Historique

The original mandate of UNCDF from the United Nations (UN) General Assembly is to assist developing countries in the development of their economies by supplementing existing sources of capital assistance using grants and loans. The mandate was complemented in 1973 to serve, first and foremost but not exclusively, the least developed countries.

The Fund has a unique capital mandate within the UN development system. It provides investment capital and technical support to both the public and the private sector. Its ability to provide capital investment, in the form of seed capital grants, reimbursable grants, loans, and guarantees, and to provide technical assistance in preparing investable portfolios of projects within clear financial and development additionality, makes its mandate complementary to those of other UN entities. It also positions UNCDF as an early-stage investor to de-risk investment opportunities that can later be scaled up by other partners, including UN entities, international financial institutions, philanthropic foundations, and private sector investors.

UNCDF uses official development assistance to make finance work for the inclusion of those who risk being left behind. It aims to increase and shift the dynamics of financing towards the local level, by providing the demonstration space for least developed countries to deploy innovative finance approaches that “crowd in” the additional public and private, domestic, and international finance needed to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Goals 1 on Ending Extreme Poverty and 17 on Global Partnerships, as well as a focus on women’s economic empowerment, are embedded in all of the interventions of UNCDF. Based on its strategic framework for the period 2018–2021, UNCDF envisages achieving progress in the following two mutually supportive outcome areas: (a) enhanced inclusive financial markets and local development finance systems that benefit poor and vulnerable populations; and (b) “unlocked” public and private finance for the poor.

The work of UNCDF gives impetus to innovate financing approaches where few others are present that create demonstration effects which, when replicated and taken to scale, help to build inclusive financial markets and local development finance systems and to leverage additional public and private sector funding from domestic and international actors into local economies to support the SDGs.

Rationale for establishing a roster of experts

The need for UNCDF to be more responsive to the varied and evolving graduation requirements of LDCs also calls for more flexibility and developing new funding mechanisms to support the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and the Istanbul Programme of Action (IPoA). For UNCDF to remain relevant and competitive in this changing global environment, it needs to maximize the right conditions for creativity and financial innovation to flourish in a new development finance landscape. Hence, considering the untapped potential in development finance institutions to catalyze private investment in LDCs, UNCDF is adapting its business model to 1) push the boundaries of financial innovation, 2) further explore how public finance – such as ODA and climate finance - can be used to unlock additional public and private finance from international and domestic sources, primarily in LDCs, and 3) allow the expansion and blending of its capital investment instruments.

In this context, UNCDF is now establishing a roster of resource mobilization and financing structuring experts who could be called upon to assist to identify and invest in new sources of financial innovation and support the Organization’s goal of catalyzing investment to achieve the SDGs in LDCs.

The consultants in this roster will be called upon to support the UNCDF activities across its three key verticals: RESOURCE MOBILIZATION AND FINANCING STRUCTURING, Research and Advocacy, and Strategic Advice. Subject to their availability and interest for specific missions, the consultants included in the roster may be tasked with activities such as providing technical assistance and support to UNCDF and its partners. These tasks may support in-country work or global efforts at the corporate level. Applicants to the roster must indicate the specific subject themes listed in this TOR as their preferred area of work.

Successful candidates to this requirement will be added to our roster of specialists to be engaged on assignments on an on-call basis.

Together with the beneficiary unit, the Human Resources unit shall be responsible to oversee the management of the roster (i.e., Roster Manager), as well as the monitoring of the cumulative payments to each of the individuals in the roster, tracking of the frequency that the vendor has been invited but do not respond, and other Contract management concerns, and ensuring timely submission to Procurement Oversight Committees where needed. The Roster Manager shall also ensure proper maintenance of a centralized database containing Roster listing, cumulative Spend, Key Skills and other related vendor information which will be regularly updated, ensuring that it is tamper-proof and with secure access.

The roster shall be closed after three (3) years and, if there is continued need, UNCDF shall conduct a new round of open competitive process to create a new roster that will serve UNCDF needs. The said selection process shall take into consideration lessons learned from the management of this roster, as well as performance records of the vendors who have been contracted for any specific work over this period.

