UNDP Jobs - 89636- International SDG Finance Consultant

International SDG Finance Consultant

Location :

Homebased with mission travel

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

18-Feb-2020

Application Deadline :

31-Jan-20 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

18 February 2020 to 17 February 2021

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

maximum 261 working days.

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

Project Title: Asia-Pacific Development Effectiveness Facility (AP-DEF)

Project Description:

To address the challenges of sustainable development financing, countries will need to develop new, more effective and integrated approaches to managing public and private finance. The Addis Ababa Action Agenda assumes that countries will use their own national development strategies and plans to respond to the SDGs and calls for the adoption of Integrated National Financing Frameworks (INFFs). These frameworks should provide a structure for governments to form and implement a strategic, holistic, results-driven approach to financing their development objectives. This approach should help countries set a strategy to effectively mobilize the investments they need and provide a structure that supports coherence across government in channeling resources to the areas they are most suited.

UNDP’s Bangkok Regional Hub and the Asia-Pacific Development Effectiveness Facility (AP-DEF) have been developing the Development Finance Assessment (DFA), a tool to respond to the growing demand from countries in the region to establish evidence and analysis, and introduce policy and institutional reforms for managing the increasing complexity of domestic and international sources of finance for development. DFAs were introduced as the very first development finance studies of their kind, seeking to bring together fragmented approaches on the use of the different sources of funds that may not all be primarily dedicated to address development challenges. By the end of 2019 more than 35 countries have undertaken DFAs, with demand growing among other countries in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.

The changing landscape of finance and governments’ demand for integrated solutions to financing national priorities are opportunities for UNDP. Having been identified to support country platforms for SDG integration, UNDP country offices are now uniquely placed to offer strategic services based on an integrated and holistic approach to mapping, managing, mobilizing and channeling financing for SDGs in the public and private sectors. At the public-private interface, UNDP is likewise well-positioned to strengthen its services to “close the loop” between governments, investors, and businesses.

To support country offices in the region to take initial steps and plan sequenced strategies for mobilizing and aligning public and private resources to the 2030 Agenda, BRH has established the Financing the SDGs Team. At the global level, UNDP has established the Finance Sector Hub, which brings together a corporate approach to offering services across public and private finance to countries around the world.

The consultant engaged through this terms of reference will support the delivery of SDG financing services in the Asia-Pacific region through the BRH Financing the SDGs team and globally through the UNDP Finance Sector Hub The consultant will support the operationalization of integrated national financing frameworks, providing guidance and analysis and supporting the sharing of lessons and experiences between countries. The consultant will support the rollout of DFAs globally, conducting analysis and providing advice, backstop support and quality assurance. They will support the continued refinement of the DFA methodology, including regarding its application in a variety of development settings. The consultant will provide inputs to country action plans on SDG financing, conduct analysis to support pitches for government and private sector, and collect evidence for the basis of South-South learning.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work:

The work under this consultancy will be divided between support for BRH’s Financing the SDGs team, including support for country offices in the Asia-Pacific region (60%) and support for UNDP’s global Finance Sector Hub, including support for country offices in other regions (40%).

Support to BRH’s Financing the SDGs Team

The consultant will support the team composed of colleagues working across the office on both public and private finance and across thematic areas with analysis, research and technical inputs for both regional and country initiatives. The Consultant will provide inputs to country action plans on SDG financing, conduct analysis to support pitches for government and private sector, support the provision of technical assistance and collect evidence for the basis of South-South learning. Support will include the following activities:

I. Support for operationalizing integrated national financing frameworks

Support 2-4 countries to operationalize integrated national financing frameworks:
- Work with country offices and government counterparts to develop national INFF roadmaps, building on global INFF methodology as it is developed
- Provide analysis and facilitate dialogue among national stakeholders as part of the INFF operationalization process
- Support the development of national SDG financing strategies
- Support the creation of institutional tools, such as monitoring frameworks, that will be used to operate an INFF.

