Home » Uncategories » Map Diagnostic Consultant - Perform a Financial Inclusion Diagnostic, Draft a Synthesis Note and Contribute to The Roadmap for Policy Development, Vientiane, Lao Pdr
Friday, January 9, 2015

Map Diagnostic Consultant - Perform a Financial Inclusion Diagnostic, Draft a Synthesis Note and Contribute to The Roadmap for Policy Development, Vientiane, Lao Pdr


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United Nations Development Programme
Lane Xang Avenue
PO Box 345, Vientiane, Lao PDR
Tel: (856 -21) 267777
Fax: (856-21) 267799 / (856-21) 264 939
Closing date: Friday, 23 January 2015
MAP DIAGNOSTIC CONSULTANT: PERFORM A FINANCIAL INCLUSION DIAGNOSTIC, DRAFT A SYNTHESIS NOTE AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE ROADMAP FOR POLICY DEVELOPMENT
Advertised on behalf of : UNCDF
Location : Vientiane, LAO PDR
Application Deadline : 23-Jan-15
Additional Category
Democratic Governance
Type of Contract : Individual Contract
Post Level : International Consultant
Languages Required : English
Starting Date : (date when the selected candidate is expected to start)
02-Feb-2015
Duration of Initial Contract : 12 months (Vientiane Capital and other provinces as required
Expected Duration of Assignment : 12 months (Vientiane Capital and other provinces as required
Background
The 'Making access to Finance more Inclusive for Poor People' is a programme of the UNCDF, nationally implemented by the Bank of the Lao PDR (BOL) on behalf of the Government of the Lao PDR (GOL). It will contribute to improved and equitable access to land, markets, social and economic services, as well as progression to an enabled environment for growth with equity. It will specifically increase access to financial services by low-income households and micro-entrepreneurs on sustainable basis.
Project Context
The MAFIPP programme will contribute to improved and equitable access to land, markets and social and economic services, as well as to an enabled environment for growth with equity. It will specifically increase access to financial services by low-income households and micro-entrepreneurs on a sustainable basis from 30,000 active clients in 2010 to over 140,000 active clients in 2014. To achieve this, the programme will adopt a sector based approach to deliver change at the macro, meso and micro levels through three mutually reinforcing programme outputs including:
  • Macro-level Output: Policy makers more able to improve the policy and regulatory environment in line with operational realities of financial service providers nationally and accepted good practice internationally;
  • Meso-level Output: The financial sector develops infrastructure more capable to meet the needs of financial service providers;
  • Micro-level Output: Financial service providers become more responsive to the financial service needs of poor households and micro-entrepreneurs.
Under MAFIPP, 'Making Access to Financial Services Possible' (MAP) is one of a key and prioritized activity that will contribute to the achievement of the MAFIPP Programme Outcome; increased access to financial services for low-income households and micro entrepreneurs in the Lao PDR. MAP's contribution will be realized by supporting the development of a strong financial sector in the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), inclusive for low-income households and (their) micro and small enterprises.
Duties and Responsibilities
Following the MAP toolkits and under the guidance from Cenfri, the consultant will provide a comprehensive diagnostic of the status of financial inclusion in Laos being fully in charge of the context, supply and regulatory aspects, and incorporating the outcomes of the demand-side analysis from Fin Mark Trust and Cenfri.
The assignment could be extended to cover also the facilitation of the roadmap formulation with the local stakeholders following the presentation of the first draft by Cenfri.
Deliverable: The consultant will be responsible for submitting the following Outputs/Deliverables:
  • Provide input to the monthly progress report (narrative and financial) that will be prepared by the local coordinator;
  • Laos PDR Financial Sector background report;
  • PEA Assessment report;
  • Full Diagnostic report;
  • Presentation of findings at a steering committee, stakeholder and roadmap working session respectively;
  • Participation in a trainining session, a synthesis session and fortnightly project calls with the MAP partners.
All final products delivered by the consultancy must be provided in hardcopy and softcopy to MAFIPP. Any and all secondary source materials must clearly recognize original authorship and copyright.
Duties and Responsibilities: International consultant will be responsible for developing one core output in the form of a MAP diagnostic document. In addition, he/she is required to attend and make presentations at three stakeholder workshops, work closely with the UNCDF, FinMark Trust FinScope team, as well as with Cenfri as technical MAP partner and quality assurer. Cenfri will also be responsible for drafting two further deliverables based on the contents in the diagnostic document: a synthesis note of main findings and recommendations, as well as a roadmap for stakeholder action based on the diagnostic findings.
Competencies
Functional competencies:
  • Demonstrate skills and experience working in large financial inclusion projects in Laos;
  • Share knowledge and experience;
  • Apply the required depth and breadth of knowledge and expertise to meet job demands;
  • Communicate in a transparent/open manner in order to facilitate clear messages and support learning;
  • Possession of a designated level of technical skill or knowledge in a specific technical areas and the ability to keep up with current developments and trends in areas of expertise;
  • Excellent organizational, inter-personal, communication and administrative skills;
    Strong report writing and analytical skills;
  • Familiarity with UN/UNCDF rules and procedures is an advantage.
