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.

ACCESS TO FINANCE IN TANZANIA

In line with the UNCDF global strategy of Leaving No-One Behind in the Digital Era and countries’ UN Development Assistance Plan, UNCDF is supporting inclusive economies to help smallholder farmers and other vulnerable populations thrive. This includes contributing to refugee response initiatives and considering the consequences of the COVID-19 health pandemic in terms of food security, food systems, livelihoods, financial inclusion and last but not least, social cohesion.  This programme uses a market development approach that is rooted on five decades of fostering financial inclusion and local development, digital economies and partnerships for the SDGs, digital and financial literacy, as well as reaching the most underserved populations by promoting community-based frugal innovation as well as strengthening savings and production groups.

KIGOMA JOINT PROGRAMME

The Kigoma Joint Programme (KJP) involves 16 different UN Agencies and is being implemented in cooperation with the regional and district authorities based on the development needs of the region and the capacities of the UN in Tanzania. By expanding and increasing the support to host communities the programme contributes to enhancement of co-existence between the refugee/migrant population and the host population. Through supporting stability and prosperity in Kigoma the programme contributes to the stability of the Great Lakes region.

The 16 participating UN agencies are cooperating across seven themes which are Sustainable energy and environment; Youth and women’s economic empowerment; Ending violence against women and children; Education with a focus on adolescent girls and young women; WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene); Agriculture with a focus on developing local markets; and an Integrated Programme on Health, HIV and Nutrition.

UNCDF contributes to two themes, namely Youth and women’s economic empowerment and Agriculture, in partnerships with the Kigoma Youth Agricultural Development Organization, Danish Refugee Council, Norwegian Church Aid and Digital Mobile Africa to facilitate access to finance; as well as Arifu, Fundacion Kapital and Khangarue Media for edutainment material on digital and financial education.

The consultant should have demonstrated expertise in the design and implementation of research projects focused on access to finance, gender, and/or youth in Tanzania, as well as relevant experience working on financial inclusion interventions and/or in the financial services industry. (S)He is expected to work under the supervision and guidance of the UNCDF Country Lead for Rwanda & Tanzania or her assignee, and in close collaboration with in-country partners.

More specific objectives follow:

• Conduct a comprehensive desk review of relevant project-related documents and draft and submit an inception report. The inception report will be a research plan that includes the overall approach and methodology; key lines of inquiry and any interview protocols; data collection tools and mechanisms; proposed list of interviewees; and a proposed work plan and timelines.
• Gain good understanding of UNCDF approaches, tools (access to finance and digital-financial education), partners (implementing, UN and government) and target beneficiaries to evaluate comparative efficiency and effectiveness.
• The consultant may employ any relevant and appropriate quantitative or qualitative methods (s)he deems appropriate to conduct the project final evaluation. Methods could include: desk review of documents; interviews with stakeholders, partners, and beneficiaries; (virtual) field visits; data analysis, etc. However, a combination of primary and secondary, as well as qualitative and quantitative data should be used. The consultant is expected to revise the methodological approach in consultation with key stakeholders as necessary and should present both quantitative data and qualitative findings and data.
• Prepare a draft evaluation report to be submitted to the Country Lead for Rwanda and Tanzania. Key elements of the report will be determined in the inception phase and agreed with the Country Lead for Rwanda and Tanzania but may include:
  • Evaluation criteria: e.g. relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, impact, gender;
  • The main programming factors of success and challenges;
  • The main implementation factors of success and challenges;
  • The main gaps and challenges and ways to address them;
  • The key actors to whom the recommendation is targeted.
• Produce a final report based on comments from the Country Lead for Rwanda and Tanzania and any other relevant reviewers.
• Draft documents, communications and knowledge-sharing materials as necessary (at least two publications).

Some of the activities outlined above require alignment with partners or may lead to conceptualization of new activities. Such activities in these areas will be agreed upon in writing between the consultant and UNCDF as they arise.

SCOPE OF WORK

At the end of the contract period, the consultant will be expected to attain the following results

• An inception report and research protocol and plan
• At least one progress report and participation in team calls biweekly
• Draft final evaluation(s)
• Final evaluation(s) including two publications and a to-be-determined number of knowledge-sharing products that will contribute to UNCDF visibility in the wider stakeholder community.

Maximum number of working days: Up to 50 working days

Expected Duration of Assignment: twelve (12) months

Consultant presence required on Duty Station/UNDP Premises 

Duty station: The consultant will be home-based with intermittent office presence in Tanzania UNCDF office, frequent travel to project sites in Tanzania and possible travels to other sites regionally, where UNCDF operates. The schedule of project-related travel will be negotiated with the consultant(s) according to the requirements of each programme.

• Travel to project locations as agreed with the Country Lead or her assignee.

Provision of Quality, Monitoring and Progress Controls 

The following supporting documents will serve as conditions for disbursement: (i) monthly submission of an invoice and Certificate of Payment (COP) duly approved by the Country Lead; (ii) review, approval and written acceptance of each deliverable project by the Country Lead and/or her designate; and (iii) an authorization of payment disbursement from a direct supervisor.

The consultant(s) will work under the direct supervision of the Country Lead for Tanzania and Rwanda and in close collaboration with other relevant colleagues, experts and/or institutions designated by the country Teams. The Country Lead or her assignee will provide overall supervision of the consultancy and approve key deliverables.

The consultant is responsible for providing his/her own laptop.

