Background

UNCDF is the UN’s capital investment agency for the world’s 47 Least Developed Countries (LDC). UNCDF uses its capital mandate to support LDCs pursue inclusive growth. UNCDF promotes financial inclusion, also through digital financial services (DFS), as a key enabler of poverty reduction and inclusive growth; and it demonstrates how localizing finance outside the capital cities can accelerate growth in local economies, promote sustainable and climate-resilient infrastructure development, and empower local communities. Using capital grants, loans and credit enhancements, UNCDF tests financial models in inclusive finance and local development finance; ‘de-risks’ the local investment space; and provides proofs of concept, paving the way for larger and more risk-averse investors.

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. Please refer to the link for further information: https://www.uncdf.org/article/4931/global-strategy-leaving-no-one-behind-in-the-digital-era 

For years, many financial inclusion practitioners assumed that providing access to finance would enable people to use money in ways that would set them up for success. But having access does not cause people to be financially healthy, stable, and successful. For example, only 29% of Americans are financially healthy despite a booming economy and near-universal financial inclusion. 83% of Kenyans were financially included in 2019 but only 22% were deemed financially healthy, a drop from 39% in 2016.

Financial inclusion tends to be reduced to binaries as opposed to being a discussion of a spectrum. Financial health, on the other hand, is arguably a more customer-centric concept, one that offers principles to define impact more holistically, measure it systematically and create it in in a sustained and meaningful manner. Fundamentally, it is a non-product-centric approach based on the end consumers' needs.

Financial inclusion and financial health also are fundamentally different approaches, with distinct entry points. With financial inclusion we start with the question: “What does a financial product or service unlock?”. With financial health we turn this notion on its head and ask instead: “What does it take to be financially healthy?”. Using this “impact” question as an anchor, we work backwards to better align financial interventions to what makes customers financially healthy. While digital has been a big enabler for driving financial services, the question still remains on driving the use of digital in a responsible manner and that SDGs could be achieved in true spirit.

In line with this, UNCDF is broadening its focus on financial health by investing in efforts around advocacy, research and insights and programming. As part of these efforts we are rolling out a global centre that would allow work at different levels of Advocacy, Data and Insights, Searching and Investing solutions or business models while supporting the implementation in a living lab/in-country platforms in various markets of Asia, Africa and South America that would allow the tracking of impacts and inform learnings over the next five years.

Given the above focus, UNCDF has been strengthening its global communications and public relations (PR) resources to drive the agenda of the centre. This TOR is part of the global communications and PR team on financial health and would focus on driving content and knowledge management, working closely with the data and insights team and the programming teams in-country.

Duties and Responsibilities

Working in close collaboration with the Global Manager and Communication and PR Lead, the Knowledge Management Consultant would focus on the following broad areas:

• Thought Leadership and Outreach
• Communication and Knowledge Management
• Support programme coordination

1. Thought Leadership (external facing) and outreach

• Coordination and management of all financial health publication activities - towards driving thought leadership on Financial Health at global, regional and country level by focusing on creating and driving engaging content which is drawn on basis of projects (program) and research. Identify, consolidate and communicate impact stories as a result of knowledge services undertaken in the center and living lab.
• Ensures planning and design of internal and external strategies for content development and outreach geared towards supporting financial health thought leadership including partnership-building and resource mobilization.
• Through knowledge products, etc. Showcase the value being created through living labs in term of impact at individual/household level and positive capital value for investors participating to support scale-up.
• Manages the writing, development, design, production and dissemination of diverse publications and news releases through a variety of media, including print, broadcast and social.
• Support the Comms and PR Lead in creating a comprehensive community engagement strategy to increase visibility of discussion on financial health.
• Participates in networking by interacting with peers and influencers and attending events/trainings.
• Work closely with the center team on data and insights, related to building global partnerships with universities/think tanks.
• Elaboration and implementation of the financial health publications strategy and plan.
• Maintenance of a roster of qualified translators and style checkers in main UN languages to ensure high-quality translations (in collaboration with other UNCDF units).

