the consultant will be made based on the actual number of days agreed with UNCDF and upon certification of satisfactory performance, and acceptance of the output by the UNCDF Programme Specialist and/or his/her designate.

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 UNCDF Programme Specialist 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.

Competencies

• Understanding and/or background in financial inclusion and/or digital financial services;
• Strong ability to communicate and function effectively in local/international/multicultural environment;
• Excellent networking with a demonstrated ability to build and maintain professional relationships;
• Ability to meet deadlines and work under pressure;
• Project management skills;
• Excellent PowerPoint and Excel skills;
• High-level planning, organizational and time management skills, including flexibility, attention to detail and the ability to work under pressure to meet changing deadlines;
• Well-developed interpersonal skills, including the ability to liaise effectively at senior levels, including government bodies;
• Analytical and problem-solving skills of a high order, including the ability to formulate recommendations and advice;
• Pro-active, constructive attitude, open to feedback.

Required Skills and Experience

The consultant must provide evidence of the technical capacity to undertake this assignment. This includes the ability to deliver the results in the timeframe provided as well as an indication of prior experience (expertise in DFS, gender and knowledge of Rwandan context).

Education

• A Master’s degree in social sciences, development economics, international development, or related discipline or the equivalent experience.

Experience

• 5 years of professional experience in financial inclusion is mandatory;
• 2 years of experience in Gender and Digital Finance Plus projects (i.e. financial inclusion initiatives related to women empowerment) is mandatory;
• 2 Years’ experience in managing financial inclusion digital finance projects;
• Professional experience Rwanda is preferred but not mandatory;
• At least 2 years of progressively responsible work experience in development programme/project implementation, coordination, monitoring and evaluation, donor reporting and capacity building;
• Experience coordinating and liaising with government agencies and/or donors;
• Experience in handling web-based monitoring and reporting platforms is an added advantage;
• Prior experience working with UN Agencies is an asset;
• Strong Project Management skills.

Language Requirements

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.

Application Procedure

Interested individuals or companies must submit the following as proposals in order to demonstrate their qualifications: (NOTE: the system does not allow multiple uploads of document. 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 TOR
• Earliest availability and proposed schedule and approach for consultancy
• Curriculum Vitae
• Completed CV or P11 Personal History Form with names and current contacts of 3 referees (available from http://sas.undp.org/documents/p11_personal_history_form.doc )
• Financial proposal for the full assignment outlining: Total professional fee (including professional fees. Other professional expenses (such as insurance, taxes, etc. Please use the form available at: http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_file.cfm?doc_id=29916)

Failure to submit all the above-mentioned documents may result in the rejection of the application. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials.

Evaluation Criteria

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.

Step I: Screening:

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

• A Master’s degree in social sciences, development economics, international development, or related discipline or the equivalent experience;
• At least 5 years of experience in progressively more responsible positions in Financial Inclusion and/or Digital Financial Services;
• At least 2 years of experience in development programme/project implementation, coordination, monitoring and evaluation, donor reporting and capacity building.

Step II: Shortlisting criteria by Desk Review - 80% (100 points):

UNCDF will conduct a desk review to technically evaluate the candidates as follows:

Step III: Financial Evaluation – 20%:

The following formula will be used to evaluate financial proposal:
Lowest priced proposal/price of the proposal being evaluated x 20%.

Step IV: Contract Award:

The top candidate that achieved the highest cumulative score will be recommended for a contract award. UNCDF reserves the right to increase or decrease this number depending on the quality of the applications that will be received.  

Individual consultants, individuals employed by a company or institution and companies 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.

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.
If you are experiencing difficulties with online job applications, please contact jobs.help@undp.org.