UN Consultancy: NE in Assessment of Cash Flow, Payment Systems, Financing, and Stakeholder Engagement in Kenya – Nairobi

  • Location:
  • Salary:
    negotiable / YEAR
  • Job type:
    CONTRACTOR
  • Posted:
    4 weeks ago
  • Category:
    Audit and Oversight, Budget and Accounting, Evaluation, Finance, Treasury and Investment
  • Deadline:
    19/02/2025

JOB DESCRIPTION

 

Date: NE in Assessment of Cash Flow, Payment Systems, Financing, and Stakeholder Engagement in Kenya

 

​Requisition ID: 5181
Grade: SB5 – Local Professional (Mid-Level & Senior)
Country: Home Based
Duty Station: Home Based
Category: National Consultant
Type of Job Posting: Internal and External
Employment Type: NonStaff-When Act. Employed
Contract Duration: 50 working days over the contract period
Application deadline: 19-Feb-2025, 11:59 PM (Vienna, Austria time)

Vacancy Announcement
TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT OF PROJECT PERSONNEL
Only nationals or permanent residents of the country of the duty station are considered eligible.
Female candidates are encouraged to apply.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability. The mission of UNIDO, as described in the Lima Declaration adopted at the fifteenth session of the UNIDO General Conference in 2013 as well as the Abu Dhabi Declaration adopted at the eighteenth session of UNIDO General Conference in 2019, is to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) in Member States. The relevance of ISID as an integrated approach to all three pillars of sustainable development is recognized by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which will frame United Nations and country efforts towards sustainable development. UNIDO’s mandate is fully recognized in SDG-9, which calls to “Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation”. The relevance of ISID, however, applies in greater or lesser extent to all SDGs. Accordingly, the Organization’s programmatic focus is structured in four strategic priorities: Creating shared prosperity; Advancing economic competitiveness; Safeguarding the environment; and Strengthening knowledge and institutions.

Each of these programmatic fields of activity contains a number of individual programmes, which are implemented in a holistic manner to achieve effective outcomes and impacts through UNIDO’s four enabling functions: (i) technical cooperation; (ii) analytical and research functions and policy advisory services; (iii) normative functions and standards and quality-related activities; and (iv) convening and partnerships for knowledge transfer, networking and industrial cooperation. Such core functions are carried out in Divisions/Offices in its Headquarters, Regional Offices and Hubs and Country Offices.

The Department of Regional and Field Coordination (GLO/RFO) coordinates regional and country-level activities towards United Nations system-wide coherence and maintains a dialogue with the relevant UNDG bodies on these matters to ensure that UNIDO’s ISID mandate is adequately reflected in the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) and in the work of the United Nations Country Teams (UNCTs). These activities take place in close coordination with the UNIDO Liaison Office in New York (GLO/NYO) and the Directorate of Strategic Planning, Programming and Policy (SPP)) who address these issues at the strategic inter-agency level.

This position is located under the UNIDO Country Office in Kenya (PFC/RFC/FLD/AFR/KEN). The Kenya Office is responsible for representing UNIDO in the countries of coverage: Kenya, Eritrea, South Sudan, Seychelles and Comoros, and for maintaining close relations with all relevant stakeholders. The office is responsible for identifying development priorities and donors’ technical and funding priorities in the countries/regions of coverage, and for supporting, and/or leading when requested, the formulation, implementation and monitoring of technical cooperation projects and programs, including the Programs for Country Partnership (PCPs) and Country Programs (CPs). It is also responsible for coordinating and reporting on UNIDO’s activities in its countries of coverage, and for contributing/ leading (when requested) on the development of strategies and policies to ensure the strategic and programmatic consistency of UNIDO’s work, including of its cooperation with and contributions to the United Nations Resident Coordinator Offices (UNRCs)/United Nations Country Teams (UNCTs)/Common Country Assessments (CCAs)/United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks (UNSDCFs). The Kenya Office is also responsible for strengthening the dialogue with the government, private sector, other UN organizations, bilateral and multilateral assistance providers, including Development Finance Institutions.

PROJECT CONTEXT (240172)

UNIDO together with FAO and UNCDF have launched in October 2024 a preparatory assistance phase for the development of a future joint project on “Inclusive and sustainable coffee value chain development” in collaboration with the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry.

