National Expert in Financial Inclusion and Project Management

Consultant

Contract

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

Background

The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) 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’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. Based on this experience UNCDF started in 2017 to expand the scope of its programmatic agenda to go beyond digital finance. Through the “Leaving none behind in the digital era” strategy, UNCDF is supporting, through its digital finance interventions, the emergence of inclusive digital economies.

Under this framework, UNCDF is currently expanding its expertise in Ghana under “Boosting Green Employment and Enterprise Opportunities in Ghana (GrEEn)” programme to be funded by the European Union Trust Fund for Africa. This programme will contribute to addressing the root causes of irregular migration through green and climate resilient local economic development and improving future prospects of beneficiaries, by creating employment and enterprise opportunities in selected sectors and regions (Ashanti and Western). The action aims at supporting job creation in regions of departure, transit and return of Ghana, creating local financial ecosystems that facilitate the development of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and enabling the transition of local economies to green and climate resilient development. For more information on GrEEn, please visit https://www.uncdf.org/green.

Under Result 3, UNCDF will create and strengthen local ecosystems that support youth (self-) employment and the development of MSMEs. In particular, UNCDF will work with partners to increase access and usage of financial services, leveraging digital and innovation, adapted to the needs of (i) youth, women and returnees (ii) local communities and (iii) MSMEs. Through its technical and funding Facility under the GrEEn Project, UNCDF engages with innovative financial services providers (banks, fintech, Savings and Loans, Microfinance institutions, remittance providers, MNOs, MTOs, etc.) and support them to pilot and/or scale up innovative financial services for the excluded segments and bring them to the last mile where targeted groups struggle in accessing and using formal financial services.

To achieve this objective, UNCDF has 4 main areas of intervention targeting youth, women, returning migrants and diaspora:

1. Increase financial capabilities

2. Pilot new innovative financial services

3. Leverage on remittances for remittance-linked product and services

4. Test crowdfunding and peer to peer platforms to offer alternative financing options

As part of its work, UNCDF provides technical assistance to partners to ensure that products and services respond to the needs of targeted groups as well as partners deliver on their KPIs and meet project results.

UNCDF is looking for an Expert in Financial Inclusion and Project Management to support the GrEEn Team in providing targeted technical assistance to its financial partners and in facilitating partnerships within the eco-system.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Technical Specialist and the Programme Management Specialist of GrEEn, the Expert will be in charge of:

1. Support the Financial Education Component of the Programme
2. Support the pilot phase of the partners in charge of new innovative financial services
3. Support the follow-up of crowdfunding activities
4. Support the knowledge sharing of the GrEEn programme

Activities and deliverables expected by the National Expert are as follow:

1. Inception phase: the expert will use UNCDF tools to conduct a TA assessment of the partners in the portfolio and identify key TA needs for each of them
2. Support the Financial Education Workstream of the Programme: The consultant is expected to help UNCDF partners in kicking off their activities and set the ground for the launch of the pilot phase.
3. Support the pilot phase of the CfW workstream: The consultant is expected to make sure UNCDF grantees implement their workplan and deliver on a timely and high-quality manner in the pilot phase (e.g. assistance during Market Research and Prototype development).
4. Support implementation of crowdfunding activities: The consultant is expected to make sure UNCDF crowdfunding partners implement their workplan and deliver on a timely and high-quality manner.
5. Support the knowledge sharing of the GrEEn programme (10%): according to the TA provided to UNCDF team and partners, the consultant is expected to support the knowledge management (KM) of the UNCDF team to increase the visibility and results of GrEEn. The support can include, among others: blog articles, workshop, case studies.

Activity/output

Deliverables

Timeline

1. Inception phase

Progress report 1 including :

Assessment of grantees in the UNCDF portfolio

TA assessment

TA plan

Month 1

2.Support the Financial Education Workstream of the Programme

Progress report 2 including:

Meeting notes and action items

Documentation of recommendations to grantees

Report with Technical Assistance provided during launch phase

Revision of technical documents submitted by grantees

Support provided to the UNCDF grantees in the market research and prototype phase

Scale up plan for a full demonstrable pilot

Month 2

3. Support the pilot phase of the CfW workstream

Progress report 3 including:

Meeting notes and action items

Documentation of recommendations to grantees

Report with Technical Assistance provided during launch phase

Revision of technical documents submitted by grantees

Support provided to the UNCDF grantees in the market research and prototype phase

Scale up plan for a full demonstrable pilot

Month 3

4.Support implementation of crowdfunding activities

Work plan and inception meeting approved including:

Meeting notes and action items

Documentation of recommendations to grantees

Report with Technical Assistance provided during launch phase

Revision of technical documents submitted by grantees

Month 5

5.Support the knowledge sharing of the GrEEn programme

Final report approved including:

Training material (if relevant)

