Background

The Secretary General sees the global establishment of the Joint SDG Fund as a vital piece of the UN Development System reforms. The Secretary General referred, in a December 2017 report, to the Joint SDG Fund as “the muscle”  to enable Resident Coordinators and a new generation of United Nations Country Teams to help countries to deliver the SDGs, towards more integrated, transformative policy changes, and to catalyse innovative financial investments. The UN Country Team in Malaysia is one of the countries privileged to have received funding from the Joint SDG Fund to implement an Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF) and other SDG-related initiatives (SDG Roadmap: monitoring and evaluation (M&E) Framework; and the TogetherforSDGs Hub). Part of this framework also includes reinforcing the SDG financing architecture and ecosystem, whereby the Joint SDG Fund will support the development of financing strategies for SDG achievement.

Within Malaysia, under the National Budget 2020; the UN in Malaysia was also awarded funding to accelerate the SDGs through selected joint programmes among UN agencies. Under this banner, the Joint Government-UN SDG Fund is set to establish a core SDG resource in Malaysia, providing a basis and an impetus for further (private sector) contributions. In addition to this, the Ministry of Finance has also proposed the establishment of a MySDG Trust Fund to be jointly managed with the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator.

The UN in Malaysia, via the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator (RCO), is, therefore, seeking to hire a Fund Manager to manage all SDG fund operations and assist with the fund- supported projects. Specifically, administering the funds and their calls for proposals, appraisal, allocation and all administrative/secretariat processes involved; and providing monitoring  support to ensure the effective and efficient operationalisation and implementation of projects. In addition, the postholder will provide support to the RCO in relation to private sector partnerships, required due to diligence processes and the development of the broader SDG Financing ecosystem.

Under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the Head RCO and working closely with the UN Senior Economist and Partnerships and Development Finance Officer, the Fund Manager is to be responsible for the management of the SDG  funds thus far secured as well as any new SDG resourcing initiatives in 2021. The Fund Manager should ensure effective operational management and transparent utilisation of financial resources (to the highest fiduciary standards); and act as secretariat to ensure proper governance, reporting, documentation (including the development of TORs, preparation of agendas, invitations, minutes, filing system and other administrative work involved). The Fund Manager should also promote a collaborative, client-oriented approach consistent with UN ) rules and regulations, specifically adhering to UN financial stewardship requirements.

The Fund Manager will also work in close collaboration with the respective project managers for each SDG Fund project and administrative agents in ensuring successful performance and compliance with programme management and finance requirements, and with those of relevant government entities as may be needed.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of key functions:

• Overall management of SDG Funds (national and global) and other SDG resourcing activities in Malaysia (and potentially Singapore and Brunei Darussalam).
• Ensure effective calls for proposals, appraisal, review of funds applications and allocation procedures and report on disbursements and delivery.
• Act as secretariat to fund operations, providing all administrative support in compliance with UN fiduciary stewardship requirements.
• Report regularly on performance/ delivery and provide ad hoc technical advice to the UN RC and UNCT.
• Management of fund implementation activities in accordance with UN rules and regulations.
• Monitor and ensure effective implementation of  fund-supported projects/programmes. 
• Support partnership activities as needed.
• Facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing, and guidance to all stakeholders on programme management and operational matters.

1. Ensure effective establishment and administration of funds, budgets and monitoring of expenditure focusing on the achievements of the following results:

• Prepare workplans and related sub-plans (procurement plan, quarterly plans if required, and others as necessary) for the establishment and administration of funds.
• Ensure timely and good-quality implementation of workplan activities;
• Develop criteria, organise calls for proposals and appraisal processes;
• Perform all necessary secretariat functions to ensure proper operationalisation of the SDG fund(s), governance, reporting, documentation (including the development of terms of reference (TORs) for the various committees, preparation of agendas, invitations, minutes, filing system and other administrative work involved).
• Continuously monitor progress against the approved workplan; Identify changes in the external environment and promptly develop necessary solutions/actions (ex. related to the planning and implementation of activities, need for new activities) to be agreed with the RCO and Steering/Technical Committee(s); and
• Monitoring expenditure to ensure that it is in line with approved budgets and UNProgramme/Financial policies.

