UNDP Jobs - 73710- Individual Consultant for Development Finance Asse

Individual Consultant for Development Finance Assessment (2 openings available)

Location :

Home-based with Travel

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

01-Sep-2017

Application Deadline :

09-Aug-17 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

up to 30 working days over a period of 3-6 months

Languages Required :

French

Expected Duration of Assignment :

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

Significant changes are taking place in the global development finance landscape. Many developing countries are going through transitions in terms of mobilising and managing resources to finance their development plans.

The Third International Conference on Financing for Development, held in Addis Ababa in July 2015, opened discussions on how to mobilise the unprecedented amounts of financial resources required to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Addis Ababa Action Agenda (AAAA) assumes that countries will use their own national development strategies and plans to respond to the SDGs and calls for the adoption of Integrated National Financing Frameworks (INFFs). In this regard, governments are now increasingly requesting support to take forward policy and institutional reforms to enable more integrated management of a broader set of finance flows to support the implementation of their national priorities and the SDGs.

In this context, several countries in the Africa and Arab States regions, are planning to undertake Development Finance Assessments (DFAs), which will consider the links between finance and national development priorities and the scope for stronger alignment of finance with the national development plan and the SDGs moving forward. In particular, the assessment will help provide recommendations for a road map for establishing an INFF.

The DFA was developed as a tool to respond to the growing demand from countries in the region to establish evidence and analysis, and introduce policy and institutional reforms for managing the increasing complexity of domestic and international sources of finance for development. DFAs were introduced as the very first development finance studies of their kind, seeking to bring together fragmented approaches on the use of the different sources of funds that may not all be primarily dedicated to address development. The DFA provides governments with data and analysis on the quality of their national development plans and country results frameworks, changing trends in development finance and their alignment with national priorities and results. It also helps formulate recommendations for how institutions and systems might be adjusted to ensure that different sources of development finance are managed within a coherent framework, which better supports the implementation of the SDGs.

Duties and Responsibilities

To deliver a DFA that provides an overview of development finance flows and the institutions and policies that align this finance with national development priorities, to include recommendations for a roadmap which will increase the alignment of financing flows – both public and private – to relevant countries national development plans and the 2030 Agenda. Specifically, the DFA will:

Provide an overview of the evolution of the flows of financing for development and their allocation and contribution to national priorities and results, as expressed in plans and policies at national, sector and sub-national levels.
Assess the links between finance and results through the relations between the national planning and budgeting processes.
Analyse the interface between different flows and the complementarities between the different sources of development finance in contributing to achieve national priorities and the SDGs.
Assess the role of the planning and budgeting process in linking both public and private finance with results, in the context of the SDGs.
Assess the roles and responsibilities of national institutions and their associated policies in managing or influencing the development of individual financial flows to contribute to the national development plan and SDGs.
Explore practical ways of strengthening the alignment of financing for development with national development priorities and the SDGs.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The scope of work provided below will be further adapted to the specific country context as part of the consultations to be undertaken under the auspices of the DFA Oversight Team (OT) and during the research phase. The broad scope of a DFA can be summarized as below. However, it is important to note that this scope is only indicative and will change depending on country needs.

Assessment of national planning and budgeting systems and their results orientation. The DFA will focus on the potential means to finance the country’s national development priorities. The assessment will seek to identify how priorities have been formulated in plans and strategies in the last planning cycle at thematic levels. The DFA will include a specific focus on an assessment of the alignment of national development priorities and targets with financial strategies and allocations. The analysis will include an assessment of the degree to which plans and policies include targets which are costed; how results frameworks function in practice; the coherence between sector/thematic plans and the SDGs; and the extent to which multiple stakeholders are involved in the planning and monitoring process.
Mapping and analysis of financing for development flows and their associated policy and institutional frameworks. Development finance flows will be analysed per two main categories: by source (domestic/external) and distinguishing them by public or private nature. This analysis will look to assess both quantitative trends in the changing nature of the development finance landscape over the past 10-15 years (depending on availability of data), as well as the policy and institutional coherence across flows in terms of their alignment with development priorities and the SDGs.
In depth analysis of policy and institutional options for strengthening the alignment of priority flows with national development plans/strategies and the SDGs and projections of future trends with these selected flows (if possible and desirable). The OT will determine 2-3 selected priority flows or case study areas for further in-depth analysis to determine options for strengthening their potential for accelerating progress in the implementation of the national development priorities and the SDGs. If sufficient quantitative evidence is available, this analysis will include projections of the future evolution of these priority flows into the next 5-10 years. In addition to potential quantitative analysis, the assessment will include more detailed policy and institutional analysis of the options to make the best use of these resources for financing the SDGs.
Roadmap to establish an INFF for achieving the national development goals and SDGs. The DFA will provide the government with policy and institutional recommendations for strengthening the alignment of development finance flows with national priorities and results. Part of the dialogue embedded in the DFA process will lead to the agreement of a roadmap which will support the government to: i) implement the main recommendations of the DFA analysis; ii) visualize the next logical and feasible steps to develop an INFF; and iii) identify the basis for support to be provided to the government as part of the proposed broader efforts to implement national development goals and the SDGs. This will require consultation with a range of stakeholders within the OT and beyond, throughout the process.

