UNCDF Call for Applications for Impact Evaluation on Migrant Remittances and Financial Services

Deadline: 21-Feb-21

The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) has launched a call for applications for the Impact Evaluation on Migrant Remittances and Financial Services.

UNCDF aims to improve the functioning of the remittance market to increase the financial resilience of migrant families, while strengthening the economic development efforts of the origin and host countries.

UNCDF is seeking an organization to deliver one or two client-level impact evaluation on inclusive digital remittances and financial service innovation for migrants and their families.

The planned innovation to be evaluated will be selected from the UNCDF remittance portfolio. The selection will require engagement from the applicant. Selection criteria for the RSPs may include:

• The buy-in and interest of the RSP to commit time to the research project and the willingness to share transaction and customer data.
• The likelihood of the planned innovation to have clear impact pathways on socio-economic outcomes related to financial inclusion, resilience and empowerment that can be tested through impact evaluation and behaviour finance approaches.
• The innovativeness and usefulness of the specific treatment to offer insightful knowledge for the sector and wider academia.

Outputs

Output 1:

• Signed Performance-based Agreement (PBA) and Non-disclosure Agreement (NDA) with UNCDF.
• Inception report and methodology (maximum ten pages).
• Joint selection of one or two RSP partners for the evaluation.
• Kick off workshop (on-line) conducted with the RSP, UNCDF and the research institution.

Output 2:

• Baseline survey and other data collection forms designed and indicator list established in agreement with UNCDF and the RSP.
• Joint partner selection, agreed methodology, data treatment and sampling plan. Fully designed baseline survey and indicators in place.
• Co-designed surveys and data collection plan, harvesting of transaction data and other readily available data.
• Where requested, in collaboration with UNCDF and the RSP, support product ideation and innovation/treatment set up.

Output 3:

• Wave/Survey 1 data collection launched and completed.
• Survey 1 short report and presentation showing socio-economic profiles of customers, control treatment comparison, impact pathway and theory (of change) updated and incorporated, customer barriers and pain points.
• Clean Survey 1 dataset(s) and related analysis tools delivered to UNCDF and RSP.
• In collaboration with UNCDF, disseminate insights to RSP based on the first survey. Support interim output such as a blog (series).

Output 4:

• Wave/Survey 2 data collection launched and completed.
• Clean Survey 2 dataset(s) and related analysis tools delivered to UNCDF and RSP.
• Survey 2 short report and presentation showing socio-economic outcome changes of customers, control and treatment comparison, impact pathway and theory (of change) updated and incorporated, customer barriers and pain points identified.
• Evaluation report for Survey 2 and presentation showing socio-economic outcome changes of customers, control treatment comparison, impact pathway and theory (of change) updated and incorporated, customer barriers and pain points identified, product recommendation and support to capacity building for the RSP.

Output 5:

• Draft working paper for publication.
• Full finalized dataset delivered, codes for analysis, data visualization tools to be shared with UNCDF and RSP.
• Clean Survey dataset(s) and related analysis tools delivered to UNCDF and RSP.
• Support production of blog series and infographic for easy dissemination.
• Present and support the dissemination (onsite/on-line) workshop for product development team of the RSP. Recommend product improvements.
• Support the dissemination of the insights as part of action research approaches.

Funding Information

• UNCDF contributions may range up to US$300,000.
• The project is expected to have a 30-month duration. Activities are expected to be terminated no later than 1 September 2023.
• Scope: Global
• Location: Institution/Home-based.
• Period: 2021–2022

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible candidates: Any type of organization (commercial for-profit firms, research institutions, non-profit organizations, universities) is eligible to apply. Applicants may apply independently or in a consortium, provided that the consortium has a pre-established partnership prior to this request for applications being issued.

Only applications that meet the eligibility requirements and minimum criteria for the submission will be scored.

• The applicant/lead applicant must be a registered entity.
• The applicant or lead applicant must be an organization (includes commercial for-profit firms, educational institutions, non-profit organizations and universities).
• Applicants may apply only once under this RFA, whether independently or in a consortium.
• Applicants may apply independently or in a consortium, provided that the consortium has a pre-established partnership prior to this request for applications being issued.
• The lead applicant must be a registered entity with at least one year of operations and must have statutory accounts and audited financial statements for at least one operating year.
• Applicants shall not have been the subject of bankruptcy, liquidation, judicial settlement, safeguarding, cessation of activity or any other similar situation resulting from a similar procedure.
• Applicants, any of their staff or members of their board of directors shall not be included in the United Nations financial sanctions lists, particularly in the fight against the financing of terrorism and against attacks on international peace and security.
• Applicants shall have fulfilled all the obligations relating to the payment of social security contributions or obligations relating to the payment of taxes in accordance with legal provisions in force in the country of incorporation.

For more information, visit https://www.uncdf.org/article/6427/impact-evaluation-on-migrant-remittances-and-financial-services