Organization and support of at least 1 KM events (webinar, workshop) with internal and external stakeholders

Production of at least 2 KM products (e.g. business case, case study or best practices)

Month 6

Competencies

• Excellent organizational and analytical skills complemented by sound interpersonal skills and the ability to work in a multicultural environment.
• Ability to act independently and exercise sound judgment
• Proficient in MS Office Software applications, data analysis and technical presentations.
• Fluency in the qualitative research and synthesis to ideation, prototyping, and implementation
• Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback
• Ability to plan, organize, implement and report on work;
• Excellent communication and presentation skills
• Keen attention to detail and execution in craft
• Experience managing multiple and competing deliverables
• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards and acts in accordance with the Standards of Conduct for international civil servants;
• Advocates and promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNCDF;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• A Master’s Degree is required in economics, public/business administration, social sciences, microfinance or related discipline.

Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in banking, financial service sector, financial inclusion or related experience in private sector or an international organization is mandatory
• A minimum of two-year experience designing, conceiving, and prototyping finance solutions related use-case drivers (market research, prototype development) is mandatory
• Project management experience, including multi-tasking to lead and execute multiple time-sensitive projects in parallel is mandatory
• At least 2 years of relevant experience in Ghana is mandatory
• Good knowledge/Exposure/Experience in financial innovation is preferable
• Good knowledge/Exposure/Experience in knowledge management for financial inclusion is preferable

Language requirements:

• Proficiency in English is mandatory.

Timeline, total number of working days, duty station:

• Duration : up to 150 working days from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021.
• Duty station : Accra, Ghana.
• Expected places of travel : Ashanti and Western Regions of Ghana.

Progress Controls & Payments:

• The Expert will report to the Technical Specialist
• The consultant is responsible for providing his/her own laptop during his/her engagement with UNCDF
• 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.
• The deliverables stated above will serve as conditions for disbursement: (i) submission of an invoice and Certificate of Payment (COP); (ii) review, approval and written acceptance of each deliverable by the UNCDF; (iii) submission of a time-sheet and expenses with relevant supporting documentation; and (iv) an authorization of payment disbursement from a direct supervisor.

Schedule of Payments:

Deliverables

% of total contract price

Timeline (tentative)

Review and approval required

Inception phase

Progress report 1 including :

Assessment of grantees in the UNCDF portfolio

TA assessment

TA plan

20%

Month 1

Financial inclusion specialist or delegate

Financial Education Component

Progress report 2 including:

Report with Technical Assistance provided during launch phase

Revision of technical documents submitted by grantees

Support provided to the UNCDF grantees in the market research and prototype phase

Scale up plan for a full demonstrable pilot

20%

Month 2

CfW component

Progress report 3 including:

Report with Technical Assistance provided during launch phase

Revision of technical documents submitted by grantees

Support provided to the UNCDF grantees in the pilot phase

20%

Month 3

Crowdfunding component

Progress report 4 including:

Meeting notes and action items

Documentation of recommendations to grantees

Report with Technical Assistance provided during launch phase

Revision of technical documents submitted by grantees

20%

Month 5

KM Generation

Final report approved including:

Training material (if relevant)

Organization and support of at least 1 KM events (webinar, workshop) with internal and external stakeholders

Production of at least 2 KM products (e.g. business case, case study or best practices)

20%

Month 7

Final payment shall require a signed performance evaluation of the consultant.

Application process:

All applications must contain the following information:

• Cover letter with a summary statement of competencies in relation to the TOR;
• Earliest availability and proposed schedule for consultancy;
• Curriculum Vitae;

Completed 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);

Evaluation:

Step I: Screening & Longlisting :

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

Education:

• A Master’s Degree is required in economics, public/business administration, social sciences, microfinance or related discipline.

Step II: Shortlisting (20 points)

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

• A minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in banking, financial service sector, financial inclusion or related experience in private sector or an international organization is mandatory. 30TS
• A minimum of two-year experience designing, conceiving, and prototyping finance solutions related use-case drivers (market research, prototype development) is mandatory. 20PTS
• Project management experience, including multi-tasking to lead and execute multiple time-sensitive projects in parallel is mandatory. 15PTS
• At least 2 years of relevant experience in Ghana is mandatory. 15PTS
• Good knowledge/Exposure/Experience in financial innovation is preferable. 10 PTS
• Good knowledge/Exposure/Experience in knowledge management for financial inclusion is preferable. 10PTS

As applicable, only applicants scoring 70 points or more shall be considered for an interview.

Step IV: Interview (80 points):

An interview shall be conducted for the top 3 candidates based on their test result.

Step V: Financial Evaluation: Only candidates with scores above 70% of the technical evaluation (70 Points or above) will be considered.

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.

Apply now

Added 2 years ago - Updated 2 years ago - Source: jobs.undp.org