Senior Policy Consultant, Uganda

Background

Instructions to Applicants: Click on the "Apply now" button. Input your information in the appropriate Sections: personal information, language proficiency, education, resume and motivation. Upon completion of the first page, please hit "submit application" tab at the end of the page. Please ensure that CV or P11 and the Cover letter are combined in one file.

The following documents shall be required from the applicants:

Personal CV or P11, indicating all past positions held and their main underlying functions, their durations (month/year), the qualifications, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate, and at least three (3) the most recent professional references of previous supervisors. References may also include peers.

A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.

Travel:   

UNDP will cover the cost of travel of the individual to the duty station, as well as their return to their home upon completion of their services. Travel costs are covered only in the event that the function will be undertaken physically in the duty station and excludes working from home arrangements.

Office/Unit/Project Description 

The Office of the UNSGSA, supports the work of H.M. Queen Máxima of the Netherlands as the UN Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development (UNSGSA). As UNSGSA and Honorary Patron of the G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI), Queen Máxima raises awareness and advocates specific policies, investments and actions with governments, regulators, private companies, international institutions and diverse additional stakeholders, all with view of how inclusive financial systems can help to reduce poverty, equalize opportunity and accelerate progress toward numerous development goals. She does so through country visits, speeches, meetings, convening of stakeholders and other outreach. This requires careful, comprehensive and rigorous analysis of local conditions, policies, available services and public priorities, as well as the needs of households, enterprises and communities.

The UNSGSA’s work is done is partnership with international stakeholders to advance financial inclusion. She collaborates closely with an advisory Reference Group of leading international organizations including the Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI), Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Better Than Cash Alliance, Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP), The World Bank Group (including the International Finance Corporation), the UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), the UN Development Programme (UNDP), UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Flourish Ventures. The UNSGSA also consults widely with UN country teams, financial standard setting bodies (SSBs), the G20/Global Partnership for Inclusive Finance (GPFI), foundations, private companies, bilateral donors, and civil society organizations.

The Senior Policy Consultant will provide on-call, overall advice and support to prepare the UNSGSA for a focused number of strategic advocacy and related efforts to advance the financial inclusion agenda in Uganda. The consultant will further provide technical advice and support in preparation for, and follow-up from, UNSGSA country visits and international engagements in Uganda to advance the financial inclusion agenda in-country. The consultant will be paid on a daily fee basis.

Institutional Arrangement

The Senior Policy Consultant will report directly to the Director of the Office of the UNSGSA, and the Programme Specialist leading on the country/regional work.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work

Country Visit Preparation – Pre-Visit:

• Draft a country overview (30 pages max) consisting of the following sections:

- General Country Context + Summary/Assessment of National Efforts to Date

- Geography

- Politics

- Demographics

- Poverty & Human Development

- Composition of the Economy including select data on economy

-Key Prerequisite Digital Public Goods including ID and Communications

- Financial System, including the banking sector, microfinance, and insurance

- Financial infrastructure (e.g. payment system)

- Mobile Money Ecosystem, including the model, agent networks, and pricing

- Emerging Innovations on the market, including DFS players, fintech, interoperability and open banking

- MSME sector and Ag-Finance

- Landscaping of Financial Inclusion, including access, usage, womens financial inclusion

- Any other area that will be identified

• Help identification and preparation of the field visit(s).

Country Visit Preparation – Pre-Visit Advance Party:

• Support the preparation of, and during, the Advance Party visit (finalizing the agenda, identifying (additional) meetings, and detailing the field visit.
• Take notes in all meetings and then share them with O/UNSGSA.
• Propose inputs for briefs, including talking points and key background, for meetings and roundtables with high-level public and private sector representatives.
• Gather information and engage with the Central Bank and other Governmental entities throughout the preparation process, to be able to provide inputs to all the documents and preparations described above.

Post-Visit Follow-up and Post-Visit Deliverables:

• Participate in an official country visit/follow up visit – if requested by the O/UNSGSA- and support UNSGSA and the Office (e.g. take comprehensive notes in all meetings).
• Provide comments on the drafting of the trip outcome note (up to 5 pages).
• Update the Office of the UNSGSA on key developments in financial inclusion in the country.
• Contribute to the follow-up through coordination, outreach, and engagement with country-level technical/expert-partners, government representatives, and private sector leaders to build and sustain advocacy momentum and implementation of visit recommendations.

Competencies

Professionalism:  Shows pride in work and achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; Asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience; Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be "clients " and seeks to see things from clients' point of view; Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; Identifies clients' needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients' environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Required Skills and Experience