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.

Recently, UNCDF has formulated its strategy Leaving no one behind in the digital era  based on over a decade of experience in digital finance in Africa, Asia and the Pacific. UNCDF recognizes that reaching the full potential of digital financial inclusion in support of the Sustainable Development Goals aligns with the vision of promoting digital economies that leave no one behind. The vision of UNCDF is to empower millions of people by 2024 to use services daily that leverage innovation and technology and contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals. For further detail on UNCDF strategy, refer to; https://www.uncdf.org/article/4931/global-strategy-leaving-no-one-behind-in-the-digital-era.

As part of its partnership’s efforts around the new strategy UNCDF has presented a concept note to the Call for Proposal  ACP digital financial services (Digital4Inclusion) under the the 11th European Development Fund Reference: EuropeAid/161066 https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/europeaid/online-services/index.cfm?do=publi.welcome&nbPubliList=15&orderby=upd&orderbyad=Desc&searchtype=RS&aofr=161066.

UNCDF would like to hire a Partnerships Consultant to help UNCDF in supporting the fundraising  for the strategy.

Devoirs et responsabilités

Under the supervision of the UNCDF´s Technical Specialist the Partnerships Consultant will complete the following activities and deliverables:

1. Review UNCDF’s fundraising strategy for Leaving no one behind in the digital era.

• Review fundraising strategy progress from 2018 to 2019 and update partners contact database and reference repository tool.
• Map partnership events relevant to UNCDF and develop a partnership calendar for 2020.
• Formulate 2020 fundraising plan.
• Formulate 2020 donor reporting plan.

2. Update UNCDF’s pipeline of relevant partners and leads.

• Update the funding pipeline database (Global/West Africa/Asia/Pacific) every month.
• Share updated pipeline reports with management every month.
• Write a funding bulletin weekly.

3. Completing request for applications to the European Union and other donors.

• With team inputs, draft concept notes and/or initial applications for projects.
• Develop outlines for full proposals.
• With key inputs from team, write a draft of the technical portion of proposal.
• Assemble all annexes.
• Work with Results Measurement Analyst to complete log frames and indicators.
• Work with relevant staff to edit and finalize the bid.
• Provide quality assurance to new proposals.

Expected Deliverables:

Compétences

• Excellent analytical skills.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Focus on impact and results for clients and stakeholders.
• Builds trust in interactions with others.
• Ability to work with high level officials as well as local communities.
• Committed to team work, working with other stakeholders.
• Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure.

Qualifications et expériences requises

Education:

• A Master’s degree in Project Management, technology, economics, public/business administration, social sciences, or related discipline.

Experience: 

• A minimum of four (4) years of experience in EU Development Policies, External Affairs and funding cycles and or related experience is mandatory.
• Experience with EU funded projects/programmes is mandatory.
• Experience in working with United Nations Agencies is preferred.
• Working knowledge of current developments in microfinance, including one or more of the following: branchless banking, microinsurance, social performance, financial literacy is preferred.
• Working knowledge of international donor organizations and preferably experience in preparing proposals for funding is preferred;
• Experience with visual tools for donor mapping is preferred.
• Experience with data analysis/results-based management is an asset.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is mandatory.
• Proficiency in French preferred but not required.
• Other EU languages are an asset but not mandatory.

Timeline, total number of working days, duty station:

• Timeline: 5 months.
• Total Number of Working Days for Assignment: up to 100 working days.
• Duty station: Brussels, Belgium.

Consulting fees, standard travel costs and living expenses:

This is a local position UNCDF will only accept standard fees based on the local market rates (Belgium) and the experience of the consultant. UNCDF will not provide relocation expenses.

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.  

Progress Controls & Payments:

Payment will be made against satisfactorily completion of each deliverable. All payments shall be disbursed only upon written confirmation of acceptance of the outputs which and authorization for payment by the Programme Analyst.

Disbursement of the final payment shall require a signed performance evaluation of the consultant.

Payment schedule is as follows:

Application process:

Interested individuals must submit the documents mentioned below as proposals in order to demonstrate their qualifications (Note: the system does not allow multiple uploads of documents. 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 and motivation rationalizing how the applicant meets the qualifications and can deliver the requirements of the Terms of Reference (TOR);
• Earliest availability and proposed schedule for consultancy;
• Signed financial proposal for the assignment outlining: all-inclusive fee (including professional fees and other professional expenses, such as insurance, taxes, etc.). Template for this is aavailable at http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_file.cfm?doc_id=29916).

Please make sure you have provided all requested materials. 

Evaluation: 

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

Step II: Shortlisting (20 points)

UNCDF will produce a shortlist of candidates and technically evaluate candidates as per experience requirements in the Terms of Reference. As applicable, only the first top 3 ranked applicants shall be considered for an interview.

Step III: Technical test. Applicants from the shortlist will be requested to take a written test. The top 3 candidates shall be interviewed.

Step IV: Interview (80 points): An interview shall be conducted for the top 3 candidates based on their test result.

Step V: Financial Evaluation: Only candidates with scores above 70% of the technical evaluation (70 Points or above) will be considered. 

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 scores) 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.