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.

UNCDF in Myanmar

UNCDF has been operating in Myanmar since 2012 with a capital mandate to expand savings-led financial inclusion and use localized investments to drive poverty reduction and sustainable development. The country program seeks to improve financial service access and usage to achieve equitable, sustainable, and inclusive growth within the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Myanmar Sustainable Development Plan (MSDP), which includes the use of innovate solutions to bring formal services for people at the bottom of the pyramid. In 2020, a new Financial Inclusion Roadmap will be launched in conjunction with the Government of Myanmar, as the nation’s highest-level financial inclusion policy document.

In a pre-pandemic scenario, the need for digital products such as digital loan repayments or electronic cash transfers was a good accomplishment for the financial sector and humanitarian and development actors. Unfortunately, in the current COVID-19 pandemic, with an increasing number of destroyed livelihoods, restricted mobility, and a stringent need for maintaining social distancing, digital payments became critical to deliver resources to vulnerable population in hard-to-reach areas; and critical to reduce the number of contagions.

Devoirs et responsabilités

Under the supervision of the UNCDF Myanmar Country Coordinator and in close collaboration with the Asia Regional Manager (based in Bangkok) and UNCDF Global Digital Lead (based in Kuala Lumpur), the Payment Expert will complete the following activities and deliverables.

The consultant will support UNCDF in Myanmar developing an inclusive Level-one aligned integration platform for financial services providers, with a focus on last-mile FSPs. The consultant will liaise with the regulator and the private sector in the design and implementation of an interoperable platform, developing schemes and use cases adapted to the local context of Myanmar. The platform does not intend to be the only Payment System of the country, or to compete with a future National Payment System.

Scope of Work

(1) Provide technical assistance to the Government of Myanmar in the implementation of payment-related solutions. The work with the Government will have two main workstreams:

1. Guiding and supporting the Central Bank of Myanmar and the Financial Regulatory Department, in the design and implementation of an interoperable payment scheme inclusive with different types of financial services providers, such as MFIs.
2. Be the technical expert for the Department of Social Welfare in the design of electronic social payments programmes, such as the ongoing Maternal Child-Cash Transfer Programme of the Government of Myanmar, and future COVID-19 related solutions

• Advise on policy reform and improving the capability in payment-related topics
• Link ongoing or future governmental payment related initiatives to the Level-One aligned integration platform

(2) Guide microfinance institutions (MFIs) in their journey to connect to a common interoperable Level-One aligned integration platform.

(3) Provide technical support and assistance to the Myanmar Microfinance Association in the implementation, transition, and management of a Level-One Integration Platform.

(4) Work closely with payment infrastructure partner and Support other players from the digital ecosystem to connect and participate at a Level-One Integration Platform.

(5) Be the reference on payments related topics for the UNCDF team in Myanmar.

Expected Outputs, Activities and Deliverables

The above-mentioned activities have been outlined based on some of the broader outcomes that have been outlined above and are representative and can be more than that and adjusted to the circumstances.  

Duration of Work and Duty Station:

Maximum number of working days:  The consultancy will be for a period of up to 170 days spread over a period of 12 months with the possibility of extension for another year subject to funding availability, continuing project needs and consultant’s satisfactory performance assessment.

Duty Station:  The consultant will be based in Yangon UNCDF Office, Myanmar.

Travel:  The consultant might be requested to travel to Bangkok UNCDF Regional office, or Kuala Lumpur, or other destinations. All this travel will be requested by UNCDF management on a need basis and will be compensated on a reimbursable basis and following the UNDP/UNCDF rules and regulations that state 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 in amounts not exceeding the UN established rate.

UNCDF cannot guarantee residence permits or visas for consultants. Consultants are responsible for securing their work documentation with limited support from UNCDF.

The schedule of travel will be negotiated with the consultant according to the requirements of the programme.  

Institutional Arrangement

The consultant will work under the direct supervision of the UNCDF Country Coordinator, and in coordination with UNCDF National Programme Officer/ Financial Inclusion Officer. 

UNCDF will provide feedback on the work of the consultant to ensure the quality of deliverables as per the expectations of UNCDF and that the work is aligned with the broader project objective.

Payments

Payment will be made on a periodical basis upon satisfactory completion AND acceptance of deliverables. All payments are subject to the clearance and approval of the direct supervisor, UNCDF Myanmar Country Coordinator / Programme Manager:

•  Payments are subject to UNCDF’s approval of the Project Progress Reports and the acceptance of the finalized documents, after incorporating the relevant feedback.

• Final payment shall require a signed performance evaluation of the consultant.

The following supporting documents will serve as conditions for disbursement:

• submission of an Invoice and Certificate of Payment (COP).
• submission of all deliverables / workplan / progress report with relevant supporting documentation; and review, approval, and written acceptance of each deliverable by the UNCDF Country Lead and/or his designate.

Compétences

• Excellent organizational, inter-personal and analytical skills;
• Strong written communication and presentation skills;
• Focus on impact and results for clients and stakeholders;
• Committed to teamwork, working with other stakeholders;
• Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure.

Qualifications et expériences requises

Education:

• A Master’s degree in economics, administration, social sciences, or related discipline. Or equivalent of related experience

Experience: 

• Minimum 5 years of experience in developing contexts is mandatory
• Minimum 8 years demonstrated experience in developing and implementing projects/ programs around digital payment is mandatory
• Experience working with the regulator is mandatory.
• Previous working experience in South East Asia is preferred but not mandatory.
• Previous working experience in entrepreneurial environment, such as startups, social enterprises or new ventures is preferred.
• Experience working with international organizations is preferred but not mandatory.
• Experience in projects with financial inclusion and digital financial services is preferred but not mandatory.

Language Requirements:

• Written and spoken fluency in English is mandatory.
• Other regional languages, such as Burmese, are an asset but not mandatory.

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 in SINGLE FILE:

• 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;
• Personal CV or P11, Personal History Form with names and current contacts of 3 referees (available from http://sas.undp.org/documents/p11_personal_history_form.doc)
• 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 available at http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_file.cfm?doc_id=29916).

Failure to submit all the below mentioned documents may result in rejection of the application.

Note: The system allows to upload only 1 document, so make sure your pdf all the above-mentioned documents into 1 document for your submission.

Evaluation: 

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

Step II: Shortlisting (30%)

UNCDF will produce a shortlist of candidates and technically evaluate candidates from 1 to 100% as per experience requirements in the Terms of Reference. As applicable, only applicants scoring 70% or more shall be considered for an interview.

Shortlisting scoring:

20points- Education/ Qualification

50points- Mandatory Experience.

30points- Preferred Experience.

Step III   Interview (70%): As applicable, only applicants scoring 70% or more in the shortlist scoring (70 Points or above) shall be considered for an interview.

Step IV: 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%.

Financial Evaluation (Total 30 marks):

All technical qualified proposals will be scored out 30 based on the formula provided below. The maximum points (30) will be assigned to the lowest financial proposal. All other proposals received points according to the following formula: p = y (µ/z), where:

•  p = points for the financial proposal being evaluated;
•  y = maximum number of points for the financial proposal;
•  µ = price of the lowest priced proposal;
•  z = price of the proposal being evaluated

 Award Criteria

The contract 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. 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.