Antecedentes

The UN Capital Development Fund makes public and private finance work for the poor in the world’s 46 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 strategy ‘Leaving no one behind in the digital era’ is 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.

UNCDF will focus on understanding the intersection of six categories of digital services entailing (i) agriculture, (ii) transport, (iii) energy, (iv) education, (v) health and (vi) finance across five categories of users: (i) women, (ii) youth, (iii) refugees,  (iv) migrants and (v) MSMEs.

To implement this strategy UNCDF will continue to apply a market development approach at country level. The objective of such an approach is to continuously seek to understand and intervene in select market systems to address underlying market dysfunctions that lead to improved efficiencies, effectiveness and sustainability.  The approach will seek to (1) leverage the roles and behaviours of current players in the marketplace, support them to continue doing 

what they do better or to change their behaviour, and (2) strengthen the systems and relationships among the various market and sector actors (3) work with current players to de-risk new business models to make digital solutions more inclusive for key segments and reduce the digital divide.

UNCDF inclusive digital economy strategy in Uganda

Since 2013, UNCDF has been implementing a market development approach on digital finance in Uganda.  With the support of the Sweden Development Agency (SIDA), UNCDF will execute the “Leaving no one behind in the digital era” strategy in country until 2024 under the “Connect” Rural Uganda Programme.  The Programme has the aim to develop an inclusive digital economy in Uganda with a specific focus at empowering rural communities, smallholders farmers, agri-business and refugees - to lead productive and healthy lives, by expanding access and usage of digital services.

The main expected outcomes of this new initiative include:

1. Rural community members in Uganda (smallholders farmers, agri-business & refugees) have the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed to access and use digital services. They have better access to training and education through digital channels.
2. New business models and technologies for delivering services are scaled for rural communities in the education, health, finance, agriculture and energy sector.
3. Rural community members have improved access to and increasingly use digital payment accounts.
4. The Government of Uganda implements policies that enable access and usage of digital services.

UNCDF requires a Knowledge Management Consultant to provide technical advice to the programme team in Ethiopia in the design of project interventions related to Digital financial services during the inception phase and phase I, Ongoing Response.

Deberes y responsabilidades

Under the supervision of UNCDF Uganda Country Digital Lead, the Knowledge Management Consultant will support UNCDF team in the following areas of intervention:

• Assure visibility of the programme through several events (conferences and workshops)
• Coordinate the writing of research reports and manage the design and the dissemination of the reports during the inception phase;
• Contribute to the networking and knowledge sharing among the UNCDF partners in Uganda.

The table below outlines the list of key deliverables and due dates foreseen:

Competencias

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards
• Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of UNCDF
• Ability to oversee communication of projects related to financial inclusion, economic development or other issues pertaining to the sustainable development goals (SDGs);
• Ability to translate complex ideas and technical concepts into plain and snappy language.
• Ability to listen and collaborate with a wide range of players, to work independently, being pro-active and taking the initiative
• Ability to manage new media
• Fully proficient computer skills and use of relevant software and other applications; web design and/or maintenance;
• Builds strong relationships with clients and external actors

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

Education

• University Degree in communications, journalism, marketing, social sciences, or related discipline.

Experience

• 5 years of experience in communications at the national or international level, including   experience in media relations.
• 2 years of experience leading the coordination of events/conferences
• Outstanding oral and written communications and editing skills, with proven ability to meet tight deadlines.
• Experience writing persuasive copy for a range of audiences, including press releases, articles, blogs, newsletters;
• Experience working in a development agency is desirable;
• Excellent IT skills and office software packages;
• Familiarity with financial inclusion and digital financial services is desirable

Language requirements

• Outstanding writing and oral skills in English are mandatory.

Timeline, total number of working days, duty station:

• Timeline: 12 months from 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022.

Duty Station

Kampala, Uganda

Standard travel costs and living expenses:

Travel: Travel, as deemed relevant by UNCDF, will be approved and arranged by UNCDF, following UNDP/UNCDF Travel Policy.

Progress Controls & Payments:

The Knowledge and Management Consultant must send a financial proposal based on a lump sum amount. Contract prices will be fixed and “all-inclusive” based in the contractor’s financial proposal; payments will be divided into lump sum amounts according to the schedule of payments below.

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 UNCDF Country Digital Lead. Disbursement of the final payment shall require a signed performance evaluation of the consultant.

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 in relation to the Terms of Reference (TOR) and earliest availability information.
• CV or completed and signed P11 (available from http://sas.undp.org/documents/p11_personal_history_form.doc), 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;
• Signed financial proposal: that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs, as per template provided at: http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_file.cfm?doc_id=29916.

Please make sure you have provided all requested materials. 

Step I: Screening

Applications will be screened and only applicants meeting the following mandatory criteria will progress to the pool for shortlisting:

• University Degree in communications, journalism, marketing, social sciences, or related discipline is mandatory

• 5 years of experience in communications at the national or international level, including   experience in media relations is mandatory

Step II: Shortlisting (20% of technical assessment points)

UNCDF will produce a shortlist of candidates and technically evaluate candidates by evaluating the following criteria with corresponding points (100 points):

Education

• University Degree in communications, journalism, marketing, social sciences, or related discipline (10 points)

Experience

• 5 years of experience in communications at the national or international level, including experience in media relations (25 points)
• 2 years of experience leading the coordination of events/conferences (15 points)
• Demonstrated experience writing persuasive copy for a range of audiences, including press releases, articles, blogs, newsletters (10 points);
• Experience working in UN development agency, international development organizations  is desirable (10 points);
• Excellent IT skills and office and design  software packages (10 points);;
• Familiarity with financial inclusion and digital financial services is desirable (10 points);

Language requirements

• Outstanding writing and oral skills in English are mandatory (10 points);

As applicable, only applicants scoring 80 points or more shall be considered for an interview.

Step III: Written Test (40% of technical assessment)

A written test shall be conducted by the shortlisting candidates having scored above 80 points in the shortlisting

Step IV: Interview (30% of technical assessment)

An interview shall be conducted to candidates having scored above 70 points in the shortlisting.

Step V: Financial Evaluation

Only candidates with scores above 70% of the technical evaluation will be considered as technically qualified and will be reviewed further for financial evaluation. 

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 best 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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