Background

The United Nations 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 three channels: inclusive digital economies, connecting individuals, households, and small businesses with financial eco-systems that catalyze participation in the local economy, and provide tools to climb out of poverty and manage financial lives; local development finance, that capacitates localities through fiscal decentralization, innovative municipal finance, and structured project finance to drive local economic expansion and sustainable development; and investment finance, that provides catalytic financial structuring, de-risking, and capital deployment to drive SDG impact and domestic resource mobilization. By strengthening how finance works for poor people at the household, small enterprise, and local infrastructure levels, UNCDF contributes to Sustainable Development Goal-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 broad diversity of SDGs.

UNCDF Local Finance Development Unit in Western and Central Africa is dedicated to partner with Freetown City Council (FCC - the municipal government of the city of Freetwon, the capital of Sierra Leone, established in 1893) to enable its access to market financing for its development plan “Transform Freetown”, thereby contributing to transforming the City of Freetown for the benefit of Freetown’s residents. UNCDF and FCC will partner through the Blue Peace Financing initiative set up within the framework of UNCDF partnership with the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and Geneva Water Hub.

The Blue Peace Movement is a global movement led by the Government of Switzerland that aims to develop a culture of peace and preserve freshwater resources, while achieving equitable and sustainable use of water across boundaries, sectors and generations. Blue Peace Movement promotes solutions from international organisations, governmental agencies, the private sector, NGOs, research institutes, artists and young people. Using a variety of diplomatic, political, technical and financial tools, the Blue Peace Movement advocates for creative and innovative thinking on how to use, manage and invest in water resources.

Duties and Responsibilities

Reporting directly to the Regional Technical Advisor for the Local Development Finance Practice as well as the Municipal Investment Finance (MIF) Global Program Manager, the Consultant will ensure proper implementation of activities planned under the partnership with Freetown City Council, within the Blue Peace Financing Initiative, in collaboration with the Local Development Finance Team for Western and Central Africa based in Dakar, Senegal.

The FCC Focal Point/Investment Officer will provide technical and managerial support to the project, under the supervision of UNCDF, in support to FCC, for the implementation of an innovative project – implemented within the Blue Peace Financing initiative - aimed at developing and mobilizing innovative financing for the implementation of “Transform Freetown” for the benefit of Freetown’s resident. He/she will be working from FCC offices.

The consultant will have to conduct the activities in order to allow the implementation of the projects supported by the Blue Peace initiative. Those activities will take place in three main stages:

1. Analysis of the Fiscal and Financial context of FCC (financial situation - budgeting - cost/revenues - development planning - gender sensitivity of budgets) and building scenarii, which consider the context, to finance Transform Freetown.
2.  Working on and structuring investments so that they generate revenues (investment group 1: public toilets, waste management, recycling; investment group2 : around 10 markets). Those investments should be gender sensitive.
3. Definining the appropriate mechanisms for receiving financing and accessing the bond market.

The key tasks of the consultant will be two-fold:

1. Support the organization and facilitate main activities related the FCC Blue Peace Financing project and act as a Focal Point for UNCDF working with the FCC;
2. Provide technical support to develop and implement an innovative municipal financing mechanism to finance investments for the implementation of “Transform Freetown” development plan.

More precisely, he/she will:

