INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT PROCUREMENT NOTICE NATIONAL CONSULTANT TO FACILITATE BANKS AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS TO ACHIEVE TARGETS AS PER KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS UNDER PERFORMANCE BASED AGREEMENT (PBA) WITH UNITED NATION CAPITAL FUND (UNCDF) Date: 1 March 2018 Reference No.: UNDP/PN/13/2018 Country: Nepal Description of the assignment: UNNATI A2F launched a Challenge Fund in 2016-17 for BFIs in Nepal, with the objective of supporting BFIs to expand frontiers of financial services specially for farmers and agricultural MSMEs in the 7 UNNATI districts and beyond. In May 2017, UNCDF selected 10 partner institutions to receive challenge fund grant under UNNATI-A2F. UNCDF has signed Grant financing agreements with these 10 institutions. This implies that UNCDF provides grant funding to the partner BFI in the context of an agreed programme and on the terms and conditions set in the Grant Financing Agreement and the Partner BFI agrees to accept the funds for the implementation of the programme and to achieve the results/milestones as agreed in the Grant Financing Agreement. The partner BFI also agrees to ensure accuracy and provide reports and statements to UNCDF as stipulated in the Grant Financing Agreement. Grant payments are made by UNCDF once a claim is received from the partner BFI upon submission of all requirements including evidence of achievement of expected results as well as disbursement conditions. Objective: The objective of this consultancy is to support 5 of the 10 recipients of challenge fund grants in ensuring that claim documents are accurate, timely, complete and thorough and that they meet the disbursement requirement of UNCDF as agreed in the Grant Financing Agreement. Each partner BFI has conditions to be met in order to receive grants from UNCDF as per PBA. The main scope of work of the consultant is to support and monitor the disbursement conditions to be achieved by the partner BFIs and report it to UNNATI A2F team and UNCDF. Many have already achieved first disbursement targets and have received first tranches of the grant. Objectives 1-4: Support Chhimek Laghubitta Bikas Bank, Everest Bank, Laxmi Bank, NMB Microfinance Bittiya Sanstha and Siddhartha Bank in completing and compiling the following documentation for submission to UNCDF as part of disbursement claims.
Project/Agency name: UNCDF Period of assignment/services (if applicable): 70 days (starting 15 March 30 September 2018) No. of Consultants Required: One Duty Station: Kathmandu, Nepal Expected Places of Travel (if applicable): N/A Proposal should be submitted at the following address: Procurement Unit, UNDP (Ref.: UNDP/PN/13/2018 NATIONAL CONSULTANT TO FACILITATE BANKS AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS TO ACHIEVE TARGETS AS PER KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS UNDER PERFORMANCE BASED AGREEMENT (PBA) WITH UNCDF, UN House, Pulchowk, Lalitpur, Nepal by email to procurement.np@undp.org no later than 5:00PM on 11 March 2018. Proposals received after the deadline shall not be considered. Written inquiries must be submitted to the email: query.procurement.np@undp.org mentioning Procurement Notice Ref: UNDP/PN/13/2018 (RKL), on or before 12:00 Noon, 6 March 2018. UNDP shall respond to the inquiries through a bulletin posted in UNDP Website: http://www.np.undp.org/content/nepal/en/home/operations/procurement.html. Inquiries received after the above date and time shall not be entertained. Any delay in UNDP s response shall be not used as a reason for extending the deadline for submission, unless UNDP determines that such an extension is necessary and communicates a new deadline to the Proposers. Any request for clarification must be sent in writing, or by standard electronic communication to the e- Any delay in UNDP s response. 1. SCOPE OF WORK, RESPONSIBILITIES AND DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED WORK As per the Procurement Notice, detailed Terms of Reference (Annex I), General Condition of Contract for the services of Individual Contractors (Annex II), P11 Form (Annex III) and Offeror s Letter to UNDP (Annex IV). Please submit your application at the following email address: procurement.np@undp.org 2. REQUIREMENTS FOR EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS I. Education: Master s Degree in Management, Finance, Business or related field. II. Experience: Minimum of 7 years of Experience, with experience in the Banking sector III. Other competencies: Functional Competencies