2. Knowledge Management (Internal Facing) and Communications

• Serve as the programme’s content and knowledge management focal point in coordination with the Comms and PR Lead and the Global Manager. He/she will be working closely and in partnership with the teams in center and living labs/in-country in the promotion and dissemination of learning relating to the programme areas.
• Working in close collaboration with Comms and PR Lead on financial health, development/production of communication and advocacy instruments and materials for creating visibility of the programme and organize awareness-raising campaigns, including briefing materials and press releases as and when required by the programme.
• Conducting communications needs assessments for the programme closely working with the Comms and PR Lead.
• Promotes practical synergies between programme related practices within center and living labs/in-country platform.
• Promotion and maintenance of engagement campaigns on programme activities.
• Coordination, identification, development and dissemination of knowledge products and lessons learned engaging closely with data and insights team and living labs.
• Develop a well-maintained knowledge management system that gathers, extracts, packages, maintains, distributes and continually updates evidence, data and knowledge on financial health for internal and external audiences.

Support programme coordination

• Work on shaping the strategy and plan on communication and knowledge management related to financial health working alongside the Comms and PR Lead.
• Work with the Global Manager and Comms and PR Lead in all areas of management and coordination of the programme that includes but not limited to the management and coordination of Strategic Advisory Board (SAB), Technical Committee (TOC), and other Living Lab committees or other meetings;
• Communicate and publicize programme activities in liaison with the Comms and PR Lead and oversee all content related to the programme.
• Provide leadership to the overall communication and knowledge management function on Financial Health.

Institutional Arrangement

• The consultant will report to the Global Manager on Financial Health in seeking approval / acceptance of outputs.
• Payment will be made against each satisfactorily achieved deliverable. All payments are subject to the clearance and approval of the direct supervisor according to the schedule in the table above. 
• Final payment shall require a signed performance evaluation of the consultant.

Duration and Location of work

• The assignment will be for 200 working days between Jan 2021 – Dec 2021.
• The consultant will be home based.

Travel

• Travel to Singapore, India, Malaysia, China and other regions globally may be required and will be compensated according to UNCDF policies.

For unforeseeable travel, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:       

Advocacy/Advancing a Policy-Oriented Agenda - preparing information for advocacy:

• Identifies and communicates relevant information for a variety of audiences for advocating the programmes objectives and purposes and overall work on Financial Health.

Building Strategic Partnerships -Maintaining a network of contacts:

• Analyzes and selects materials for strengthening strategic alliances with partners and stakeholders;
• Establishes and nurtures positive communication with partners.

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing - Basic research and analysis:

• Generates new ideas and approaches, researches best practices and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things.

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise - Fundamental knowledge of own discipline:

• Understands and applies fundamental concepts and principles of a professional discipline or technical specialty relating to the position;
• Possesses basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks;
• Analyzes the requirements and synthesizes proposals;
• 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.

Creating Visibility for the work on Center of Financial Health (CFH), UNCDF - Research and data analysis:

• Promotes awareness of Financial Health through dissemination of information and materials.

Global Leadership and Advocacy for UN Goals - Preparing information for global advocacy:

• Identifies and communicates relevant information for advocacy for UN goals for a variety of audiences.

Conceptual Innovation in the Provision of Technical Expertise - Research and analysis:

• Keeps updated in his/her area of substantive expertise;
• Identifies opportunities for conceptual innovation.

Client Orientation - Establish effective client relationships:

• Researches potential solutions to internal and external client needs and reports back in a timely, succinct and appropriate fashion;
• Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines.

Core Competencies:

• Demonstrate/safeguard ethics and integrity;
• Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment;
• Self-development, takes initiative;
• Act as a team player and facilitate team work;
• Facilitate and encourage open communication in the team, communicate effectively;
• Create synergies through self-control;
• Manage conflicts;
• Learn and share knowledge and encourage the learning of others;
• Promote learning and knowledge management/sharing;
• Informed and transparent decision making.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, international relations or a related field.

Experience:

• Proven experience of at least 10 years in content development and knowledge management and advocacy work at the national or international level is a must.
• Five years of experience in writing and editing outstanding communications products, including social media posts, newsletters, comment pieces and PowerPoint presentations.

• Five years of successful experience in designing and implementing communications and content strategies, ideally for high-level global players. This should include experience with:
  • Social media channels, particularly Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook, and monitoring tools;
  • Other tools and tactics to effectively share learning content with governments, private sector and international organizations in either Africa, Asia-Pacific or Latin America.
• Experience working in a multi-cultural environment is highly desirable.  
• Advanced skills in graphic design, animation, and video production are an advantage.

Language:

• Fluency in English

DOCUMENTS TO BE INCLUDED WHEN SUBMITTING THE PROPOSALS

Interested individual applicants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

1. Document 1 : Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability (Annex 1) provided by UNDP http://www.my.undp.org/content/dam/malaysia/docs/Procurement/Letter%20of%20Interest%20_Annex%201.docx?downloadx;
2. Document 2: Technical Proposal: Cover letter with a summary statement of competencies in relation to this Terms of Reference (TOR);
3. Document 3: Personal CV / P11 including areas of expertise and past experiences in similar area of work and at least 3 referees.  http://www.my.undp.org/content/dam/malaysia/docs/Procurement/P11%20for%20SC%20&%20IC.doc?download  
4. Document 4: Financial Proposal Signed financial proposal for the assignment outlining: All-inclusive fee including professional fees and other professional expenses, such as insurance, taxes, etc. http://www.my.undp.org/content/dam/malaysia/docs/Procurement/Financial%20Proposal_UNCDF.docx  
5. Please submit this information in one file as Document 1, 2, 3 and 4.
6. Candidates who fail to submit all the information requested above will be disqualified.

How to Apply:

• Kindly download the Letter of Confirmation of interest and availability, Financial Proposal Template and General Terms & Conditions mentioned below;
• Read and agree to the General Terms & Conditions;
• Click the ‘apply’ icon and complete what is required;
• Scan all documents into 1 pdf folder and then upload;
• For clarification question, please email to procurement.my@undp.org. The clarification question deadline is three (3) days before the closing. When emailing for clarification questions, please put "MyIC/2020/046" as the subject matter.

General terms & conditions to be downloaded:

• The General Terms & Conditions for Individual contract is available at: http://www.my.undp.org/content/dam/malaysia/docs/Procurement/General%20Conditions%20of%20Contract%20for%20IC.pdf?download

           Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA): A legal instrument between UNDP and a Company/institution, according to which, the latter                   makes available the services of an individual delivering time-bound and quantifiable outputs that are directly linked to payments

• The General Terms & Conditions for Reimbursement Loan Agreement is available at:http://www.my.undp.org/content/dam/malaysia/docs/Procurement/Reimbursable%20Loan%20Agreement%20_%20Terms%20&%20Conditions.pdf?download 

 Kindly note that the system will only accept one attachment , please merge all documents and submit as one file.

Evaluation method

Step 1: Screening

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

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, international relations or a related field.
• 10 years of experience in content development and knowledge management and/or advocacy work.

Step 2: Desk review (50%)

Only applicants that obtain 70% of the points at this stage shall be invited to a panel interview. Applicants will be shortlisted using the following criteria (100 points).

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, international relations or a related field. – 10 points
• Proven experience of at least 10 years in content development, knowledge management and/or advocacy work is a must. - 30 points
• At least 5 years of experience in writing and editing outstanding communications products, including social media posts, newsletters, comment pieces and PowerPoint presentations. – 30 points
• At least 5 years of successful experience in designing and implementing communications and content strategies, ideally for high-level global players. – 30 points

Step 3: Interview (50%)

The interview will have a pass/fail score of 70 points.

Only applicants who obtain a minimum of 70% on the total of Steps 2 and 3 shall be considered as technically-qualified and have their financial proposal reviewed.

Step 4: Financial Evaluation (30%)

The following formula will be used to evaluate the financial proposal:

Lowest priced proposal / Price of the proposal being evaluated x 30

Award criteria

Applications will be evaluated based on the following methodology:

• Technical evaluation weight: 70% x (Desk review 50 points + Interview 50 points)

Financial evaluation weight: 30%