Individual Consultant to Develop analytical and advocacy budget products based on the 2022 State Budget Law in São Tomé and Príncipe - for 60 days

Contract

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UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, a champion

UNICEF Sao Tome and Principe is looking to recruit a consultant to Develop analytical and Advocacy Budget products based on the 2022 State Budget Law

How can you make a difference?

Scope of Work:

The Social Policy section of UNICEF Sao Tome and Principe aims to hire a consultant to conduct budget analyses and produce analytical and advocacy products used by the office to advance equitable investments for children at different points in the budget cycle. The analyses will include four budget briefs (on Education, Health, Social Protection, and Water and Sanitation) of the State Budget 2020 -2021, a policy brief on sanitation, a Methodology for the Development of an immunization Budget Brief, a Budget Memorandum (an analysis of the Draft State Budget for 2022) and a review of the Budget Memorandum. Such analyses have several objectives, including:

1. Inform UNICEF, Government, Civil Society, academia, development partners, and the general public on allocation and expenditure trends in specific social sectors in the national budget law - Provide an analysis of the allocations in the 2020 and 2021 State Budget to social sectors that impact the well-being of children and women (including health, education, water and sanitation, social welfare and immunization). The purpose of these analyses is to inform UNICEF on technical issues in the budget law concerning the sectors that most directly impact the lives of children, highlighting areas that need to be boosted and strengthened. The analyses should focus on: the weight of each sector in the state budget, percentage of GDP (Gross Domestic Product), trends in sector allocation and expenditure (looking at least at the last five years, 2021-2016), sources of funding (domestic vs. external), an analysis of per capita allocation by district, and allocation vs. poverty levels (with close reference to the latest Household Budget Survey data). It should also raise questions for clarification that can be addressed by the National Planning Directorate and the General Budget Directorate (DNP and DGO) within the Ministry of Planning and Finance. The primary documents to be used are not limited to the State Budget Law, previous REOs and CGEs, and the Child-Friendly Budget Diagnostic. The analyses may also require studying the guiding documents for strategic and operational planning, such as the PQG, PES, and the MTEF, population data and different vital statistics surveys, and additional outcome studies in the five other areas that the summaries will cover.
2. Serve as a key tool to advocate for more and better budget allocation in social sectors to promote equity and reduce poverty - The analysis should include the following dimensions: sector definition, the weight of the sector in the overall budget, trends - overtime allocation (including the percentage of GDP and comparison with countries in the region - Sub-Saharan Africa - SSA and Low Middle-Income Countries- LMICs), source of funds, allocation and prioritization within the sector, execution analysis, expenditure analysis, performance analysis, decentralization, equity analysis, strategy analysis, gender analysis. But it should include key issues such as an analysis of human resources, infrastructure, and equipment capacities within the sector (e.g., number of doctors per capita, hospital beds, and the actual demand, schools, teachers - the need and the gap, students per portfolio, etc.); expenditure analysis; discussion on budget classifiers - according to OECD classification, etc. One of the main areas to focus on is the budget incidence and efficiency gains in terms of reducing disparities and improving the well-being of the most needy and vulnerable people, including women and children.

Deliveries and Payments:

Payments will be processed upon acceptance of the corresponding delivery and by invoice that will make the reference of the contract and delivery number. Payments will be approved by UNICEF Social Policy Dpecialist.

Tasks/Milestone, deliverables and Timeline:

1. • Develop a methodology for the development of the Immunization Budget Brief - based on existing experiences and discussions with relevant sector stakeholders in ministries and the donor community; - The first installment of 15% after the submission of the work plan and methodology;
2. • Familiarize with relevant PFM instruments in Sao Tome and Principe and key strategies, including GQP and sector strategies;
3. • Conduct an in-depth analysis of the 2020-2021 State Budget - focusing on Education, Health and Water, and Sanitation. The results should be presented in Word version with illustrative figures - graphs, tables, maps, and diagrams. A separate excel sheet with the entire data file and a power-point summarizing the key points to highlight across the brief series will also be included as part of the deliverables;
4. • Produce a Sanitation Policy Brief based on the content of Annex 1
5. • Revise Budget Memo 209 once the Draft State Budget becomes law to reflect any changes;
6. • Perform quality control of the text data and all graphics, tables, maps, and diagrams in all briefs during the layout and design phase. Layout and design will be the responsibility of UNICEF; - The second installment of 35% after the submission of the draft report;
7. • Deliver all products accompanied by excellent databases used for data collection and analysis. - The third installment of 50% upon submitting a satisfactory final report of the work carried out.

Work conditions

The consultant must have his own work equipment (computer, mobile phone, etc.).

A UNICEF Office workspace will be made available to facilitate exchanges and internet connection.

Note: Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their technical and financial evaluation offers (proposals must be submitted separately, to www.unicef.org/about/employ .

UNICEF does not provide or organize health insurance coverage for the consultant.

Estimated duration of the contract; Remuneration; Other Terms and Conditions

The consultancy will be full-time, for a period of 60 days from the date of signing the contract, which is expected to be in June 2022, and he/she will be based in São Tomé and Príncipe.

UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or part of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work / products:

• is incomplete,
• fails to meet UNICEF and government quality standards,
• is not delivered or has not met the deadlines
• fee reduction due to late shipping: 5 days - 10%, 15 days - 20%; 1 month - 50%; more than 1 month - payment withheld.

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

• Master's degree in Economics, Finance, Development Studies, Public Policy, and other areas of Governance Or a bachelor degree in one of the following fields: Economics, Finance, Development Studies, Public Policy, and other areas of Governance or other related fields combined with a minimum of 3 years of professional experience in assessment for the creation of the Digital Media Laboratory.
• At least 4 years of relevant work experience in conducting similar analyses;
• Experience in conducting budget analysis for UNICEF highly preferred. A solid understanding of the São Tomé and Principe GFP ecosystem and its instruments, and proven experience in similar State Budget analyses with a focus on social sectors;
• Strong analytical and writing skills, and the ability to present results in simple language, making use of interesting visual aids (maps, graphs and other visual tools);
• Consolidated and background knowledge on cross-cutting issues such as sector equity and decentralization;
• Ability to conduct benefit incidence analyses using data from the Household Survey and budget and population data.

Language Proficiency

• Fluency in English and working knowledge of Portuguese is required. Working knowledge of an additional UN language is considered is as an asset.

Application Submission

Interested applicants are requested to apply online and attach a technical proposal and a financial proposal:

Technical and Financial Proposal

The consultancy will be full-time, for a period of 60 days from the date of signing the contract, which is expected to be in June 2022 and he/she will be based in São Tomé and Príncipe.

I. The consultant must submit his/her technical and financial proposal at the time of application. Technical proposal:

• Technical proposal (minimum of 2 pages) which would include at least the following (applicants are strongly encouraged not to repeat the text of the Terms of Reference, but to demonstrate a critical understanding of it):

• Copy of your own CV and all qualifications

• Completed P11 form (United Nations CV format)

• Understanding the purpose of the assessment

• A proper conceptual framework and assessment methodology

• proposed deadlines

• Names and contact details of reference persons

• List of previous evaluation reports (if applicable)

• Any other additional information to support the application (optional).

II. Financial proposal:

The financial offer must be a standalone document (using Excel), which must be a lump sum including full details of the financial offer: daily rates, travel and daily subsistence allowances if applicable, communication fees and the other components of the financial offer.

Note: Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their technical and financial offers (proposals must be submitted separately).

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies.

Core Competencies

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2)
• Works Collaboratively with others (2)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (2)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (2)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

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.