Monitoring and Knowledge Management Consultant

Consultant

Contract

This is a National Consultant contract. More about National Consultant contracts.

Background

UNCDF and IDE in Bangladesh

Since 2016, UNCDF's programmatic agenda in Bangladesh, has responded to the persisting exclusion of low-income people, especially women, that can limit the potential of individuals and businesses to contribute to and benefit from economic growth. While it started focusing on increasing access and usage of financial services; it has recently evolved (thanks to the promises showed by digital finance) to a more comprehensive strategy anchored in the need of building an inclusive digital economy to enable low- income people, especially women, accessing economic opportunities and reduce poverty. UNCDF’s new Inclusive Digital Economy Strategy (2021-2025) leverages the work we have done in the country since 2016 and expands the use of digital solutions to further tackle the main development challenges of the country. UNCDF-IDE Practice Area is currently providing the following support to the development of inclusive digital economies in Bangladesh:

Policy Workstream:

In joint implementation with UNDP, UN Women and ILO, UNCDF is developing the Integrated National Financing Framework in Bangladesh supported by Joint SDG Fund, with UNCDF’s activity focus on SDG 7 and Digital Finance Ecosystem. UNCDF’s Inclusive Digital Economy Scorecard (IDES) and Digital Finance Ecosystem (DFS) Assessment (in partnership with UNDP) will also be contributed towards this project’s achievements. Please see further information in Annex.

Digital Payments Infrastructure Workstream:

UNCDF is now currently exploring ways to support the country to strengthen and catalyze government led interoperability implementation in Bangladesh. This may include support to the Interoperable Digital Transaction Platform and the implementation to the Government of Bangladesh's QR code standards.

Innovation Workstream:

Through our work on innovation, we are focusing on women owned MSMEs, resilience from the COVID- 19 pandemic, remittances and migrants and agritech solutions.

Skills Workstream:

Most of the projects under the innovation workstream have either a digital or a financial capabilities component. In addition to that, in partnership with VISA Inc. UNCDF is building digital and financial capabilities of small and micro businesses in partnership with e-commerce platforms.

Duties and Responsibilities

Objectives of the Assignment.

Under the supervision of Digital Economies Expert, IDE Bangladesh, the Monitoring and Knowledge Management consultant will:

1. Support the team in regularly monitoring and evaluating interventions and investments UNCDF supports and rolls out in Bangladesh;
2. Ensure development and dissemination of knowledge products produced by the projects with wider stakeholders both at a local and global level through various platforms and channels.

Scope of Work.

Support the team in regularly monitoring and evaluating interventions and investments UNCDF supports and rolls out in Bangladesh

• Develop a Result Measurement and Monitoring Plan, in the form of an excel-based dashboard, considering UNCDF’s global and regional M&E frameworks and incorporating monitoring techniques tailored to the initiatives, interventions and investments of IDE team
• Regularly update the country-level dashboard and the global and regional reporting templates for ongoing projects and track implementation progress as per the annual work plan
• Capture, document, analyze and report M&E data and indicators in a results-based approach in timely manner.
• Work closely with the country team and M&E colleagues in the regional office in ensuring high-quality monitoring and evaluation of ongoing projects and investments in Bangladesh
• Contribute to developing regional and global reports/ periodic updates based on country- level progress reports and data as required;
• Ensure all reports, documents and data of ongoing projects and investments are periodically and annually captured, from consortium partners and business innovation pilot implementers;
• Coordinate and support in periodic follow-up with implementing partners on reporting requirements as designed in Performance-Based Agreements (PBAs);
• Directly monitor progress as per indicators and coordinate with private sector implementing partners to collect periodic data and reports through field verification and spot checks;
• Assist in developing all required systems, tools etc. for adequate reporting
• Support in ensuring timely and accurate submission of monitoring reports and annual donor reports (narrative and financial).

