National consultant to provide Public Finance Management advisory support to UNICEF Tajikistan Country Office (for Tajik nationals only)

Consultant Programme & Policy

Overview

Provide technical support and policy advice on social policy and PFM issues.

You have:

• An advanced university degree (Master's) in Economics and/or Public Finance preferred, or Public Policy/Administration.
• A minimum of eight years of progressive work experience in national budgeting, public financial management, and public sector financing.
• Excellent writing and communication skills required.
• Good knowledge of Russian and Tajik language will be an added advantage.
• Hands-on experience with Public Finance Management (PFM) issues required.
• Experience in budget analysis, costing, and developing investment cases in key sectors for children such as health, education, social protection, etc. is an asset.
• Experience in facilitating consultations with government representatives, NGOs, and stakeholders.

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,

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

Social Policy and Public Finance for Children (PF4C) is one of the priority areas in UNICEF Tajikistan under the current and new country programme development for 2023-2026. UNICEF Tajikistan Country Office is seeking to influence the national agenda for greater attention to and accountability for children’s rights, especially the rights of children at risk of being left behind. The overarching vision of the UNICEF Tajikistan Country Programme is that children and young people, especially the most vulnerable and excluded are born and grow up in healthy and protective environment, are able to develop to their full potential and to realize their rights. One of the core strategies that will be applied both at national and subnational levels is to broaden public and private partnership to leverage financing for children.

UNICEF Tajikistan has played a key role in relation to SDG monitoring and worked closed with Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, key ministries, and local governments. The Government of Tajikistan (GoT) has made substantial commitments to accelerate progress for children by ratifying various international treaties for the fulfilment of children’s rights, established legal framework at national level and delivered several programs in promoting improvement in child-wellbeing indicators. While the Government’s interest in investing more in children has resulted in increasing the budget allocation for several key sectors: education, health, social protection, however the spending in these sectors is relatively low compared to countries in the region. The challenges are increasing in budget and public finance management as the pandemic continues. The Government's efforts to refocus and reallocate budget for COVID-19 handling has threatened the commitment of pre-COVID priorities in social sectors especially investment on children.

UNICEF Tajikistan’s advocacy in public finance for children both at national and subnational level is to meet Government’s commitments to respect, protect, and fulfil children's rights by 1) effective and efficient use of budget commitments (or allocations) to better reflecting child-related policy; 2) identifying cost-effective and equitable ways to deliver services, plan, cost and adequate budgeting and 3) improving flow and use of resources for service delivery, including at subnational level.

UNICEF Tajikistan acknowledges the importance of evidence-based policy making by generating evidence to support policy implementation, particularly public finance management (PFM). UNICEF is currently leading a two-year UN Joint Programme titled “Financing SDGs in Tajikistan”, implemented jointly by UNDP and UN Women. The programme is funded by Joint SDG Fund and represents a nationally owned initiative anchored in the National Development Strategy for 2016-2030. The programme supports the government to design and implement a realistic financing plan to achieve its national development priorities and SDG targets. The evidence generated as part of this programme will serve as a foundation to strengthen the efforts on planning, budgeting and implementing policies and programmes at national and subnational levels focusing on improving the transparency, efficiency, effectiveness, adequacy and sustainability of public investment for children.

How can you make a difference?

UNICEF Tajikistan Country Office is seeking to engage an individual national consultant to provide timely and high-quality technical support, policy advice and analysis on selected social policy, including PFM issues related to UNICEF thematic program areas. The consultant is expected to provide strategic advice to the Representative and support in positioning children's issues at national policy and public finance discussions. The consultant will support providing analysis of the national budget and its performance, public financing gaps and capacity development support to improve the transparency, efficiency, effectiveness, adequacy and sustainability of public investment for children.

Estimated duration**: May–December 2022 (up to 82 days in total)

Duty station**: Dushanbe

Supervisor: Social Policy Specialist

Task/milestone

Deliverables

Number of Days

Timeline

Payment schedule

Budget Brief and Presentation on the Financing Gap of the National Strategy for Education Development 2030. This will require updated costing and financing scenarios based on population projections and NSED planned interventions.

