CONSULTANCY:
FACILITATION OF A TRAINING ON ‘MANAGING PRODUCT DIVERSIFICATION AND SAVINGS
PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT SUCCESSFULLY’ DURING MLE GRANTEES WORKSHOP
FACILITATION OF A TRAINING ON ‘MANAGING PRODUCT DIVERSIFICATION AND SAVINGS
PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT SUCCESSFULLY’ DURING MLE GRANTEES WORKSHOP
Location : Kigali, RWANDA
Application
Deadline : 07-Jan-14
Type of
Contract : Individual Contract
Contract : Individual Contract
Post Level :
International Consultant
International Consultant
Languages Required: English
Starting Date : (date when
the selected candidate is expected to start)
15-Jan-2014
the selected candidate is expected to start)
15-Jan-2014
Duration of
Initial Contract : January to March 2014
Initial Contract : January to March 2014
Expected
Duration of Assignment : 3 months
Duration of Assignment : 3 months
Background
The United
Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) was founded as an independent
organization within the UN system in 1966, with a mission ‘to assist developing
countries in the development of their economies by supplementing existing
sources of capital assistance by means of grants and loans’. Its creation was
part of a larger effort to complement technical assistance and pre-investment
activities of the UN Development Programme (UNDP), as well as those of larger
partners such as the World Bank. In 1973 UNCDF’s mandate was narrowed to focus
‘first and foremost’ on the least developed countries (LDCs). UNCDF today
remains a capital investment organization for the LDCs. Its work is designed to
help reduce poverty and achieve the objectives of the Brussels Program of
Action for the LDCs, as well as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). It has
special expertise in 1) microfinance / inclusive finance; and 2)
decentralization and local development.
Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) was founded as an independent
organization within the UN system in 1966, with a mission ‘to assist developing
countries in the development of their economies by supplementing existing
sources of capital assistance by means of grants and loans’. Its creation was
part of a larger effort to complement technical assistance and pre-investment
activities of the UN Development Programme (UNDP), as well as those of larger
partners such as the World Bank. In 1973 UNCDF’s mandate was narrowed to focus
‘first and foremost’ on the least developed countries (LDCs). UNCDF today
remains a capital investment organization for the LDCs. Its work is designed to
help reduce poverty and achieve the objectives of the Brussels Program of
Action for the LDCs, as well as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). It has
special expertise in 1) microfinance / inclusive finance; and 2)
decentralization and local development.
UNCDF’s
Financial Inclusion Practice (FIPA) area operates programmes in 25 LDCs, mainly
in sub-Saharan Africa. In addition, UNCDF / FIPA provides technical assistance
to UNDP inclusive finance programmes around the world, and partners with other
UN organizations on issue-specific aspects of the larger financial inclusion
agenda (e.g. ILO on micro-insurance; IFAD on remittances).
Financial Inclusion Practice (FIPA) area operates programmes in 25 LDCs, mainly
in sub-Saharan Africa. In addition, UNCDF / FIPA provides technical assistance
to UNDP inclusive finance programmes around the world, and partners with other
UN organizations on issue-specific aspects of the larger financial inclusion
agenda (e.g. ILO on micro-insurance; IFAD on remittances).
The
importance of microcredit is widely recognized but there is a high demand for
savings from poor families and small and micro enterprises in developing
countries. Similarly, savings-based microfinance institutions that fund
themselves primarily through local deposits are better positioned to weather
periods of financial downturns and local funding is generally more stable and
carries no foreign-currency risk. Recognizing (i) the importance of ‘market
leaders’ to drive sector development and (ii) the demand for safe, convenient
savings products by low income populations, in 2008 UNC DF launched, with the
support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the LDC Fund to Develop
Savings-led Market Leaders (MicroLead).
importance of microcredit is widely recognized but there is a high demand for
savings from poor families and small and micro enterprises in developing
countries. Similarly, savings-based microfinance institutions that fund
themselves primarily through local deposits are better positioned to weather
periods of financial downturns and local funding is generally more stable and
carries no foreign-currency risk. Recognizing (i) the importance of ‘market
leaders’ to drive sector development and (ii) the demand for safe, convenient
savings products by low income populations, in 2008 UNC DF launched, with the
support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the LDC Fund to Develop
Savings-led Market Leaders (MicroLead).
