Project Coordinator - Tax for SDGs

Contract

This is a UNV National Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as National UN Volunteer. It is normally only for nationals. More about UNV National Specialist contracts.

Tax remains a primary source of revenue for both central and local governments in Rwanda. With the decline in Official Development Assistance (ODA), the country has been undertaking several initia-tives to strengthen its domestic revenues and improve management of its expenditures with a view to accelerating implementation of its priorities. These measures include improving capacity at the Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) to deepen the implementation of the MTRS such as improve tax compliance, enhancement of trade facilitation initiatives, promotion of equitable service delivery and tax reform initiatives.

These measures are helping the government increase its revenue collections as well as strengthen its tax collection systems to operate in a more transparent manner. However, the tax-to-GDP ratio re-mains low despite gradual growth in the last ten years (15.9% of GDP in 2021/22). However, given the structure of the taxpayer population, which is dominated by MSMEs, tax authorities face capacity challenges in tax estimations and identification of new taxpayers. Most of MSMEs are mobile and informal businesses that keep most of their transactions off-book, tend to switch businesses, and mis-report their income, expenses, and losses. The challenge of tracing and ensuring appropriate taxation is significant.

In response, the UNDP Tax for SDGs Initiative focuses on building capacity for additional tax reve-nue mobilisation and achieving SDGs. By enhancing domestic revenues, UNDP envisions that Rwanda will be able to implement the investments identified and achieve development aspirations within a short to medium period. Accordingly, the project proposes to support the Government and people of Rwanda in addressing the issues of low tax morale among taxpayers, economic inefficien-cies, equity, high tax administration costs, tax avoidance and evasion, transfer pricing, and inadequate tax systems. More specifically, the initiative will support to the Government, at different levels, and the people of Rwanda through different interventions:

1. Strengthening tax collection by increasing digitalisation and harmonising with the taxpayer identification system
2. Assess the option of instituting an innovative taxation framework, including green and gen-der-responsive taxes system and in line with international efforts to improve taxation and alignment with national priorities and SDGs.
3. Conducting tax gap analysis on income and wealth, corporate tax, direct/indirect taxation, health related taxes, gender sensitive taxation and property taxes
4. Reviewing the legal framework for tax exemptions and incentives

Interlinking Rwanda Revenue Authority and UNDP, the Project Coordinator will support the day-to-day coordination of the Initiative, ensuring delivery of planned activities as part of the Initiative’s Country Engagement Plan (CEP). The Project Coordinator is also expected to contribute to providing advice to UNDP Senior Management on macroeconomic policies and trends and their linkages to UNDP programmes in order to enhance impact.

The UNV will manage and support the implementation of the UNDP Tax for SDGs Initiative and pro-vide support to UNDP Rwanda on tax-related engagements as part of their plan of financing the SDGs in the country. She/he will contribute to the analysis and formulation of strategies and brief-ings, closely collaborating with Government counterparts to identify policy options and solutions.

Under the direct supervision of the Country Programme Specialist/Inclusive Green Economy Unit, the UNV will undertake the following tasks: Strategic and Multi-Stakeholder Engagement • Support the Head of IGEU in embedding the Tax for SDGs Initiative in UNDP’s broader SDG finance portfolio in UNDP Rwanda. • Lead implementation and multi-stakeholder engagement for the Initiative in Rwanda, including engaging with tax experts, bilateral, regional, and multilateral organisations, Government (cen-tral and local governments). • Support UNDP Rwanda in building strategic alliances and partnerships with Governments, think tanks, academic institutions, development partners and others to expand UNDP’s work on tax and fiscal policy. • Work with the Head of IGEU to support UNDP COs and the network of Regional Bureau for Africa (RBA) Economic Advisors to learn from the Rwanda experience in designing and im-plementing the CEP and in their broader engagement on tax and fiscal policies within the over-all Initiative. • Provide a secretariat and technical support to the Development Partner Group on Tax or Public Finance Management in line with the requirements of the Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF).

