ACCESS TO FINANCE IN RWANDA

In line with the UNCDF global strategy of Leaving No-One Behind in the Digital Area, the Inclusive Digital Economies Programme (IDES) and countries’ UN Development Assistance Plan, UNCDF is supporting inclusive economies to help smallholder farmers and other vulnerable populations thrive. This includes contributing to vulnerable population response initiatives and considering the consequences of the COVID-19 health pandemic in terms of food security, food systems, livelihoods, financial inclusion and last but not least, social cohesion. This programme uses a market development approach that is rooted on five decades of fostering financial inclusion and local development, digital economies and partnerships for the SDGs, digital and financial literacy, as well as reaching the most underserved populations by promoting community-based frugal innovation as well as strengthening savings and production groups.

Under the umbrella of IDES UNCDF Rwanda supports all levels of stakeholders to effect growth and change in financial systems:

1. Financial Service Providers (FSPs), such as banks, Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), and other providers, that need assistance to improve current financial offerings, adopt new delivery channels, and better understand and meet the needs of clients.
2. Underserved people (such as women, youth, smallholder farmers, etc.) who lack the knowledge, skills and confidence to take up and use new financial products and services and often require increased financial and digital literacy to grow their incomes and businesses.
3. Policy makers and regulators, who sometimes require technical assistance to learn about (a) global best practices in reaching the poor, displaced, and underserved, and in communicating policy and process to both FSPs and the population and (b) fintech innovations and how to harmonize various agencies/departments so that innovations can come to market.

The assignment will require a candidate with demonstrated expertise in the design, development, and presentation of software applications (i.e., mobile and tablet-based, or available via Android and iOS).

1. Review the existing UNCDF Android-based application which will be hosted on BitBucket, list recommendations for optimization (i.e. options for smaller size and ability to use on Android phone), and agree upon work plan for app upgrade with UNCDF and REFAD partners
2. Review the existing application dashboard to fix existing bugs, create easily readable data presentations (i.e. charts and graphs), and create additional data collection capabilities (for example, see the Rwanda Savings Group Map at https://sgmap.bnr.rw/#/),
3. Provide technical guidance and technical assistance to UNCDF and local partner organizations and institutions, such as non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and community-based organizations (CBOs), in using the dashboard
4. Provide ongoing technical assistance to UNCDF throughout the duration of the contract to fix any issues that occur and assure smooth rollout of the application and dashboard upgrade
5. Produce monthly application’s data insights reports and present them to UNCDF and its partners in a clear and compelling way when needed
6. Advise on the scalability of the application for a wide national uptake.

1. A field-tested and optimized financial and digital literacy application (UNCDF’s existing application);
2. A field-tested dashboard including capabilities for UNCDF to view overall data, and partners to view data for their own programs;
3. A field-tested dashboard that collects the data needed by UNCDF and partners to adequately assess the uptake and usage of the application.

Expected Duration of Assignment: Six (6) months.

The table below outlines the activities, deliverables, and indicative timeline and payment structure:

Note the sequence and timelines for the delivery of the below outputs may vary within the duration of the contract and will be finalized in terms of timeline through discussions with UNCDF and the Consultant once selected.