Historique

UNCDF is the UN’s capital investment agency for the world’s 47 Least Developed Countries (LDCs). UNCDF uses its capital mandate to support LDCs pursue inclusive growth. UNCDF promotes financial inclusion, also through digital financial services (DFS), as a key enabler of poverty reduction and inclusive growth; and it demonstrates how localizing finance outside the capital cities can accelerate growth in local economies, promote sustainable and climate-resilient infrastructure development, and empower local communities. Using capital grants, loans and credit enhancements, UNCDF tests financial models in inclusive finance and local development finance; ‘de-risks’ the local investment space; and provides proofs of concept, paving the way for larger and more risk-averse investors.

Hosted by UNCDF, the Centre for Financial Health is set-up as an umbrella platform towards convening a global coalition and thought leadership. The Centre for Financial Health acts as a convener, providing a platform to bring together global, regional and local actors committed to using financial and digital solutions to improve the financial lives of low-income families—helping them climb - and stay - out of poverty. The Centre creates space for thought leadership where best financial health practices and models are exchanged and lead to concrete action with governments and the private sector.

As part of the programme the team is undertaking a scoping engagement with focus on women and women microenterprises to understand behavioural social norms and barriers that are preventing them from access to/adoption of financial services. In addition to this scoping, the team is also undertaking research/building of behavioural insights into other segments of population specially gig workers and ageing population. These research insights are aimed at shaping/serving as inputs for the learning agenda of the programme.

Devoirs et responsabilités

Under the supervision of the Research and Insights Specialist (under hire) and Global Manager – Innovations and Financial Health, the Behavioural Research Consultant will:

• Conduct research studies with UNCDF’s partners as well as sectoral research on themes relevant to the research and learning agenda.
• Identify research priorities with UNCDF partners, build research projects including research methodology and tools.
• Assist the human-centric design team in prototyping interventions and testing their effectiveness.

The table below shows the detailed activities, deliverables, and corresponding target delivery dates.

Compétences

• Excellent organizational, interpersonal and communication skills.
• Able to work effectively in a team and in an international environment.
• Excellent skills in data analysis.

Qualifications et expériences requises

Academic Qualification:

• A Bachelor’s degree in economics, statistics, public/business administration, social sciences, technology or related discipline. A Master’s degree in the same is preferable but not mandatory.

Experience:

• Minimum of four (4) years of experience in conducting research and deploying different research tools.
• Minimum of two (2) years of experience in the space of financial services or digital.
• Minimum of one (1) year of experience in conducting socioeconomic research is preferable but not mandatory.
• Minimum of one (1) year of experience in innovation and technology for inclusive finance is preferable but not mandatory.

Language:

• Fluent in English, both written and oral.

Duration: 3 months

Duty Station:  Home-based in India, with travel to Bhubaneswar, Ganjam and Sambalpur for specific research

For unforeseeable travel, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed. UNCDF would cover the cost of stay for the selected individual.

Please note that UNCDF cannot guarantee residence permits or visas for consultants. Consultants are responsible for securing their work documentation. In the case of national consultants, applicants that are not nationals of the duty station requested will have to prove their residence status. 

Provision of Monitoring, Progress Controls & Payments:

• The consultant will work under the direct supervision of the Global Manager – Innovations and Financial Health.
• Payment will be made against satisfactory completion of each deliverable. All payments shall be subject to the clearance and approval of the Global Manager – Innovations and Financial Health.
• Final payment shall require a signed performance evaluation of the consultant.

Application Process

Interested individuals must submit the following documents as proposals in order to demonstrate their qualifications. (NOTE: The system does not allow multiple uploads of document. Applicants must make sure to upload all documents in one PDF file.)

All applications must contain the following information:

• Cover letter with a summary statement of competencies in relation to this Terms of Reference (TOR);
• Curriculum Vitae and/or Completed and Signed P11-Personal History Form/CVs with names and current contacts of three referees.

Technically qualified?consultants,?i.e. consultants who score the equivalent of or more than 70% with respect to the?below-mentioned evaluation criteria,?will be requested to submit their?all-inclusive fixed total contract price. Consultants?should not specify their?financial proposals?on their CV or with their?submission. The CV will not be evaluated?further in?the event?the consultant submits the same.? 

Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested documents.

Evaluation Method

Applicants will be evaluated based on the following methodology:

• Preliminary Evaluation - Step I: Screening;
• Technical Evaluation Weight - 70% x (Step II: Desk review 100 points = 100 Points);
• Financial Evaluation Weight - 30% (Step III).

Step I: Screening

Applications will be screened and only applicants meeting the following mandatory criteria will progress to the pool for shortlisting:

• A Bachelor’s degree in economics, statistics, public/business administration, social sciences, technology or related discipline.
• Minimum of four (4) years of experience in conducting research and deploying different research tools.

Step II: Desk Review

A desk review will be conducted to produce a shortlist of applicants according to the criteria listed below. Only applicants who obtain 70 points at this stage shall be invited for the next step.

• A Bachelor’s degree in economics, statistics, public/business administration, social sciences, technology or related discipline. – 20 points
• Minimum of four (4) years of experience in conducting research and deploying different research tools. – 20 points
• Minimum of two (2) years of experience in space of financial services or digital. – 20 points
• Minimum of one (1) year of experience in conducting socioeconomic research. – 20 points
• Minimum of one (1) year of experience in innovation and technology for inclusive finance. – 20 points

Only applicants who obtain a minimum of 70 point at the desk review will be considered as technically qualified and will be reviewed further for financial evaluation.

Step III: Financial Evaluation

Financial Proposal:

Technically qualified consultants will be requested to submit their Consultancy  fee rate i.e. consultants who score more than 70% i.e. 49 marks with respect to the above-mentioned evaluation criteria. Consultant should not specify their consultancy fee on their CV or with the submission. The CV will not be evaluated further in case the consultant submits the same.

Award Criteria

The contact shall be awarded to the applicant whose offer have been evaluated and determined as:

• Responsive/compliant/acceptable; and
• Having received the highest combined score: Technical (desk review) 70% + Financial 30% = 100%.

Both individual consultants and individuals employed by a company or institution are welcome to apply. Any individual employed by a company or institution who would like to submit an offer in response to a Procurement Notice for individual consultant must do so in their individual capacity by providing a CV so that their qualifications may be judged accordingly. Women candidates or women-owned businesses are strongly encouraged to apply.