This multi-agency initiative is part of a UN Joint program that seeks to assess the scalability of climate-resilient models for food system transformation in Kenya and is aligned with the Kenyan Coffee Development and Marketing Strategy 2024-2029.

The aim of the preparatory assistance phase is to conceive a specific project intervention strategy that will help unlocking the full potential of the coffee value chain in Kenya with a specific focus on productivity and efficiency enhancement, environmental sustainability, climate-sensitive livelihoods, improvement of job opportunities, sustainable finance and the socio-economic inclusion and empowerment of youth, women and marginalized communities.

The future project proposal on “Inclusive and Sustainable coffee value chain development” that will be finalized in 2025 will target smallholder coffee farmers, other private sector key actors all along the national value chain as well as support institutions and government agencies. The future project will follow a gender-sensitive value chain development to spur collective efficiency and will promote territorial-based development dynamics around coffee value addition.

A key objective of the current preparatory assistance phase is to conceive strategies to boost private sector investments in domestic value addition, diversification, to promote entrepreneurship initiatives and to increase demand around coffee and coffee products that goes beyond the increased consumption of the beverage. Innovative approaches to coffee valorization can contribute to making the coffee sector more attractive for young unemployed women and men, thus ensuring an improved generational replacement within the value chain.

Despite the importance of the coffee value chain, the sector struggles with challenges including low productivity, outdated machinery, energy inefficiency, high input costs, limited access to finance, market volatility, and the role of intermediaries (middlemen) in the value chain. These issues limit the sector’s ability to deliver economic and social benefits, particularly to marginalized communities such as women in rural areas.

In the framework of this UN Joint Programm, UNIDO will promote inclusive industrial development all along the value chain, improved market access and alternative tourism around coffee. FAO will provide technical support regarding sustainable agrifood systems transformation in the coffee value chain, improved policy, legal and regulatory environment and promotion of private sector investments in the coffee value chain. UNCDF is tasked with designing innovative financial mechanisms to de-risk investments and leverage private sector contributions in the coffee value chain.

FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

The expert will assess cash flows, payment systems, financing structures, and other economic and operational factors within Kenya’s coffee value chain. Additionally, the expert will identify key stakeholders, including private sector participants, and evaluate the financial and financing ecosystem. In the framework of the UN Joint Programm, this assessment will help to suggest financial solutions to unlock private sector investment and enhance the participation of marginalized groups, particularly women. UNCDF will build on the outcomes to develop its investments proposal.

Under the overall guidance of the project manager and under direct supervision of the Project Team, the national expert will be responsible for the following tasks.

MAIN ACTIVITIES

Participate at an initial briefing meeting with the UNIDO, FAO and UNCDF team

Concrete outputs to be achieved

Briefing meeting held

Expected duration (working days):3 w/days

Location: Nairobi and/or online

Stakeholder Identification

  • Review available information provided by other project experts in order to identify key stakeholders in the Kenyan coffee value chain, including producers, processors, exporters, enterprises, cooperatives, and relevant government agencies. Collaborate with other experts in order to identify women-led enterprises, cooperatives and other marginalized groups in the value chain. Review available information on the role of key actors and their influence on decision-making, finance and operations.
  • Identify and map private sector participants, including local and international companies, financial institutions, commercial banks, impact investors, and development finance institutions (DFIs).

Concrete outputs to be achieved

  • Main value chain stakeholders identified and listed in collaboration with other project experts
  • Stakeholders involved in financing the value chain mapped

Expected duration (working days): 3 w/days

Location: Home-based

Work plan development

  • On the basis of the stakeholder mapping, develop a work plan that includes meetings with key actors and field missions that are needed to gather all necessary information to accomplish the consultancy tasks (see below).
  • Present the work plan to the UNIDO, FAO and UNCDF team to ensure good complementarity with other project interventions and other experts´ missions

Concrete outputs to be achieved

  • Work plan approved and complementarity with other project interventions ensured.

