Individual Consultancy: Technical Assistance to the Implementation of the SPO reform

Consultant Programme & Policy

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Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

The Government of Mozambique (GoM) under the leadership of the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) and specifically the National Directorate for Planning and Budgeting (DNPO), is leading the introduction of Programme Based Planning and Budgeting (POP) as part of the Public Finance Management reform.

This reform was framed with the approval of Law 14/2020, of 23 December, which establishes the principles and norms for the organisation and functioning of the State Financial Administration System (SISTAFE).

With the leadership of the National Directorate for Planning and Budgeting (DNPO) of the MEF, supported by the Centre for Development of Financial Information Systems (CEDSIF), the Government of Mozambique has moved forward with the Results Based Planning and Budgeting approach as part of the Public Finance Management (PFM) reform. Over the period 2020 to 2021, the efforts of DNPO and CEDSIF have culminated in a number of activities aimed at operationalizing the new system. These activities include:

• The development of training materials (manuals);
• The development of the IT platform and specifically the Planning and Budgeting Module (MPO);
• The development of the Programme Portfolio (programmatic framework) with input from various ministries; and
• Capacity building for trainers at central and sub-national levels.

In this context, in response to a request from the DNPO, UNICEF contracted a consultancy firm to assess the capacity of the MEF/CEDSIF to manage and effectively implement the ongoing reform of the Planning and Budgeting Subsystem (SPO)[1] in the first year of the production of the integrated Planning, Budgeting, Monitoring and Evaluation instruments (namely CFMP, PESOE, PO- OGDPs, PESOM BdPESOE, Bd-PO and BdPESOM) in the light of the new SISTAFE Law.

This exercise resulted in a set of initiatives to be implemented in the short and medium term

1. Elaboration of a 3-year (2024-2026) SPO reform implementation strategy: this activity aims essentially at refining/improving the SPO reform implementation process, now underway, in order to facilitate short and medium term planning, budgeting, execution and M&E.
2. The strategy will have as key components: the SPO implementation plans for each sector program so that each one includes the following components: logical framework, Key Performance Indicators (KPI) and targets, and medium-term budget allocations.
3. The plan should include, among others, the following actions:

• Programmatic management of implementation: with a strategy and a series of actions, including capacity building;
• Completion of the Programme Portfolio and synchronisation of the Portfolio with the MPO;
• Improving the Methodological Guidelines;

• Updating the MEF training plan, with the following step-by-step structure:

• • Step 1: Capacity building of professionals from the Department of Planning and Budget Policy (DPPO) and the Budget Management Office (RGO) of the Department of Planning and Central Budget (DPOC) of DNPO, CEDSIF, other MEF Directorates, and some specialists from key sectors for the SPO (a core of 30 professionals) in Results Based Planning and Budgeting. This training could be carried out at the CEDSIF School.
  • Step 2: Capacity building of sector trainers by central trainers.
  • Step 3: Capacity building of sub-national trainers by the central and sector trainers.

3. • It will also include the possibility of conducting implementation pilots at the intermediate level of programmatic management , to be identified on the basis of capacity and relevance (basic level, unit costing of outputs and medium-term and annual budget scenarios).
5. 2. Preparation of a diagnostic assessment of the e-SISTAFE Planning and Budgeting Module (MPO) and formulation of an improvement plan: this activity seeks to take the reforms of the SPO to a more advanced level by undertaking a rapid assessment-diagnostic of the conceptual model, operationalisation, integration and interface of the MPO from the perspective of international best practice tools and practices in planning and budgeting information systems, as well as proposing a plan to improve the existing functionality in order to enhance the modernisation process and increase the efficiency of the State.

6. Institutional re-engineering of the DNPO for the SPO: based on the assessment carried out in this mandate, there was evidence of the need to strengthen the SPO area in order to guarantee that activities are carried out in line with the attributions set out in the different instruments that formalize the functions and organizational structure of the DNPO.

Scope of Work:

Based in DNPO, the consultant will provide technical assistance to DNPO in the implementation of key actions for improving the operationalization of the SPO, at central and sub-national levels, based on the recommendations of the evaluation of the SPO. During this process, the consultant will ensure the transfer of skills and knowledge to the collaborator(s) identified by DNPO for the mission of managing the continuity of the SPO reform process.

Outputs and Payments:

The consultant will be paid upon submission of deliverables as per the table below, listing, in the implementation reports, the activities undertaken, main challenges and progress of the assistance.

THE DEADLINES AND RESPECTIVE ACTIVITIES SHOULD BE ADJUSTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FINAL SPO EVALUATION REPORT, CONSIDERING THE STAGE OF VARIOUS ASPECTS THAT WILL EVOLVE ACCORDING TO THE DYNAMICS OF THE PROCESS.

Work Assignments Overview:

Preparation of Planning and Budgeting Cycle

Deliverables/Outputs:

(1) Schedule of activities for the period February to December 2023;

(2) Assistance to DNPO in the conduct of workshop for the elaboration of the roadmap for the reform of the SPO;

(3) Assistance to the process of completion of the Portfolio of Programmes and support to CEDSIF in the integration of the Portfolio in the MPO;

(4) Preparation, together with DNPO team and in coordination with sectors and provinces, of the operational report of the MPO interface from the user's point of view;

(5) Implementation report of the planned activities, according to the schedule of activities (output 1. 1).

Timeline:

End of March 2023

Work Assignments Overview:

Support to the 2023 Planning and Budgeting Process

Deliverables/Outputs:

(1) Support to the elaboration of training materials to train the planning technicians of the sector ministries and the provinces on the planning and budgeting instruments for the 2023 budget cycle (PESOE, PO, PESOD,...), incorporating the changes resulting from the incorporation of the Portfolio of Programmes;

(2) Support to the training of DNPO trainers;

(3) Monitoring and support to the trainings at central and provincial level

(4) Implementation report on the planned activities, according to the calendar of activities (product 1.1).

Timeline:

End of June 2023

Work Assignments Overview:

Support to Reporting on Plan and Budget

Deliverables/Outputs:

(1) Support DNMA in the reporting processes to the PESOE and OPs (BdPESOE and BdPO) this quarter;

(2) Support DNMA in the revision of the training materials on reporting to the PESOE and OPs;

(3) Support in the training of trainers using the new materials;

(4) Implementation report of the planned activities as per the calendar of activities (product 1.1).

Timeline:

End of September 2023

Work Assignments Overview:

Preparation of next cycle

Deliverables/Outputs:

(1) Implementation report on planned activities according to the calendar of activities (product 1.1);

(2) Implementation report on technical assistance activities between the months of February and December 2023;

(3) Synthesis report on the state of play of the SPO reform process;

(4) Draft versions of training materials to support the 2025 budget cycle;

(5) Proposal of activities for the period January to December 2024.

Timeline: End of December 2023

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in: Economics, Management or Public Administration

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

Work experience:

• Minimum 5 years of proven relevant experience, in Public Planning and Budgeting and Public Finance Management processes;
• Knowledge of Performance Informed / Results Oriented Planning and Budgeting systems, PEFA assessment processes, OBI and other international assessments, is an advantage.
• Other required knowledge, skills and abilities: i) communication skills, ii) ability to liaise with different sectors, and be result oriented and iii) having worked in different developing countries is an advantage;
• Fluency in Portuguese is a requirement.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.

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Added 1 year ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: unicef.org