Background

At a time of unprecedented global challenges, sustainable finance is a driving force for social and economic resilience. Public and private finance are essential for recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, and from the wide-ranging effects on the achievements of the SDGs. Rallying private sector participation and strengthening private and public sector networks for achieving sustainable and inclusive economic growth take on a new urgency. National resource mobilization and increased commitments from private investors and enterprises will be needed for recovery, while maintaining progress towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. In order to achieve transformational changes in health, climate, environment, education, agriculture, gender equality, and the eradication of poverty in all its forms, greater private sector engagement and investments are critically needed.

The Integrated National Financing Framework for Accelerating Achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (INFF4SDGs) in Bangladesh is a Joint Programme (JP) to be implemented by UNDP, UN WOMEN, UNCDF, and ILO. The JP is be led by UNDP, where the UN Resident Coordinator (UNRC) Office of Bangladesh coordinates the programme and reports to external stakeholders within the UN system and Government.

The INFF4SDGs supports the Government of Bangladesh (GoB) to put in place an Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF) to mobilize required resources from public and private sources more effectively for attaining SDGs by 2030. With support from INFF4SDGs project, the government will focus on fiscal space analysis and explore identifying new and innovative fiscal spaces and business models for the private sector for achieving SDGs. This JP will also help to establish strong governance and coordination mechanisms among the government and private sectors and an oversight mechanism for expenditure efficiencies and maximizing expenditure impacts. Currently, this JP is cooperating with the government in updating Development Finance Assessment (DFA) and SDGs Financing Strategy (FS) engaging with relevant partners to align with 8th FYP (2020- 2025), SDG specific perspective, graduation from LDC status by 2024 economic and social impact of Covid-19 for creating innovative fiscal spaces and developing SDG aligned business models for private sector.

INFF4SDGs organized workshop with private sectors on investments in relation to SDGs, particularly in the INFF priority areas: WATSAN, Renewable Energy, Climate Finance to create the avenue for a full-fledged SDGs Investor Mapping. The workshop convened 60+ between companies and financing institutions, including IFIs (WB, ADB) and had parallel sectoral sessions looking at how to build and maintain sound market analytics as well as how to link data to effective financing tools. This consultation reflected four crucial market insights: a) need for business model development for the private sector to invest in SDGs (climate, energy, and water), b) need for tripartite dialogues (government, private sector, and beneficiaries) and evidence-based research to identify the bankable projects and favorable policy tools for private sector investment in SDGs, c) absence of data, missing indicators and poor quality of data imposes difficulties on the private sector to design, forecast and analyze the scope of investments contributing to SDGs and d) lack of capacity among the private firms/industries to access available global SDG related funds. Often private firms do not meet eligibility criteria and standards to avail international funds for SDGs.

The SDG Investor Map is a flagship tool of UNDP SDG Impact at the disposition of Country Offices. An SDG Investor Map is a piece of market intelligence managed/coordinated by UNDP Country Offices to help private investors (funds, financiers, corporations) identify investment opportunities and business models that advance the SDGs. The Maps provide the insight and tools needed by the private sector to increase their investments towards the SDGs. They can make a significant contribution to filling the financing gap by mobilizing private capital for the SDGs.

SDG Investor Maps are created using an established methodology which combines secondary data research (on existing development needs, policy priorities, and market opportunities) with interviews/discussions with public and private sector stakeholders to verify findings and contribute new insights. The data are analyzed to distill Investment Opportunity Areas and data-backed business models. The findings of the Investor Maps are synthesized in an Excel template and uploaded into a dynamic online platform (upcoming late 2020) where investors can search for the market intelligence on investment opportunities by a variety of functionalities, including sectors, regions, SDGs as well as return profiles, market size and timeframes of investments that most interest them.

To mobilize private sector investment effectively, INFF4SDGs will initiate SDGs Investor Mapping focused but not limited to climate finance, WATSAN and renewable energy financing. SDG investor mapping will facilitate blended financing from multiple investors by establishing a Digital Trade Platform. While investor mapping will provide ecosystem data, the Digital Trade Platform will support translating sector and district data into an investable pipeline. For the identified projects, it will help compiling existing blended financing information (i.e., donor grants, bank loans, investor equity) and impact data of the bankable projects and it will complement it with impact benchmarks to increase investor confidence in the financials of the project, impact, credit history, and due diligence/ risk management. The impact taxonomy will be linked to the SDG impact measurement work and investor mapping priorities. The SDG Investor Mapping experts/ consultants will be on boarded during the DFA and FS updating process to align investor mapping to the investment perspective of DFA and FS.

The SDG Investor Mapping exercise will be complemented by a COVID-19 Rapid Assessment. Its goal is to gather and analyze new data on 1) changes in private sector strategies, and 2) on emerging SDG-related priorities in the context of COVID-19, in order to rapidly identify business models and Investment Opportunity Areas that can respond to the COVID-19 crisis. It is based on an online survey directed to the private sector, in-depth private sector interviews, and desk research of emerging COVID-19 impact assessments (e.g., UNDP socio-economic assessments).