Ensure development and dissemination of knowledge products produced by the projects with wider stakeholders both on a local and global level through various platforms and channels;

• Capture interim results and support development of knowledge materials and communication products based on learning of ongoing IDE interventions and investments
• Develop and disseminate weekly and monthly roundups of highlights on IDE Bangladesh activities for dissemination across various digital platforms
• Maintain and update a knowledge management depository regularly and archive final versions of documents and evidence in a systematic manner

Expected Outputs and Deliverables.

Task Description

Deliverables/Outputs

Timeline

Payment in %

of total contract price

Support the team in regularly monitoring and evaluating interventions and investments UNCDF supports and rolls out in Bangladesh

Submit a draft Result Measurement and Monitoring Plan, in the form of an excel-based dashboard, considering UNCDF’s global Results Measurement Framework (RMF) and incorporating appropriate quality assurance indicators and

techniques

Aug 2022

17%

Support the team in regularly monitoring and evaluating interventions and investments UNCDF supports and rolls out in Bangladesh

Provide Quality Monitoring and Assurance Reports based on field visits, spot checks, phone surveys and Key Informant Interviews

Monthly

17%

Ensure development and dissemination of knowledge products produced by the projects with wider stakeholders both on a local and global level through various platforms

and channels

Deep-dive Report on gender targeting of IDE interventions and investments with an emphasis on socioeconomic segmentation, customer journeys and lifecycles

of women users on the platforms.

Oct 2022

17%

Ensure development and dissemination of knowledge products produced by the projects with wider stakeholders both on a local and global level through various platforms

and channels

At least 2 blog posts / articles on UNCDF website featuring implementation lessons and insights from Women Enterprise Recovery Fund and Women MSME

FinTech Innovation Fund

Nov 2022

17%

Support the team in regularly monitoring and evaluating interventions and investments UNCDF supports and rolls out in Bangladesh

Draft Annual Report 2022 covering details of interventions, activities, outputs, learnings etc. on IDE projects in Bangladesh

Dec 2022

16%

Ensure development and dissemination of knowledge products produced by the projects with wider stakeholders both on a local and global level through various platforms and channels

At least 2 case studies on IDE investments and interventions in the RMG sector

Updated knowledge depository of IDE Bangladesh team with all final versions of documents and

evidence systematically archived

Jan 2023

16%

Institutional Arrangement

• The consultant will work under the direct supervision of Digital Economies Expert for IDE Bangladesh as well as closely collaboration with Project Officer based in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
• The consultant will join UNCDF Bangladesh team weekly calls to understand the project progress and share update on his deliverables. He/she will also get on weekly calls with the project supervisor to report on the progress and seek guidance where needed.
• The position will be expected to engage with UNCDF Bangladesh Team, UNCDF Regional Team, UNDP Bangladesh team, and our key external stakeholders in Bangladesh as needed, to ensure smooth delivery of our projects. He/she will also engage with the UNCDF Regional Communications Specialist and M&E expert.
• The Consultant is responsible for providing his/her own laptop during his/her engagement with UNCDF.

Duration of Assignment.

Contract Duration: 6 months, up to 120 days.

Contract period: 10 August 2022 – 31 January 2023

Duty Station and Travel.

Duty station: Office-based - Dhaka, Bangladesh

Places of Travel: Possible travel within Bangladesh

Travel costs associated to the assignment will be paid 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. Daily living allowance will be paid in amounts that will not exceed UN DSA Rates.

The schedule of travel will be negotiated with the consultant according to the requirements of the programme. Mission travels shall be arranged by UNCDF Office in accordance with UNCDF travel rules and regulations. The travel arrangement will be based on UN travel policy during Covid-19 pandemic.

Provision of Monitoring and Progress Controls.

The consultant will work under the direct supervision of Digital Economies Expert for IDE Bangladesh in close collaboration with the Programme Officer.

The consultant will have daily communication during the contract period with UNCDF via email and Skype, for

coordination and guidance purposes, ensuring consultants’ output quality and targets.