• Support designing, piloting and testing improved municipal finance mechanisms for FCC, instruments and tools for Debt and Equity instruments (borrowing, special purpose project vehicles and bonds) for Municipal Finance;
  • Provide technical knowledge on appropriate municipal finance mechanism implementation strategies;
  • Write / Provide inputs to strategic concept notes;
  • Conduct discussions with relevant partners to tailor a relevant, sustainable and effective mechanism that fits local needs, and meets global objectives.
• Support the process of implementing “Transform Freetown”, i.e executing the investment process and portfolio management, supporting in transaction structuring and financial closing, for improved access to finance:
  • Support in sourcing PPP projects;
  • Support in coordinating discussions and data collection on the projects led by FCC;
  • Provide targeted technical investment support services to identified project promoters.  This includes the review of feasibility studies, collection of relevant data to improve business plans and confirm the banking feasibility of the project, technical due diligence, market assessment, financial advisory services and structuring of project finance transactions;
  • Preparing and facilitating technical missions for the validation of investment projects and pipeline development;
  • Facilitate the required technical studies by engaging FCC, project partners, project sponsors, consultants, and communities as appropriate, including the development of Terms of Reference (ToRs) that reflect the project's financing requirements and support for procurement processes;
  • Identifying other sources of financing, including credit enhancements, guarantees, debt and equity, including preparing for and participating in negotiations with financiers, reviewing term sheets, coordinating with project sponsors, and supporting lenders' and investors' due diligence;
  • Design and support initiatives in Local Development Finance that engage with local banks and other providers of capital resources for local infrastructure, as well as international investors;
  • Capacity development of key programme stakeholders in the areas of commercially viable investments.
• Support policy dialogue and development of national policies in the area of Municipal finance:
  • Support the development of national policies in the areas of municipal finance; using the latest research and ideas, lessons of policy pilots as well as the opinion of key actors and major international institutions;
• Contribute to the strategic positioning of UNCDF and the Blue Peace Financing:
  • Provide technical support and advice to UNCDF, in particular to the MIF Global Program Manager, on corporate initiatives and activities.
  • Preparation of substantive inputs into the LDFP Business Plan, the Results-Oriented Annual Report as well as the annual LDFP Work Plan;
• Support in the resource mobilization of the MIF Program:
  • Inputs to regional and national level publications, seminars, and conferences to highlight UNCDF support to local development;
  • Inputs to proposals submission/concept to mobilize additional funds for MIF-related projects.
• Implement program management activities/Focal point:
  • Ensure appropriate and efficient dialogue of UNCDF with FCC for effective collaboration;
  • Provide weekly reports in the agreed format and other ad hoc and periodic reports;
  • Ensure that key results are delivered on time and within the budget allocated by management;
  • Planning, budgeting and timely reporting in accordance with FCC and UNCDF guidelines;
  • Establish and maintain an effective and efficient project monitoring system - integrated by FCC - that provides regular feedback on project performance and regularly update risk and problem registers;
  • Availability to travel the Western Africa region;
  • Administrative tasks;
  • Procurement tasks.
• More generally, the consultant will have to conduct its activities in accordance with UNCDF standards:
  • Sharing knowledge across the organization and building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning;
  • Fair and transparent decision making;
  • Calculated risk-taking;
  • Ability to address gender equality and empowerment of women considerations in strategic and operational activities of UNCDF.

Duration ofAssignment, Duty Station and Expected Places of Travel and Type of Contract:

Maximum number of working days: up to 150 days per year

Expected Duration of Assignment: 12 months with the possibility of extension for two (2) more years, based on continued project needs, funding availability and consultant’s satisfactory performance assessment.

Duty station: FCC Offices, Freetown, Sierra Leone.

Travel across the sub-region and other relevant locations may be required and will be compensated on reimbursable basis and following the UNDP/UNCDF rules and regulations which states that consultants shall only be paid the most direct and most economical ticket, as will be quoted by the official UN travel agency.  Any amount in excess of the said quotation, such as class and airline preference of the consultant, shall be borne by the consultant and the daily living allowance will be paid in amounts not exceeding the UN established Rate.

Please note that UNCDF cannot guarantee residence permits or visas 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.

Provision of Monitoring and Progress Controls

• Based in FCC Offices, the Freetown City Council Focal Point – Investment Officer will work under the direct supervision of the UNCDF Regional Technical Advisor for Local Development Finance Practice based in Dakar and the MIF Global Program Manager based in New York.
• Payments will be made based on the percentage of contract price, in line with the payment schedule below, and upon confirmation of UNCDF’s Regional Technical Advisor that the individual has delivered on the contract obligations in a satisfactory manner based on the completed deliverables stated under the Section 2 above. 
• Final payment shall require a signed performance evaluation of the consultant.

In addition to the general deliverables mentioned in the table above, specific deliverables will be requested by UNCDF, and their receipt and validation will condition the payments mentioned above. These deliverables include:

• Mission Reports,
• Strategic/methodological Notes,
• Due diligence,
• Comprehensive and consolidated financial models and sensitivity analysis,
• Project business plan,
• Support to feasibility studies, etc.
• The following supporting documents will serve as conditions for disbursement:
• submission of an invoice and Certificate of Payment (COP).
• submission of all deliverables / workplan / progress report with relevant supporting documentation; and
• review, approval and written acceptance of each deliverable by the UNCDF Regional Technical Advisor and/or his designate.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

• Demonstrates ethics and integrity;
• Demonstrates political acumen and calculated risk taking;
• Impeccable diplomatic skills and knowledge of protocol;
• Builds own competence, creating an environment of creativity and innovation;
• Creates and promotes open communication;
• Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure;
• Conducts fair and transparent decision making;
• Displays cultural and gender sensitivity and adaptability;