In 2011,
with the support of The MasterCard Foundation, the MicroLead Expansion (MLE)
programme was launched which continues with the focus on microsavings and
beyond support to greenfield also includes capacity building by technical
service providers to FSPs poised for significant growth in low-income savings
mobilization. MicroLead Expansion also emphasizes issues such as outreach to
rural areas and women, technology innovations, responsible finance, and
financial education and broadens the programme’s target countries to include
non-LDC s as well as LDCs.
with the support of The MasterCard Foundation, the MicroLead Expansion (MLE)
programme was launched which continues with the focus on microsavings and
beyond support to greenfield also includes capacity building by technical
service providers to FSPs poised for significant growth in low-income savings
mobilization. MicroLead Expansion also emphasizes issues such as outreach to
rural areas and women, technology innovations, responsible finance, and
financial education and broadens the programme’s target countries to include
non-LDC s as well as LDCs.
MicroLead
Expansion and its funder, The MasterCard Foundation, are committed to sharing
knowledge and developing a learning platform for and with their partners and grantees.
As part of this platform, MLE will organize its first workshop for its
Financial Service Providers (FSP) and Technical Service Providers (TSP)
grantees in February 2014. Representatives of the grantees will be invited to
participate in the workshop to share learning with Programme’s peers, donors
and other stakeholders. In addition, the participants will be provided
trainings around specific topics of interest during the workshop in order to
support them in their grant implementation.
Expansion and its funder, The MasterCard Foundation, are committed to sharing
knowledge and developing a learning platform for and with their partners and grantees.
As part of this platform, MLE will organize its first workshop for its
Financial Service Providers (FSP) and Technical Service Providers (TSP)
grantees in February 2014. Representatives of the grantees will be invited to
participate in the workshop to share learning with Programme’s peers, donors
and other stakeholders. In addition, the participants will be provided
trainings around specific topics of interest during the workshop in order to
support them in their grant implementation.
Duties and
Responsibilities
Responsibilities
Under the
guidance of the MicroLead Program Advisor and in consultation with the
workshop’s facilitator, the consultant is responsible for delivering a one-day
training on the topic of ‘Managing Product Diversification and Savings Product
Development Successfully’. The training will be completed on the first day of
the three-day workshop that will be held in Kigali (Rwanda).
guidance of the MicroLead Program Advisor and in consultation with the
workshop’s facilitator, the consultant is responsible for delivering a one-day
training on the topic of ‘Managing Product Diversification and Savings Product
Development Successfully’. The training will be completed on the first day of
the three-day workshop that will be held in Kigali (Rwanda).
Prior to the
training, the consultant will complete a learning needs assessment (LNA) to
understand the learning needs of the participants to the training. Based on the
results of the LNA, the consultant will facilitate an introductory webinar for
the training’s participants that will be held between two to four weeks before
the workshop. The webinar will help introduce key concepts and frameworks on
the topic to be covered during the workshop such as what is a product
diversification, types of product diversification, value from client and MFI
perspective, market development Vs. product development, different growth
strategies.
training, the consultant will complete a learning needs assessment (LNA) to
understand the learning needs of the participants to the training. Based on the
results of the LNA, the consultant will facilitate an introductory webinar for
the training’s participants that will be held between two to four weeks before
the workshop. The webinar will help introduce key concepts and frameworks on
the topic to be covered during the workshop such as what is a product
diversification, types of product diversification, value from client and MFI
perspective, market development Vs. product development, different growth
strategies.