Corporate Competencies:
  • Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN's values and ethical standards;
  • Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
  • Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
  • Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.
Required Skills and Experience
Academic Qualification:
  • Advanced degree in economics, finance, business or public administration or related field.
Experience:
  • A minimum of 7 years relevant, practical working experience within the financial sector and/or microfinance for the base of the pyramid, preferably in least developed countries (LDCs);
  • Documented, deep technical knowledge and experience with commercial banking and/or micro finance sector experience;
  • Econometric experience to analyse FinScope demand-side survey data preferable;
  • Experiences with similar assignments in Laos and/or other developing countries will be an added advantage;
  • Experience undertaking diagnostic assessments;
  • Knowledge of the Laos financial services sector will be an advantage;
  • Proposals to demonstrate skills and experience working in large financial inclusion projects in Laos;
  • Proposals to provide a detailed breakdown of time split and work breakdown between Laosi organisation and international consultants (if any).
Language:
  • Excellent command of the English language, with outstanding written and oral communication skills.
Requirements for submission of proposals: All interested and qualified candidates should apply online using the following links: UNDP Lao PDR website at http://www.la.undp.org/content/lao_pdr/en/home/operations/jobs/ or
UNDP Jobs at http://jobs.undp.org/cj_view_jobs.cfm.
In order to make submission please read the attached relevant documents:
  • TOR (Annex I);
  • Individual Contract & General Terms and Conditions (Annex II);
  • Offeror's Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability (Annex III).
Documents to be included when submitting the proposals: Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:
  • Technical and Financial Proposal as per Annex III ' Offeror's letter to UNDP confirming interest and availability'
(i) Explaining why you are the most suitable for the work;
  • Providing a brief methodology on how you will approach and conduct the work including the work schedule for the delivery of outputs/deliverable;
  • CV including past experience in similar project and contact reference of at least 3 references for whom you have rendered preferably the similar services;
Note
The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e. whether payments fall in installments or upon completion of the entire contract). Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR. In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (including travel, per diems, and number of anticipated working days). All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. UNDP accept travel costs not exceeding of an economy class air ticket.
Please kindly refer to the Terms of Reference Annex I for detailed information on:
  • Project's background;
  • Scope of work and Responsibilities;
  • Deliverables;
  • Requirements for Experience and Qualifications.
Evaluation of Proposals
Cumulative analysis: The award of the contract will be made to a consultant who offer has been evaluated and determined as:
  • Responsive/compliant/acceptable, and
  • Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria:
  • Technical Criteria weight; [0.7]
  • Financial Criteria weight; [0.3]
Only a consultant obtaining a minimum of 50 points in the technical rating would be considered for the financial evaluation.
All applications must contain the following information:
  • Cover letter with a summary statement of competencies in relation to the TOR;
  • Earliest availability;
  • Curriculum Vitae;
  • Financial proposal stating the professional fees inclusive of living costs in Vientiane and travel from place of residence to duty station Vientiane covering 120 days of work; cost of the daily all inclusive professional fee for the possible extension beyond 120 days.
Travel outside Vientiane as required by the assignment is out of the scope of the financial proposal.
All interested and qualified candidates should apply online using the following links: UNDP Lao PDR website at http://www.la.undp.org/content/lao_pdr/en/home/operations/jobs/ or
UNDP Jobs at http://jobs.undp.org/cj_view_jobs.cfm. Referencing 'MAP Diagnostic Consultant'.
Please group all your documents into one (1) single PDF document as the system only allows to upload maximum one document.
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). Please note that in such case the company institution will be asked to issue an RLA [i]. Women candidates or women-owned businesses are strongly encouraged to apply.
Note
Any request for clarification must be sent in writing to the following e-mail: info@mafipp.org; thilaphong.oudomsine@uncdf.org.
UNDP Lao PDR will respond in writing by standard electronic mail and will send written copies of the response, including an explanation of the query without identifying the source of inquiry, to all consultants.
The copies of the response will be also placed on our web-site at: http://www.la.undp.org/content/lao_pdr/en/home/operations/jobs/ and linked to the current Procurement Notice.
All interested candidates are encouraged to visit the above web-site for updates.
Please note that only short-listed candidates will be notified.
Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
For more detailed information about UNDP Lao PDR please visit our website at http://www.la.undp.org/lao_pdr/en/home.html
[i] Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA): A legal instrument between UNCDF and a Company/institution, according to which, the latter makes available the services of an individual delivering time-bound and quantifiable outputs that are directly linked to payments. An RLA is governed by the provisions of this policy.
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.
Closing date: Friday, 23 January 2