Deliverables:

The following are the indicative key areas of work for the DFA. However, it is important to note that each DFA will have its own expected deliverables, the final details and due dates of which to be outlined in the DFA concept note, under the guidance of the OT. Further, some countries may choose to only undertake a preliminary, or light DFA, which would represent a much smaller scope of work. Finally, not all DFA missions will involve working with a full team.

Pre-research mission preparation:
• Lead process of planning (virtually) with the OT and other focal points;
• Undertake preliminary desk-based literature review, data collection and analysis, with a focus on a detailed stakeholder mapping and analysis of development finance sources, policy documents and relevant analytical studies and reports.
• Propose itinerary and schedule of consultations and interviews for research; and
• Outline roles and guide other team members, if applicable for the specific DFA.

Research mission:
• Undertake research mission, providing leadership if other team members involved.
• Undertake data collection through consultations and interviews;
• Provide briefings to government, OT, UNDP and other stakeholders, as requested;
• Lead discussions with OT on the 2-3 priority flows to be examined in greater depth in the DFA Report, if applicable.

Inception Report (content to be prepared for discussion during research mission):

• Draft inception report for DFA, which will present the DFA objectives, scope, expected outputs and approach.
• Flow Fiche Analysis and information source overview document:
• Provide guidance and quality assurance to other team members to produce these interim deliverables

First Draft DFA Report:
• Draft DFA report;
• Give guidance and coordinate inputs from other team members, if applicable;
• Incorporate feedback from OT and other stakeholders.

Validation Mission:
• Lead planning, facilitation and delivery of validation workshop to share findings and recommendations of DFA report;
• Meet with OT to discuss finalisation requirements;

Final DFA Report:
• Lead in finalizing DFA Report for approval by OT, incorporating feedback received;
• Submit final DFA Report.

Deliverables and Payment Terms

Delivarables/Outputs Amount

Inception report 30%
Drat DFA report 30%
Final DFA report 40%

Competencies

• Excellent client orientation and interpersonal skills and able to communicate effectively at all levels of the organization;
• Capable of working in a highly-pressured environment with extreme deadlines, managing many tasks simultaneously;
• Ability to manage complexity and is able to handle confidential and sensitive issues in a responsible and mature manner;
• Impeccable analytical skills and able to research, analyse, and draft well and able to present convincingly;
• Exercises the highest level of responsibility;
• An excellent team player, projecting a positive image and ready to take on a wide range of tasks to create an enabling environment for the supervisor, focusing on results for the client and responds positively to feedback;
• Willingly shares knowledge and experience and makes contributions to UNDP practice areas (e.g., documented knowledge, community of practice building initiatives); and
• Understanding of the United Nations system, operations and structures - this includes demonstrating keen political awareness, particularly in relation to the principles of development effectiveness and transparency.

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity and fairness, by modelling the UN/UNDP's values and ethical standards;
Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UN/UNDP; and
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic qualifications:

Master’s degree in Public Administration, International Relations, Economics, and the broad social sciences or other related disciplines is required.

Experience:

At least 7 years of work experience, with increasing independence, in an international organization in the areas of public finance, budget review, public expenditure review, development finance, private investment and/or innovative financial instruments is required.
Demonstrated understanding of substantive policy issues in the field of development finance, public finance, or economic and development cooperation is required.
Specialised knowledge of development issues particularly economic and development co-operation issues, development finance challenges, and related fields in developing countries globally and, in particular in the Africa and/or Arab regions is required.
Experience in conducting reviews and analysis in related areas and produced high quality review reports, and excellent knowledge of data collection, analysis and statistics tools is required.
Advanced quantitative and econometric skills and experience with related data analysis tools are an advantage.

Language:

Fluency in written and spoken French is required;
Working knowledge of another UN language would be an asset

Application Procedure

The application package containing the following (to be uploaded as one file):

Online application with brief description of why the Offer considers her/himself the most suitable for the assignment; and
Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects and specifying the relevant assignment period (from/to), as well as the email and telephone contacts of at least three (3) professional references.

