Individual Consultant-Junior Data Analyst for SDG Investor Map Development

Background

The 2030 Agenda articulates the United Nations’ universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity. It was agreed upon by all UN member states in 2015 and it is operationalized through 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The UN estimates that achieving the SDGs requires overcoming a critical financing gap of US$ 5-7 trillion per year. The 2030 Agenda recognizes that the private sector has a fundamental role to play if the world is to achieve the Goals and ensure economic growth and poverty reduction that does not come at the expense of environmental damage, climate change and social and income inequalities. But private sector participation will be required at larger scale, in addition to the growing field of sustainable investments led by the diverse global impact investment community. This means continuing the deployment of the SDGs as the necessary global framework for private actors to capture the benefits and trade-offs of sustainable development. But it also means encouraging greater SDG-aligned investments from institutional investors and corporations, using the 2030 Agenda as a proactive roadmap for capital deployment, rather than exclusively as a framework for the retroactive assessment of impact.

To help fill this financing gap, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) created SDG Impact as a flagship initiative to empower investors with clarity, insights and tools to achieve the SDGs. The SDG Impact aims to provide investors, businesses and others with unified standards, tools, and services required to authenticate their contributions to advance the SDGs and to identify SDG investment opportunities in emerging economies and developing countries. In this context, the SDG Impact introduced an impact intelligence tool - the SDG Investor Maps – to be produced by UNDP Country Offices as a dynamic tool containing a range of market-specific investment opportunities for SDG-aligned capital deployment.

In India, the work to support the SDG Impact initiative is being led by the SDG Finance Facility, a project currently in the ideation stage, that aims to collaborate with leading stakeholders to incubate commercially viable SDG aligned innovative financial instruments that will catalyze financing towards improved social and developmental outcomes.

Organization Setting

On the ground in about 170 countries and territories, UNDP works to eradicate poverty while protecting the planet. We help countries develop strong policies, skills, partnerships and institutions so they can sustain their progress.

UNDP has worked in India since 1951 in almost all areas of human development, from systems and institutional strengthening to inclusive growth and sustainable livelihoods, as well as sustainable energy, environment and resilience. UNDP’s programmes continue to fully integrate a global vision for catalytic change with India’s national priorities. With over 30 projects on the ground in almost every state, today UNDP India works to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by transforming traditional models to do development differently.

Objective / Results of Service

The overall objective of this assignment is to support the preparation an SDG Investor Map for India to help public and private sector stakeholders to identify investment opportunity areas that can contribute to addressing the sustainable development needs of the country being mapped, while establishing effective synergies with the country’s national and sector-specific policy priorities. Namely, the objective is to successfully identify, assess and analyse data sources feeding into the development of the mapping.

 

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work 

The work will be an iterative research-intensive process with close interaction and cooperation with multiple public and private sector stakeholders.

The key pillar of the work is to identify, assess, and analyze the data sources to feed into the development of the mapping—namely public and private sources of secondary research including government documents, published legislation, regulatory guidance around sustainable development, national investment plans, and sector maps, investment reports and other research from entities pertaining to national and local investment needs.

These data sources must be first identified and collected (with sources and citations recorded), discussed and agreed with the CO team and Project Manager, then assessed and analyzed for relevant information to populate the proposed Excel template provided. To arrive at this level the methodology is defined in the Guidance document and listed below.

The work will be carried out in line with the UNDP’s SDG Investor Map methodology, and in concert with the chosen SDG Map Project Manager from the UNDP India Country Office and the Lead Data Analyst (currently in the process of being recruited), along the following main directions.

1. Define the national priority starting point, i.e. distil and compare national development needs and national policy priorities to identify sectors where there is demonstrable political/ financial commitment to stimulate development and investment. Useful documentation to inform this includes, among others, National Sustainable Development Strategy, and Voluntary National Review (VNR) for development-related priorities, and Government programs and investment promotion plans for policy priorities; country strategies of international financial and donor agencies;
2. Identify priority subsectors to focus on, i.e. prioritize subsectors where there is development need and policy/investment momentum. The documentation analyzed here is more sector-specific, including sector-specific strategies and action programs; sector specific programs of the Government at national and regional level, assessment of country progress on SDGs, and sector reports from investment promotion agencies;
3. Identify priority sub-regions to focus on, i.e. identify sub-regions where there is both high development need within each subsector, and strong political/financial momentum to spur potential subsector growth. Emerging sectors, subsectors and sub-regions are validated through focused consultations with cooperation agencies, national development banks, stakeholders in key ministries, and investment promotion agencies;
4. Derive more specific investment opportunity areas: i.e. gather intelligence through primary and secondary research (primarily with local and global investors) to identify scalable business models with the potential to address critical development needs identified in stages 1-4. Each ‘IOA’ anchors around a proven commercial approach with strong potential for achieving at-market- or above-market returns, and a clear link to the development challenge addressed in relevant subsectors and sub-regions.

In addition, the Consultant will identify, along with the Project Manager and the Lead Data Analyst, key interviewees to collect primary data on sectors of interest, investment prospects, and landscaping of development and financial needs which will catalyze SDG achievement.

The Consultant will support the workshop with the key stakeholders, supporting the Project Manager.

