Antecedentes

UN 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 SDG 1 on eradicating poverty and SDG 17 on the means of implementation. 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, UNCDF contributes to a number of different Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Approximately US$1.7 trillion flows from the developed world to the developing world from a diversified set of actors and with equally distinct motivations, ranging from purely philanthropic to market-rate return on investments. By being innovative in the way development assistance is deployed it can have the potential to extend the reach and effectiveness of the aid through for example the complementary deployment of private capital i.e. by blending public and private funds for enhanced development results. The development assistance then has the potential to expand the pool of foreign and domestic capital available for economic development for e.g. small and medium enterprises, projects, financial institutions and key public services.

Using its own balance sheet, UNCDF can deploy a combination of grants, reimbursable grants, loans, guarantees and/or technical assistance to support SMEs, including start-ups and early-stage businesses, project developers, financial services providers, and local governments and municipalities. Up till today, UNCDF’s use of loans and guarantees has been limited but there is presently an ambition to make increased use of these financial instruments, and accordingly, 2018 saw a steep increase in the issuance of loans and guarantees. UNCDF also intends to complement its own on-balance sheet investment activities by working through blended finance investment vehicles that are managed by third-party private fund managers. One of UNCDF’s strategic objectives is now to partner with a third-party fund manager to attract other types of capital to UNCDF’s pipeline of projects and provide an investment continuum for opportunities which are still not yet fully commercially investable but require larger tickets and offer higher risk-adjusted returns profile than those funded directly from UNCDF’s own balance sheet. The rationale for working through such blended finance vehicles is driven by UNCDF’s desire to connect the larger capital mobilization requirements of the SDGs to the most excluded and marginalized communities.

UNCDF is looking for a seasoned advisor to support its aforementioned objectives by designing Technical Assistance Support and possibly a specific Technical Assistance Facility (TAF) that would provide pre- and post-investment support to a pipeline of investment opportunities to be financed by the blended finance vehicle managed by a third-party fund manager. The purpose of the pre-investment support is to create the right enabling environment, impact design and investment readiness profile to help businesses or projects receive due consideration by the blended finance vehicle mentioned above. The purpose of the post-investment support is to help improve development outcomes and blended finance vehicle returns. By providing technical assistance to businesses, UNCDF aims to boost productivity, increase incomes and improve access to finance and markets across LDCs.

Deberes y responsabilidades

The consultant is expected to support UNCDF in designing Technical Assistance Support and possibly a TA facility, including an adequate process. Outputs of the assignment shall include the following (not exhaustive):

• Inventory of pipeline opportunities within UNCDF
• Suggest investment criteria (together with UNCDF)
• Design of pre-investment support functionality, including products and services offered
• Design of post-investment support functionality, including products and services offered
• Design a process for delivering the pre-and post-investment support
• Draft a proposal of TA vehicle (including the points above, as well as partial or full sustainability options for the TA vehicle)
• Define and analyze potential UNCDF roles in supporting and/or managing the TA vehicle

Key Deliverables & Payment Schedule:

• The consultant will be required to develop a document outlining a proposed TA support vehicle supporting business opportunities emerging from UNCDF’s projects and programs which can be presented to potential funders.
• The consultant will be required to develop a 2-page executive summary of the abovementioned document.
• The consultant will need to document options and present them to all stakeholders during the process of drafting the final documents.

Monitoring and Progress Control:

• The consultant will work under the direct supervision of the Head of the Investment Platform
• The consultant with report on his results to the Head of the investment Platform on a monthly basis
• The quality of the outputs will be assessed by the Head of the Investment  Platform.

Duration of the Work

150 days full time

Duty Station

The duty station/location for the contract duration is New-York

Competencias

• Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of UNCDF;
• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN's values and ethical standards;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race and age sensitivity and adaptability.
• With strategic vision, a proven capacity to work in a team and generate results, and a deep understanding of multilateral development finance or impact investing – and commitment;
• Highly analytical and strategic thinker with excellent verbal, written and visual communication skills;
• Experience in creating detailed work plans or implementation plans.

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

Education:

• A Master’s degree in project management, economics, public/business administration, international relations, social sciences, or related discipline or the equivalent experience

Experience:

• Minimum 2 years managing projects and teams in both public and private sectors;
• Minimum 2 years of experience in Technical Assistance Facility design;
• Significant experience in blended finance vehicle structuring for international development agencies;
• Demonstrated experience in managing portfolios of investments or projects, including relevant management and communication systems and tools to achieve milestones;
• Experience in project design and management;
• Experience in managing networks and portfolios of consultants and technical advisors;
• Experience in managing or setting up an investment fund or investment vehicle is a must;
• Full familiarity with a range of debt and equity instruments.
• Experience working with SME’s located in LDC’s (Least Developed Countries).

Language:

• Written and verbal fluency in English is required; other UN languages are an asset

Scope of Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments

Payments will be made monthly upon confirmation of UNCDF that the individual has delivered on the contract obligations in a satisfactory manner based on the completed deliverables. 

Recommended Presentation of Offer

The following documents are requested:

1. Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability;
2. Personal CV indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references;
3. Brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment, and a methodology, if applicable, on how they will approach and complete the assignment.
4. Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive Daily Fee price. If an Offeror is employed by an organization/company/institution, and he/she expects his/her employer to charge a management fee in the process of releasing him/her to UNCDF under Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA), the Offeror must indicate at this point, and ensure that all such costs are duly incorporated in the financial proposal submitted to UNCDF: https://popp.undp.org/_layouts/15/WopiFrame.aspx?sourcedoc=/UNDP_POPP_DOCUMENT_LIBRARY/Public/PSU_%20Individual%20Contract_Offerors%20Letter%20to%20UNDP%20Confirming%20Interest%20and%20Availability.docx&action=default

Criteria for Selection of the Best Offer

Step I: Shortlisting by Desk Review:

Preliminary Screening:  Applications will be screened and only candidates meeting the following minimum criteria will progress to the pool for shortlisting;

• Education: A Master’s degree in project management, economics, public/business administration, international relations, social sciences, or related discipline or the equivalent experience
• Experience in fund structuring;
• 2 years of proven experience in Technical Assistance Facility design;
• Language

Step II: Technical Review

UNCDF will review CVs of shortlisted  candidates by evaluating the following criteria with the corresponding points (100 points)

• Education/Qualification (25 points);
• Experience (relevance, geographical coverage, UN experience etc) (75 points);

Applicants achieving 70% of the points will be considered as having passed the technical review.

Step III: Financial Evaluation:

Technical proposal = Review of a profile through desk review (70%) + Financial proposal (30%)

Financial proposal: Lowest priced proposal/price of the proposal being evaluated x 30.

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