Background

Country Background

Mobile Money for the Poor (MM4P) is a global thematic initiative to address the opportunities and challenges of implementing branchless banking and mobile money in challenging markets in Africa and Asia.  MM4P’s long-term mission is to help low income and rural households in LDCs increase their financial security through appropriate, affordable and secure means to receive, manage and save money through these “digital financial services” (DFS).  UNCDF is currently implementing this in eight countries (Benin, Laos, Nepal, Liberia, Malawi Senegal, Uganda and Zambia). 

MM4P launched in Nepal in 2013 and works closely with A2F - UNNATI, providing both funding and technical oversight of DFS in Nepal.  A2F-Unnati is Danish Government supported programme focused on enhancing access to finance for smallholder farmers in eastern development region of Nepal.

MM4P Program Framework references four phases in the roll-out of mobile financial services: Inception, Start-Up, Expansion and Consolidation.  Nepal is currently juxtaposed in the early stages of the Start-Up Phase with some indicators which lead it towards the mid stage of Start-up Phase. The vision for Nepal is to have a BB and MFS ecosystem that operates through multiple providers.  The ecosystem will be supported by more certain and enabling guidelines and regulations characterized by proportional KYC, flexible agent requirements, clearly–stated consumer protections and supported by public-private efforts to educate customers. 

The objective of MM4P’s engagement in Nepal is to move from the inception phase firmly into the early expansion phase. The high level outreach targets of this strategy The outcome of this strategy through 2019 will be for 10% of the adult population actively using financial service via digital technologies.

Country Background

Nepal is at a unique cusp of seeing a new breed of players who are focused to act as payment service providers and undertake specific functions in the space of digital financial services while providing the last mile reach.  These include existing financial institutions and also new players (non-banks). Many of the existing or new players have a strong presence in terms of the business footprint belonging to one or the other large industrial groups. And within their network also have the strength of last mile distribution network to support the business of Payments. As historically seen a lot of DFS models have either failed or have been able to scale with limits, primarily due to over dependence on technology and not focus on agent network or customer value proposition. With emerging financial landscape in the country as different players either continue and expand their operations or there are new ones who have identified opportunities in digital financial services based on strengths of their existing business and are keen to  offer digital product (card and mobile based) serviced through CICO network.

The digital services can be offered as a standalone product and can be accessed using card or mobile through agent channel connected with POS machines and mobile/web based platform or accessed through ATMs for cash-out.

In this context, wherein the focus is to develop and test an agent network that can be sustainable and the value proposition that works for the customer. We intend to test the applicability of these services across a specific value chain to understand more clearly on how the various financial services that could be offered by a payment service provider or financial institution stitched around the value chain (dairy) and certainly drive adoption of services to make the agent channel more sustainable.

In addition to the focus on dairy the intervention will also like to test the take-up of a differentiated value proposition of pre-paid instrument in an urban center with positioning of the product with urban youths among others

The intervention requires a consultant to provide support and work with one of the FI to assist with the launch of its new financial offerings through targeted and focused pilots as planned by the institution in a phased manner.

Duties and Responsibilities

The consultant will provide support throughout the following 5 main steps:

1. Research on product prototype, pricing and commission structure;
2. Developing partnerships and agent network strategy;
3. Develop customer and agent/partner awareness modules;
4. Develop pilot plan;
5. Implementation support, evaluation and scale up plan development.

Scope of work and deliverables:

Work-Plan for activities to be carried out and expected deliverables. The consultant will work in close collaboration with Project Manager and team appointed by the institution.

1. Research on product prototype, pricing and commission structure.

Activities:

• Conduct product prototype research built upon existing research on ‘agri value chain digitization’;
• Develop a strategic plan for DFS Strategic Plan Business;
• Document pricing and commission structure;
• Develop Process development manual;
• Design Agent management plan.

Deliverables:

• Product concept refinement and research report.
• Strategic Plan.
• Pricing structure documented.
• Process manual.
• Agent management plan.

2. Developing partnerships and agent network strategy.

Deliverables:

• Commercial pitch for stakeholder.

3. Develop customer and agent/partner awareness modules.

Activities:

• Develop awareness building module for agents and partners;
• Develop awareness building module for clients;

Deliverables:

• Agent and partner awareness and capacity building module.
• Client awareness building module.

4. Develop pilot plan.

• Develop a pilot plan in line with strategic plan and monitoring plan.

Deliverables

• Pilot plan.