The insights generated by the Rapid Assessment focus on possible immediate and medium-term contributions that private sector investors can make to help countries respond to and recover from the virus outbreak in the target countries. It employs a streamlined analytical approach anchored in the SDG Investor Map methodology and makes it possible for COs to generate additional time-sensitive insights to supplement an SDG Investor Map to mobilize private sector capital for COVID-19 recovery that advances the SDGs. While the rapid assessment gives quick insights, it does not on its own have the analytical rigor and standardized approach of a full SDG Investor Map: it is therefore not a stand-alone tool.

The SDGs Investor Map of Bangladesh will be developed by INFF4SDGs, with close oversight and quality assurance of the SDGs Impact Team. As interest grows among private sector actors to align investment activity with the SDGs, there is a demonstrated need for unifying standards, tools, and services that can be relied upon by investors to support a process of targeting, measuring and achieving development outcomes. SDG Impact supports UNDP Country Offices to eliminate barriers to SDG-enabling investing by developing a set of products to empower investors with clarity, insights and tools to authenticate their contribution to the achievement of the SDGs. 

OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The objective of this assignment is to provide support in conducting consultations with relevant stakeholders’ for preparing SDG Investor Map based on an evolving methodology to identify SDG enabling Investment Opportunity Areas. There will be a special focus on SDGs prioritized through the INFF (SDG6: WATSAN, SDG7: Renewable Energy and SDG13: Climate Finance). 

SCOPE OF WORK

The following activities are expected to be carried out by the Data Analyst within the contract period:

• Undertake desk research (e.g. document review) and analysis using SDG Impact’s Country Office Handbook methodology (sector analysis; subsector analysis; sub-region analysis; investment opportunity area analysis)
• Along with the Country Office focal point, guide the Data Analyst on the approach to sector-based investment analysis and subsequent data synthesis carrying out the policy and legal, economic and business landscaping according to the prescribed methodology
• Create a long-list of potential stakeholders [categories indicated in the following section of the ToR] and liaise with CO to arrive at a shortlist based on relevance and ease of outreach.
• Lead structured interviews with local investors to deepen learnings from desk review and search for additional insights on the ‘investability’ of Investment Opportunity Areas (IOAs)
• Shape and guide the research agenda of the Data Analyst of the Investor Mapping Team (e.g. defining key questions to address through data-driven research; identifying, prioritizing and arranging data sources that provide quantitative data to support investment deal values, volumes and returns, among other indicators.)
• Lead the consolidation of insights from multiple research sources into a master document, ensuring that data collected is of comparable breadth and depth (e.g. testing for the mutual-exclusiveness of datapoints)
• Communicate regularly with INFF4SDGs working groups and platform (e.g., Task Team, DFA&FS Expert Team, SDG Impact Team) for insights to expedite the Investor Mapping activities
• Identifying existing business models as avenues for investing in SDGs, which are scalable and replicable with close consultation with the private sector business houses and investment institutes.
• Supervise the Data analyst with required information and quality assurance in preparing communication materials including materials for CO level map launch with internal and external stakeholders (e.g., policy brief, one pagers) based on the results from the investor map development exercise.
• Along with the Data Analyst, document the research process, outputs at each level of the map development, data sources and any database created thereof to create institutional memory that can be leveraged for map update at a future date.
• Perform any other assigned responsibilities related to SDG Investor Mapping

KEY STAKEHOLDERS TO BE CONSULTED

Private Sector Actors including (but not limited to) FBCCI, BGMEA, BKMEA, BWCCI, and other relevant sector associations, technology partners, individual businesses, commercial financial institutions, individual and institutional investors.

Government Stakeholders including (but not limited to) Principal SDG Coordinator, PMO; Senior Officials of Ministry of Finance (Finance Division, Economic Relations Division, Financial Institutions Division, and Internal Resources Division); Planning Commission (General Economics Division and Programming Division); Local Government Division (LGD); Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change; Ministry of Women and Children Affairs;  Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), Bangladesh Security Exchange Commission (BSEC), Public Private Partnership Authority (PPPA), Central Bank and other government offices.

IFIs including International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB), and Islamic Development Bank (IsDB)

Participating UN Organizations (PUNOs) and relevant UN Agencies (but not limited to) UNRC, UNDP Heads of Clusters, UNDP INFF Task Team, ILO, UN WOMEN, UNCDF and other relevant UN Agencies

Other stakeholders including INGOs, NGOs, think tanks, academics, etc. 

Duties and Responsibilities

EXPECTED OUTPUTS AND DELIVERABLES

• Deliverable  01: Inception report with detailed methodologies and work plan
• Deliverable 02: Quality Assurance report on Data Analyst proposed analysis outline of Investor Mapping methodology
• Deliverable 03: Report on quality assurance support provided to Data Analyst in identifying investor mapping research agenda and research questions
• Deliverable 04: Report on consultation/ interview with Investor Mapping stakeholders
• Deliverable 05:  Summary Report on quality assurance support provided to Data Analyst to prepare the communication materials
• Deliverable 06: Report on quality assurance support to prepare the excel based SDG Investor Map.
• Deliverable 07:  Narrative report on SDG Invertor Mapping with special focus on INFF Priority SDGs
• Deliverable 08: Uploading of identified opportunities on the SDG Investor Platform

ENGAGEMENT OF DAYS

INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENT

The Consultant will report to the Project Manager, INFF4SDGs, and will receive technical guidance from the Private Sector Engagement specialist. The Project Manager, INFF4SDGs will also carry out a performance evaluation at the end of the assignment. While arranging workshops, dialogues, and consultations with stakeholders, the project will provide necessary financial supports to the events.