UNCDF shall closely monitor the performance of the consultant, and such monitoring shall include the detailed tracking of cumulative payments ensuring that they do not exceed the approved limit in the contract. If the consultant fails to meet performance requirements detailed above, (s)he will receive in first instance, a communication requesting an improvement in performance. Continued failure to meet performance requirements may result in termination and non-utilization of the contract.

Standard Travel Costs and Daily Supplemental Allowance (DSA):

• If the travel is to perform work or deliver outputs that are OUTSIDE the work/deliverables agreed in the contract, the unit supervising the consultant will fully justify in a note to file why the consultant is being asked to undertake such travel.  The said justification should be provided along with the supporting documents uploaded in the T&E module and in line with UNDP/UNCDF Travel Policy rules. The contractor will conduct briefings to the UNCDF team prior to and following field visits to projects via meetings and back to office reports (BTORs) and all supporting documentation for F10 within two weeks.
• In the case of unforeseeable travel, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon in writing between the respective business unit and Individual Consultant prior to travel and will be reimbursed according to UNDP/UNCDF Travel Policy.

Qualifications and Level of Consultants QUALIFICATIONS AND LEVEL OF CONSULTANTS

The consultant must provide evidence of the technical capacity to undertake this assignment. This includes capacity to deliver the results in the timeframe provided as well as indication of prior experience (relevant research and financial inclusion/capabilities and experience, training, program development and evaluation).

• Demonstrates ethics and integrity;
• Team player;
• Demonstrates political acumen and calculated risk taking;
• Builds own and staff competence, creating an environment of creativity and innovation;
• Builds and promotes effective teams and partnerships;
• Creates and promotes open communication;
• Remains calm, in control and good humoured even under pressure;
• Conducts fair and transparent decision making;
• Displays cultural and gender sensitivity and adaptability;
• Shows strong corporate commitment.

Functional Competencies:

• Proven ability to manage and effectively lead a global research agenda and research team;
• Articulate ideas clearly and coherently and ability to translate technical terms for non-technical audiences. i.e. policy makers
• Quick learner with the ability to act quickly to develop new research and initiatives;
• Conceptualizes more effective approaches to research and knowledge, development and implementation;
• Anticipates constraints in the delivery of services and identifies solutions or alternatives;
• Makes effective use of UNCDF resources and comparative advantage to strengthen knowledge partnerships;
• Creates an environment that fosters innovation and innovative thinking;
• Creates networks and promotes knowledge exchange initiatives between member organizations;
• Promotes knowledge and research as critical to the success of moving towards digital remittance channels and migrant-centric product development;
• Proactively identifies, develops and discusses solutions for internal and external clients, and persuades management to undertake new projects or services.

Technical:

• Understanding of key issues and international good practice relating to savings groups, smallholder farmers, gender, youth, refugees, digital services and digital financial inclusion;
• Excellent presentation and representation skills in multicultural contexts;
• Ability to translate complex technical ideas to a non-technical audience in both verbally and in writing.

• Master’s degree in economics, finance, public/business administration, social sciences, international relations or related fields is mandatory.

Experience:

• Minimum of 2 years of professional experience in designing and implementing research on financial inclusion/women’s and youth empowerment is mandatory;
• Professional experience in international development, financial inclusion, or the banking/financial services industry is highly desired;
• Demonstrated relevant field experience in Tanzania and/or East Africa is highly desired;
• Experience in donor projects, developing proposals, corresponding budgets, and monitoring and evaluation plans is preferred;
• Familiarity with the development, modification and roll out of financial services for low-income communities is preferred;
• Familiarity working in refugee settlement camps is a plus.

Language:

Demonstrated written and oral communication skills in English is mandatory.

Proposal and Evaluation 

Application:

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

The following documents are requested:

• Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability;
• Personal CV indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references;
• 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 the assignment.
• Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive Daily Fee price. 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.

Incomplete applications may not be considered.

Criteria for Selection of the Best Offer

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology:

• Preliminary Evaluation – Step I: Screening
• Technical Evaluation Weight – 70% x (Step II: 60%+ Step III: 40%= 100%);
• Financial Evaluation Weight – 30% = Step IV.

Step I: Screening

Applications will be screened and only applicants meeting the mandatory criteria (listed under education and experience) will progress to the pool for shortlisting:

• Master’s degree in economics, finance, public/business administration, social sciences, international relations or related fields;
• Minimum of 2 years of professional experience in designing and implementing research on financial inclusion/women’s and youth empowerment;
• Demonstrated written and oral communication skills in English is mandatory.

Step II: Shortlisting by Desk Review – 60% out of technical evaluation

UNCDF will conduct a desk review to produce a shortlist of candidates and technically evaluate the candidates. Only candidates that obtained 80% of the points at this stage shall be invited for the next step.

Shortlisting scoring:

• Minimum of 2 years of professional experience in designing and implementing research on financial inclusion/women’s and youth empowerment: 30 points
• Demonstrated relevant field experience in Tanzania and/or East Africa: 20 points
• Professional experience in international development, financial inclusion, or the banking/financial services industry: 20 points
• Experience in donor projects, developing proposals, corresponding budgets, and monitoring and evaluation plans is preferred: 10 points
• Familiarity with the development, modification and roll out of financial services for low-income communities is preferred: 10 points
• Familiarity working in refugee settlement camps is a plus: 10 points

Step III: Written Test – 40% out of technical assessment

Candidates who obtained 80% of the points at the desk review will be invited to take a written test and submit samples of relevant work (evaluations, research protocol and plan), including but not restricting to writing samples and publications (e.g. blogs, reports).

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% on the total of Steps II (Desk Review) + III (Written Test) 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.

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.