UNCDF Consultant for the start up of the Local Economic Development Finance Initiative in Tanzania

National Consultant for the start up of the Local Economic Development Finance Initiative in Tanzania (LFI-T)

Location: Dar-es-Salam, TANZANIA
Application Deadline: TBD
Type of Contract: Individual Contract
Post Level: National Consultant
Languages Required: English, working knowledge of Swahili is an advantage
Duration of Initial Contract: 5 months
Supervisor: Regional Technical Advisor (LDFP)

Background

The Economic Development Finance Initiative of Tanzania (LFI-T) is an innovative programme of the Tanzania government that strives to make an impact by ensuring that the Tanzania domestic financial systems are unblocked to enable and promote inclusive local economic development (LED). The programme intends to achieve this goal through implementation of a Tanzania national development program to ensure long-term sustainability coupled with the development and finance of demonstration small and medium-size LED infrastructure projects during a period of four years.

Capacity development will include training of local Technical Support Providers, national and local government officials, bank officers, and project sponsors, as well as the provision of information-enabling resources and communication and management platforms. The demonstration infrastructure projects will be strategically selected as critical for unleashing economic potential, including both traditional and industrial infrastructure projects such as energy projects, transport, warehouses, and food processing plants.

The LFI-T Programme aims to improve the ability and willingness of the relevant stakeholders in Tanzania to use domestic finance for LED and to create enabling national environments for sustained participation of the domestic financial sector in LED. There are five main outcomes:

• Outcome 1: Improved capacities of Tanzania public and private project developers to identify and develop small to medium-sized infrastructure projects essential for inclusive LED.
• Outcome 2: Increased ability and willingness of domestic financial sector to provide financing for small to medium-sized LED infrastructure projects.
• Outcome 3: Improved Tanzania business-enabling environment for domestic resource mobilization for inclusive LED, insuring integration into existing government processes, programs, and structures.
• Outcome 4: Increased interest and support of the development community for Tanzania inclusive LED project development and finance.
• Outcome 5: Increased effectiveness and leverage of limited public sector funds, both of the host government and development partners, by mobilizing significant levels of private sector finance for catalytic LED projects.

The Tanzania LFI-T Programme will be implemented in concert with the UN Capital Development Fund Global LFI Programme, using the UNCDF International Technical Service Provider (TSP) that is selected to provide the overall technical and management guidance required for ensuring programme results. Given the innovative nature of the programme, the role of the UNCDF International TSP will be significant in providing overall technical guidance on all aspects of the Tanzania LFI-T Programme, including project development and finance as well as capacity building, training, and tools.

The purpose of this Terms of Reference is to recruit a consultant to provide support for the initial launch of the LFI-T Programme. The expected duration of this contract is 5 months, from a start date as soon as possible in May or June 2012. The consultant will be based in Dar-es-Salaam and travel as needed to Dodoma and other regions of Tanzania.

Duties and Responsibilities

DURATION OF THE CONSULTATION
The consultation will last for a total of 5 months, up to six working days a week, not more than 120 days in total. Over the 5 months, it is estimated that the Consultant will need to spend approximately 90 percent of time in Dar-es-Salam and 10 percent in Dodoma.

PLANNED ACTVITIES
The main activities and deliverables for the National Consultant are to support the launch of the LFI-T under the overall supervision of the UNCDF Regional Office in Africa in cooperation with the International Technical Service Provider (GlobalDF) and in coordination with PMO-RALG and other government agencies. The main activities include:

• Follow-up on LFI office options in Dar-es-Salam, assessing costs and benefits
• Provide support for all RO/GlobalDF missions (set up meetings, arrange for drivers, etc)
• Provide support to GlobalDF as needed for LFI Launch Workshop (securing site, sending out invites, developing materials, etc), including meeting of LFI Steering Committee
• Research and identify possible projects for LFI development and finance per specifications to be given by GlobalDF (web search, interviews, follow-up requests from GlobalDF), and begin development process (validating significant local economic development impact, identifying possible project sponsors, etc)
• Conduct research on legal and government regulations affecting set-up and disbursements of LFI Fund
• Identify other sources of funding for LFI project development & credit enhancement, research criteria and processes for accessing them
• Conduct research on development partner programmes and funds related to LFI
• Provide suggestions on development partner meetings and approach to secure support for LFI
• Help set up and manage first LFI training workshop for government officials
• Write minutes for meetings and conduct follow-up as needed
• Arrange meetings, conduct research and outreach and identify possible providers of credit enhancement and support


EXPECTED DELIVERABLES
• Secure information on at least 3 alternative office locations
• Successful missions with requested meetings completed
• Successful Launch Workshop of LFI Programme (including meeting of LFI Steering Committee)
• Successful updating of Tanzania Financial Scan with full list of possible participants (banks, DFIs, donors)
• Successful Training Workshop
• At least 15 potential projects identified
• At least 4 projects in development
• A paper with a list of possible project sponsors and issues/requirements for securing their buy-in to LFI
• A paper with a comprehensive list of sources of LFI support for project development and credit enhancement, with details, and contact info
• A paper with comprehensive list of possible development partners to engage in LFI, with explanations of their programmes related to LFI, and what aspects of potential interest

Competencies
• A profound understanding of the Tanzanian context, particularly the main challenges in financing local development at the central and local levels;
• Excellent writing skills; ability to express complex political and governance issues in a clear, comprehensive and instructive manner in writing;
• Excellent research and analytical skills;
• Ability to work in a multi-disciplinary team of experts; and
• Good IT literacy, including word processing, use of database information, and the Internet.
Required Skills and Experience

Education:
• Advanced university degree in economics, finance, business or public administration or related fields.

Experience:
• A minimum of 5 years of experience in development finance, business development, project finance and management.
• Clear evidence of entrepreneurial success in building new programmes and business services.
• Strong programme and project management experience, with strong interpersonal skills.
• Knowledge of the Tanzanian context, particularly policy and regulatory frameworks for local economic development, public-private cooperation as well as the current state of the financial sector and business environment.

Language requirements:
• Strong English written and spoken. A working knowledge of Swahili is a clear advantage.
Application Procedure:
The following are steps for on-line application:
Submit the application (as listed below) via UNDP web site http://jobs.undp.org/ or www.tz. undp.org under the heading “Work with us/Vacancies”:
• Letter of Interest containing the following information:
(i) Explaining why the candidate is the most suitable for the work
(ii) Provide a brief methodology on the approach to the work and how it will be conducted (max. 300 words);
• Updated and signed P11 (PDF format) which is available at http://www.tz.undp.org/operations_vacancies.html;
• Financial offer, including a daily fee;
List e-mail contacts of three referees in P11 (section 26 & 29). Alternatively actually signed three recommendation letters could be provided.