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

United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF)

UNCDF is the UN's capital investment agency for 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 has been active in the area of financial inclusion over the past 25 years, through a market development approach combining support to governments and regulators, as well as to the private sector in order to develop scalable products and services for under-served and un-banked populations.

UNCDF mission 2030 is to accelerate the development of services leveraging digital finance & innovation by providing the right balance of technical expertise and financial support to government, private & non-profit sectors & academia. UNCDF 2024 goal is to empower millions of people to use services leveraging innovation and technology that contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

UNCDF inclusive digital economy strategy

UNCDF strategy 'Leaving no one behind in the digital era' is based on over a decade of experience in digital finance in Africa, Asia and the Pacific. UNCDF recognizes that reaching the full potential of digital financial inclusion in support of the Sustainable Development Goals aligns with the vision of promoting digital economies that leave no one behind.

https://www.uncdf.org/article/4931/global-strategy-leaving-no-one-behind-in-the-digital-eraUNCDF will focus on understanding the intersection of six categories of digital services entailing (i) agriculture, (ii) transport, (iii) energy, (iv) education, (v) health and (vi) finance across five categories of users: (i)women, (ii)youth, (iii)refugees, (iv) migrants and (v) MSMEs.

To implement this strategy UNCDF will continue to apply a market development approach at country level. The objective of such an approach is to continuously seek to understand and intervene in select market systems to address underlying market dysfunctions that lead to improved efficiencies, effectiveness and sustainability. The approach will seek to (1) leverage the roles and behaviours of current players in the marketplace, support them to continue doing what they do better or to change their behaviour, and (2) strengthen the systems and relationships among the various market and sector actors (3) work with current players to de-risk new business models to make digital solutions more inclusive for key segments and reduce the digital divide.

UNCDF inclusive digital economy strategy in Zambia

Since 2015, UNCDF has been implementing projects that address the needs of the 40% population that has been financially excluded using a market development approach on digital finance in Zambia. The programme has the aim to develop an inclusive digital economy in Zambia by leveraging our past and present work within the financial sector. UNCDF Zambia program is aligned to UNCDF's global strategy 'Leaving no one behind in the digital era.' The goal is to empower Zambians through improved access and usage of services that contribute to the SDGs, by leveraging digital innovation and technology. We focus on digital services in six sectors across five customer segments (women, youth, refugees, migrants and MSMEs).

Previously the UNCDF has provided support to partners through offering Technical Assistance and deploying grants. The UNCDF is now utilising additional financing tools of loans & guarantees. The UNCDF foresees a mix of guarantees, technical assistance and grant as a sustainable model for innovative lending without the need of collateral (based on data) for FSPs. The UNCDF is thus developing a long-term loan guarantee portfolio in Zambia, aiming to improve access to credit for digitally enabled MSMEs and increase their capacity to apply, secure and pay back loans required for strengthen, improve and expand their services.

This Terms of Reference aims to lay the groundwork for a gender expert (closely working with the UNCDF Investment officer) who will provide technical expertise to the project with a gender inclusion strategy and action plan that supports digitally enabled MSMEs sector with loans guarantees facilities.

Duties and Responsibilities

Activities will include;

• Conducting a research and Institutional Gender analysis amongst possible lenders & borrowers to inform the scoping mission phase & report
• Gender mainstreaming into loans guarantee portfolio programme document & implementation phase

First Phase Scoping mission

During the first stage of the market assessment, the following will be carried out: Conduct a gender audit amongst possible lenders (financial institutions) and analyse their gender inclusion strategies and models, specifically how they support women engaged in the MSME sector

• Gathering of market reports
• Gathering of other market intelligence
• Validation of information collected with key stakeholders

Conduct research amongst possible women and men borrowers engaged in the MSME sector and analyse gender inclusion opportunities and barriers that could encourage, or limit uptake of loans guarantees.

• Gathering of market reports
• Gathering of other market intelligence
• Validate information with borrowers

Support the finalization of the scoping mission report with findings from the gender analysis and research. This will include reporting on Identified key market barriers and potential market interventions to address barriers

Second Phase - Gender mainstreaming into the UNCDF loans guarantee proposal

Develop a gender mainstream strategy to be considered and included into loans guarantee portfolio, considering/outlining possible follow-up TA required to provide to financial institutions and MSME borrowers. Activities will include:

• conducting gender capability assessment of the financial services providers
• developing and delivering gender responsive training based on the results from the research and the assessment.
• Facilitation of development of gender mainstreaming strategy and action plan with IUNCDF and stakeholders (banks and borrowers).

Specific aspects to also consider will include cultural sensitivities, women led businesses, equal access and utilization of loans guarantees, gender specific-data collection models, gender evaluation matrix, amongst others.

Assignment Deliverables

Findings of the scoping mission work will be presented in a short concise report and will be incorporated into the main scoping mission report. Findings should preferably be presented in tables, graphs and with help of other visual means.

The report will include (based on available data):

• A gender context analysis and overview of the MSME sector in Zambia
• A gender audit report of financial institutions, focusing on the credit guarantee facility
• A recommendations report on possible financial institutions to consider for the loans guarantee partnership, considering the aspect of gender and digital inclusion to facilitate their activities towards MSMEs support
• A recommendation report on possible TA support to MSMEs, focusing on gender mainstreaming action points and digitally enabling processes to support these MSMEs
• A recommendation report for specific support areas to women led MSMEs, with focus on access to loans guarantee facility.
• A complete gender mainstreaming strategy and action plan incorporated into the UNCDF loans guarantee program proposal for Zambia

The table below outlines the list of key deliverables, due date and level of effort foreseen: Deliverables

Estimated days

Estimate delivery date

Est. payment terms in %

A gender context analysis and overview report of the MSME sector in Zambia

5

Month 1

13%

A gender audit of financial institutions, focusing on the gender overview and involvement of women into their agenda.