DURATION OF ASSIGNMENT & DUTY STATION

The total duration of the contract will be 60 working days over 5 months tentatively starting from 01 June 2021. The duty station will be in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

INPUT FROM PROJECT

The project will provide necessary project-related documents, data/information, acts, rules, etc. and will organize seminars, workshops, meetings, etc. as and when required.

Competencies

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills;
• Strong analytical, reporting, and writing abilities;
• Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback;
• Ability to plan, organize, implement and report on work;
• Ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines;
• Comprehensive knowledge of information system and design principle;
• Outstanding communication, project management, and organizational skills;
• Excellent presentation and facilitation skills;
• Demonstrates integrity and ethical standards;
• Positive, constructive attitude to work;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Required Skills and Experience

REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

Academic Qualifications:

Minimum Master’s degree in Business Administration, Economics, Public Finance, or other relevant fields. Candidate having a Ph.D. degree in relevant fields will get extra weightage.

Experiences:

• Knowledge of the Sustainable Development Goals and of different approaches driven by the UNDP to accelerate private sector participation towards the 2030 Agenda
• Strong ingoing knowledge of local market context, of national development needs, and economic/ political priorities
• Deep knowledge of the local investment landscape (particularly local GPs), and close familiarity with needs of global investors
• Ability to undertake mixed methods research, particularly stakeholder interviews and the navigation of statistical databases
• Ability to facilitate qualitative multi-stakeholder sessions and analysis to produce meaningful insights thereof.
• 5-10 years’ experience in strategy consulting and/or economic research, with a focus on developing country contexts

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT

Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, in English and Bengali

PRICE PROPOSAL AND SCHEDULE OF PAYMENT

Consultant must send a financial proposal based on Lump Sum Amount. The total amount quoted shall be all-inclusive and include all cost components required to perform the deliverables identified in the ToR. Payments will be made upon completion of the following deliverables/outputs:

• First Payment:  Quality Assurance report on Data Analyst proposed analysis of Investor Mapping methodology [5% of total contract amount];
• Second Payment: Quality Assurance report on Data Analyst proposed analysis of Investor Mapping methodology [5 % of total contract amount];
• Third Payment: Report on quality assurance support provided to Data Analyst in identifying investor mapping research agenda and research questions [5% of total contract amount];

• Fourth Payment: Report on consultation/ interview with Investor Mapping stakeholders [30 % of total contract amount];
• Fifth Payment: Summary Report on quality assurance support provided to Data Analyst to prepare the communication materials [10 % of total contract amount]
• Sixth Payment: Report on quality assurance support to prepare the excel based SDG Investor Map [10 % of total contract amount]
• Seventh Payment: Narrative report on SDG Invertor Mapping with special focus on INFF Priority SDGs [30 % of total contract amount]
• Eighth   and Final Payment: Uploading of identified opportunities on the SDG Investor Platform [5% of total contract amount]

Deliverables are linked with the payment schedule:

EVALUATION

The Consultant will be selected based on relevant expertise and financial offer received.
In the second stage, the price proposal of all qualified Consultants who have attained a minimum 70% score in the technical evaluation, will be compared. The contract will be awarded to the Consultant offering the best value for money based on the cumulative method.
In this methodology, the technical criteria weight is 70 and Financial Criteria weight is 30. Accordingly, the maximum number of points assigned to the financial proposal is allocated to the lowest-priced proposal. All other price proposals receive points in the inverse proposal.
 

The formula is as follows:
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
 

The proposal obtaining the overall highest score after adding the score of the technical proposal and the financial proposal is the proposal that offers the best value for money. The technical and financial proposal should be submitted following the UNDP guideline and formats. UNDP Procurement reverses the right to accept or reject any. The only candidate obtaining a minimum of 49 points and above would be considered for the financial evaluation.

Documents to be included when submitting the proposals:

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications. Proposers who shall not submit below mentioned documents will not be considered for further evaluation.

• Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP;

• Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experience from similar activities, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references; P11 can be downloaded from the link below: http://www.bd.undp.org/content/bangladesh/en/home/operations/jobs/
• Brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable candidate for the assignment and submit evidence by the Consultant which would substantiate the technical requirements
• Financial Proposal: Financial Proposal has to be submitted through a standard interest and availability template which can be downloaded from the link below:

http://www.bd.undp.org/content/dam/bangladesh/docs/Jobs/Interest%20and%20Submission%20of%20Financial%20Proposal-Template%20for%20Confirmation.docx

Please combine all your documents into one (1) single PDF document as the system only allows to upload of a maximum of one document.