Consultant to conduct Brazil Macro-Financial Assessments (Mafa) – Operating Context Analysis, Brasilia, Brazil

Background & Rationale

To support implementation of a temporary humanitarian cash-based intervention to address food insecurity of the most vulnerable children, adolescents, and their families. The Programme will be delivered through the existing public structures to identify, distribute and monitor benefits to vulnerable families already served by the Unified Social Assistance System (SUAS). It expects to benefit selected priority municipalities in Brazilian North and Northeast regions (already defined to deliver COVID-19 HAC) through cash transfers, strengthening existing mechanisms in the Social Assistance Reference Centers (CRAS) emergency support to vulnerable populations.

A comprehensive understanding of the financial operating environment is key to effective and risk informed cash programming. The analysis will also inform feasibility determinations for cash programs, selection of Financial Service Provider (FSP) and delivery channels, and relevant Treasury approval processes for FSP contracting, which is required per UNICEF policy.

The Macro-Financial assessment (MaFA) provides an overview of a country’s financial sector, including:

• Regulatory and contextual elements that could affect cash program delivery;
• Identification of overarching operational risks and opportunities;
• Potential cash delivery mechanisms and financial service providers (FSPs), including mobile payment and other mobile service providers 
• •  

Purpose

Desk based review of the existing reports and documentation.

 

Indicator	Details
Competitive Landscape	Financial infrastructure of a country and the extent to which the consumer can choose a variety of financial services from a variety of providers. Main financial service providers in country such as banks, micro-finance institutions, mobile payment operators, remittance services, etc. Coverage and market shares. Perceived weaknesses in primary financial service provider networks Issues with financial service provision such as adoption and penetration rates Current UNICEF financial service providers and their service catalogue
Regulatory and Supervisory Framework	Extent to which a country’s central bank has regulatory and supervisory control over the financial and mobile payment sector and tries to map out relevant regulations and institutions. Type of financial institutions operating in country Regulations in place for operation of different types of financial institutions and how effectively they are implemented Individual identification practices and requirements for financial services, including Know Your Customer (KYC) regulations and effectively they are implemented Anti-money laundering and anti-terror financing regulations Foreign exchange (FX) regulations or restrictions
Ease of Entry	Flexibility of entry requirements for new actors in financial services. Ease of doing business in the country Timelines and requirements for setup of financial institutions
Consumer Protection	Laws that safeguard consumer rights. Consumer protection laws and services Protection mechanisms such as of deposit insurance Bank reserve requirements National personal data protection laws
Financial Inclusion	Level of access to useful and affordable financial products by all consumer categories, including groups with differential needs. Percentage of population using different financial services (i.e. percentage with bank accounts, mobile money accounts, remittance accounts, etc.) with disaggregation per age and gender Geographic coverage of services Number of service branches, cash machines, payment points, etc. Existing initiatives for improvement of service inclusion

 

The following tables provides a guide to basic interpretation of macro-financial analysis

Indicator group	Questions for interpretation
Existing Actor and Service Mapping	What existing cash programming is being implemented by other agencies, NGOs, government programs? How are those programs delivering cash? How is UNICEF engaging, coordinating or learning from these programs? Who are the main financial service providers in country?
Risk and Opportunity Mapping	What are the primary risks that UNICEF will have to manage to deliver cash assistance in country? What opportunities exists based on the existing operational environment that UNICEF can work to amplify for effective cash delivery?
Regulatory environment	What are the main laws, policies or other regulations relevant to cash delivery in country? Are there any regulations banning or limiting cash delivery as an assistance mechanism? How do different regulations in country apply differentially to UNICEF/UN Agencies, INGOS, local NGOs and private sector entities like FSPs
Institutional Supervisory Framework	Which is the primary oversight, regulatory or technical entities that UNICEF will have to interact with for effective cash delivery? Does UNICEF already have working relations with them; if now how can these relations be fostered?
Consumer Practices and Preferences	How do people, including potential beneficiaries in higher risk areas, currently use financial services, exchange or receive funds, save, etc.? How can existing practices be understood to inform most acceptable cash delivery mechanisms?
Potential for Preparedness Action	How can UNICEF leverage understanding of operational environment to put in place necessary mechanisms (i.e. contractual relations, partnerships, working relations, etc.) to rapidly activate and scale up cash programming when required?

Potential sources of information for macro financial assessments:

Country Central Bank; World Bank (Financial Sector Assessment- a Handbook); International Monetary Fund; Better Than Cash Alliance; GSMA.

 

Expected results: (measurable results)

Macro Financial Assessment report

 

PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

Macro Financial Assessment report is going to be reviewed and approved by UNICEF Treasury department in the Headquarter, New York 

Key competences, technical background, and experience required Deadline

• Minimum Bachelor’s Degree in Economics, Law, Business Law, Economics and Political Science and similar areas
• Minimum 5 number of years of work experience required in the relevant area of the consultancy.
• Excellent analytical and reporting skills
• Proficiency in Portuguese and writing in English
• Previous experience in research work as additional asset

General Conditions: Procedures and Logistics

• Consultant will work from home using own equipment and stationery. UNICEF will provide office space for consultative meetings when needed.
• No contract may commence unless the contract is signed by both UNICEF and the consultant or individual Contractor
• Consultants / ICs will not have supervisory responsibilities or authority on UNICEF budget.

Financial Proposal 

• Costs indicated are estimated. Final rate shall follow “best value for money” principle, i.e., achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible fee.
• A financial proposal including the fee for the assignment based on the deliverables and number of days must be submitted. Consultants and individual contractors are asked to stipulate all-inclusive fees, including lump sum travel and subsistence costs, as applicable.
• The payment will be based on submission of agreed deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

Insurance and health coverage

• The contractor is fully responsible for arranging, at his or her own expenses, such life, health and other forms of insurance covering the term of the contract as he or she considers appropriate.
• The contractor is not eligible to participate in the life or health insurance schemes available to UNICEF and United Nations staff members.

 Restrictions

• Consultants and individual contractors may not receive training at the expense of UNICEF.  Notwithstanding, consultants and individual contracts must complete the applicable mandatory trainings. 
• In case of government officials, the contract cannot be issued without prior written clearance by the Government​, or unless on leave without pay.

 

UNICEF is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.