Antecedentes
Within the context of SDG Financing, UNDP has launched the Finance Sector Hub, which is a finance and innovation platform that draws on a critical mass of UNDP expertise, initiatives, and partnerships to support the mobilization and leveraging of resources for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and lead the implementation of the new UNDP private sector strategy. As part of UNDP’s Finance Sector Hub, development finance has a central role to play in delivering support to our member-countries, in leveraging new sources of capital, offsetting high debt burdens, and in innovating for long term solutions to challenges around climate change, disaster resilience, and fragile ecosystems.
The Istanbul International Center for Private Sector in Development (IICPSD) is the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) global organization mandated to leverage the role of the private sector in development. The IICPSD was established in Istanbul, Turkey on the basis of the Partnership Framework Agreement signed between the Government of the Republic of Turkey and the United Nations Development Program in March 2011. The Center is one of the six global thematic centers of UNDP, advocating and facilitating the contribution of the private sector to human development and inclusive growth through the following thematic priority areas:
• Inclusive Business Models;
• Role of the Private Sector in Skills Development;
• Impact Investment;
• Private Sector Resilience and Crisis Response.
Furthermore, the Center supports the UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) by leading UNDP’s strategic offer to partner and work with the private sector.
One such initiative is currently being developed in Djibouti. The country has experienced a strong and stable economic growth in recent years, notably as a result of its positioning as a transportation and logistical hub. However, the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the Djiboutian economy disproportionately affected micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and the informal sector. Additionally, Djibouti has one of the lowest levels of financial inclusion in the MENA region with only 26% of the working age population having an active bank account, indicating the need to enable access to financial services.
As per the request of the UNDP Djibouti Country Office, UNDP’s IICPSD will be providing technical assistance in several projects:
Deberes y responsabilidades
The Contractor is expected to provide research, analysis and coordination support regarding the local context of the (i) Impact Investing Ecosystem Study and (ii) SDG Investors Map to identify specific SDG-anchored investment opportunities. The scope of the support includes, but not limited to, the following:
- Identification of stakeholders for a series of stakeholder interviews across the categories below (the list is not exhaustive) (3 rounds of interviews are planned with around 30 stakeholders per round):
- Government agencies
- Financial regulators
- Companies, enterprises
- Investors
- Banks, funds, other financiers
- Multilateral development banks
- International finance institutions
- Funds etc.
- Finalize the list of stakeholders for interviews in consultation with the Project team and organize virtual or physical interviews depending on the availability of the participants
- Participate in and help navigate the interviews
- Provide research and analysis support to the Project team for the local context of the ecosystem study and the Map
Provide research and data analysis support to the Project team for investment opportunity areas identified within the SDG Investors Map.
- With the guidance of the Project team, provide inputs from documents in the official language.
- With the request of the Project team, provide information, particularly on the local context that cannot be identified in desk research.
The Contractor is expected to provide research, analysis and coordination support regarding the local context of the ‘Developing Islamic Microfinance in Djibouti’ project. The scope of the support includes, but not limited to, the following:
- Identification of relevant stakeholders from the public and private sector for interviews
- Finalize the list of stakeholders for interviews in consultation with the International Consultant and Project team, and organize virtual or physical interviews depending on the availability of the participants
- Participate in and help navigate the interviews
- Provide research and analysis support particularly for the local context of Islamic microfinance, examining national documents and database
- With the guidance of the International Consultant and Project team, conduct an empirical qualitative and quantitative survey involving microfinance clients and prospects in Djibouti. The goal is to appraise their preferences with regards to Islamic Microfinance products’ attributes. Focus groups will provide a pretest setting for the quantitative survey, which will come afterwards.
- Conduct an assessment of Islamic microfinance customer’s journey to map the full interaction with the Islamic microfinance institutions (IMFIs) across major and minor touchpoints to identify the challenges in the processes (client’s onboarding, financing requests, financing approval, cash collection…). The Contractor shall conduct a focus group involving Islamic Microfinance clients in Djibouti to map and assess their interactions with IMFI. In addition to customers’ inputs, the Contractor needs to put herself/himself in the shoes of clients by experiencing the customer’s journey: Visiting the IMFI Point of sales, queuing, getting the necessary forms, calling the customer service…
- Provide answers to the specific microfinance questions of the International Consultant and Project team regarding the local context.
- With the guidance of the International Consultant and Project team, provide inputs from documents in the official language.
- With the request of the International Consultant and Project team, provide information, particularly on the local context that cannot be identified in desk research.
- Identification of relevant stakeholders from the public and private sector for interviews
- Finalize the list of stakeholders for interviews in consultation with the International Consultant and Project team, and organize virtual or physical interviews depending on the availability of the participants
- Participate in and help navigate the interviews
- Provide answers to the specific questions of the International Consultant and Project team, particularly for the local context of Islamic credit guarantee
- With the guidance of the International Consultant and Project team, provide inputs from documents in the official language.
- With the request of the International Consultant and Project team, provide information, particularly on the local context that cannot be identified in desk research
Competencias
Under the guidance of and reporting directly to the UNDP IICPSD Deputy Director, the Contractor will be responsible for, but not limited to, the following key tasks:
Support the overall implementation and development of the technical assistance projects; through providing research, analysis, field work and coordination support.
Detailed scope of the support for each project is provided below.
Habilidades y experiencia requeridas
- Excellent writing and speaking skills in English, as well as strong analytical aptitude and strong communication skills
- Exposure to the local experience and familiarity with the public and private stakeholders in the economy.
- Knowledge of the Islamic finance ecosystem and financial tools, particularly in the local Djibouti context.
- Knowledge on the functioning of the Djibouti Partial Credit Guarantee Fund (DPCGF)
- Results driven and ability to achieve project targets in its deadlines.
- Ability to travel, if necessary
- Proficiency in English and French. Working knowledge of other UN language desirable.
- Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.).
- Experience in handling of web-based management systems.
- Knowledge of the UN system would be an asset.