The consultant must have proven knowledge and implementation experience in one or more of the following subjects:

The consultant must have proven knowledge and implementation experience in one or more of the following subjects:

• resource mobilization and fundraising
• structuring of capital markets products including bonds
• credit ratings and creating rated vehicles
• corporate finance
• innovative finance mechanisms
• social impact bonds and development impact bonds
• project finance including structuring SPVs
• private equity
• impact investment
• traditional philanthropy
• venture philanthropy
• venture capital

Devoirs et responsabilités

Scope of Services

The scope of services will be specific to the UNCDF or country requirements that will arise during their implementation of UNCDF programmes/project and corporate initiatives. The indicative categories and broad scope of such services could be described as follows:

Overall objectives: drive financial innovation to crowd in private and public capital towards investments delivering development impact in LDC markets; technical advice to support its implementation; manage activities and institutional relations for in-country projects / programmes; conduct market research, drawing insights and lessons for UNCDF and its partners.

Act as subject matter expert in one or more of the specific areas listed below:

Resource Mobilization and Financing Structuring

• Identify sources of funds and raise capital in new financing and funding for UNCDF.
• Provide expert advice in financial structuring including capital markets products.
• Develop Bond structures including listing strategies.
• Create and lead partnerships with major financial institutions like investment banks, insurance companies, pension funds and asset owners.

Financial innovation and business development

• Identify and develop new business opportunities with the purpose to capture value in new frontier areas, typically outside and beyond current UNCDF core areas of actions.
• Promote a close and structured engagement with the private sector community interested and/or operating in LDCs.
• Establish a relationship with like-minded private and public institutions inside and outside the organization to promote an innovation ecosystem.

Research and Advocacy

• Collect and analyze data and design and conduct research thematic or market-driven research.
• Help the UNCDF field offices develop national and regional advocacy plans and public policy recommendations.
• Help the UNCDF reinforce the importance of innovative finance to unlock additional public and private finance from international and domestic sources to reach the LDCs.

Strategic Advice

• Based on an agreed strategy, provide expertise and advice to UNCDF and partner governments to support strategies to unlock additional public and private finance from international and domestic sources.

Contracting Arrangement

The candidates that will obtain a minimum passing in the technical evaluation will be included in UNCDF’s global roster of financial innovation and business development experts for a period of up to a maximum period of three (3) years. Entry into the expert roster system does not necessarily mean that contract with UNCDF is guaranteed nor any financial commitment from UNCDF. This will depend on forthcoming needs and the expert’s successful selection through an approved secondary competitive selection process that will be undertaken, described as follows:

1. Where a request for services arises - A specific Terms of Reference outlining the outputs for each assignment shall be provided
2. UNCDF shall transmit such TOR to 3-5 candidates from the Roster with the most appropriate experience and qualification for the assignment
3. this email shall seek confirmation of their availability and submission of their financial proposal.
4. When the offers are received, then the desk review and evaluation of the candidates will be completed, and
5. A contract shall be awarded accordingly [as per applicable standard operating procedures, to the most technically compliant and the best value for money proposal].

In the event that only one response is received for a call-off, UNCDF may proceed with the award of the call-off contract. UNCDF also reserves the right to cancel the call-off or conduct another round of secondary competition as the situation may necessitate.

When the selected expert is found to have achieved the highest combined score has an ongoing assignment with UNCDF that have conflicting timelines, or when the ongoing work is less than 80% completion, and hence workload and timely completion could potentially be a concern, UNCDF reserves the right to award the contract to the second-ranked highest combined score, provided that the price is within UNCDF’s budget for the assignment.

If an expert in the roster has not responded to an invitation, nor explained the reason for non-submission of an offer, for a maximum frequency of six (6) times during the life of the LTA, the vendor shall not be invited for any call-off and shall be removed from the roster.

An expert in the roster that has had recurring or unresolved performance issues on record after two (2) call-off engagements, the Vendor shall be removed from the roster and shall not be invited for the rest of the life of the LTA.

Payments

A fixed daily fee submitted by the applicant will remain the same for the entire life of the roster, and no changes may be allowed. This daily fee will be indicated in the roster. Payments will be made to the consultant based upon successful completion of the Assignment, as defined within the Terms of Reference. The daily fee is all-inclusive and shall take into account various expenses incurred by the consultant during the period of the contract, including professional fees, out-of-pocket expenses, insurance, risks and inconveniences related to work under hardship and hazardous conditions, and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services under the contract. Payments will be based on timesheets and invoices approved by the supervisor, including any official travel as per the UNCDF rules.

