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. https://www.uncdf.org/

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. https://www.uncdf.org/article/4931/global-strategy-leaving-no-one-behind-in-the-digital-era

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 until 2024 under the “Connect” Rural Uganda 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 programme include:

1. Rural community members in Uganda (smallholders’ farmers, agri-business & refugees) have the knowledge, skills and behaviors 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.

UNCDF is therefore looking for an association management and coordination consultant to coordinate the meetings of UNCDF’s project advisory board, the Digitization Working Group, Startup Uganda and organize key events for the programme.

Duties and Responsibilities

The consultant will be responsible for:

Organizing project Advisory Board Meetings and onboarding new members — one per quarter (4 in total):

• Drafting meeting materials plans, invitations, agenda, minutes and supporting documents.
• Communicating administrative requirements to members.
• Arranging logistics with UNCDF’s operations team.

Coordinating digitization working group meetings and partners — one per quarter (4 in total):

• Drafting meeting materials plans, invitations, agenda, minutes and supporting documents.
• Communicating administrative requirements to members.
• Arranging logistics with UNCDF’s operations team.

Coordinating events to disseminate findings from market systems study (Inception Study) - at least 2.

• Produce materials to disseminate findings from Inception Study
• Video capturing key aspects of Inception phase of the programme.
• Drafting meeting materials plans, invitations, agenda, minutes and supporting documents.
• Arranging logistics with UNCDF’s operations team.

Coordinating support activities with Start-up Uganda and other innovation ecosystem stakeholders.

• Coordinate at least one event per quarter to engage members and interact with public or private sector partners, or both
• Create at least two blog posts or other similar social media content per month to support Start-up Uganda’s mission while aligning with UNCDF’s strategy.

Perform outreach to other industry associations 

• Organize at least one UNCDF engagement per quarter with a notable industry association to elicit ideas and opportunities for collaboration and project.
• Engage in at least one external event per quarter where UNCDF is participating

Coordinate logistics and partner outreach for IDES dissemination event

• Support in organizing the IDES dissemination event planned for 2020
• Coordinate logistics including printed materials, handouts and discussion guides

Plan Monthly private sector engagement forum 

• Undertake market intelligence to understand which stakeholders are doing what in the different sectors and segments relevant to UNCDF.
• Draft private sector stakeholder map.
• Draft stakeholder engagement plan 2020
• Monitor activities.

          Institutional Arrangements

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.

C.     Duration of the Work

• Maximum number of working days required for the assignment is 220 days

D. Location of the Work

The Consultant will be based in Kampala, Uganda, and could conduct regular in-country travel.

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

• Understands the main processes and methods of work regarding to the position.
• Possesses basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks.
• Strives to keep job knowledge up-to-date through self-directed study and other means of learning.
• Demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments.

• Excellent writing, communication and organization skills.
• Able to demonstrate high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

University Degree in Business or Public Administration, Economics, Political Sciences and Social Sciences, or other related qualification

Experience:

• 3 years of experience with knowledge management and communication related work
• Experience working with UN organisations or other international development organisations
• Demonstrated ability to establish strong working relationships with various stakeholders’ 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.

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;
• 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.

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 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 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.