UNDP Gender Expert - Individual Consultant - Jobs in Zambia
UNDP Gender Expert - Individual Consultant - Jobs in Zambia
BackgroundUNCDF 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-era
UNCDF 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 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
How to Apply
For more information and job application details, see; UNDP Gender Expert - Individual Consultant - Jobs in Zambia
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