Expected duration (working days): 3 w/days

Location: Home-based

Cash Flow Analysis Across the Coffee Value Chain

  • Map the financial flows from farm to export, highlighting how money moves between actors, such as smallholder farmers, cooperatives, processors, and exporters.
  1. Identify bottlenecks where cash flow is delayed or constrained, impacting productivity and income distribution, particularly for smallholder farmers and cooperatives.
  2. Analyze how cash flow challenges disproportionately affect women and marginalized communities.
  • Examine income distribution at each stage of the value chain to identify profit-sharing patterns and potential inequalities.
    1. Conduct interviews with stakeholders to gather insights on cash flow constraints, profit margins, and the impact on cooperatives and women-led enterprises.
  • Recommend strategies to improve cash flow efficiency and ensure a more equitable distribution of profits across the value chain.
    1. Investigate financial mechanisms such as trade finance, short-term credit, or invoice discounting to ease cash flow constraints.

Concrete outputs to be achieved

  • Chapter on cash flow analysis across the value chain developed and recommendations prepared.

Expected duration (working days): 12 w/days

Location: Home-based and field missions

Assessment of Payment Systems and Mechanisms

  • Evaluate the payment systems in place for coffee farmers, cooperatives, and processors, focusing on methods like cash-based transactions, bank transfers, and digital payments.
    1. Identify delays in payments to farmers and how this affects reinvestment in farm inputs and productivity.
    2. Analyze the costs, risks, and efficiencies of current payment mechanisms, particularly for women farmers.
  • Explore opportunities for digital payments, mobile banking, and other fintech solutions to streamline payment processes and reduce transaction costs.
    1. Engage with mobile banking and fintech providers to assess feasibility for digital payment integration.
    2. Evaluate how the adoption of digital payments could enhance financial inclusion for marginalized groups, particularly women.
  • Recommend improvements to payment systems to ensure timely and transparent payments to all value chain actors.
    1. Propose pilot programs for mobile and digital payment platforms to reduce transaction costs and enhance inclusivity.

Concrete outputs to be achieved

  • Chapter on payment systems and mechanisms developed, opportunities for digital solutions identified and recommendations prepared.

Expected duration (working days): 9 w/days

Location: Home-based and field missions

Analysis of Access to Finance

  • Assess the financial and financing ecosystem that supports the coffee value chain in Kenya.
  • Analyze the role of commercial banks, microfinance institutions, and informal lenders in providing financial support to value chain actors.
  • Review financial products and services available to actors in the coffee value chain, including traditional banking, microfinance, and informal lending.
    1. Assess loan terms, interest rates, collateral requirements, and repayment structures for these products.
    2. Identify financial barriers faced by women farmers in accessing credit and other services.
  • Identify gaps in the financing ecosystem related to women´s and marginalized groups´ access to finance
  • Propose innovative financial models that de-risk lending to smallholder farmers and cooperatives, especially those led by women.
    1. Explore the potential of blended finance, guarantee schemes, and credit lines to enhance access to finance.

Concrete outputs to be achieved

  • Chapter on the financial ecosystem prepared and innovative financial models proposed.

Expected duration (working days): 7 w/days

Location: Home-based and Nairobi

Financial Gaps and Investment Needs Assessment

  • Conduct a financial gap analysis to identify where investment is needed to upgrade machinery, reduce post-harvest losses, and improve productivity.
    1. Assess the capital requirements for adopting energy-efficient practices and modern equipment.
    2. Evaluate the financial needs of cooperatives, smallholder farmers and women-led businesses to implement sustainable and profitable farming practices.
  • Provide investment estimates for modernizing the coffee value chain, including infrastructure improvements and scaling of sustainable practices.
    1. Calculate potential returns on investment (ROI) for different interventions, including the introduction of new technologies and machinery.

Concrete outputs to be achieved

  • Chapter on financial gaps and investment needs prepared and investment estimates for modernizing the coffee value chain developed.

Expected duration (working days): 7 w/days

Location: Home-based and field missions

Women’s Participation in Financial Decision-Making

  • Assess the extent of women’s involvement in financial decision-making processes within farming households, cooperatives, and across the value chain.
    1. Conduct surveys to collect gender-disaggregated data on women’s participation in financial decisions.
    2. Investigate social and cultural factors that limit women’s role in financial management.
  • Recommend actions to enhance women’s participation in financial matters, including access to credit, decision-making roles in cooperatives, and financial literacy training.
    1. Propose capacity-building programs aimed at empowering women with financial management skills.

