International Individual Consultancy Services to Prepare and Develop a Project Document to be submitted to the Russian Debt Swap Funds

Background

Background

UNDP Madagascar has implemented a project entitled “Development of vital factors of production, water and energy, in the Great South of Madagascar” since January 2020. This project is funded by the Russian Federation and UNDP Trust Fund for Development, and aims at reducing poverty through a significant improvement of people's living conditions and reducing social inequalities by reinforcing access to the essential factors of production such as water and energy in the Deep South of Madagascar.

The project intervenes in three main regions Anosy, Androy and Atsimo Andrefana, the main objective is to improve the access to productive factors mainly water and energy and promote sustainable agriculture production and transformation technologies in 6 rural communities. In the long run, the project expects to improve the access to water and energy, the productivity of economic activities, the livelihoods, income and well-being of the rural population of the Great south.

The project is structured around five components:

Development of drinking water and hydro-agricultural Infrastructures;
Development of rural electrification with renewable energy;
Improvement of production techniques and diversification of income generating activities;
Support to small and medium-sized enterprises, professional groups and producer groups and establishment of Economic Transformation Zone (ETZ);
Project preparation facility for the project scaling up to be submitted to the Russian debt swap funds.

In one year of implementation, the progress made in terms of achievement in the field is promising, access to drinking water to 600 households, construction of 4 photovoltaic power plants, distribution of 2,000 solar kits to 2,000 vulnerable households, construction of one Economic Transformation Zone (ETZ) to name a few.

At a strategic level, the project planned to develop a new project to the Russian debt swap funds. This activity is scheduled this year 2021. Referring to the 2015 Madagascar debt swap agreement, the country has USD 88,9 million debt to the Soviet Union and payments can be channeled for the purpose of financing development projects in the territory of the Republic of Madagascar.

The proposed actions are in line with the requirements of the Malagasy Government General Policy as agreed in the 2015 debt swap agreement, namely Energy gaps and household access to vital resources. For this, UNDP Madagascar will work closely with Malagasy Government, especially the Ministry of Finance and Economy which is the delegated authority from the Madagascar side.

In this context, UNDP Madagascar is looking for an international expert to help the Country Office in the design and preparation of a Project Document to be submitted to the Russian debt swap funds.

Overall objective of the mission

The main mandate of the international expert is to study the possibility of developing a new project proposal related to the facilitation of the debt for development swaps under the bilateral agreement between the Malagasy Government and the Russian Federation, and to prepare a Project Document to be submitted and financed under the swap initiative

Duties and Responsibilities

1. SCOPE OF WORK

The international expert will be mainly responsible of:

- Drafting and detailing the fundamental steps for developing new project to the Russian debt swap funds;

- Defining the mechanisms allowing the operationalization of the debt swap funds;

- Detailing the workplan and implementation schedule as agreed upon with UNDP Madagascar Country Office;

- Engaging dialogue and exchanges with decision makers to have their commitment to develop a project to the facilitation of the debt for development swaps under the bilateral agreement between the Malagasy Government and the Russian Federation;

- Capitalizing experiences and lessons learnt from the project and development of the scaling up project to be included in the Project preparation facility under the swap;

- Providing strategic, technical, and financial supports to the project preparation facility to be submitted to the Russian debt swap funds and to be implemented by UNDP Madagascar;

- Finalizing the submission documentation;

2. Methodology

Given the current pandemic context, the international expert will work remotely and in collaboration with a national consultants to be recruited by UNDP CO; The selected individual consultant will work with many stakeholders from different sectors: Presidency Office, Prime Minister Cabinet, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, STCPA, UNDP…. and will report biweekly via email and calls to the Project Development Team (PDT) composed of UNDP, Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He/she will work under the supervision of UNDP Madagascar Country Office Deputy Resident Representative.

The Consultant will be given access to relevant information necessary for execution of the tasks under this assignment and will be responsible for providing her/his own working station (i.e. laptop, internet, phone, scanner/printer, etc.) and must have access to reliable internet connection.

3. Deliverables

• Workplan and implementation schedule should be submitted 3 days after signing the contract;

• A strategy document defining and detailing the steps to accede the Russian swap debt funds;

• Draft of Project Document as per the accepted template and guidelines;

• Final documentation submission approved by UNDP and the PDT to be submitted before October 31st, 2021.

Competencies

Technical Competencies:

Excellent oral and written communication skills, with analytic capacity and demonstrated ability to synthesize complex information in high quality papers/reports and in effective presentations to different audiences;
Skills in facilitating meetings effectively and efficiently;
Ability to develop and maintain partnerships/relationships, including with clients, focusing on results for the client/partner and responding positively to feedback.

Professionalism:

Excellent analytical and organizational skills;
Exercise the highest level of responsibility and be able to handle confidential and politically sensitive issues in a responsible and mature manner.

Communication:

Active listening and dialogue (acknowledge and respond constructively to the points of view of others);
Excellent writing and verbal communication skills;
Communicate effectively in writing and verbally to a varied and broad audience in a simple and concise manner.

Teamwork:

Projects a positive image and is ready to take on a wide range of tasks;
Focuses on results for the client;
Welcomes constructive feedback.
Good interpersonal and networking skills, ability to establish and maintain effective working relations, supports and encourages open communication in the team, and facilitates teamwork.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

· A PhD in Economics, Finances, International Development, International Relations OR a Master’s degree and at least 15 years of experience in lieu with a Master’s degree in the field of consideration

Experience:

· At least 10 years of relevant professional experience in the field above cited and proven experience in the development of project for a debt swap funds.

· Experience in the development of project documentation submission related to development financing, Experience in the development of project proposals submitted to the Russian debt swap fund or similar.

· Experience working with UNDP and UN Agencies.

· Experience working with a variety of stakeholders, including government departments, Private Sector, IFIs, DFIs.

· Demonstrated analytical, communication and report writing skills.

Language Requirements:

· Fluency in written and spoken English, and in French is required.