Historique

About UNCDF

The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) makes public and private finance work for the poor in the world’s 47 least developed countries. With its capital mandate and instruments, UNCDF offers “last mile” finance models that unlock public and private resources, especially at the domestic level, to reduce poverty and support local economic development. UNCDF’s financing models work through two channels: financial inclusion that expands the opportunities for individuals, households and small businesses to participate in the local economy, providing them with the tools they need to climb out of poverty and manage their financial lives; and by showing how localized investments — through fiscal decentralization, innovative municipal finance and structured project finance — can drive public and private funding that underpins local economic expansion and sustainable development. By strengthening how finance works for poor people at the household, small enterprise and local infrastructure levels, UNCDF contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 1 on eradicating poverty and Goal 17 on the means of implementation. UNCDF also contributes to other SDGs by identifying those market segments where innovative financing models can have transformational impact in helping to reach the last mile and address exclusion and inequalities of access.  To achieve these goals, UNCDF is providing financial support and technical expertise to the public and the private sector. It provides capital financing – in the form of grants, soft loans and credit enhancement products – and the technical expertise to unleash sustainable financing at the local level.  

About SHIFT ASEAN and SAARC

UNCDF’s ‘Shaping Inclusive Financial Transformations’ (SHIFT) program aims to catalyze access to formal financial services to advance women’s economic empowerment and gendered financial inclusion for millions of women and small businesses in the ASEAN and SAARC markets.   SHIFT leverages product and business model innovations, data analytics, technical training, and policy advocacy services at different levels to change the behavior of market players. Data and research crosscuts into all SHIFT’s activities as the shaping of inclusive financial transformations cannot be accomplished without the use of good data and research to inform and facilitate markets and address the gender research gap. SHIFT advocates evidence-based financial inclusion policies and practices that expand access and usage of financial services for women by facilitating, informing and incentivizing FSPs, regulators and governments and by stimulating collective dialogue between them.
The programs works through four interrelated outputs: The Data and Analysis Hub produces and disseminates knowledge on supply, demand and regulation in financial markets to strengthen the evidence base and investment decisions of providers, regulators and policy makers to advance women’s financial inclusion. This is closely integrated with the Learning and Skills Development facility that capacitates technical service providers to scale viable learning and training models for financial institutions. The Policy and Advocacy component stimulates dialogue among policy makers in FSPs and governments to enable financial market policies to be more responsive to the needs of women. Finally, the Innovation Facility offers various types of incentives to FSPs to pilot new prototypes and scale viable innovative (digital) finance business models to advance access to and usage of finance for women.

• SHIFT ASEAN has been established in 2014 with initial funding from the Australian Government and focuses on ASEAN’s frontier economies of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Viet Nam (CLMV);
• SHIFT SAARC has been established in mid-2016 with initial funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the European Union. SHIFT SAARC pilot in Bangladesh aims for Digital Finance Services to become widely recognized by regulators and providers as enabler of financial inclusion and thereby increasing its use among the adult population from 9% to 30% by 2019.    

About other UNCDF projects

UNCDF’s CleanStart works in close collaboration with SHIFT to catalyze digital energy finance (or Pay-Go energy systems) as a promising solution to reduce energy poverty for over 175.000 consumers, in particular women and poor people in rural areas. The programme is currently active in both Asia and Africa.

• UNCDF in Myanmar is currently implementing Expanding Financial Access (EFA), a country programme aimed at increasing formal inclusion in Myanmar from 30% to 40% by 2020. The programme will provide a full range of affordable, quality, effective and responsible financial services to MSME, small-scale farmers, women-led enterprises, youth, poor and low-income clients by encouraging stakeholders to work together in an integrated manner;
• UNCDF in the Pacific is helping more than two million low-income Pacific islanders gain access to formal financial services and financial education. It does so by funding innovative approaches in development of financial services, supporting policy and regulatory initiatives, and empowering consumers.

About Digital@UNCDF

UNCDF Financial Inclusion Practice Area is focusing on Digital Financial Services and how they can improve financial inclusion for the vulnerable groups. For this reason, all the ongoing projects will focus more and more on promoting DFS as the main tool to promote financial inclusion.
The Consultant will support SHIFT SAARC/ASEAN and other UNCDF projects in monitoring and results measurement, using a market system development approach, which follows the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP) and Donor Committee for Enterprise Development Standards (DCED) for Results Measurement guidelines.

This solicitation is for a Framework agreement, also known in UNCDF as the Long-Term Agreement (LTA) for one year and renewable up to a maximum of three (3) years based on satisfactory performance of an individual consultant. An “LTA” refers to a mutual agreement whereby the Consultant will provide services as required, over a specific period. It specifics the unit price (daily rate) allowing for an LTA to be used when the Consultant’s services are needed.

