Project Management Consultant

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.

Leaving no one behind in the digital era

UNCDF has formulated its strategy ‘Leaving no one behind in the digital era’ 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 and financing digital economies that leave no one behind. The vision of UNCDF is to empower millions of people by 2024 to use services daily that leverage innovation and technology and contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals.

Inclusion is at the heart of UNCDF’s strategy to promote digital economies that leave no one behind, which can only be achieved if digital economies are developed at the national level and if there is a focus on making them inclusive—without any new form of exclusion. We place particular importance on youth, women, migrants, refugees, and MSMEs, customer segments that are often marginalized and denied digital innovation and technology due to social norms, societal status, and limited revenue and capacity. We place the empowerment of these customer segments at the center of UNCDF initiatives to develop innovative services in various sectors.

Our approach focuses on accelerating the development and financing of inclusive digital economies at the country level with the government, the private sector and academia, with specific attention given to the development and financing of the right services to reduce the digital divide and to empower key customer segments.

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

In this regard, UNCDF in Tanzania seeks a project management consultant, who has demonstrable work experience in project management to support the implementation and monitoring of ongoing projects and the development of new initiatives in line with the Inclusive Digital Economies strategy.

The national consultant will be based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, reporting to the UNCDF Tanzania Country Lead for Inclusive Digital Economies, based in Dar es Salaam, with occasional travel to project sites.

Duties And Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of UNCDF Tanzania’s Country Lead, the Project Management Consultant will be responsible for the following key duties and responsibilities:

Effective And Efficient Management Of Project

• Provide support in project management, quality control and supervision support of ongoing projects;
• Develop detailed annual work plans and budgets;
• Lead project delivery and achievement of objectives by working with and supporting implementing partners project-related activities;
• Identify weak performance and works with the partners to find a solution;
• Ensures effective programme coordination between the implementing NGOs and other development partners, and ensures that all stakeholders are communicating with each other to enhance synergies;
• Support partners in their work and ensures they have access to required resources and data;
• Manage and ensure effective transfer of knowledge to partners;
• Contribute to the creation and sharing of lessons learned and good practices gleaned from the implementation of the project;
• Organize regular partner meetings and reviews;

Coordinate with UN Coordinator, which includes contributing to relevant strategic frameworks as requested by them and with inputs from the UNCDF Team.

Facilitate knowledge management and & technical assistance

• Identify opportunities to highlight UNCDF project results through events, publications and workshops;
• Work with communications consultant to develop communication and knowledge-sharing material;
• Support resource mobilization by identifying opportunites, contributing to the drafting of proposals and developing realtionships with key stakeholders aligned with UNCDF strategy;
• Support in identifying opportunities for partnerships aligned with UNCDF Tanzania’s programming;
• Provide support to establish and strengthen partnerships with other UN agencies, NGOs, CBOs, donors and relevant government bodies;
• Contribute to regional debates and consultation processes related to UNCDF (and other UN agencies where applicable) on women’s economic empowerment and financial inclusion
• Attend industry events and workshops representing UNCDF.

Facilitate monitoring & reporting

• Support in developing and monitoring project results. Work closely with the Results Measurements team to ensure on-time and accurate reporting of results.
• Ensure implementing partners produce reliable and timely data in order to produce donor and global reports;
• Produce regular quarterly reports summarizing project progress and analysis of data;
• Provide input for UNCDF global reporting and business plan needs.
• Measure project targets and progress, including social and gender dimensions.
• Ensure quality project progress reports for donors are produced on a timely basis;
• Report into UN infosystem database on project progress ;
• Attend coordination meetings for monitoring and reporting across UN Agencies.

Operations

• Support the grant and procurement processes, working closely with the Operations and Finance departments in accordance with UNCDF’s operations procedure;
• Provide support in reviewing TORs, requests for proposals and requests for applications.
• Support with event management.

The table below outlines the list of key deliverables and estimated number of days:

Key Scope of Services

Outputs

Total days to complete.

Provide support in project management, quality control and supervision of ongoing projects

• 4 quartely good quality and timely reports from partners received
ajira

60

Ensures effective programme coordination between the implementing NGOs and other development partners, and ensures that all stakeholders are communicating with each other to enhance synergies

• 30 project-related meetings organized
• Work plan and stakeholder map

30

Identify opportunities to highlight UCDF project results through events, publications and workshops

• 6 publications/events produced

30

Support resource mobilization by identifying opportunites, contributing to the drafting of proposals and developing realtionships with key stakeholders aligned with UNCDF strategy

• Contribute to 6 project proposals

30

Contribute to national and regional debates, industry events and consultations with stakeholders (gov’t bodies, UN agencies, partners)

• Participate in 5 events (UN, industry, learning, development partner)
• Brief and participation materials.

20

Produce regular reports summarizing project progress and analysis of data for donors, for the UN (UNInfo system), for UNCDF HQ reports.

• 8 reports produced for various stakeholders

20

Support the grant, procurement working closely with the Operations and Finance departments in accordance with UNCDF’s operations procedure

• 5-10 RFPs, RFAs drafted
• 2-5 MOUs/LOAs drafted

30

TOTAL

220

Duration of Assignment, Duty Station and Expected Places of Travel

Contract duration: The assignment, is expected to have a duration of 220 days over one year with the possibility of extension for one (1) more year, based on the satisfactory performance of an individual consultant, project needs and funding availability.

Number of working days: up to 220 working days per year

Duty station: This is a national consultancy and the consultant is expected to be on-site in Dar es Salaam with occasional travel to project locations as needed. The schedule of travel will be negotiated with the consultant according to the requirements of each task.

Travel: Travel costs associated to the assignment will be paid as 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 as per UN Rate.

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.

Provision of Quality, Monitoring and Progress Control

The consultant will work under direct supervision of the UNCDF Tanzania, Country Lead, Inclusive Digital Economies.

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.

Payment Terms and Expected Timeline

Payment conditions

Expected Timeline

Percentage

1

Progress report no. 1 of all deliverables and activities listed in the above table approved by UNCDF

April 2021 – June 2021

20%

2

Progress report no. 2 of all deliverables and activities listed in the above table approved by UNCDF

July 2021 – September 2021

30%

3

Progress report no 3. of all deliverables and activities listed in the above table approved by UNCDF

October 2021 – December 2021

30%

4

Final report and progress report no. 4 of all deliverables and activities listed in the above table approved by UNCDF

January 2021 – March 2022

20%

Competencies

Technical competencies

• Strong project management experience
• Ability to coordinate meetings, events, partner sessions
• Strong organizational skills
• Reporting experiences
• Capacity building and training experience
• Excellent English writing skills
• Ability to effectively analyse and interpret data
• Strong understanding of UN/UNCDF rules and procedures
• Good interpersonal, networking and communication skills
• Excellent computer skills (i.e. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, social media, and others)
• Excellent writing and presentation skills.

Functional competencies

• Strong ability to communicate and function effectively in local/international/multicultural environment
• Excellent networking sklls with a demonstrated ability to build and maintain professional relationships
• Ability to meet deadlines and work under pressure
• Project management skills
• Excellent PowerPoint and Excel skills
• High level planning, organizational and time management skills, including flexibility, attention to detail and the ability to work under pressure to meet changing deadlines
• Well-developed interpersonal skills, including the ability to liaise effectively at senior levels, including government
• Analytical and problem-solving skills of a high order, including the ability to formulate recommendations and advice
• Pro-active, constructive attitude, open to feedback.