Youth Market Research Technical Assistance United Nations Capital Development Fund

About the Organization:
United Nation's Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) is the UN's capital investment agency for the world's 48 least developed countries. It creates new opportunities for poor people and their communities by increasing access to microfinance and investment capital. UNCDF programmes help to empower women, and are designed to catalyze larger capital flows from the private sector, national governments and development partners, for maximum impact toward the Millennium Development Goals.

Background:
UNCDF is implementing YouthStart, a program that builds on UNCDF's commitment to financial inclusion (i.e. expanding access to finance for all) by increasing access to financial services for low-income youth (defined as ages 12-24) in Sub-Saharan Africa. YouthStart aims to achieve the following three objectives: 1. Expand low income youth access to financial and non financial services by supporting financial service providers (FSPs) and their partner Youth Serving Organizations (YSOs) to conduct youth inclusive market research, develop and deliver comprehensive services to youth. 2. Build institutional capacity of FSPs, youth service organizations (YSOs), policy makers, donors and other stakeholders (including UNCDF's internal capacity) to provide comprehensive youth services. 3. Expand access to and mobilize knowledge related to youth financial services, by acting as a convener and facilitator among stakeholders (e.g., governments, national and regional microfinance associations, banking experts, regulators).

About the Job:
United Nation's Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) is seeking a International Consultant - Youth Market Research Technical Assistance to achieve the objectives depicted above. S/he will provide technical assistance to a financial service provider (FSP) in Togo to conduct youth-centered market research and write a 3 year business plan.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

•Deliver a 2-day market research workshop to develop the market research plan together with the FSP;
•Train the FSP market research team on conducting youth-centered market research;
•Hold a market research analysis and a prototype concept workshop with the FSP’s market research team;
•Provide technical assistance to the FSP to develop a business plan to develop, test and scale up youth financial services;
•Deliverables: ?Market research plan- February 10, 2012;
?Report of market research training, February 24, 2012;
?Report of market research analysis and prototype concept workshop, March 16, 2012;
?Three year business plan to develop, test and scale up youth financial services, March 30, 2012.



Qualifications:

•Education: ?Masters degree in economics, finance, business or public administration or related field.

•Experience: ?Minimum of 7 years experience in microfinance, inclusive finance, or related fields of finance, youth development, market research;
?Experiences with similar assignments in developing countries, including LDCs and Africa.

•Language: ?Fluency in French is essential;
?Working knowledge of English is desirable.

Posted: 13 Jan 2012
Closing Date: 21 Jan 2012

How to Apply:
Interested candidates can apply online at:
United Nation's Capital Development Fund

In order to be considered for evaluation purposes, the candidate's offer shall include and consider the following information:
•Updated CV of the consultant and cover letter explaining qualifications and motivation for the assignment;
•Offers include a 2 page document detailing proposed technical approach of the assignment;
•All documents should be in French;
•Only offers including full services requested for each item will be considered for evaluation purposes.

Assessment of offers will be based on the following:
•Relevant experience (30 percent);
•Technical characteristics or the description of services offered (40 percent);
•Cost of the services (30 percent).

Apply online at:
http://jobs.undp.org/cj_view_job.cfm?cur_job_id=27588