Purpose of Framework Agreement

UNCDF would like to enter into a non-exclusive Framework Agreement, also known as Long-Term Agreement (LTA), with the consultant who will perform the services described below on a need-basis.  In UNCDF, an LTA is a framework agreement by and between UNCDF and a company or individual where the latter may, at any time within the duration of the LTA, be required to render the agreed services at the agreed and fixed unit prices for a minimum period of 12 months, with potential extension for up to two (2) additional years, depending on satisfactory performance.

Under an LTA, UNCDF does not guarantee that any specific quantity of services shall be purchased during the term of this agreement.  The LTA does not form a financial obligation or commitment from UNCDF at the time the LTA contract is signed and that such an agreement is non-exclusive.  

Where a request for service arises, UNCDF can engage the individual on LTA through a “call-off” of the LTA.   Every call-off shall have specific tasks, scope of services and outputs to be delivered within a specific period.   For this work, the call-off shall be formalized through the issuance of a Purchase Order, attaching thereto the TOR, and any other document relevant to the call-off.  Financial commitments will only be established each time a Purchase Order for the specific services/TOR for Individual Contractor is committed.

The LTA shall have a cumulative ceiling amount that may accrue to the individual contractor during the life of the LTA, but said amount shall remain as an upper limit, and must not and cannot be interpreted nor understood as neither a financial commitment nor guarantee of business volume.

The overall objective of the assignment is for the consultant to effectively support UNCDF SHIFT SAARC, ASEAN and other projects teams by providing support to the programme’s monitoring and results measurement through the following activities:

• To support the implementation of DCED M&E procedures to all programme areas as stipulated by its SHIFT MRM manual;
• To monitor and evaluate programme activities and outputs against expected results and outcomes, and effectively report any findings and learnings to the team;
• To provide strategic guidance aimed at improving overall programme performance and support other UNCDF programmes interested in adopting DCED and CGAP standards on market development.

Devoirs et responsabilités

Considering the objectives, the consultants will focus on the following Scope of Work (SOW):

1.    Monitoring and results measurement (MRM) systems tools development;
2.    MRM tracking and reporting;
3.    Coordination with relevant project team members to gather and disseminate findings ensuring that lessons learned are clearly understood and applied by the team;
4.    Development of case studies, knowledge products and blogs based on lessons learned, mission findings and best practices;
5.    Providing technical support to UNCDF programmes in adopting market development approaches to their implementation activities and measurement systems.

Duration of Assignment, Duty Station and Places of Travel

Contract duration: The assignment, under this Framework Agreement (On Call basis), is expected to have a duration of 3 years. The initial contract would be for one year with an option for renewal in subsequent years upon project needs, availability of funds and satisfactory performance of the consultants.
Number of working days:  240 per year

Duty station: The individual contractor is expected to be based in UNCDF’s regional office in Bangkok, Thailand, with travel to countries where SHIFT and other UNCDF programmes operate: Bangladesh, Cambodia, DRC, Ethiopia, Fiji, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Nepal, Samoa, Uganda, Vanuatu, Vietnam among others.  The schedule of travel will be negotiated with the consultant according to the requirements of each programme.

Travel: Travel costs associated to the assignment will be paid as reimbursable basis and following the UNDP/UNCDF 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 and the daily living allowance will be paid as per UN Rate.

Monitoring and Progress Control

The consultant will work under direct supervision of SHIFT ASEAN/SAARC Programme Manager and/or his designate, and in close collaboration with in-country teams. The consultant is responsible for providing his/her own laptop.

Payment to an Individual Contractor will be made based on the actual number of days agreed with UNCDF as reflected in the call off (PO) and upon certification of satisfactory performance, and acceptance of the output by the SHIFT ASEAN/SAARC and any other project Programme Manager and/or his designate.

The following supporting documents will serve as conditions for disbursement: (i) submission of an invoice and Certificate of Payment (COP); (ii) review, approval and written acceptance of each deliverable by the SHIFT ASEAN/SAARC and any other project Programme Manager and/or his designate; (iii) submission of a time-sheet and expenses with relevant supporting documentation; and (iv) an authorization of payment disbursement from a direct supervisor.

Final Products

Compétences

Corporate Competencies

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN values and ethical standards and acts in accordance with the Standards of Conduct for International Civil Servants.
• Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of the UN Capital Development Fund.
• Displays cultural, gender, region, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism.
• Demonstrates results-oriented and “can-do” attitude.

