Historique

UNCDF is the UN capital investment agency for the 48 least developed countries, provides technical assistance and seed capital to test new modalities and instruments of public and private financing for local development in the Least Developed Countries (LDCs). These interventions are designed to leverage innovative financial flows from the private sector, national governments and development partners, for maximum impact towards localizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and achieving the objectives of the post-2015 agenda. UNCDF discreetly operates two inter-connecting practice areas of; (1) inclusive finance, and (2) local development finance (LDFP).

The goals of UNCDFs Local Development Finance Practice (LDFP) is to promote and support transformative investment through local governments and domestic banks in LDCs by piloting and scaling up innovative financing mechanisms and policies in the public and private sectors. The LDFP of UNCDF adopt a transformative impact financing approach to promote service delivery, infrastructure investment and local economic development that retains value within the local territory. This builds local fiscal space and local fixed capital formation. Working with local governments, domestic banks and local businesses, we design, pilot and test out financing mechanisms and business models in both public and private sectors that support locally designed public investments and revenue generating capital investment projects.

The investment financing toolboxes of UNCDF’s LDFP include Fiscal Decentralization, Local Development Funds for public capital investment programming, Structured Project Finance, Municipal Finance, SME Finance, and Public-Private Partnerships. UNCDF uses its investment tools through their thematic areas including Decentralization and Citizen Empowerment, Climate Change Adaptation, Food Security, Women’s Economic Empowerment, Local Economic Development, Cross Border Development and some Post-conflict environment.

Devoirs et responsabilités

The Senior Independent Advisor will work under the guidance of the Director for the Local Development Practice at the UNCDF in Headquarters, New York and in close collaboration with Local Resilience Programme Manager. 

Objective of the Assignment

The overall objective of this assignment is to provide substantive advice to the LDFP’s senior management on the Local Development Finance Investment Committee regarding private sector finance for resilience and local economic development; and represent as Special Representative to Local Climate Adaptive Living (LoCAL) Programme as a facilitator to achieve the goal of direct access for LDC local governments from the Green Climate Fund through the LoCAL mechanism.

The Local Development Finance Investment Committee is the UNCDF LDFP committee who reviews and approves its investment pipeline for the UNCDF LDC Investment Platform. The platform plays an increasingly active role in mobilizing investments in local economies through the application of catalytic loans and guarantees that mitigate risks for public and private investors. The enabling mechanism for these activities is the LDC Investment Platform (the “Platform”), which is creating new opportunities for UNCDF to expand its support for local infrastructure and businesses in the last mile that unlock public and private resources, especially at the domestic level, to reduce poverty and support local economic development.

LoCAL is a mechanism for channeling global climate finance directly to local areas in Least Developed Countries for measurable, effective investments in adaptation to climate change that build resilient local communities and economies. LoCAL is a concrete and practical UN designed mechanism for climate adaptation. Engaging Green Climate Fund board members and member states around LoCAL at the UN Summit provides UNDP, UNCDF and other UN agencies with practical solution that will contribute in meaningful ways to building resilience to climate change. LoCAL will enable member states to provide effective public and private finance for resilient communities and economies at the local level, thus diversifying their economic base and broadening their national resilience to climate change. It will provide LDCs with a mechanism to attract further climate finance for the local level.

Scope of Work

The scope of work will include:

(a)    Act as a discussant for investment pipielines proposed to the Local Development Finance investment committee

(b)    Support LoCAL for high level Coordination activities including

• Meet and maintain strategic contact with financing and strategic partnership between LDCs, local governments, and UN entities, and for maintaining regular and close contacts through active outreach at all levels to provide effective public and private finance for resilient communities and economies at the local level;
• Promote regional and country-specific UN-to-Government collaboration and financing engagement at strategic and operational levels for climate change resilience at subnational levels;
• Raise awareness at the global level on climate change actions at subnational levels in LDCs, in collaboration with national governments, and other UN entities and relevant partners;

(c)     Any other related duties as may be required.

Key Results Expected

• Substantive Guidance and/or direction to the approval of investment pipeline is provided to the Local Development Finance Investment Committee
• Successful negotiations for the implementation of the LoCAL programme framework by securing access to GCF for CCA in LDCs, thereby ensuring the further development and strengthening of the response to climate change and its effective financing at the local level - in close collaboration with UNCDF, national and local governments and other UN entities - with the ultimate objective to make the response to climate change at the local level more effective, sustainable and transparent.

Duration of Assignment, Duty Station and Expected Places of Travel

Duration: The initial assignment of the Senior Independent Advisor is for 25 working days covering period from 1 December 2018 to 31 July 2019. The 25 working days includes 10 days of travel to project sites and 15 days home-based work. 

Duty Station and expected places of travel: Home-Based with Travel to Katowice, Poland and New York, USA.