A good understanding of performance monitoring and financial management of financial institutions. Proven understanding of best practice in MSME Finance, including agricultural finance and credit delivered by value chain actors Corporate Competencies: Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of UNCDF Demonstrate integrity by modelling the UN's values and ethical standards Displays cultural, gender, religion, race and age sensitivity and adaptability 3. DOCUMENTS TO BE INCLUDED WHEN SUBMITTING THE PROPOSAL Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications: a. Proposal: To be included as part of the proposal: Offeror s Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability for the Individual Contractor (IC) Assignment along with the completed Lump sum financial proposal. (Annex 4) Completed P11 Form (attached as Annex 3; also downloadable from the UNDP Nepal Website http://www.np.undp.org/content/nepal/en/home/operations/procurement.html including past experience in similar projects and at least 3 references. A cover letter with a brief presentation of your consultancy explaining your suitability for the work; A brief methodology on how you will approach and conduct the work (limit to under 1500 words); Note: a. Applicants of 62 years or more require full medical examination and statement of fitness to work to engage in the consultancy; b. The candidate has to be an independent consultant (If the candidate is engaged with any organization, the organization employing the candidate will be issued with a Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA) to release the employee for the consultancy with UNDP). c. Due to sheer number of applicants, the procurement unit will contact only competitively selected consultant. d. This application system allows uploading only one file per application; we therefore, recommend to upload the completed P11 Form. If the applicant wishes to include additional information, they may be attached to the P11 form. 4. GUIDANCE FOR FINANCIAL PROPOSAL Lump sum contracts 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).
Travel; All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. This includes all travel to join duty station. In general, UNDP does not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ti cket. Should the IC wishes to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources. In the case of unforeseeable travel, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respecti ve business unit and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed. 5. EVALUATION Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodologies: Cumulative analysis When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as: a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, and b) Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteri a specific to the solicitation. * Technical Criteria weight; 70% * Financial Criteria weight; 30% Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points (70%) in the technical evaluation would be considered for the Financial Evaluation. Criteria Weight Max. Point Technical 70% 70 Academic Qualification 17.5% 17.5 Experience with experience in the Banking sector 17.5% 17.5 Understanding of performance monitoring and financial management of financial institutions Proven understanding of best practice in MSME Finance, including agricultural finance and credit delivered by value chain actors Financial 21% 21 14% 14 Lowest financial proposal 30% 30 Contract will be awarded to the technically qualified consultant who obtains the highest combined score (financial and technical). The points for the Financial Proposal will be allocated as per the following formula: Lowest Bid Offered X 30 Bid of the Consultant * Lowest Bid Offered refers to the lowest price offered by Offerors scoring at least 70% in technical evaluation. * The method of evaluation is a desk review of P11. Please highlight in the P11 form major report you have prepared. ANNEX ANNEX 1- TERMS OF REFERENCES (TOR) ANNEX 2- GENERAL CONDITIONS OF CONTRACT FOR THE SERVICES OF INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT ANNEX 3-P11 Form ANNEX 4- Confirmation of Interest and Submission of Financial Proposal
TERMS OF REFERENCE NATIONAL CONSULTANT TO FACILITATE BANKS AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS TO ACHIEVE TARGETS AS PER KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS UNDER PERFORMANCE BASED AGREEMENT (PBA) WITH UNCDF ACTIVITY: Technical Assistance and monitoring of 5 partner banks and financial institutions to achieve targets as per key performance indicators under PBAs with UNCDF AGENCY/PROJECT NAME: UNNATI-Access to Finance PLACE OF ASSIGNMENT: Nepal - Kathmandu INTRODUCING UNCDF AND UNNATI-ACCESS TO FINANCE PROGRAMME UNCDF makes public and private finance work for the poor in the world s 47 least developed countries (LDCs). 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. This last mile is where available resources for development are scarcest; where market failures are most pronounced; and where benefits from national growth tend to leave people excluded. UNCDF s financing models work through two channels: savings-led financial inclusion that expands the opportunities for individuals, households, and small businesses to participate in the local economy, providing them with the tools they need to climb out of poverty and manage their financial lives; and by showing how localized investments through fiscal decentralization, innovative municipal finance, and structured project finance can drive public and private funding that underpins local economic expansion and sustainable development. UNCDF financing models are applied in thematic areas where