Historique

UNCDF is the UN’s capital investment agency for the world’s least developed countries. It creates new opportunities for poor people and their communities by increasing access to microfinance and investment capital.  UNCDF focuses on Africa and the poorest countries of Asia and the Pacific, with a special commitment to countries emerging from conflict or crisis.  It provides seed capital – grants and loans – and technical support to help microfinance institutions reach more poor households and small businesses, and local governments finance the capital investments – water systems, feeder roads, schools, irrigation schemes – that will improve poor peoples’ lives.

Starting in 2009, UNCDF began to support for digital finance because we are concerned that the countries that need it the most are succeeding the least. As an early supporter, UNCDF saw its potential and challenges. UNCDF first supported digital finance through the Pacific Financial Inclusion Programme (PFIP) out of which it developed UNCDF MM4P to focus on Africa and Asia. Digital now features prominently in most of UNCDF’s financial inclusion work and UNCDF increasingly focuses on digital solutions for specific uses such as clean energy and population segments, particularly women and youth. 

UNCDF also hosts the secretariat of the Better than Cash Alliance. The Better Than Cash Alliance (BTCA) is a partnership of governments, companies and international organizations that accelerates the transition from cash to digital payments in order to reduce poverty and drive inclusive growth.

MM4P is interested in expanding to Malaysia, a leading example of driving usage of financial services where technology plays a key role. MM4P requires a communication consultant to establish and consolidate its presence in Malaysia and ensure that the various endeavours under the programme are well communicated and gets the right attention within and outside the region.

UNCDF is looking for a communication consultant based in Kuala Lumpur.

Devoirs et responsabilités

The main deliverables for this consultancy are listed below. The table indicates the activity prioritization, the respective outputs and corresponding payment schedule. The main deliverables include the communication strategy, organization of 2 Fintech challenges in Malaysia, managing the communication firm activities.

Compétences

• Excellent communications skills;
• Excellent writing skills;
• Ability to manage events, oversee contributions of other actors;
• Ability to convey concepts through visuals, graphics, storyboards, and mockups;
• Strong design fundamentals (color, form, type, layout) and the ability to experiment;
• Keen attention to detail and execution in craft;
• Time Management: experience managing multiple and competing deliverables;
• Focuses on result for the client and responds positively to feedback ;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure;
• Actively works towards continuing personal learning, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills.

Qualifications et expériences requises

Education:

• A Bachelor Degree in social sciences, communication and marketing, business, development or related discipline is mandatory.

Experience: 

• At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in field of communication or other relevant field is required at the national or international level is mandatory;
• Experience in branding, communications and experience in media relations, graphic design and video production is mandatory;
• Fluency in digital design tools, such as InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator;
• Experience in field of visualizations for infographics and presentations;
• Fully proficient computer skills and use of relevant software and other applications, web design and/or maintenance;
• Experience in overseeing documents and report production, print and electronic publishing;

Language:

• Fluency in English is required.
• Additional language skills either in Mandarin or Malay would be plus.

Timeline, duration of assignment, duty station and expected places of travel:

• Timeline: 12 months
• Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
• Total Number of Working Days Maximum: up to 240 days in 12 month.

Travel:

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 person.

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.  

Please note that consultants residing in the duty station will not be compensated for living expenses.

Provision of Monitoring, Progress Controls & Payments:

• The primary contact for reporting for this TOR shall be the UNCDF Regional Technical Specialist and the Senior Communications Specialist, based in Brussels, Belgium;
• Payment will be made at the end of each payment phase against satisfactorily achieved deliverables. All payments are subject to the clearance and approval of the Regional Technical Specialist.
• Final payment shall require a signed performance evaluation of the consultant.

Application:

Interested individuals must submit the following 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 the TOR deliverables; Earliest availability and proposed schedule for consultancy;
• Curriculum Vitae;
• Completed P11 Personal History Form with names and current contacts of 3 referees (available fromhttp://sas.undp.org/documents/p11_personal_history_form.doc);
• Financial proposal for the full assignment outlining: Total professional fee (including professional fees. Other professional expenses (such as insurance, taxes, etc. Please use the form available at http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_file.cfm?doc_id=29916).

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

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. 

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology:

• Preliminary Evaluation - Step I: Screening;
• Technical Evaluation Weight - 70% x (Step II: 20 Points + Step III: 80 Points = 100 Points);
• Financial Evaluation Weight - 30% = Step IV.

Step I: Screening

Applications will be screened and only applicants meeting the following minimum criteria (listed under education and experience) and that will have provided samples of writing will progress to the pool for shortlisting.

Step II: Shortlisting by Desk Review

UNCDF will conduct a desk review to produce a shortlist of candidates and technically evaluate the candidates. Criteria for the shortlist are as follows:

20- Education/Qualification;

20- Functional competencies for assignment;

30- Experience

A written test will be administered to the top 4 shortlisted candidates, test is on a pass or fail basis.

Step III: Interview

A competency-based Interview shall be conducted for the candidates who passed the written test.

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% on the total of Steps II (20 points) + III (30 points) + IV (50 points) will be considered as technically qualified and will be reviewed further for financial evaluation.

Step IV: Financial Evaluation

The following formula will be used to evaluate financial proposal:

Lowest priced proposal/price of the proposal being evaluated x 30%.

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 weight (technical proposal & Interview) 70% + financial 30%= 100%.

Both individual consultants and individual 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 IC must do so in their individual capacity (providing a CV so that their qualifications may be judged accordingly). Women candidates or women-owned businesses are strongly encouraged to apply.

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.