II. Support and quality assurance for development finance assessments (DFAs)

Provide support to country offices and DFA teams with the scoping and setup of DFAs across the region
Provide backstop support and substantive quality assurance on ongoing DFAs, including reviewing draft documents and contributing to key outputs such as financing strategies
Support the sharing of lessons and experiences between countries undertaking DFAs

III. SDG financing policy research, support and service line development

Identify lessons from DFAs and other country engagements on the evolving demand for assistance on public and private financing issues
Support the development of UNDP service offers, including through the APDEF initiative, that respond to demand in relation to specific aspects of public and private financing for the SDGs
Support in analysis of financing trends, gaps and opportunities as inputs into SDG financing team integrated missions and support

IV. Technical assistance to countries

Provide technical assistance to 1-2 countries in support of the establishment or strengthening of specific INFF building blocks or SDG financing strategies following on areas of interest and recommendations from the DFA. Delivering this assistance will include:
- Support in review of SDG financing action plans and DFAs completed and underway to identify possible entry points for action and policy support
- Consultations with government and development partners to determine exact focus of DFA follow-up actions and reforms. In addition to responding to the needs of relevant institutions around strengthening the INFF, lessons from the DFA process will be collected to shape the design of country support to other contexts
Provide support to country offices with the strategy development and design of programming related to SDG financing

Support to UNDP’s global Finance Sector Hub

The consultant will support the SDG Finance Advisor in UNDP’s Finance Sector Hub (FSH) with the rollout and delivery of FSH services across countries outside the Asia-Pacific region. This will include both support for country-level work in countries outside the Asia-Pacific region and support for the promotion and rollout of the FSH at the global and regional levels. Support will include the following activities:

I. Support countries undertaking DFAs and operationalizing integrated national financing frameworks

Provide support for 3-4 countries that are undertaking DFAs and which plan to establish an integrated national financing framework:
- Support country offices and governments with the scoping, setup and delivery of DFAs
- Provide backstop support to ongoing DFAs, providing quality assurance and sharing lessons based on the experiences of other countries
- To provide technical inputs on key DFA/INFF outputs such as INFF roadmaps, financing strategies etc.

II. Further development of the Development Finance Assessment approach and methodology

To support in development of further guidance on delivery of DFAs, with a focus on issues such as using DFAs as a step toward operationalizing an INFF and undertaking DFAs in particular contexts, such as the subnational level or in SIDS or contexts characterized by fragility.

III. Support FSH rollout, strategy development etc.

Support the promotion and rollout of FSH services on SDG financing with analysis, research and other inputs as needed

Expected Outputs and Deliverables :

Payments will be based on approved timesheet indicating number of days worked spent for specific output as agreed by both parties.

Institutional Arrangement:

The Consultant will work under supervision of the Policy Specialist, Development Finance & Effectiveness at the UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub with guidance from the SDG Finance Advisor at UNDP HQ in New York.

Duration of the Work:

The expected duration of this assignment is one year with maximum of 261 working days. The proposed start date is 18th February 2020, and planned to be completed by 17th February 2021.

Duty Station:

The assignment will be home-based with anticipated mission travel.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Treats all people fairly without favouritism.

Technical Competencies:

Analytic capacity and demonstrated ability to process, analyse and synthesise complex, technical information;
Proven ability to support the development of high quality knowledge and training materials, and to train technical teams;
Proven experience in the developing country context and working in different cultural settings.

Communication:

Communicate effectively in writing to a varied and broad audience in a simple and concise manner.

Professionalism:

Capable of working in a high pressure environment with sharp and frequent deadlines, managing many tasks simultaneously;
Excellent analytical and organizational skills.

Teamwork:

Projects a positive image and is ready to take on a wide range of tasks;
Focuses on results for the client;
Welcomes constructive feedback.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualification

Master’s degree in social sciences, Humanities, Public Administration, Economics or Political Science or equivalent.

Professional Experience

Minimum overall experience of 7 years in sustainable development financing, policy analysis, public finance, private sector development, strategic planning and budgeting, capacity building and advisory services; including:
Minimum 5 years of experience supporting development partners or central government agencies in the area of development finance and public institutional governance and capacity building
Minimum 4 years supporting country level rooted public policy reforms in close collaboration with central government agencies, demonstrating ability to lead consultations with senior government officials and facilitate discussions among a wide group of stakeholders
Experience supporting Asia-Pacific governments in the establishment of integrated national financing frameworks (INFF); experience with development finance assessment (DFA) methodology will be considered a significant asset;
3 years of experience in data collection, analysis and statistical tools.

