Innovative Finance Consultant
Location : Beijing, CHINA
Application Deadline : 28-Feb-21 (Midnight New York, USA)
Type of Contract : Individual Contract
Post Level : National Consultant
Languages Required : English
Starting Date : (date when the selected candidate is expected to start)
15-Mar-2021
Duration of Initial Contract : 12 months
Expected Duration of Assignment : 12 months, with the possibility of extension for another 12 months based on continuing project needs
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
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 financial inclusion that expands the opportunities for individuals, households, and small businesses to participate in the local economy, and localized investments, that can drive public and private funding that underpins local economic expansion and sustainable development. UNCDF identifies 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 number of different SDGs.
In 2018, UNCDF in partnership with UN Women created UNITLIFE. UNCDF hosts UNITLIFE's Secretariat function, in light of UNCDF's expertise in development impact investments and partnerships in digital financial partners in both the public and private sector.
UNITLIFE is the United Nations initiative dedicative to fighting chronic malnutrition through innovation. Chronic malnutrition is a preventable disease caused by an inadequate nutrient intake in the first 1,000 days of a child's life (from conception until age two). Globally, 1 out of 5 children under 5 years old suffer from chronic malnutrition: they are stunted and face largely irreversible life-long consequences on their physical, cognitive developments and immune systems. They are unable to reach their full potential to succeed in school, earn more as adults and support the economic development of their countries.
At country-level, the estimated cost of child undernutrition averages 10% of GDP. In order to reach the 2012 World Health Assembly TARGET of reducing stunting by 40 percent by 2025, annual financing needs to increase from $2.6 billion in 2016 to $7.6 billion on average. Innovative sources of financing such as UNITLIFE can contribute to closing the funding gap. UNITLIFE's objective is to bring in new resources to prevent chronic malnutrition and unlock the potential that millions of children would otherwise be robbed of.
To do so, UNITLIFE seeks to mobilize innovative financing approaches and instruments including, but not limited to developing a voluntary micro-donations platforms for payment transactions, leveraging sports events and star power to drive social giving, and devising creative donation matching and revenue-sharing schemes with private partners. In particular, UNITLIFE's funding model base seeks to leverage the power of digital transactions from e-commerce and associated sectors. This is the underlying concept behind the application of innovative finance for UNITLIFE — shaving small amounts off targeted transactions and channel them towards development actions that respond to chronic malnutrition needs in developing countries. The funds raised through these instruments will be directly channeled to funding high impact projects addressing the immediate effects and root causes of chronic malnutrition.
Objective of the Assignment: Working under the supervision and guidance of UNITLIFE Programme Manager, P-5, in close collaboration with UNITLIFE's Portfolio Specialist, UNITLIFE's Communication Consultant, UNCDF Policy, Partnerships and Communications (PPC) Unit, and UNITLIFE's fund manager at the Multi-Partner Trust Fund office of UNDP (MPTF), the UNITLIFE innovative finance Consultant will help weave collaborative relations that enable UNITLIFE to effectively fulfil its mission and specific objectives. He/she will identify and nurture such relations focusing on sustainable and innovative funding for UNITLIFE. He/She will focus on developing such partnerships in Asia.
Duties and Responsibilities
Scope of Work
Summary of key functions:
Key results expected: Lead innovation and public/private partnerships, reaching into the private and philanthropic and technology spheres to develop new ways of working and mobilize funding for development.
Lead the development and implementation of UNITLIFE programme innovative finance strategy, together with the UNITLIFE programme team and UNCDF management.
Effective Internal and External Relations;
Impact of Results
The work of the Innovative finance specialist will have a significant impact on the UNITLIFE programme's sustainability and positioning among key private sector partners in the region of focus.
Deliverables
The consultant will deliver the following within the framework of the consultancy: (i) A work plan indicating timebound milestone deliverables and list of required meetings and consultation to enable the work to be completed;
(ii) A comprehensive strategic resource mobilization plan including approved partnerships plan mapping;
(iii) Approved proposal of at least one identified candidate from the region to join UNITLIFE advisory council;
(iv) Delivery of the at least 3 approved concrete partnerships in innovative finance space.
Note on Travel: Frequent duty travels may take place as part of the position. All duty travels should be pre-approved by the UNITLIFE Programme Manager 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.
Deliverables and Payment Terms
The following terms of payment based upon the above-mentioned deliverables will be applicable for this Terms of Reference. Payments will be based upon a percentile of the contracted lump sum for each area as tabulated. The payment will only be made up on satisfactory completion and submission of the assignment and deliverables.
Deliverable 1: A work plan indicating timebound milestone deliverables and list of required meetings and consultation to enable the work to be completed (10%); indicative completion date 15 April, 2021.
Deliverable 2: A comprehensive strategic resource mobilization plan including approved partnerships plan mapping (20%); indicative completion date 15 July, 2021.
Deliverable 3: Approved proposal of at least one identified candidate from the region to join UNITLIFE advisory council (20%); indicative completion date 15 September, 2021.
Deliverable 4: Delivery of the at least 3 approved concrete partnerships in innovative finance space (50%); indicative completion date 15 February, 2021.
Monitoring and Progress Controls
Application
Interested individuals should submit the following as proposals in order to demonstrate their qualifications:
Failure to submit all the above mentioned documents may result in rejection of the application.
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.
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.
Evaluation
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.
The Technical Evaluation will entail three key steps, as follows: Step 1: Longlisting
Applications will be screened and only applicants meeting the minimum criteria listed under education and experience will be longlisted.
Step 2: Shortlisting by Desk review (Maximum 100 points X 30%)
UNCDF will conduct a desk review process to shortlist and technically evaluate the candidates as per the following criteria:
As applicable, only the first top 5 ranked applicants achieving a minimum 70 points shall be invited for an interview.
Step 3: Technical Interviews (Maximum 100 points X 40%)
A competency-based Interview shall be conducted with the top five candidates who score the highest in Step 2 (minimum of 70 points). Candidates will be tested on the same key work areas, in greater depth, with the same weighting, namely:
Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% on the total of Step 2: Desk Review and Step 3: Technical Interview will be considered as technically qualified and will be reviewed further for financial evaluation.
Step 4: Financial Evaluation
The following formula will be used to evaluate financial proposal: Lowest priced proposal/price of the proposal being evaluated x 30%.
Step 5: Award Criteria: The award of the contract shall be made to the individual consultant whose profile has been evaluated and determined as: (i) Responsive/compliant/acceptable; and
(ii) Having received the highest score out of set of weighted technical criteria (70%) and financial criteria (30%).
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.
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.
Competencies
Functional competencies:
Other competencies:
Language:
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
Experience:
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