Concrete outputs to be achieved

  • Chapter on gender and women´s participation in financial decision-making prepared and recommendations made regarding capacity-building programs for women.

Expected duration (working days): 4 w/days

Location: Home-based and field missions

Private sector engagement and leveraging Investments

  • Engage with potential private sector stakeholders and investors to assess their interest in financing interventions to modernize the coffee value chain.
    1. Hold consultations with commercial banks, impact investors, and DFIs to explore co-financing opportunities.
    2. Examine how private sector financing could be incentivized through risk-sharing mechanisms, guarantee schemes, or blended finance.
  • Identify opportunities for public-private partnerships (PPPs) could facilitate greater investment and contribute to funding improvements in the coffee sector.
    1. Examine existing collaborations and public-private partnerships within the sector.
    2. Analyze successful PPP models in similar value chains to inform partnership strategies in the coffee sector.

Concrete outputs to be achieved

  • Chapter on private sector engagement developed that highlights key private sector participants and financial institutions involved in the coffee value chain and includes an analysis of opportunities for PPP.

Expected duration (working days): 5 w/days

Location: Home-based and in Nairobi

Final report

  • Present key findings included in the different chapters to UNCDF, UNIDO, FAO, and other stakeholders.
  • Consolidate the different chapters in order to develop a consolidated final report detailing: cash flows, payment systems, financing structures, stakeholder mapping, and the financial ecosystem.
  • Include recommendations for innovative financial mechanisms and investment structures to improve cash flow, access to finance, and gender inclusion.
  • Draft an executive summary of findings for inclusion in the final project document.

Concrete outputs to be achieved

  • Final report and executive summary developed and approved.

Expected duration (working days): 3 w/days

Location: Home-based and in Nairobi

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

Core Values

WE LIVE AND ACT WITH INTEGRITY: work honestly, openly and impartially.

WE SHOW PROFESSIONALISM: work hard and competently in a committed and responsible manner.

WE RESPECT DIVERSITY: work together effectively, respectfully and inclusively, regardless of our differences in culture and perspective.

Key Competencies

WE FOCUS ON PEOPLE: cooperate to fully reach our potential –and this is true for our colleagues as well as our clients. Emotional intelligence and receptiveness are vital parts of our UNIDO identity.

WE FOCUS ON RESULTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: focus on planning, organizing and managing our work effectively and efficiently. We are responsible and accountable for achieving our results and meeting our performance standards. This accountability does not end with our colleagues and supervisors, but we also owe it to those we serve and who have trusted us to contribute to a better, safer and healthier world.

WE COMMUNICATE AND EARN TRUST: communicate effectively with one another and build an environment of trust where we can all excel in our work.

WE THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX AND INNOVATE: To stay relevant, we continuously improve, support innovation, share our knowledge and skills, and learn from one another.

MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Education

Advanced university degree in Finance, Economics, Agricultural Economics, or a related field required.

Technical and functional experience

  • A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible working experience in financial analysis, value chain financing, and investment structuring is required.
  • Knowledge of Kenya’s coffee sector or agriculture in East Africa is desirable.
  • Experience in stakeholder engagement and mapping in agricultural value chains is desirable.
  • Strong understanding of financial inclusion, particularly gender-sensitive approaches is desirable.
  • Proven experience working with public-private partnerships and blended finance models is required.

Languages

Fluency in written and spoken Swahili and English is required.

This appointment is limited to the specified project(s) only and does not carry any expectation of renewal.
Employees of UNIDO are expected at all times to uphold the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and respect for diversity, both at work and outside. Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for jobs at UNIDO.

All applications must be submitted online through the Online Recruitment System. Correspondence will be undertaken only with candidates who are being considered at an advanced phase of the selection process. Selected candidate(s) may be required to disclose to the Director General the nature and scope of financial and other personal interests and assets in respect of themselves, their spouses and dependents, under the procedures established by the Director General.

Visit the UNIDO website for details on how to apply: www.unido.org

NOTE: The Director General retains the discretion to make an appointment to this post at a lower level.

Notice to applicants:
UNIDO does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. If you have received a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Vacant positions within UNIDO are advertised on the official UNIDO website. Should you have any questions concerning persons or companies claiming to be recruiting on behalf of UNIDO and requesting payment of a fee, please contact: recruitment@unido.org

 

 

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements