Background

SDG Impact is a UNDP flagship initiative focusing on generating and leveraging private sector capital in delivering the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Launched as a start-up in September 2018, SDG Impact aims to provide investors, businesses, and others with unified standards, tools, and services required to authenticate their contributions to achieving the SDGs and to identify SDG investment opportunities in emerging economies and developing countries. The initiative highlights experimentation, innovation and partnerships as it focuses on developing prototype products and services that will be tested, refined and brought to the market in a relatively short time frame.

In July 2019 SDG Impact launched an innovative tool, the SDG Investor Map, that translates country-specific SDG-needs and policy priorities into actionable and data-backed investment opportunities. The findings from SDG Investor Maps are presented at Impact Facilitation events, where UNDP Country Offices lead investor convenings and policy dialogues to mobilize private sector capital for the most salient SDG-enabling business opportunities in a specific context. A cornerstone of this system will be a dynamic web platform: a user-friendly, dynamic online repository of quantitative and qualitative data and evidence, based on UN secondary data and several bilateral government and private sector stakeholders’ interviews, on SDG-aligned investment opportunities and regulatory and policy environments.

The SDG Investor Map provide crucial market intelligence that helps public and private investors identify investment opportunities and business models that advance the SDGs. The SDG Investor Map methodology is based on secondary data research coupled with in-depth interviews with policy makers and investors to provide localized insight into sectors and market conditions. The data is analyzed to distill Investment Opportunity Areas and business models, backed by actionable research to guide investor decision-making.

An SDG Investor Map process is followed by Impact Facilitation events to foster partnerships for investment. SDG Impact supports COs in convening investor forums to foster investor connections and partnerships that are aligned with the SDGs, as well as public-private policy dialogues aimed at improving the environment for SDG-enabling investments.

After a successful pilot phase of the SDG Investor Map methodology in 2019-2020, 27 additional country offices across the 5 RBs have manifested their intention to undertake SDG Investor Map projects and have requested SDG Impact’s technical support. Based on the learnings from the piloting phase of the SDG Investor Maps, SDG Impact has created a comprehensive package to support and build capacity in RBs and COs that will make it possible to scale to these new 27 countries and beyond.

In this context there is a need for two full-time consultants dedicated to SDG Impact and specialized in implementing SDG Investor Maps. The consultants will provide the essential, hands-on daily support to SDG Investor Map country teams in Arab States, Africa and Asia regions. The consultants will form part of the regional Finance Sector Hub/SDG Financing teams and will receive training, accompaniment and support from HQ as needed to build the region’s technical expertise.

The SDG Investor Maps Specialists will work under the guidance and supervision of the SDG Impact Senior Specialist. The Consultants will be trained by SDG Impact team and will work in close coordination with them. The consultancy assignment will last for up to 250 working days with anticipated start date of 1 November 2020 and will conclude on 31 Oct. 2021.  Payments will be made upon certification by UNDP that the services related to the TORs have been satisfactorily performed and deliverables have been achieved. 

Duties and Responsibilities

Expected Outputs/Deliverables:

• Strategic hands-on technical advice, guidance and support to CO teams to implement SDG Investor Maps in line with the Handbook- including establishing necessary linkages with other activities (including INFF and DFAs), identifying partners, engaging stakeholders,

• Support CO project teams to draft budgets, project plans and other templates, documents that they may need support with.

• A review and notes on comments/course of corrections to COs on SDG Investor Map materials as needed, such as interview guides, presentation materials, etc

• A report on the review of the SDG Investor Map excel template that is developed by the project team to ensure quality of inputs and data at each step of the project and oversee progress (these comments need to be submitted both to the COs and to SDG Impact team)

• A report on final review of SDG Investor Maps final results to ensure quality of IOAs and validity of data sources and analysis

• Produce notes on best practices and lessons learned and share in appropriate fora (including MS Teams)

   

Competencies

Core competencies:

• Leadership: Plans and acts transparently, actively works to removes barriers, creates awareness of substantive opportunities and risks among others, navigates complex circumstances thoughtfully and is solution-minded;

• Communication and relationship management: Gains trust of peers, partners, clients by presenting complex concepts in practical terms to others, persuades others to embrace new ideas, empathizes with client perspectives and needs, creates opportunities for developing new client relationships;

• Innovation: Creates new and relevant ideas and leads others to implement them, integrates diverse contributions to formulate coherent approaches, aligns innovation to service delivery components, manages prototype / pilot efforts and seeks feedback;

• People Management: Models high professional standards and motivates excellence in others;

• Delivery: Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement, critically assesses value and relevance of existing policy / practice and contributes to enhanced delivery of products, services, and innovative solution;

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling 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 favoritism;

• Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Technical/Functional competencies:

• Ability to share technical guidance/knowledge and to inspire colleagues and partners in the development of high-quality project activities;

• Strong client orientation;

• Strong analytical skills in order to identify systematic issues, both programmatic and operational and develop viable solutions. Analytical skills are also essential for identifying opportunities to promote new strategies and initiatives with regional divisions, partner agencies and national government partnerships;

• Ability to manage and ensure timely and effective project delivery while coordinating with partners and across COs;

• Communicate effectively with different counterparts; strong listener; and writes clearly, succinctly and convincingly;

• Demonstrated understanding of SDG financing and private sector partnerships;

• Proven networking skills and ability to interact with staff at all levels, including senior management;

• Excellent organizational skills and ability to prioritize tasks; and

• Strong initiative, capacity to pro-actively reach out to new and existing external partners and colleagues to solve problems and share learnings.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Economics, Finance, Development Economics, Public Administration, or related field.