2. Ensure effective project finance, asset, procurement and risk management, focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Implementation of strong internal controls, proper functioning of a client-oriented financial resources and management system;
• Liaise with the Administrative Agent on fund administration issues, including issues related to project/ fund extensions and project/fund closure;
• Monitors financial exception reports of developing projects, transactions and investigates anomalies:
• Coordination of joint delivery;
• Facilitate collaboration and communication between Participating UN organisations to ensure projects/programmes are implemented effectively;
• Periodic monitoring of dashboards and exceptions, identification of remedial actions; and
• Assist the UNCT in implementing new standards and procedures consistent to international standard (like IPSAS).

3.Support partnerships and resource mobilisation activities

• Support the RCO in the development of a strategic resource mobilisation strategy to support the SDG fund(s).
• Be familiar with the activities of other development projects in the sector/area, establish contact and keeping up to date with their work.
• Create and maintain partnerships with relevant stakeholders, local institutions and the private sector.

4. Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing, guidance to all stakeholders on financial matters focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Regular exchange of information/experience with other projects, cross-learning and sharing results and good practices
• Capture lessons learnt during project implementation – lessons learnt log can be used in this regard
• Participation in regular internal meetings.
• Participation in training events, communities of practice, codifying and sharing knowledge.
• Facilitation and organisation of training for project staff to enable them to perform at the required level.

Deliverables & Reporting Arrangements  

Deliverables conform to the four key functions of the Consultant as described in Section III above, albeit with different payment milestones as follows:

The Fund Manager will report to the Head of the RCO and the Partnerships & Development Finance Officer within the UNRCO on progress and performance, and they will determine that the deliverables above are met and release payment. 

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

1. Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards
2. Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of the UNCT
3. Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability

Functional Competencies:

Knowledge Management and Learning

• Promotes knowledge management in UNCT and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example
• Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills

Development and Operational Effectiveness

• Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting
• Ability to lead formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development programmes and projects
• Ability to formulate and manage budgets, manage contributions and investments, manage transactions, conduct financial analysis, reporting and cost-recovery
• Ability to implement new systems and affect staff behavioural /attitudinal change
• Strong IT skills
• Excellent knowledge of financial rules and regulations, accounting
• Excellent knowledge of Results Management Guide and Toolkit

Management and Leadership

• Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
• Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities

Required Skills and Experience

Educations

• MA degree or BA degree (with additional years’ experience - see below) in Accounting and Finance, Business or Public Administration, Economics or related field.  

Experience

• A minimum 5 years (with Masters’ degree), or, minimum 7 years (with Bachelors’ degree) of relevant experience at the national and/or international level in project/programme formulation, management, accounting, finance, operations, administration or audit services.

   

  Note: Achievement of an advanced relevant professional qualification (in accounting and or financial management - CPA, ACA etc.) can count towards the higher degree requirement.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English and Bahasa Malaysia.

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 at  http://www.my.undp.org/content/dam/malaysia/docs/Procurement/Letter%20of%20Interest%20_Annex%201.docx?download;
2. Document 2: Technical Proposal: A cover page (maximum 2 pages) how candidate’s qualification and experience in rapid evaluation makes them suitable for the work and can lead towards the successful deliverable of this consultancy within the required timeframe; and 
3. Document 3: Financial Proposal at https://www.my.undp.org/content/dam/malaysia/docs/Procurement/Financial Proposal Template (Daily Fee) - MYR.doc .All inclusive and takes into account various expenses the candidate expects to incur during the contract, including:
   • The daily professional fee;
   • The cost of travel from the home base to the duty station (UNDP Office, Putrajaya) and vice versa;
   • Communications, utilities and consumables; and
   • Life, health and any other insurance.
4. Document 4: Personal CV or P11 including areas of expertise and past experiences in similar projects and at least three (3) references at http://www.my.undp.org/content/dam/malaysia/docs/Procurement/P11%20for%20SC%20&%20IC.doc?download
5. Please submit this information in one file as Document 1, 2, 3, and 4.The system will only accept one attachment, please merge all documents and submit as one file.
6. Applicants must reply to the mandatory questions asked by the system when submitting the application.
7. 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 (refer to below link);
• Click the ‘apply’ icon and complete what is required;
• Scan all documents into 1 pdf file 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/2020/070"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? 

Incomplete proposals may not be considered. Only short-listed candidates may be contacted, and successful candidates will be notified.

Criteria for Selection of the Best Offer

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodologies:

Cumulative analysis

When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, and

b) Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

* Technical Criteria weight; 70%

* Financial Criteria weight; 30%

Only candidates meeting the pre-determined minimum points would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Evaluation Criteria