Note: The above documents need to be scanned in one file and uploaded to the online application as one document.

Shortlisted candidates (ONLY) will be requested to submit a Financial Proposal.

Financial Proposal

The financial proposal should specify an all-inclusive daily fee (based on a 7 hour working day - lunch time is not included - and estimated 21.75 days per month).
The financial proposal must be all-inclusive and take into account various expenses that will be incurred during the contract, including: the daily professional fee; cost of travel from the home base to the duty station and vice versa, where required; living allowances at the duty station; communications, utilities and consumables; life, health and any other insurance; risks and inconveniences related to work under hardship and hazardous conditions (e.g., personal security needs, etc.), when applicable; and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services under the contract.
This consultancy is a home-based assignment, therefore, there is no envisaged travel cost to join duty station/repatriation travel. However, for the 1-2 missions per DFA. UNDP will cover the costs of travel undertaken by the consultant and travel arrangements will be made in compliance with UNDP rules and regulations.
In the case of unforeseeable travel requested by UNDP, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between UNDP and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed. In general, UNDP should not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resource.
If the 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 UNDP under a 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 UNDP.

The Financial Proposal is to be emailed as per the instruction in the separate email that will be sent to shortlisted candidates.

Evaluation process

Applicants are reviewed based on Required Skills and Experience stated above and based on the technical evaluation criteria outlined below. Applicants will be evaluated based on cumulative scoring. When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract will be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

Being responsive/compliant/acceptable; and
Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation where technical criteria weighs 70% and Financial criteria/ Proposal weighs 30%.

Technical evaluation - Total 70% (700 points):

Criteria 1. Relevant Experience in the areas of public finance, budget review, public expenditure review, development finance, private investment and/or innovative financial instruments Weight = 14%; Maximum Points: 140
Criteria 2. Demonstrated understanding of substantive policy issues in the field of development finance, e public finance, or economic and development cooperation Weight = 12 %; Maximum Points: 120;
Criteria 3. Displays Specialized knowledge of development issues particularly economic and development co-operation issues, development finance challenges, and related fields in developing countries globally and, in particular in the Africa and/or Arab regions Weight = 12 %; Maximum Points: 120;
Criteria 4. Displays relevant Experience in conducting reviews and analysis in related areas and produced high quality review reports, and excellent knowledge of data collection, analysis and statistics tools Weight = 12 %; Maximum Points: 120;
Criteria 5. Advanced quantitative and econometric skills and experience with related data analysis tools are an advantage Weight = 10 %; Maximum Points: 100;

Having reviewed applications received, UNDP will invite the top three/four shortlisted candidates, scoring at least for 390 points in the desk review for interview. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Interview: Weight = 10 %; Maximum Points: 100

Candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% (490 points) of the maximum obtainable points for the technical criteria (700 points) shall be considered for the financial evaluation.

Financial evaluation - Total 30% (300 points)

The following formula will be used to evaluate financial proposal:

p = y (µ/z), where

p = points for the financial proposal being evaluated

y = maximum number of points for the financial proposal

µ = price of the lowest priced proposal

z = price of the proposal being evaluated

Contract Award

Candidate obtaining the highest combined scores in the combined score of Technical and Financial evaluation will be considered technically qualified and will be offered to enter into contract with UNDP.

Institutional arrangement

The Consultant will report directly to a UNDP Country Office focal point, to be determined a future date. The Consultant will also work collaboratively with relevant regional advisors and global advisor on effective development cooperation.

The OT will agree on the scope of the DFA and the work plan for its implementation. It will also endorse the final DFA and its associated recommendations for moving forward. The Consultant will work closely, at all stages of the DFA process, with the OT and UNDP Regional and Country Offices.

Payment modality

Payment to the Individual Contractor will be made based on the actual number of days worked, deliverables accepted and upon certification of satisfactory completion by the manager.
The work week will be based on 35 hours, i.e. on a 7 hour working day, with core hours being between 9h00 and 18h00 daily.

Annexes (click on the hyperlink to access the documents):
Annex 1 - UNDP P-11 Form for ICs
Annex 2 - IC Contract Template
Annex 3 - IC General Terms and Conditions
Annex 4 - RLA Template

Any request for clarification must be sent by email to cpu.bids@undp.org. The UNDP Central Procurement Unit will respond by email and will send written copies of the response, including an explanation of the query without identifying the source of inquiry, to all applicants.