Experts will be compensated based on their submission of Certificate of Payment (COP) indicating the outputs delivered which shall be in accordance with the payment terms agreed in the contract.

At the end of every call-off, payment shall require a signed performance evaluation of the consultant for record and reference purposes, including an indication of whether or not the expert shall remain on the roster.

Compétences

Technical

• Demonstrated expertise in the investment industry and financial markets, with a specific focus on emerging and frontier markets, and key related areas.
• Excellent ability to engage with governments effectively, and/or executives of business, international organizations, and civil society.
• Proven capacity to design and supports the implementation of investment strategies and structuring solutions.
• Demonstrated experience structuring investment projects and raising funds from investors, IFIs, corporate philanthropy, and government partners.
• Experience researching investment and impact finance at a global and national level.
• Experience working directly with national administrations including ministries of finance, national treasuries, central banks, and/or other investment promotions entities.
• Ability to translate complex technical ideas to a non-technical audience both verbally and in writing as evidenced in authored publications.

Core Competencies

• Demonstrates ethics and integrity.
• Demonstrates political acumen and calculated risk-taking.
• Displays cultural and gender sensitivity and adaptability.

Qualifications et expériences requises

Required Skills and Experience

Education

• Advanced university degree (or its university equivalent) in Business, Finance or Economics, or another related field.

Experience

• Minimum of 10 years professional experience in the financial services industry, preferably with a focus on resource mobilization, financing structuring, capital markets, impact investing, venture capital, private equity, and other types of financial innovation in both the private sector and the international development arena.
• Proven knowledge of policy and technical implementation issues related to impact investment and the SDGs.
• Expertise in policy, legal or regulatory issues related to investment management and facilitation for sustainable development.
• Proven track record in the successful mobilization of resources and partners, and extensive network of contacts across the financial and investment sectors.
• Expert knowledge in topics related to investment banking, venture capital, private equity, impact investment, and related fields, as well as IFIs, with a focus on emerging and frontier markets.
• Experience working with high-level government officials and international organizations.
• Experience working with the United Nations, IFIs and/or other multilateral organizations, an advantage.

Language Requirements

• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in French an asset.
• Proficiency in other languages an advantage

Evaluation Process

Step I: Initial Screening/ Longlisting

Applications will be screened and only candidates meeting the following minimum criteria will progress for further review:

• Education: Master’s degree in economics, finance, public/business administration, law, social sciences, international relations, or related fields.
• Experience: Minimum of 10 years of professional experience in either government, international organizations, corporate or academia working on traditional philanthropy, venture philanthropy, impact investment, venture capital, private equity, micro-finance, or a relevant related field
• Language: Excellent oral and written communication skills in English, other languages an advantage.
• Mandatory submission of CV with a list of relevant publications.

Step II: Shortlisting by Review of a Profile

UNCDF will conduct a review of a profile (technical evaluation).Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 80 points in Step II will be considered as technically qualified and included in the Roster.

Criteria for Technical evaluation (100 points maximum):

• Relevant previous experience working directly with academia, private sector, international organizations, or national administrations including ministries of finance, national treasuries, central banks, IFIs relevant to investing in frontier and frontier markets – 40 points.
• Extensive experience implementing or researching financial innovation initiatives and expanding investment finance, especially in emerging and developing markets – 40 points.
• Relevant education – 20 points.

Travel

When the health conditions will permit, national or international business travel may be anticipated in which case it will be included under the assignment contract and agreed with the supervisor. UNCDF will pay separately travel expenses of approved travel (economy airfare, terminal expenses, and per diems which include hotel and food expenses) according to standard UN rates Consultants who will be made to work in the country of their specified location shall not be entitled to any travel expenses.

Application Procedure

Interested individuals must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

• Detailed and up-to-date CV with a list of publications. Please also provide up to 3 references. 
• Completed Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability

• The consultant is requested to provide his/her daily consultancy fee.
• Please note that the UNDP Jobsite system allows only one uploading of application documents, so please make sure that you merge all your documents into one single file.

For the applicant’s references, the General Terms and Conditions for ICs that will be signed by and between the selected consultant and UNCDF is provided; here: http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/documents/procurement/documents/IC%20-%20General%20Conditions.pdf

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.

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