addressing barriers to finance at the local level can have a transformational effect for poor and excluded people and communities. By strengthening how finance works for poor people at the household, small enterprise, and local infrastructure levels, UNCDF contributes to SDG 1 on eradicating poverty with a focus on reaching the last mile and addressing exclusion and inequalities of access. At the same time, UNCDF deploys its capital finance mandate in line with SDG 17 on the means of implementation, to unlock public and private finance for the poor at the local level. By identifying those market segments where innovative financing models can have transformational impact in helping to reach the last mile, UNCDF contributes to a number of different SDGs and currently to 28 of 169 targets UNCDF in coordination with Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), is implementing the UNNATI-Access to Finance Project in Nepal for the period 2014-2018. This five-year project with a total budget of USD 8 million is funded by the Government of Denmark and UNCDF within the scope of a bigger programme called UNNATI-Inclusive Growth Programme in Nepal, which mainly targets entrepreneurs and smallholder
farmers engaged in 4 target value chains in seven districts (referred as UNNATI districts for the project) in the Eastern Development Region (EDR) of the country. The purpose of the UNNATI -A2F project is to support financial service providers to more effectively serve the agricultural value chain actors providing appropriate financial products and services. RATIONALE UNNATI A2F launched a Challenge Fund in 2016-17 for BFIs in Nepal, with the objective of supporting BFIs to expand frontiers of financial services specially for farmers and agricultural MSMEs in the 7 UNNATI districts and beyond. In May 2017, UNCDF selected 10 partner institutions to receive challenge fund grant under UNNATI-A2F. UNCDF has signed Grant financing agreements with these 10 institutions. This implies that UNCDF provides grant funding to the partner BFI in the context of an agreed programme and on the terms and conditions set in the Grant Financing Agreement and the Partner BFI agrees to accept the funds for the implementation of the programme and to achieve the results/milestones as agreed in the Grant Financing Agreement. The partner BFI also agrees to ensure accuracy and provide reports and statements to UNCDF as stipulated in the Grant Financing Agreement. Grant payments are made by UNCDF once a claim is received from the partner BFI upon submission of all requirements including evidence of achievement of expected results as well as disbursement conditions. OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE OF WORK OF THE ASSIGNMENT The objective of this consultancy is to support 5 of the 10 recipients of challenge fund grants in ensuring that claim documents are accurate, timely, complete and thorough and that they meet the disbursement requirement of UNCDF as agreed in the Grant Financing Agreement. Each partner BFI has conditions to be met in order to receive grants from UNCDF as per PBA. The main scope of work of the consultant is to support and monitor the disbursement conditions to be achieved by the partner BFIs and report it to UNNATI A2F team and UNCDF. Many have already achieved first disbursement targets and have received first tranches of the grant. Specific objectives, disbursement conditions and scope of work of the assignment are as follows: Objective 1: Support Chhimek Laghubitta Bikas Bank in completing and compiling the following documentation for submission to UNCDF as part of disbursement claims. Disbursement 2: 2) Project Progress report against the agreed milestones: This includes quarterly reports as 4) Training Modules, Signed attendance sheets, and training completion reports of a. Microfinance operation training, b. IT and software training and c. Basic accounting and software handling training to 59 agents and 12 supervisors 5) Exposure visit Report 6) Roll out report on 34 digital points
a. MIS report on7,427 cumulative clients including a. 5,699 new clients through Digital Mahilas Disbursement 3: 2) Project Completion report against the agreed milestones: This includes quarterly reports as 4) Project Audit report 5) Marketing Campaign Report of 59 campaigns 6) Copy of Video Documentary on Financial Literacy (FL) and proof of presentation (minutes) at guardian gathering and meeting 7) Proof of 1,500 FL booklets developed and distributed 8) MIS Report on a. 10,939 cumulative clients including b. 3,512 new clients through Digital Mahilas Objective 2: Support Everest Bank in completing and compiling the following documentation for submission to UNCDF as part of disbursement claims. Disbursement 2: 2) Project Progress report against the agreed milestones: This includes quarterly reports as 4) Proof of FL programme conducted 5) Training report, training content on new device, product and process and signed attendance sheets of 15 BCs trained 6) Proof of device procurement such as purchase receipts, stock book entry etc. 7) Proof of operations of 15 BC points (MIS report) 8) Marketing materials, proof of marketing campaign undertaken at BC operational area 9) MIS report on a. 1,872 clients opened savings account from 15 BC points b. 134 credit clients acquired in EDR Disbursement 3: 2) Project Progress report against the agreed milestones: This includes quarterly reports as 4) Project Audit report