The training
will be based on the toolkit ‘Making Micro?nance Work: Managing Product
Diversi?cation’ developed by the ILO and will have the following objectives:
will be based on the toolkit ‘Making Micro?nance Work: Managing Product
Diversi?cation’ developed by the ILO and will have the following objectives:
- Raise awareness around the opportunities and
risks that product diversification presents; - Discuss pitfalls, challenges and lessons
learnt from grantees’ experiences during product diversification in
general and particularly in the savings product development process; - Share tools and methodologies for successful
savings product development; - Encourage a more pro-active product management
process within the participants’ organizations.
A critical
element of the training will be the Individual Action Plan that will be built
by each participant throughout the course. It will consist of a two-part
approach to record actions that participants themselves plan to take when they
return to their institutions as well as recommendations for action by others
within their institution.
element of the training will be the Individual Action Plan that will be built
by each participant throughout the course. It will consist of a two-part
approach to record actions that participants themselves plan to take when they
return to their institutions as well as recommendations for action by others
within their institution.
The
methodology of the training should:
methodology of the training should:
- Employ adult learning principles and
practices; - Integrate the experiential learning cycle in
each session; - Adopt a participatory approach that uses a
variety of activities (role-play, debates, exercises, group discussions)
to give participants opportunities to maximize their learning exchanges; - End each session with a wrap-up discussion to
synthesize key lessons learned.
Specifically,
the consultant will:
the consultant will:
- Complete a Learning Needs Assessment (LNA) for
all participants in the workshop in order to understand their learning
needs and gaps to be covered during the training; - Facilitate a webinar to introduce all
participants to key concepts and notions that will be referred to during
the training; - Adapt MMW2 training materials based on
participants learning needs and the training objectives; - Deliver the one-day training;
- Compile training evaluations into a final
training report.
Output and
Processes:
Processes:
Prior to the
training, the consultant should provide UNCDF with a summary of the LNAs and
the adapted agenda of the training (sequence of the training sessions). After
the training, the consultant will produce a final training report including an
overview of the different elements covered during the training and the results
of the training evaluation completed by the participants.
training, the consultant should provide UNCDF with a summary of the LNAs and
the adapted agenda of the training (sequence of the training sessions). After
the training, the consultant will produce a final training report including an
overview of the different elements covered during the training and the results
of the training evaluation completed by the participants.
Any expense
related to training logistics, training materials printing, travel and
accommodation of the consultant will be responsibility of the UNCDF.
related to training logistics, training materials printing, travel and
accommodation of the consultant will be responsibility of the UNCDF.
Timing:
The
consultant shall work during the period of January 15th 2014 to March 15th 2014
with the following schedule:
consultant shall work during the period of January 15th 2014 to March 15th 2014
with the following schedule:
Deliverables:
- LNA report, January 20th , 2014;
- Introductory webinar, February 3rd, 2014;
- Training delivery and Training Evaluation,
February 26th, 2014; - Final training report, March 7th 2014.
Competencies
Functional
Competencies:
Competencies:
- Analytical and problem solving skills of a
high order, including the ability to formulate recommendations and advice; - Demonstrated excellent written and oral
communication skills in English; - Ability to work independently, manage time,
scheduling and logistical issues; - Strong ability to communicate and function
effectively in international/multicultural environment; - 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; - High level of communication and interpersonal
skills and experience in working effectively in a multi cultural
environment; - Sensitivity to diverse opinions and
difficulties arising from differing social and cultural perceptions.
Required
Skills and Experience
Skills and Experience
Education:
- Master’s Degree or equivalent.
Experience:
- The vacancy is open to any individual
consultant that has training experience and is a Making Microfinance Work
(MMW) certified trainer; - The training will be conducted in English.
Language:
- Strong written and spoken English.
Application:
Interested
and qualified candidate should upload the following documents as one document:
and qualified candidate should upload the following documents as one document:
- Methodology and approach;
- Quote including number of days required to
complete the activities and Daily rate; - Up-to-date CV;
- Notice of availability to travel to Kigali,
Rwanda from 25-27 February.
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.
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.
How to Apply
Interested candidates are required to follow the
link below to apply
link below to apply
Closing Date: Tuesday, 07 January 2014