Specific duties and responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities of the Consultant are as follows:

• Identify, assess and analyse the key data sources needed to complete the Mapping
• Support the core project team, comprising of two project analysts and led by a Project Manager from the CO. Oversee the day-to-day research and analytical work of project analysts and ensure a high standard of analytical rigor. If necessary, identify and work with sectorial experts for short-term inputs;
• Agree with the Project Manager the conceptual and guidance to the team in carrying out the policy and legal, economic and business analysis and synthesis;
• Develop a detailed work plan for the completion of the work along the lines of the methodology described, to fit into the final deliverable Excel template
• Propose a list of stakeholders, and jointly conduct stakeholder consultations with governmental agencies, international and foreign country development agencies, the private sector etc.— recording the results of the interviews;
• Report to the UNDP Project Manager as needed; and
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Deliverables

	Deliverables / Outputs	Submission Deadline
1	Inception report with work plan, timeline, stakeholders and institutions to be consulted etc. for the development of the country mapping report. Consultation Workshop with key stakeholders Identify a longlist (30-50) and then shortlist (15-20) the key data sources needed to complete the Mapping Identify a long (30-50) and shortlist (20-25) of prospective public and private sector interviewees	Within 1 month after signing the contract
2	Draft outline of country report, including summary of the top “hotspot” or sector / thematic opportunities for SDG investments	Within 2 months after signing the contract
3	Draft SDG Investor Map for India	Within 3 months after signing the contract
4	Final SDG Investor Map for India	Within 3.5 months from signing of contract

Competencies

Functional competencies:

• Data analysis expertise, ideally with extensive expertise in research and an understanding of statistics
• Knowledge of the SDGs, UNDP and parallel SDG Impact activities (e.g. Impact Management)
• Strong ingoing knowledge of market context, of national development needs, and economic/ political priorities
• Knowledge of the local investment landscape, and close familiarity with needs of global investors

• Expertise in gathering and comprehensively analyzing country-level data as basis for identifying investment opportunities and developing data analytics on market sizing and defining key country hotspots

• Excellent advocacy skills relating to finance, business climate.
• Strong local networks: within the financial and corporate industries (banks, non-bank financial institutions, impact funds, HNWI, relevant philanthropies, development finance institutions), with relevant businesses, investment promotion agencies etc.
• Excellent analytical skills
• Ability to facilitate multi-stakeholder sessions
• Ability to navigate sensitive political environments
• Strong communication skills, including ability to produce high quality practical advisory reports and knowledge products

Core competencies

• Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity;?
• Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment;
• Self-development, initiative-taking; ?
• Acting as a team player and facilitating team work; ?
• Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively; ?
• Creating synergies through self-control; ?
• Managing conflict; ?
• Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others ?
• Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member; ?

Corporate competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
• Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Required Skills and Experience

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing

Basic research and analysis 

• Generates new ideas and approaches, researches best practices and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things; ?
• Documents and analyses innovative strategies and new approaches. 

Fundamental knowledge of own discipline

• Understands and applies fundamental concepts and principles of a professional discipline or technical specialty relating to the position; 
• Possesses basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks; 

Client Orientation

• Establishing effective client relationships 
• Researches potential solutions to internal and external needs and reports back in a timely, succinct and appropriate fashion; 
• Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet needs and deadlines; 
• Establishes, builds and sustains effective relationships within the work unit and with internal and external parties 

Qualifications and experience 

Academic Qualifications/Education: Bachelors’s degree in economics, development, finance, accounting, business administration, data science or related field.

Experience:

• At least 3 years of professional experience in finance in emerging or low-income markets, sustainable or impact finance, business development in developing countries, investment research, statistics, analysis
• Proven experience of leading research in cooperation with international organizations or other bodies responsible for formulating and monitoring of public policies around sustainable finance. Proven experience in preparing similar major reports.
• Experience of carrying out assessment and preparing reports on implementation of sustainable development goals (SDG);
• Experience in the analysis and review of technical and legal documents such as policy documents and/or legal contracts; international agreements and conventions; economic and business-related reports and performance indicators; and
• Experience in liaising with public and private sector stakeholders and organizing and facilitating public and private sector stakeholder dialogue activities (workshops, round-table discussions, etc.)
• Experience of working with international development agencies (donor and financial organizations, etc.)    

Language skills: For this engagement fluency in spoken and written English is required.

Payment Terms

Payment will be made upon confirmation of UNDP on delivery of the outputs in a satisfactory manner using the following instalments:

• 20% upon completion of Output 1;
• 30% upon completion of Output 2;
• 30% upon completion of Output 3; and

• 20% upon completion of Output 4.

Note: Evaluation of outcomes is the responsibility of UNDP; Payment will be issued according to the claims and submitted deliverables, as well as their acceptance by UNDP; In case the conditions of the ToR are not met, the contract may be terminated, or the consultancy fee may be reduced.

Travel:

Prior approved travel expenses will be reimbursed as per actuals in line with UNDP rules.

Evaluation Criteria 

Cumulative analysis

The award of the contract shall be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

Responsive - Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.?

Technical Criteria weight - 70%;?

Financial Criteria weight - 30%.

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points (70% of the total technical points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Educational Qualification: 20 marks

Relevant Experience: 50 marks