5) Training report, training content on new device, product and process, signed attendance sheets of 15 new and 15 existing BCs trained 6) Proof of marketing campaign undertaken at BC 7) MIS Report on 15 BC points operation 8) MIS Report on a. 6,516 clients (including 4,644 new) opened savings account from 30 BC points b. 511 credit clients (including 377 new) Disbursement 4: 2) Project Completion report against the agreed milestones: This includes quarterly reports as 4) Proof of 70 BC points established in UNNATI EDR districts (of which 50 active BC points in EDR) 5) MIS Report on: a. 10,800 clients (including 4,284 new) opened savings account from 70 BC points b. 920 credit clients (including 409 new) Objective 3: Support Laxmi Bank in completing and compiling the following documentation for submission to UNCDF as part of disbursement claims. Disbursement 3: 2) Grant release request form 3) Project Progress report against the agreed milestones: This includes quarterly reports as 4) Project Financial Report (including co-contribution of the Recipient) in the designated 5) Project Audit report 6) MIS report on: a. 13,216 cumulative clients through agents including a. 8,736 new clients through agents b. 3,520 cumulative clients from branches including c. 2,240 new clients from branches 7) Report on marketing activities conducted with photographs, press coverage etc. Disbursement 4: 2) Project Completion report against the agreed milestones: This includes quarterly reports as 4) MIS Report on: a. 40 active agent points
b. 24,640 cumulative clients through agents including c. 11,424 new clients through agents d. 6,400 cumulative clients from branches including e. 2,880 new clients from branches Objective: 4: Support NMB Microfinance Bittiya Sanstha in completing and compiling the following documentation for submission to UNCDF as part of disbursement claims. Disbursement 3: 2) Project Progress report against the agreed milestones: This includes quarterly reports as 4) Project Audit report 5) PGT training completion report with training content and signed attendance sheets of 26,205 members 6) A copy of the signed copy of tripartite agreement among NMBMFBL, farmers and vendors 7) Report on operation of mobile application and E-portal website including proof of mobile applications and website contents. 8) MIS report on a. 13,108 cumulative clients receive savings/credits products b. 9,534 additional clients receive savings/credits products (including 2,527 who receive PPT) Disbursement 4: 2) Project Completion report against the agreed milestones: This includes quarterly reports as 4) Printed samples of PPT and leaflets and proof of dissemination 5) Final short-listing report on 150 each of milk chew, ginger and cardamom collection center 6) Report on 5,850 PPT issued 7) MIS report on, a. 18,868 cumulative clients receive savings/credits products (including 4,212 who receive PPT) b. 5,760 additional clients receive savings/credits products (including 1,685 who receive PPT) Objective 5: Support Siddhartha Bank in completing and compiling the following documentation for submission to UNCDF as part of disbursement claims. Disbursement 3:
2) Project Progress report against the agreed milestones: This includes quarterly reports as 4) Project Audit report 5) Proof of 30 BLB points operation through 5 new and 1 existing branches 6) MIS Report on a. 3,240 additional clients from BLB b. 2,880 cumulative clients from new branches including c. 2,304 additional clients from new branches 7) Training Reports conducted at 15 agent locations including training content and signed attendance sheets 8) Proof of 2,500 flex printed, framed and transported to agent location for 15 BLB points 9) Copy of Jingles, Agreements with FM stations for jingles and proof of jingles broadcasted. Disbursement 4: 2) Project Completion report against the agreed milestones: This includes quarterly reports as 4) MIS Report on a. 5,400 cumulative clients from BLB including b. 2,160 additional clients from BLB c. 4,320 cumulative clients from new branches including d. 1,440 additional clients from new branches 5) Reports on group activities conducted in 15 locations 6) Samples of FL materials developed and proof of production and dissemination of 30 posters, 7,000 leaflets and 30 wall paints The consultant will be responsible towards providing guidance and hands-on support to the partner BFIs in ensuring that they submit accurate, timely and complete reporting on UNNATI A2F Project Activities for submission of claims. Scope Understanding and monitoring the activities of 5 BFI partners under the UNNATI A2F Challenge Fund. Ensuring that the 5 BFI partners are working towards achievement of the Challenge Fund conditions through activities mentioned in the Financing Agreement and in compliance to UNCDF underwriting standards.