Functional Competencies

Excellent writing skills required, as demonstrated by previous research/analytical reports/policy notes on relevant topics.

Language requirement

Fluency in English (written and spoken), and an ability to effectively summarise and present information.

PRICE PROPOSAL AND SCHEDULE OF PAYMENT:

Consultant must send a financial proposal based on Daily Fee. Payments will be made monthly, upon approval of timesheet record and certification of number of days worked.

Consultant shall quote an all-inclusive Daily Fee for the contract period. The term “all-inclusive” implies that all costs (professional fees, communications, consumables, etc.) that could be incurred by the consultant in completing the assignment are already factored into the daily fee submitted in the proposal. Payments shall be done on a monthly basis based on actual days worked, upon verification of completion of deliverables and approval by the IC’s supervisor of a Time Sheet indicating the days worked in the period.

UNDP will organize travels and disburse living allowance for the consultant using UNDP rules and regulations. All the cost incurred from the mission will be reimbursed at actual with prior approval according to UNDP rules and regulations.

In general, UNDP shall not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources.

In the event of unforeseeable travel not anticipated in this TOR, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and the Individual Consultant, prior to the missions.

Evaluation Method and Criteria:

The award of the contract shall be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, and b) having the highest score out of set of weighted technical criteria (70%) and financial criteria (30%). Financial score shall be computed as a ratio of the proposal being evaluated and the lowest priced proposal received by UNDP for the assignment.

Stages of Selection process:

Preliminary Shortlisting on pass/fail basis

Minimum Required Qualification
Minimum number of relevant experiences (minimum overall 7 years)

Detailed Technical Evaluation;

Part 1

Higher Relevant Experience – 25 Marks
One page of proposed methodology to complete this assignment - 10 Marks

Please note only those candidates who score minimum 70% marks of out above 35 marks will be called for interview.

Part 2

Telephonic Interview – 35 Marks

Financial Evaluation:

Financial Evaluation- 30 Marks

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points (70% of the total technical points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Document to be included when submitting the Proposals via eTendering.

Interested individual consultants must submit the following to demonstrate their suitability for the assignment.

Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP;
Personal CV indicating all experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references;
Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs, as per template provided. If an Offeror is employed by an organization/company/institution, and he/she expects his/her employer to charge a management fee in the process of releasing him/her to UNDP under Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA), the Offeror must indicate at this point, and ensure that all such costs are duly incorporated in the financial proposal submitted to UNDP.
One page of proposed methodology to complete this assignment.

Incomplete proposals may not be considered. The shortlisted candidates may be contacted for written test and interview, and the successful candidate will be notified.

***Proposal for this JobAds should be submitted through the online eTendering system. Offers submitted via email, via UNDP JobAds or other methods may not be considered. ***

Go to eTendering page at https://etendering.partneragencies.org (search for Event ID 0000005194 in BRC10) and submit an offer within the deadline indicated in the system itself. Detailed user guide on how to register in the system and submit the proposal can be found in this link: https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/operations/procurement/business/procurement-notices/resources/ .

If you have registered in the system before, do not register again. Use forgotten password function to reactivate your password if you have forgotten it.

Any request for clarification must be sent in writing, or by standard electronic communication to E-mail address: procurement.th@undp.org under Subject : IC-2020-01 International SDG Finance Consultant

** The deadline for submitting query for clarifications/ questions is 4 days prior the submission deadline** UNDP BRH will provide responses by uploading them in the system.

ANNEXES

Annex I ToR International SDG Finance Consultant
Annex II General_Terms_and_Conditions_for_Contracts_Individual_Consultants
Annex_III_Offerors_Letter_to_UNDP_Confirming Interest and Availability
Annex_IV_P11 Form_for_ICs_optional
Annex V Procurement Notice_International_SDG_Finance_Consultant

All documents can be downloaded at : http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=62710