The Consultant is responsible for providing his/her own laptop during his/her engagement with UNCDF. The following supporting documents will serve as conditions for payments to an Individual Contractor(s):

1. Submission of Certificate of Payment (COP)
2. Submission of invoice
3. Submission of all deliverables / workplan / progress report with the relevant supporting documentation
4. Review, approval and written acceptance of each deliverable by the UNCDF Regional Manager for Digital Hub for Asia and any other Project/Programme Manager designated by UNCDF Regional Manager

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates commitment to UNCDF and UNDP’s mission, vision and values;
• Previous working experience with UNDP or any other development organization in Bangladesh.
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Functional Competencies:

• Excellent presentation skills
• Proven functional skills in analytical writing and producing high-quality reports
• Ability to perform a variety of specialized tasks related to Results Management, Data Management, Data Visualization, Reporting and Knowledge Management;
• Focuses on result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities

Required Skills and Experience

Education

• Bachelors or Masters in Economics / Development Studies / Business Administration/ Public Policy or similar studies. An additional two (2) years of relevant work experience may be considered in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience

• Minimum 2 years of experience in digital finance and/or ICT for Development programmes
• Minimum 1 years of experience in M&E and donor reporting of development programmes/ projects
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in knowledge management, dissemination and communication of learning from development interventions
• Minimum 2 years of Experience of designing and developing knowledge products and communication materials based on monitoring and evaluation findings and learning
• Excellent analytical writing and reporting skills

Language

• Fluent command of written and spoken English is mandatory
• Good command of spoken Bangla language is an advantage

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 document. Applicants must make sure to upload all documents in one PDF file.)

All applications must contain the following information and should be submitted by 5 August 2022:

• Cover letter

• At least one report related to M&E/ knowledge product from prior engagement as writing sample

• Complete and signed P11, Personal History Form with names and current contacts of 3 referees (available from http://sas.undp.org/documents/p11_personal_history_form.doc)
• Financial proposal: The financial proposal shall specify a lump sum amount that is inclusive of professional fees and other incidentals that the consultant expects to incur during the performance of the work. For this purpose, please complete and submit the Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability (Please click here for document), please send it separately to the email address financial.proposal@uncdf.org with the subject line: Monitoring and Knowledge Management consultant, Bangladesh

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

Evaluation:

Step I: Screening: Applications will be screened and only applicants meeting the mandatory criteria will progress to the pool for shortlisting.

Mandatory Criteria

• Bachelors or Masters in Economics / Development Studies / Business Administration/ Public Policy or similar studies. An additional two (2) years of relevant work experience may be considered in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Experience in digital finance and/or ICT for Development programmes.

Step II: Shortlisting by desk review (70% of technical assessment)

A desk review will be conducted to produce a shortlist of applicants according to the criteria listed below. Only applicants who obtain over 70% in this stage shall be invited for the next step.

Technical Evaluation Criteria

Obtainable Score

Minimum 2 years of experience in digital finance and/or ICT for Development programmes

35

Minimum 1 years of experience in M&E and donor reporting of development programmes/ projects

25

Minimum of 2 years of experience in knowledge management, dissemination and communication of learning from development interventions

25

Excellent analytical writing and reporting skills

15

Step III: Interview (30% of technical assessment)

A competency-based Interview shall be conducted for the shortlisted candidates. Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% on the total of technical assessment (Steps II Desk Review (70 points) + III Interview (30 points)) will be considered as technically qualified and will be reviewed further for financial evaluation.

Step IV: Financial Evaluation (30%).

Only the financial proposal of candidates who attain over 70% in the technical assessment will be considered and evaluated.

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 has been evaluated and determined as:

• Responsive/ compliant/ acceptable.
• Having received the highest combined weight (technical scores) 70% + financial 30%= 100%.

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

Apply now

Added 1 year ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: jobs.undp.org