Professional:

• Proven ability in public speaking, specifically to senior-level audiences including governments, companies and international organizations;
• Strong professional spokesperson, technically able to convey messages on behalf of UNCDF while respecting cultural contexts, political sensitivities and advancing national priorities
• Demonstrates ability to:
  • Engage with multiple stakeholders, including project sponsors, local governments, multilateral organizations, government partners and financial institutions;
  • Keep abreast of new developments in the field of development finance and seeks personal development.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

• Master's degree or equivalent in Economics, Business, Public Finance, Public Administration

Experience

• Minimum of 5 years of relevant, practical working experience in:
  • Project management, in the field of international development, and more specifically local development finance;
  • Local development planning in urban areas;
  • Project finance / Investment portfolio management / Conducting feasibility studies – particularly in WASH.
• Relevant experience in the Western/Central Africa region, preferably Sierra Leone.
• General knowledge on at least one the following:
  • Municipal Finance;
  • Public Private Partnerships (PPPs)
  • Bond issuance process on the stock market
• Specific knowledge on at least two of the followings
  • Municipal planning and budgeting
  • Local economic development
  • Budget management
  • Own resources mobilization
• Familiarity with UNCDF/UNDP rules and procedures is an advantage.

Language

• Written and spoken fluency in English

Application Process

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information 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:

1. Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability;
2. 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);
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. Signed Financial proposal for the assignment outlining: All-inclusive fee (including professional fees and other professional expenses, such as housing, insurance, taxes, etc.). Available at http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_file.cfm?doc_id=29916).

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. 

Failure to submit all the below mentioned documents may result in rejection of the application.

Evaluation Criteria

Applications will be rated on both technical and financial submissions. The following selection method will be used: Highest rated proposal using the combined scoring method, which assigns the weight distribution between the technical and financial proposals. The overall combined score will be 100 points, where weight distribution shall be 70% technical (30% desk review + 40% interview) and 30% financial.

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:

• Master's degree or equivalent in Economics, Business, Public Finance, Public Administration.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in Project Management/Finance/Investment.
• Fluency in English.

Step II: Shortlisting by Desk Review (100 points)

UNCDF will conduct a desk review process to shortlist and technically evaluate candidates as per the following criteria:

 Education (20 points):

• Master's degree or equivalent in Economics, Business, Public Finance, Public Administration.

Experience (70 points):

• Minimum of 5 years of relevant, practical working experience in (25 points):
  • Project management, in the field of international development, and more specifically local development finance (10 points);
  • Local development planning in urban areas (5 points); 
  • Project finance / Investment portfolio management / Conducting feasibility studies – particularly in WASH (10 points).
  • Relevant experience in the Western/Central Africa region, preferably Sierra Leone (10 points).
  • General knowledge on at least one the following (10 points):
    • Municipal Finance;
    • Public Private Partnerships (PPPs)
    • Bond issuance process on the stock market
  • Specific knowledge on at least two of the followings (15 points):
    • Municipal planning and budgeting
    • Local economic development
    • Budget management
    • Own resources mobilization
  • Demonstrated ability to (5 points):
    • Engage with multiple stakeholders, including project sponsors, local governments, multilateral organizations, government partners and financial institutions;
    • Keep abreast of new developments in the field of development finance and seeks personal development.
  • Familiarity with UNCDF/UNDP rules and procedures is an advantage (5 points).

Language (10 points):

• Fluency in English

As applicable, only the first top 3-4 ranked applicants achieving minimum 70 points shall be invited for an interview.

Step III: Technical interviews

A competency-based Interview shall be conducted with the top three or four candidates who score the highest in Step II (minimum of 70 points). Candidates will be tested on the same key work areas, in greater depth, with the same weighting, namely:

• Relevant experience
• Sector Technical Knowledge 
• Programme Development and Management
• Understanding of the mission

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% on the total of Step II: Desk Review and Step III: Interview will be considered as technically qualified and will be reviewed further for financial evaluation.

Step IV: Financial Evaluation:

The following formula will be used to evaluate financial proposal:

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

Step V: Award Criteria:

The contact shall be awarded to the applicant whose offer have been evaluated and determined as:

• Responsive/compliant/acceptable vis-à-vis the requirements of the TOR and the project operating environment; and
• Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical (70%) and financial (30%) criteria.

Both individual consultants and individuals 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.

UNCDF 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.