Experience:

• Minimum five (5) years of international-level experience in development finance, impact investing, private sector partnerships, or related field

• Demonstrated experience providing technical support and capacity building to staff and partners

• Advanced quantitative and qualitative analysis and/or research experience related to development, policy, SDGs and/or finance is preferred

• Experience implementing SDG Investor Maps in Country Offices is preferred

• Experience working with SDG Financing projects is an asset

• Private sector/impact investing experience is an asset

• Knowledge of the Arab States region, Africa region, and/or Asia Pacific region and familiarity with the local investment ecosystems is an asset.

Language:

• Fluency in written and spoken English is required;

• Working knowledge of another UN language would be an asset

Application Procedure

The application package containing the following (to be uploaded as one file):

• A cover letter with a brief description of why the Offer considers her/himself the most suitable for the assignment;

• Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects and specifying the relevant assignment period (from/to), as well as the email and telephone contacts of at least three (3) professional references; and

Note: The above documents need to be scanned in one file and uploaded to the online application as one document.

Shortlisted candidates (ONLY) will be requested to submit a Financial Proposal through e-Tendering. Instructions will be provided further in the process.

• The financial proposal should specify an all-inclusive daily fee (based on a 7-hour working day - lunch time is not included - and estimated 21.75 days per month).
• The financial proposal must be all-inclusive and take into account various expenses that will be incurred during the contract, including: the daily professional fee; (excluding mission travel); living allowances at the duty station; communications, utilities and consumables; life, health and any other insurance; risks and inconveniences related to work under hardship and hazardous conditions (e.g., personal security needs, etc.), when applicable; and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services under the contract.

• This consultancy is a home-based assignment, therefore, there is no envisaged travel cost to join duty station/repatriation travel.

• In the case of unforeseeable travel requested by UNDP, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between UNDP and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed. In general, UNDP should 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.

• If the 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 a 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.

Shortlisted candidates (ONLY) will be requested to submit a Financial Proposal through e-Tendering. Instructions will be provided further in the process.

Evaluation process

Applicants are reviewed based on Required Skills and Experience stated above and based on the technical evaluation criteria outlined below.  Applicants will be evaluated based on cumulative scoring.  When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract will be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

• Being responsive/compliant/acceptable; and
• Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation where technical criteria weighs 70% and Financial criteria/ Proposal weighs 30%.

Technical evaluation - Total 70% (70 points):

• Criterion 1: Minimum 5 years of experience in international-level experience in development finance, impact investing, private sector partnerships, or related field: Max. 5 points
• Criterion 2: Demonstrated experience in quantitative and qualitative analysis and/or research experience related to development, policy, SDGs and/or finance and providing technical support and capacity building to staff and partners: Max 10 points.
• Criterion 3: Excellent understanding of the investment landscape and global developments in the investment space, from global developments through to on-the-ground in developing countries: Max 15 points.
• Criterion 4: Excellent understanding of the legal, regulatory and policy environment in developing countries, experience/exposure working with government stakeholders, and other relevant stakeholders such as DFIs and ideally with UNDP Cos: Max 10 points.

• Interview: Maximum Points: 30 points.

Having reviewed applications received, UNDP will invite the top five shortlisted candidates for interview. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% (49 points) of the maximum obtainable points for the technical criteria (70 points) shall be considered for the financial evaluation.

Financial evaluation - Total 30% (30 points)

The following formula will be used to evaluate financial proposal:

p = y (µ/z), where

p = points for the financial proposal being evaluated

y = maximum number of points for the financial proposal

µ = price of the lowest priced proposal

z = price of the proposal being evaluated

Contract Award

Candidate obtaining the highest combined scores in the combined score of Technical and Financial evaluation will be considered technically qualified and will be offered to enter into contract with UNDP.

Institutional arrangement

• The consultant will work under the guidance and direct supervision of the Senior Specialist, SDG Impact/ Finance Sector Hub and will be responsible for the fulfilment of the deliverables as specified above.

• The consultant will engage with other relevant UNDP staff and mainly UNDP CO staff. Detailed work plans, including timeline, external organizations and individuals to engage and consult with will be developed at the beginning of the assignment;

• The Consultant will be responsible for providing her/his own laptop.

Payment modality

• Payment to the Individual Contractor will be made based on the actual number of days worked, deliverables accepted and upon certification of satisfactory completion by the manager.

• The work week will be based on 35 hours, i.e. on a 7-hour working day, with core hours being between 9h00 and 18h00 daily.

Annexes (click on the hyperlink to access the documents):

Annex 1 - UNDP P-11 Form for ICs

Annex 2 - IC Contract Template

Annex 3 – IC General Terms and Conditions

Annex 4 – RLA Template

Any request for clarification must be sent by email to cpu.bids@undp.org 

The UNDP Central Procurement Unit will respond by email and will send written copies of the response, including an explanation of the query without identifying the source of inquiry, to all applicants.