Providing guidance and support in documentary preparation and activities under the UNNATI A2F project by the 5 BFI partners. Ensuring that the BFI partners submit the required documents and reports to the Project Team in a timely manner as agreed in the Financing Agreement Deliverables: Monthly report on the disbursement conditions under the Challenge Fund from the 5 BFI Partners Quality-checked disbursement claims with all supporting documents from partner BFIs on a timely manner. Qualification: Minimum of 7 years of Experience, with experience in the Banking sector S/he should have a Master s Degree in Management, Finance, Business or related field. S/he will have a good understanding of performance monitoring and financial management of financial institutions. Proven understanding of best practice in MSME Finance, including agricultural finance and credit delivered by value chain actors Period: 70 days (starting 15 March 30 September 2018) TIMELINE, DURATION OF ASSIGNMENT, DUTY STATION AND EXPECTED PLACES OF TRAVEL The consultant is expected to work for 70 working days starting 15 March 2018 up to the 30 September 2018. For work with partner BFIs, the respective partner BFIs will liaise with the consultant to provide necessary space for the consultant. Duty station will be Kathmandu. PROVISION OF QUALITY, MONITORING AND PROGRESS CONTROLS Monitoring of progress shall be measured both per the activities of the consultant as well as the performance of the UNCDF partners. The consultant must secure approval from UNCDF s National Programme Coordinator prior to deployment to field on a mission, if required. The consultant will conduct briefings to the A2F team prior to departure to field upon request of UNCDF. The consultant will have to organize monthly progress meeting with A2F and the partner. The primary contact shall be: Reporting: UNCDF- National Programme Coordinator Coordination & Technical Oversight: Team Leader and/or Agriculture Value Chain Expert of A2F team and/or UNCDF assigned person
STANDARD TRAVEL COSTS AND DAILY SUPPLEMENTAL ALLOWANCE (DSA) If the consultant must travel to field locations, standard travel costs and daily supplemental allowance (DSA) shall be reimbursed by UNCDF. Payment Schedule: Deliverable Submission of disbursement packages of Chhimek Laghubitta, Everest bank, Laxmi Bank, NMB Microfinance, and Siddhartha Bank Payment 30% upon approvals of first lot of 4 disbursement claims by UNCDF 30% upon approval of second lot of 4 disbursement claims by UNCDF 40% upon approval of the remaining 3 disbursement claims by UNCDF EVALUATION Individual consultants will be evaluated as follows: Screening Applications will be screened and only candidates meeting the following minimum criteria will progress to the pool for shortlisting: Education Experience Shortlisting by Desk Review UNCDF will conduct a desk review to produce a shortlist of candidates by evaluating the following criteria with the corresponding points (70 points) Criteria Weight Max. Point Technical 70% 70 Academic Qualification 17.5% 17.5 Experience with experience in the Banking sector 17.5% 17.5 Understanding of performance monitoring and financial management of financial institutions Proven understanding of best practice in MSME Finance, including agricultural finance and credit delivered by value chain actors 21% 21 14% 14 Financial Lowest financial proposal 30% 30