Consultant for Project Finance Toolkit Development Job Vacancy

Background

UNCDF contributes to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals in LDCs through a variety of innovative approaches in both local development and microfinance. The organization offers a unique combination of investment capital, capacity building and policy and technical advisory services. UNCDF's local development programmes support national decentralization strategies and seek to improve social services, governance and pro-poor economic infrastructure at the local level by providing technical assistance and investment capital directly to local authorities. While UNCDF's microfinance programmes provide poor households and enterprises with enhanced access to a wide range of financial services, by promoting inclusive financial sectors and providing investment capital for financial institutions. UNCDF currently invests in 38 LDCs with a total programme portfolio amounting to approximately US$200 million.

UNCDF has recently launched a global programme pioneering an innovative approach to pro-poor local economic development (LED) through local government. This approach emphasizes the importance and leadership of local authorities in playing a positive role in the economic development of their localities. Local governments' role includes creating an enabling environment for business at the local level and making investments that unlock the potential of key productive sectors, towards greater employment generation and economic growth. Due to its many years of experience with local authorities, UNCDF is uniquely positioned to make a positive contribution in this important area.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of work:

Job Title: Consultant for Project Finance Toolkit Development

Location: Kampala

Closing Date: Thursday, 03 February 2011

UNCDF is in the process of developing the set of guidelines, tools and methodologies that will be needed by local governments for performing the range of LED promotion tasks they are mandates to undertake.

A set of guidelines and their related tools and methodologies will enable local governments to;

• Identify and develop high quality project profiles for priority interventions that will unlock the potential of local economies and contribute to equitable growth.
• Identify potential sources of private sector finance that are available within a target country that can be leveraged for financing such priority interventions. Categorize such sources and define the modalities that could be used to tapping such resources and the prerequisites needed to gain access.
• A concise overview and training programme to be used for providing local government officials and their local private sector counterparts and other economic actors with a basic understanding of the principles of the steps and approaches for project development, finance, implementation/commissioning and management/operation.

This request also expects that the selected vendor would perform the following related activities in the field at a selected pilot country where UNCDF is implementing one of its LED initiatives:

• Work with the LED project team at the target country on reviewing the LED Strategies that have been developed by participating District Local Governments and utilize the tools described in item 1 above to develop the project profiles for prioritized interventions.
• Utilize the methodology described in item 2 above to carry out an assessment of the private sector finance landscape in the target country and identify and categorize potential sources of finance and identify the most suitable modalities for tapping such sources and the prerequisites that will be needed for gaining access.
• Conduct a 2 day training workshop at the target country utilizing the materials developed under item 3 described above. This workshop will be attended by 60 to 70 participants to be selected from among the personnel of local governments participating in the UNCDF LED program as well as a selection of private sector and economic development actors operating in target localities as well as at the national level.

The selected vendor will be expected to develop the methodologies and tools described above prior to departure to the field and in preparation for testing them on the ground. It is envisaged that the field segment of this assignment will be carried out over a period of two weeks during which, the vendor's team will receive the necessary facilitation and support from the UNCDF LED Team to enable the effective implementation of the field activities. While in country, it is expected that the vendor will further refine the tools based on the experience of applying them and should use generated lessons to modify and finalize the overall toolkit.

Deliverables:

The vendor shall produce the following deliverables:

• Project Profile Methodology;

a. Project profile development methodology and structure

b. Apply the methodology in the field and develop 10 project profiles to be derived from existing District LED Strategies.

• Methodology for scanning and categorizing private sector sources of finance for economic development interventions;

a. Methodology for scanning and categorizing sources of local private sector finance

b. Applying the scan of local private sectors sources of finance, categorization of identified sources and articulation of financing modalities and options for access

• Overview of the principles of investment project identification, development, finance, and implementation;

a. Overview and training programme on the principles of project, identification, development, finance and implementation

b. Delivery of the training package in the field through a two day workshop.

Timeframe:

The selected Vendor will be expected to carry out the outlined tasks and to supply the deliverable over a period of 2 months to be concluded by end of April 2011.

Competencies

• The selected vendor shall possess extensive experience in project development, project finance and project implementation as well as an in-depth and tested understanding of the financial market in developing and less developed states.
• Experience in working with sub-national governments and in structuring finance options for such entities in Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Latin America will be critical.

Required Skills and Experience

• Masters degree in economics, finance, business or public administration or related field.

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.