Background

Re-Advertised - Those who already applied need not re-apply

The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) makes public and private finance work for the poor in 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. 

UNCDF’s financing models work through three channels: inclusive digital economies, connecting individuals, households, and small businesses with financial eco-systems that catalyze participation in the local economy, and provide tools to climb out of poverty and manage financial lives; local development finance, that capacitates localities through fiscal decentralization, innovative municipal finance, and structured project finance to drive local economic expansion and sustainable development; and investment finance, that provides catalytic financial structuring, de-risking, and capital deployment to drive SDG impact and domestic resource mobilization. By strengthening how finance works for poor people at the household, small enterprise, and local infrastructure levels, UNCDF contributes to Sustainable Development Goal-SDG 1 on eradicating poverty and SDG 17 on the means of implementation. By identifying those market segments where innovative financing models can have transformational impact in helping to reach the last mile and address exclusion and inequalities of access, UNCDF contributes to a broad diversity of SDGs.

UNCDF hosts the Secretariat of the Better Than Cash Alliance. 

The Better Than Cash Alliance is a partnership of 75 governments, companies and international organizations that accelerates the transition from cash to digital payments in order to reduce poverty, drive inclusive growth and accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. 

Billions of dollars in cash payments and transfers are made daily in emerging and developing economies, including payment of salaries, social welfare and relief, payments to suppliers, remittances, etc. The problems with these cash payments include a lack of transparency, accountability and security, as well as inefficiency. Furthermore, the individuals who receive the cash payments are often part of the 1.7 billion excluded from the formal financial sector. This means they are excluded from access to a range of appropriate and affordable financial services to help them save safely, take advantage of economic opportunities and reduce their vulnerability to risk.

Shifting these payments from cash to digital has the potential to improve the lives of low income people, particularly women -who are twice as likely to be excluded from the financial system, while giving governments, the development community and the private sector a more transparent, time and cost efficient, and often safer means of disbursing payments. Digitizing payments can also contribute to women’s economic participation by providing them with more control over family finances, increasing personal security, and improving economic opportunities. 

The Alliance Secretariat works with its 75 members to navigate their digitization journeys, by:   

• Providing advisory services based on member priorities 
• Sharing action-oriented research and fostering peer learning 
• Conducting advocacy at national, regional and global level 

The Better Than Cash Alliance Secretariat Core Values:

• Achieving together  • Striving for excellence • Service oriented • Results oriented

The Alliance is looking to hire a Research and Project Management Analyst, Digital Payments, Asia.

For more information on the Alliance, please visit the website: http://www.betterthancash.org/

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Asia Regional Lead and the Private Sector Lead the incumbent will support the implementation of BTCA’s Asia Regional Strategy, including the following duties:

1.   Contribute to in-country advisory work in the Asia Pacific Region for members including governments, companies, international organizations:

• Research and draft background notes for missions, meetings and/or presentations for conferences and workshops on the digitization of payments in support of the Alliance’s senior management and Leads for the Region.
• Draft project concept notes and seek input from relevant team members and experts, as needed;
• Track progress of in-country initiatives and ensure liaison with management and procurement teams to ensure delivery of project milestones;
• Monitor key indicators for the Asia & Corporate teams to track activities to feed into donor and internal reports;
• Provide analyst support to missions including mission preparation, accompany the Lead and/or other members of the team for in-country missions as needed.

2.   As part of the Regional team, contribute to the design of learning by Alliance members in the Region, including domestic exchanges especially in India, on all aspects of digitizing payments

• Support the Asia Pacific Regional Lead to implement an effective learning strategy relevant to the specific Alliance members, with an emphasis on action-based and digitally enabled solutions on the topic of digitization of payments, in close collaboration with the Resource & Innovation Hub.
• Work with diverse Alliance members to assess and prioritize learning needs and ensure alignment.
• Identify the most effective modalities and tools to facilitate member learning including online, bilateral, in-person, and peer exchanges, working closely with the Digital Payments Innovation & Resource Hub.
• Help develop learning content on digital payments and translate content into teaching products, both digitally and in-person for members in the Region.

3.   Research:

• Conduct background research on government institutions, companies and international organizations   operating in the Alliance country members including on initiatives related to the digitization of payments and digital financial inclusion to inform overall strategy. 
• Conduct in-depth research on topics related to digital payments, digital financial services and financial inclusion in specific markets to inform the regional strategy and the drafting of concept notes for in-country initiative

4.   Advocacy:

• Working closely with the Asia & Corporate team, monitor and identify advocacy opportunities for the Alliance, including potential targets, conferences, UN, regional and corporate events in Asia 

5. Communications and events:

• Collaborate closely with the Asia & Corporate teams and the advocacy, media and communications teams for the organization of events, conferences and specialized workshops;
• Share news and stories from Alliance member countries for social media and other communications channels, as needed;
• Other activities, as requested.