5

Month 1

13%

A recommendations report on possible financial institutions to consider for the loans guarantee partnership, considering the aspect of gender and digital inclusion to facilitate their activities towards MSMEs support

5

Month 1

13%

A recommendation report on possible TA support to MSMEs, focusing on gender mainstreaming action points and digitally enabling processes to support these MSMEs

5

Month 1

13%

A recommendation report for specific support areas to women led MSMEs, with focus on access to loans guarantee facility.

5

Month 2

13%

A full gender mainstreaming into the UNCDF loans guarantee program proposal for Zambia

15

Month 3

35%

Total

40

100%

The Consultant will be based in Lusaka, Zambia, and will work under the supervision of the Guarantees Investment Officer with doted lines to the Country Lead, Zambia.

• Reporting will be done through weekly meetings with the Country Lead
• All deliverables will be approved by the Country Lead
• UNCDF will provide an office.
• Payments will be made upon receipt and acceptance by UNCDF of the contractor's Certificate of Payment form specifying the outputs delivered as per agreed workplan and deliverable timeline.

Duration of the Work

• Maximum number of working days required for the assignment is 40 days spread in Q1 2021.
• The target starting date 1st February 2021

Location of the Work

Travel to the field be required and will be compensated according to UN policies.

Please note that consultants already residing at the duty station will not be compensated for living expenses.

Competencies

• Thorough knowledge of administrative, financial and management principles and practices.
• Excellent organizational and analytical skills complemented by sound interpersonal skills and the ability to work in a multicultural environment.
• Demonstrated ability to act independently and exercise sound judgment
• Ability to work closely in harmony with government and international officials at all levels.
• Proficient in MS Office Software applications, data analysis and technical presentations.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• A degree in economics, international development, public health, education or related field is mandatory

Experience:

• Have at least 5 years of experience of conducting, designing and delivering gender audits, gender analysis and gender mainstreaming assignments is mandatory
• Previous experience working in Zambia is highly desirable.

Language requirements:

• Written and spoken proficiency in English is mandatory

Award of the contract

The award of the contract shall be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as a) responsive/compliant/acceptable; and b) having received the highest score out of set of weighted technical criteria (70%). and financial criteria (30%).

Financial score shall be computed as a ratio of the proposal being evaluated and the lowest priced proposal received by UNCDF for the assignment.

Evaluation Method and Criteria

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

Step II: Shortlisting (20 points)

UNCDF will produce a shortlist of candidates and technically evaluate candidates as per experience requirements in the Terms of Reference. As applicable, only the first top 3 ranked applicants 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%.

Bids will be evaluated on cumulative analysis. The award of the contract shall be made to the bidder whose offer has been evaluated and determined as a) responsive/compliant/acceptable; and b) having received the highest score out of set of weighted technical criteria (70%) and financial criteria (30%). Financial score shall be computed as a ratio of the proposal being evaluated and the lowest priced proposal received by UNCDF for the assignment.

Technical Criteria for Evaluation (Maximum 70 points)

• A degree in economics, international development, public health, education or related field (20%)
• Have at least 5 years of experience of conducting, designing and delivering gender audits, gender analysis and gender mainstreaming assignments (50%)
• Previous experience working with women and youth (10%).
• Previous experience working in Zambia (10%).
• English is mandatory (10%)

Financial Proposal (30%)

To be computed as a ratio of the Proposal's offer to the lowest price among the proposals received by UNCDF.

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points (70% of the total technical points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Individuals interested in this consultancy should apply and will be reviewed based on their own individual capacity. The successful individual may sign an Individual Contract with UNCDF or request his/her employer to sign a Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA) on their behalf by indicating this in the Offerors letter to Confirming Interest and Availability.

Progress Controls & Payments: Payment will be made against satisfactorily completion of each deliverable. All payments shall be disbursed only upon written confirmation of acceptance of the outputs and authorization for payment by the Research and Results Measurement Analyst. Disbursement of the final payment shall require a signed performance evaluation of the consultant.

The payment schedule will be as follows: Month

Deliverables

Payment %

Month 1

Scoping mission deliverables

70%

Month 2

Gender mainstreaming into the UNCDF proposal

30%

Total

100%

Application process

Interested individuals must submit the following as proposals in order to demonstrate their qualifications: (NOTE: THE SYSTEM DOES NOT ALLOW MULTIPLE UPLOADS OF DOCUMENTS THEREFORE APPLICANTS MUST MAKE SURE TO UPLOAD ALL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS IN ONE FILE). Proposers who shall not submit below mentioned documents will not be considered for further evaluation.

All applications must contain the following information: Documentation required

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications.

• Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided in Annex II.
• 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 at least three (3) professional references.
• Technical proposal, including a) a brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment; and b) a methodology, on how they will approach and complete the assignment.
• Financial proposal, as per template provided in Annex II. Note: Consultants must quote prices in United States Dollars (USD).
• When applying for this consultancy position, please apply with your official name as shown in the government issued identification document (e.g. passport and/or driver license). Contract award is subject to this verification.