Functional Competencies

• Innovation: adopts ideas to context; creates independent, collaborates & integrates consistently, and conceptualizes more effective approaches to programme development and implementation and to mobilizing and using resources; willing to step out of core skill set or discipline to find the appropriate solution to a challenge;
• Result Orientation: results driven, problem-solver with structuring and analytical capabilities, anticipates constraints in the delivery of services & identifies solutions & alternatives; demonstrates openness to change & ability to manage complexities and resolve problems; focus on impact and results; approaches work with energy and positive attitude, responds positively to constructive feedback;
• Strategic Thinker: strong ability to think and act strategically, even in situation of ambiguity to develop both short-terms and long-term strategies;
• Communication: Strong verbal and oral communicator serving multiple functions and audiences as needed, strong analytical and writing skills and ability to communicate effectively to different audiences;
• Interpersonal skills: strong ability to work in a multi-cultural environment and with diverse stakeholders (governments, donors, financial services providers) with sensitivity to diversity of opinions;
• Team Player: inspires others, influences, and builds trust; committed to team work & working with internal and external stakeholders;
• Technical Skills: possess skills and technical competencies in digital financial services and financial inclusion, understand what technology can do for people, keeps up-to date with market trends and international best practices.

Qualifications et expériences requises

Education

• She/he will have a Master’s degree in Development, Poverty Reduction, Finance, Economics, International Relations or similar studies.

Experience

• At least 7 years of demonstrated experience in working in multi-country complex international development programmes.
• Demonstrated experience in the monitoring and evaluation of financial investment mechanisms.
• The consultant will have previous experience with multilateral donor funded development programmes and/or market development programmes.
• She/he must have strong analytical skills and, to this end, knowledge of data analysis software packages such as NVivo, advanced EXCEL and Power BI are an asset.   
• Demonstrated experience with result chain logic measurement and Donor Committee for Enterprise Development (DCED) standards.
• Knowledge of digital financial services and financial inclusion (in particular, women’s financial inclusion), particularly in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Vietnam are an asset.
• Good interpersonal skills and experience in working effectively in a multi-cultural environment, with sensitivity to diverse opinion.
• Excellent English writing skills with ability to communicate complex information clearly and concisely.

Language

• Fluency in written and spoken English.

Evaluation Process

Applications will be rated on both technical and financial submissions.  The following selection method will be used:  Highest rated proposal using the combined scoring method, which assigns the weight distribution between the technical and financial proposals.  The overall combined score will be 100 points, where weight distribution shall be 70% technical and 30% financial.  

Step I: Screening
Applications will be screened and only applicants meeting the following minimum criteria will progress to the pool for shortlisting:
Education

• Master’s degree in Development, Poverty Reduction, Finance, Economics, International Relations or similar studies.

Experience

• At least 7 years of demonstrated experience in working in multi-country complex international development programmes;
• She/he must have strong analytical skills and, to this end, knowledge of data analysis software packages such as NVivo, advanced EXCEL and Power BI are an asset;  
• Demonstrated experience with result chain logic measurement and Donor Committee for Enterprise Development (DCED) standards;
• Knowledge of digital financial services and financial inclusion (in particular, women’s financial inclusion), particularly in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Vietnam are an asset;
• Excellent English writing skills with ability to communicate complex information clearly and concisely.

Step II: Shortlisting by Desk Review: (100 Points)
UNCDF will conduct a desk review to produce a shortlist of candidates and technically evaluate candidates as follows: up to 3 applicants scoring the highest in the desk review and achieving minimum 70 points shall be invited for an interview.

As applicable, only the first top three ranked applicants achieving 70% of the points at this stage shall be invited for a skype interview.

Step III: Interview
A competency-based interview shall be conducted with the top three shortlisted candidates.
Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% on the total of Steps II. Desk Review(20 points) + Step III. Interview (80 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%.
Step VI: Contract Award
The top candidate that achieved the highest cumulative score will be recommended for a contract award.

Application Process

Interested individuals must submit the following as proposals in order to demonstrate their qualifications: (NOTE: THE SYSTEM DOES NOT ALLOW MULTIPLE UPLOADS OF DOCUMENTS THEREFORE APPLICANTS MUST MAKE SURE TO UPLOAD ALL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS IN ONE FILE). Proposers who shall not submit below mentioned documents will not be considered for further evaluation.

• 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.
• CV or P11, indicating all past experiences from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email, telephone, skype) of the Candidate with at least three (3) professional references. Link to P11: http://sas.undp.org/documents/P11_Personal_history_form.doc
• A cover letter responding to competency criteria indicating why the candidate considers himself/herself suitable for the required consultancy as well as stating earliest availability.  Please paste this letter into the “Resume and Motivation” section of the electronic application.
• Confirmation of interest and Financial proposal. Link
• One (1) sample or detailed summary of similar works – that you consider to be the best and most relevant example to this ToR.

Individual Consultants are responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when traveling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director. Consultants are also required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under dss.un.org.

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 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. UNCDF 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.

UNDP’s Individual Consultant’s General Terms and Conditions are provided here:
http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/documents/procurement/documents/IC%20-%20General%20Conditions.pdf