Estimated Outputs and Deliverables

Any delay in the completion of the outputs, if not attributed to the performance of the consultant, shall be addressed through a no-cost time extension.

Scope of Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments

Payments will be made based on the percentage of contract price corresponding to the deliverables stated in the table above, and upon confirmation of UNCDF that the individual has delivered on the contract obligations in a satisfactory manner.  Review and approval will be required from the  Asia Regional Lead, the  Private Sector Lead and the South Asia Regional Lead for payments to be disbursed.

Institutional Arrangement

Under the supervision and direction of the Asia Pacific Regional Lead and the Private Sector Lead

Duration of the Work

This is an assignment that will have an initial duration of twelve months/220 working days.  However, the performance control/ monitoring mechanism will be applied from the start date.

Duty Station

1. The duty station/location for the contract duration is home-based
2. If there is any approved travel, UNCDF will pay separately travel expenses (economy airfare, terminal expenses and per diems which include hotel and food expenses) according to standard UN rates based on evidence of approved and actual travel.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

• Good analytical, and diplomatic skills;
• Strong inter-personal skills and a demonstrated capacity to forge effective relations with colleagues and counterparts from different backgrounds essential;
• Ability to work collaboratively and effectively as part of a team as well as individually;
• Excellent attention to detail, a proactive approach to achieving key results, a high level of thoroughness in a complex multitasking environment and a strict adherence to deadlines;
• Builds strong relationships, focuses on impact and results;
• Comfortable working with senior level management and officials;
• Establishes and maintains relationships to understand needs and gain support;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and positive, constructive attitude;
• Ability to work under pressure; and
• Proven networking and communication skills.

Functional Competencies:

Professional

• Ensures the full implementation of a project to obtain results;
• Conceptualizes more effective approaches to programme development and implementation and to mobilizing and using resources;
• Anticipates constraints in the delivery of services and identifies solutions or alternatives;
• Makes effective use of UNCDF’s and other BTCA member resources and comparative advantage to strengthen partnerships;
• Creates networks and promotes initiatives with partner organizations;
• Creates an environment that fosters innovation and innovative thinking;

Technical:

• Working knowledge of current developments in payment technologies, including innovative payment methods (e.g., digital government, mobile financial services, pre-paid/reloadable/other cards, etc.);
• Understanding of key issues and international good practice relating to financial inclusion and digital payments
• Excellent presentation and representation skills in multicultural contexts
• Ability to translate complex technical ideas to a non-technical audience in both verbally and in writing

Required Skills and Experience

Qualifications

• Advanced university degree (Master’s level) in international affairs, development, political science, or other relevant field or or Bachelors’ degree with two additional years of relevant work experience.

Experience:

• Minimum 3 years of relevant professional experience, including at the international level;
• Knowledge of digital payments and digital financial inclusion essential,
• Demonstrated excellent writing, editing and communications skills to an international standard including correspondence, reports, talking points and briefing material essential;
• Proven track record in designing, planning and implementing government-to-governments peer-exchanges on topics related to digital payments such as Government-to-Person payments, tax incentives, financial inclusion policies, etc., essential;
• Demonstrated experience in multilateral, government relations or inter-government processes in Asia desirable;
• Experience engaging with governments and the corporate sector in Asia, desirable;
• Experience conducting research on digital payments, digital financial services and financial inclusion and knowledge of the main research sources and development partners working on digital payments and financial inclusion, desirable;
• Experience in event management and supporting the organization of high-level meetings desirable.
• Experience working with Asana or salesforce or other contact data bases, an asset.

Languages:

• Fluency in English, both oral and written, is required.

Application

The following documents are requested:

1. Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability;
2. Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references;
3. Brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment, and a methodology, if applicable, on how they will approach and complete the assignment.
4. Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive Daily Fee price. 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 UNCDF 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 UNCDF. 

Evaluation

Consultants will be evaluated based on UNDP’s cumulative analysis method. When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract shall be made to the consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

• Responsive/compliant/acceptable vis-à-vis the requirements of the TOR and the project operating environment; and
• Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical (70%) and financial (30%) criteria.

Only the top candidates obtaining a minimum of 70 points in the review of profile will be considered for Technical Interviews.  Technical interviews will explore the same key work areas, in greater depth, with the same weighting.

Technical proposal = Review of a profile through desk review (30%) + Technical Interview (40%).

The Better Than Cash Alliance will conduct a review of a profile (technical evaluation) that matches applicants experience and expertise to the key tasks outlined in the consultancy.

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