- Budget Brief, incl. updated costing and financing scenarios

- Presentation

10 days

May 2022

50% in September

Developing social policy strategy for the new country programme with the focus on the following:

- UNICEF niche in child poverty,

- UNICEF’s role, priority and approach to PFM,

- UNICEF niche and priorities in social protection system reform

- Social Policy Strategy

- Action Plan

12 days

July - August

Quaterly two-three pager of macro-economic context analysis and its impact on children and vulnerable families, including updates on the implementation of different public finance and local governance initiatives - taking into account the socio-economic impact of COVID and the anticipated impact of the conflict in Ukraine

At least 3 macro-economic analysis

10 days

May-December (at least 3 days per quarter)

Strengthening capacity on selected PFM related areas for core UNICEF Tajikistan staff - – including sector budget analysis (performance & gaps)

High quality analysis and support on selected PFM related issues

9 days

Once in a quarter (3 days per quarter)

Advisory support to education sector coordination in the area of financing and strategy implementation

Operational manuals/technical guidelines are developed to support the MoES to ensure effective coordination and monitoring of financing and implementation of the NEDS 2030,

12 days

May - December (up-to two days per months)

50% in December

Support to UNICEF Representative by providing technical support, analysis and prepare key messages for decision makers, donors and other interlocators briefs when requested

Policy briefs, analytical papers and presentations (Upon request)

20 days

May -December 2022

Generic advisory support on selected social policy and PFM related issues

High quality advisory support on social policy and PFM related issues.

9 days

May - December (up to 1 day per months)

Total

82 days

May-Dec 2022

100%

The following objectives will be some of the main responsibilities of the Consultant:

Specific objectives of the assignment are as follows:

1. Provide advice, technical support and analysis on selected social policy/PFM related issues related to UNICEF Tajikistan programmatic areas.
2. Facilitate knowledge building and discussions on selected PFM related areas for core UNICEF Tajikistan staff
3. Develop analytical papers/concept notes or presentation on selected public finance and social policy issues that relates to children
4. Develop social policy strategy for the new country programme for the period of 2023-2026. This will include: (1) UNICEF’s niche in child poverty, (2) UNICEF’s role, priority and approach to PFM, and (3) UNICEF’s niche and priorities in social protection system reform
5. Develop budget brief on selected PFM issues related to UNICEF thematic programme areas
6. Support UNICEF Representative advocacy efforts by providing technical support, analysis and prepare key messages for decision-makers, donors and other interlocators briefs when requested

Final key deliverables:

1. Quarterly macro-economic updates
2. Policy and budget briefs on selected social policy areas related to children.
3. Budget brief and powerpoint presentation on financing gaps of the national education sector development strategy 2030
4. Policy brief’s, analytical papers and presentations for advocacy and as requested by the UNICEF Representative
5. Draft social policy strategy for UNICEF country programme (2023-2026) focusing on agreed 3 priority areas

Performance indicators for the evaluation of results:

The evaluation of the results will be based on:

• Technical and professional competence (quality of the product delivered to UNICEF);
• Quality of work (quality of the documents submitted)
• Quantity of work (completing the tasks indicated in the table above)
• Timeliness of submission of deliverables

In addition, such indicators as work relations, responsibility and communication will be taken into account during the evaluation of the institution’s team.

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

• An advanced university degree (Master's) in Economics and/or Public Finance is preferred. Advanced university degree in Public Policy and/or Administration or other relevant discipline will also be considered.
• A minimum of eight years of progressive, professional work experience in national budgeting, public financial management and public sector financing
• Hands-on experience with PFM issues required
• Excellent writing and communication skills required
• Experience in budget analysis, costing and developing investment cases in key sectors for children such as health, education, water and sanitation, social protection, nutrition is an asset
• Publication record is an asset.
• Experience in facilitating consultations with government representatives, NGOs and other stakeholders (including children and adolescents);
• Excellent writing skills in English is a must;
• Good knowledge of Russian and Tajik will be an added advantage

Reservations

All materials developed, including raw data will remain the copyright of UNICEF. UNICEF will be free to use and modify them in the future.

Management and Supervision

The consultant will work in close collaboration with UNICEF’s Social Policy Specialist, under the guidance of Chief, Monitoring and Evaluation.

Terms of Payment

UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/output is incomplete, not delivered, or for failure to meet deadlines.

Qualified candidates are requested to submit:

1. Cover letter/application/CV.
2. A brief technical proposal with the proposed methodology/approach to managing the project, showing an understanding of tasks.
3. Financial quote for the consultancy in TJS per deliverable, stating also the timeframe for completion of deliverable and/or daily rate (as well as travel and subsistence costs, as applicable).
4. Minimum two Examples of previous, relevant work related to the deliverables.
5. At least two references.
6. Applications without financial and technical proposals will not be considered.

Queries can be sent to dushanbe@unicef.org with the subject line “National consultant to provide Public Finance Management advisory support to UNICEF Tajikistan Country Office”. Applications must be received in the system by 14/04/2022 on our website

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

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.

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.

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Potential interview questions

Added 4 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: unicef.org