Antecedentes

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.

In 2019 UNCDF formulated its strategy ‘Leaving no one behind in the digital era’. The strategy is based on 10+ years 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 inclusive digital economies. UNCDF aims to empower people through improved access and use of services that leverage innovation and technology and contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals.

In partnership with BongoHive, UNCDF in Zambia, is implementing a FINTECH4U programme with a focus on unlocking and demonstrating the potential of DFS to improve the lives of the unbanked, focusing on Fintech’s and the SME’s. UNCDF will support Bongo Hive to create a financing facility to match existing and potential domestic and international sources of financing (including but not limited to debt, grants, blended finance and guarantees) to the needs of the FinTech’s/SME’s.

The FINTECH4U programme is aimed at supporting 10 FinTech/SME’s to navigate the regulatory, licencing and compliance requirements with relevant regulators such as, Bank of Zambia  (BOZ), Zambia Information and Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA), Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) in Lusaka, Zambia.

The programme intends to develop an innovation play book through an iterative process with the various stakeholders covering regulation, financing, product development and partnership that can simplify start -up /FinTech journeys from start to scale.

UNCDF seeks a consultant to conduct its, to conduct an analysis and outline of Bongo Hive’s existing financial facilities financial partners (existing or potential), and produce a scoping report of potential financial partners, both regionally and internationally. The analysis will contribute to the development of a Roadmap and various playbooks designed to support FinTechs’ journeys in Zambia.

Deberes y responsabilidades

To achieve the set-out objectives, the UNCDF seeks the services of an Individual Consultant.

Scope of Work

1. Conduct an analysis and outline of Bongo Hive’s existing financial facilities mapping out potential partners
2. Conduct a workshop with BongoHive Directors, and project managers from UNCDF and BongoHive. to review current BongoHive technical assistance content, strategy and considerations based on findings of the scoping analysis of potential partners.
3. Develop a draft Partnership Strategy for Donors, Public and Private Sector organizations interested in partnering with BongoHive
4. Outlining a road map for Bongo Hive’s financing facility which will be set up to analyse potential financial partners, regionally and internationally.
5. Support the development of a ‘Technical Assistance to FinTechs’ and ‘Financing for FinTechs in Zambia’ regulatory navigation playbook to guide emerging FinTech companies from setup to scale.

Expected Outputs and Deliverables 

  Institutional Arrangements

The consultant will report to the Project Manager - UNCDF, who will approve the deliverables. The Consultant will provide weekly progress updates to the Project Manager – UNCDF and submit monthly progress reports. The monthly progress reports will be presented in the project management meetings, attended by the Regional Technical Expert, BongoHive Directors, and project managers from UNCDF and BongoHive.

The consultant is expected to liaise with the Digital Country Lead at the UNCDF, and Executive Director at BongoHive.

Competencias

• Excellent organizational and analytical skills
• Ability to act independently and exercise sound judgment
• Methodical and strategic thinking.
• Strong communication skills, written and verbal.
• Project management skills.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Computer literacy.

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

Education:

•  A Minimum BSc Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Economics or the equivalent experience is mandatory.

Experience: 

• At least 8 years of professional experience in finance, accounting or related fields is mandatory.
• At least 3 years of experience working in financial sector managing investment matters, including buying and selling investments trusts, shares or bonds, managing equity funds, currency or property on behalf of clients.
• Knowledge of up to date information about the economy, current financial news and financial markets is mandatory.
• Knowledge of donor agencies and grant management is preferable.

Language requirements:

• Written and spoken proficiency in English is mandatory.

Timeline, total number of working days, duty station:

The expected time to complete the assignment is 9 months and the expected date of full completion is February 2021. The estimated lead time for review of outputs is 10 days.

Location: Lusaka, Zambia

Standard travel costs and living expenses:

N/A.

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 and authorization for payment by the UNCDF Country lead.

Application process:

Interested individuals must submit the documents mentioned below  in order to demonstrate their qualifications. 

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);

• Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability
• Personal CV or P11 indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and the names of at least three (3) professional references (e-mail addresses, telephone numbers);
• 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 available at http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_file.cfm?doc_id=29916).
• All proposals must be expressed in a Lump Sum Amount. The following conditions apply:
• The lump sum amount must be “all-inclusive”; 
• The contract price is fixed regardless of changes in the cost components.

Evaluation: 

Step I: Desk review  

Education 20 points

Mandatory experience 70 points

Preferable exprience 10 points

Total 100 points

Step II: Financial Evaluation: Only candidates with scores above 70 Points 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 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.

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