Travel costs associated to the assignment will be paid as reimbursable basis and following the UN rules and regulations which states that consultants shall only be paid the most direct and most economical ticket, as will be quoted by the official UN travel agency.  Any amount in excess of the said quotation, such as class and airline preference of the consultant, shall be borne by the consultant.  

 Deliverables

The consultant will deliver the following within the framework of the mission:

Payment Terms Provision of Monitoring and Progress Control

The consultant will work closely with and provide day-to-day report to assigned staffs within the LDFP and will work under the overall guidance of Director for Local Development Practice at the UNCDF in Headquarters, New York. The consultant is also expected to liaise/interact/collaborate/meet with in the course of performing the work with UNCDF, government officials, member states, UN entities, Academia, NGOs and other organizations during performing the work with UNCDF..

The following payment terms based upon the above-mentioned deliverables will be applicable. Payments will be made upon satisfactory completion, submission and acceptance of the deliverables. Payments will be approved by the Director.

1st payment: Upon submission of 10 LD Investment committee minutes/reports as per details indicated under Section VII.: 60%.

2nd payment: Upon satisfactory result of the participation at the COP24 in Katowice, Poland and substantive advice provided the LD Investment committee. 40%.

*** Total payment will include 250 working days plus travel cost costs associated to the assignment which will be paid as reimbursable basis as indicated in section  VI of this vacancy announcement ***

Compétences

Corporate competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN's values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UN;
• Displays cultural, gender religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism.

Functional competencies:

• Speaks confidently and exercises diplomacy in dealing with all partners, demonstrating tact, determination and sensitivity;
• Builds strong relationships, focuses on impact and result and responds positively to feedback;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
• Ability to lead effectively, facilitation as well as conflict resolution skills;
• Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure;

Professionalism

• Expert knowledge of or field experience with political and development strategies for building sustainable green economies; understanding of and respect for the interests and perspectives of different stakeholders in at the local and national level; proven ability to uphold, implement, and evaluate programmes.

Planning and organizing

• Demonstrated ability to undertake a diversity of tasks within a demanding, multi-stakeholder environment, to prioritize among these tasks, and to work toward short deadlines.

Communication

• Excellent drafting ability and communication skills, both oral and written, including a proven ability to communicate complex processes or technical information orally and to prepare documents that are clear, concise and meaningful;
• Proven ability to represent the UN effectively to external stakeholders, such as governments of host countries, donors, and international financial institutions.

Teamwork

• Superior client orientation and inter-personal skills with a proven ability to work cooperatively with multi-disciplinary teams and staff and managers at all levels.

Qualifications et expériences requises

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in international relations, political or social sciences, law, economics, public policy, business administration, or related fields.

Qualifications:

• A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in serving as high level representative in the UN or other international development Executive functions.
• Excellent knowledge of sustainable development, green economy, climate change, ecosystem services
• Experience working with the UN and Governments at a high level is a requirement;
• In-depth understanding of issues of green economy, climate change, ecosystems and the role of national and international institutions in these settings;
• Proven cooperative and senior-level support skills;
• Significant experience in policy and inter-agency coordination work as well as a strong record leading organizational change and reform processes are requirements;
• Strong understanding of UN policies, programmes and procedures is highly desirable;
• Experience in developing and guiding programmes in a multilateral or bilateral context is highly desirable.
• Proven record of leading high level climate negotiations at the international level.
• Proven record representing governments at high levels.
• Experience in leading international development related agencies or networks.

Language:

Written and spoken proficiency in French and English language.

Evaluation Process

Applicants will be evaluated based on the combined scoring method.

The formula for the rating of the Proposals will be as follows:

1. Rating the Technical Proposal (TP): 70%

     TP Rating = (Total Score Obtained by the Offer / Max. Obtainable Score for TP) x 100

2.  Rating the Financial Proposal (FP): 30%

     FP Rating = (Lowest Priced Offer / Price of the Offer Being Reviewed) x 100

3.  Total Combined Score: 

    (TP Rating) x (Weight of TP, e.g. 70%)+ (FP Rating) x (Weight of FP, e.g., 30%)

Total maximum obtainable score for Technical proposal = 100 points. Only candidates obtaining a minimum score of 70 points under Technical evaluation will be considered for the Financial evaluation.

Application guidelines:

When applying for this consultancy position, please apply with your official name as shown in the government issued identification document (e.g. passport and/or driver license). Contract award is subject to this verification;

Interested candidates should submit the following information as part of the application package:

•  Detailed updated CV including past experience in similar projects with name and contact details of 3 references;
•  One page cover letter describing why the candidate is the most suitable for the assignment;
•  Confirmation of availability to take up assignments for the whole period and Financial Proposal.
•  Documents can be found here: http://procurement-notices-admin.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=51278

Please include all documents into one file while submitting your application.