5. Implementation support, evaluation and scale up plan development.

Deliverables:

• Mid-term report;
• End-term evaluation report;
• Scale up plan.

Competencies

• Strong ability to communicate and function effectively in local/international/multicultural environment;
• Strong ability and attitude of a go-getter who aims to make business work and move forward, by way of executing relationships, build partnerships, takes the way of working beyond proven methods and is willing to take risk;
• Excellent networking with a demonstrated ability to build and maintain professional relationships;
• High level planning, organizational and time management skills, including flexibility, attention to detail and the ability to work under pressure to meet changing deadlines;
• Well-developed interpersonal skills, including the ability to liaise effectively at senior levels, including central banks;
• Analytical and problem solving skills of a high order, including the ability to formulate recommendations and advice;
• Solve complex performance problems and architectural challenges.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Post graduate degree in Economics, Finance, Banking, Development, Education or related fields or equivalent experience;

Experience:

• Hands-on experience on working with a bank or non-bank deployment for at least 3 Years in the area of branchless banking and mobile money agent solutions is mandatory;
• Previous experience in designing strategies for branchless banking and mobile financial services providers is mandatory;
• Experience in working on development of products and partnership, while directly interacting in field with the customers, agents and other business partners;
• Familiarity with the concepts of financial inclusion, a broad knowledge of related disciplines, as well as an in-depth knowledge of relevant organizational policies and procedures;
• Adequate understanding of legal and regulatory issues related to branchless and mobile financial services, such as know your customer and bank agency rules;
• Experience working with the mass market, including rural or low income communities, preferably related to financial services;
• Experience managing or conducting research, particularly related to product development or client demand;
• Familiarity with best practices in training mobile money agents;
• Previous work in Nepal or similar environment a plus;

Language:

• Excellent written and oral English.
• Fluency in one local language a plus.

Timeline, duration of assignment, duty station and expected places of travel:

• Timeline: March 2017 – February 2018.
• Total Number of Working Days for Assignment: 125 days within 12 months.
• Proposed schedule of assignment:

Travel 1: 75 days onsite (approximately 3.5 months);

Travel 2: 20 days onsite (approximately 1 month);

Travel 3: 20 days onsite (approximately 1 month);

10 days offsite.

• Locations: Kathmandu, Nepal and Off-Site.
• Consultants will quote travel in the financial proposal: Max of 3 return air-ticket to Kathmandu, Nepal (to and back from duty station).

• For unforeseeable travel, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed.

Please note that UNCDF cannot guarantee residence permits or visa´s for consultants. Consultants are responsible for securing their work documentation. In the case of national consultants, applicants that are not nationals of the duty station requested will have to prove their residence status.  

Please note that consultants residing in the duty station will not be compensated for living expenses.

Progress Controls & Payments:

• Payment will be made on periodical basis in accordance with number of days worked and upon satisfactorily achieved deliverables. All payments are subject to the clearance and approval of the direct supervisor.
• Final payment shall require a signed performance evaluation of the consultant.

Application:

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);
• Earliest availability and proposed schedule for consultancy;
• Curriculum Vitae;
• Fully completed and signed Personal History Form (P11) 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 full months assignment outlining:

Total professional fee (including professional fees, per diems in Kathmandu, Nepal (if applicable); as for per diem: accommodation and transport Is provided to the consultant by the partner institution (FI), please quote up to USD 50 for all other expenses (food and incidentals)

Other professional expenses (such as insurance, taxes, etc.);

Duty travel (3 return ticket from country of origin to Kathmandu, Nepal).

The financial proposal form is available at http://procurement notices.undp.org/view_file.cfm?doc_id=29916).

Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials.

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology:

Step I: Screening;

Step II: Technical Evaluation Weight - 70% (Step 1: 20 Points + Step 2: 80 Points = 100 Points);

Step III: Financial Evaluation Weight - 30%.

Step I: Screening

Applications will be screened and only applicants meeting the following minimum criteria (listed under education and experience) will progress to the pool for shortlisting.

Step II: Technical Evaluation:

• Shortlisting (20 points)

UNCDF will produce a shortlist of candidates and technically evaluate candidates as per experience requirements in the Terms of Reference. As applicable, only the first top 4 ranked applicants shall be considered for a desk review.

• Desk Review (80 points);

A desk review shall be conducted for the top 4 shortlisted candidates.

The financial evaluation of those candidates who have reached 70% of the Technical Evaluation will take place.

Step III: 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 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.