Policy and Project Coordination • Facilitate setting up the interventions under the Initiative as well as coordinate their implemen-tation as per standard operating procedures, including knowledge capture and reporting. • To analyse local context and identify potential synergies with UNDP’s policy and develop-ment work in-country at national and sub-national level and map out emerging trends and op-portunities for Rwanda. • Provide technical advice to support the implementation of the UNDP Tax for SDGs Initiative and to backstop tax experts working under the project. • Identify and leverage on potential synergies between the UNDP Tax for SDGs Initiative work of UNDP Rwanda, the UNDP Regional Hub and UNDP Country Offices implementing same Initiative. • Engage with policymakers on tax and fiscal policy matters and further develop the role of UNDP in taxation in Rwanda. • Coordinate the development of policy papers to promote understanding and integration of tax and fiscal policies and SDG issues. • Support the Head of IGEU in relevant analytical and policy-oriented work on tax policy and administration, and on technical tax topics. • Draft internal UNDP briefing notes and talking points for Senior Management on UNDP Tax for SDGs Initiative

Knowledge Management • Collaborate on evidence collection and lessons-learned from other countries, including pro-moting best practice sharing and peer learning through case-studies. • Collaborate on knowledge management between various stakeholders, including UNDP CO and tax experts. • Develop concept notes for technical workshops/webinars/side-events for UNDP Tax for SDGs Initiative

Outreach Engagement • Collaborate on project communications, including Annual Reports and Newsletters. • Coordinate the organisation of events, including high-level launches of the programmes. • Collaborate on lessons-learned from the project activities, including through case-studies. • Develop resources to enhance capacities within UNDP on tax, fiscal policy issues and SDGs. • Follow technical discussions in other fora and represent UNDP in relevant meetings. • Perform other duties, as may be required by the Supervisor.

Institutional Arrangement • The position will be embedded in IGEU and work as part of the UNDP Rwanda Country Of-fice while operating from the Rwanda Revenue Authority as part of the Single Project Imple-mentation Unit (SPIU). • The Project Coordinator will report to the Head of IGEU UNDP Rwanda. The Regional Pro-gramme Specialist of UNDP Tax for SDGs Initiative will serve as the technical back-stop for the Project Coordinator. • Throughout the project, collaboration and coordination with the rest of the UNDP Tax team and other teams will be required.

☒ Accountability ☒ Building Trust ☒ Commitment and Motivation ☒ Communication ☒ Ethics and Values ☒ Integrity ☒ Planning and Organizing ☒ Professionalism ☒ Respect for Diversity ☒ Self-Management ☒ Technological Awareness ☒ Working in Teams

• Taxation, public finance management or domestic resource mobilisation for a government or international organisation • Strong record in advising and engaging with international institutions and/ or governments on taxation, public finance management or domestic resource mobilisation with involvement in technical work such as producing tax policy proposals, conducting tax audits, or drafting tax regulations. • Excellent knowledge of current debates regarding taxation, fiscal policy and illicit financial flows in Rwanda. • Thorough understanding of tax/fiscal policy, tax administration processes. • Excellent writing and analytical skills, including the ability to write concept notes, outcome reporting, and other written communication. • Work experience in and with developing countries in Africa. • Work experience with UNDP or UN Development System on matters related to taxation and fiscal policies will be an advantage. • Experience of results-oriented based project management.

Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, has undergone an incredible period of rejuvenation and stability that is clearly visible the moment you step out into this beautiful city.

Accommodations are found easily and at the relevant standards and recreation infrastructures (swimming pools, aerobics, etc…) can be found in the various places. Shops and markets are available with necessary items including imported goods, home furnishings and electrical appliances and vehicles spare parts. Public and private health facilities are available in Kigali and some of them such as King Faisal Hospital, Legacy Clinic, Hôpital la Croix du Sud, etc …work with CIGNA insurance. The above Hospitals have necessary health equipment; ambulances, adequate health services and can handle any emergency.

Concerning transport, even though motorcycle taxis are not recommended, they are the fastest way to get around this metropolis. Helmets are provided, but it is better to have your own helmet. You can also take a standard taxi. Those with a yellow stripe will be run by individuals, while the majority will belong to either Kigali Taxi Service (3122) or Kigali Airport Taxis (476586). Public transportation is the cheapest way to get around Kigali, and many of the buses are new and well-maintained. You can also take these buses farther afield; expect to pay a fare based on distance. Transport prepaid cards are available for passengers at each bus station, and you can load a minimum amount of two hundred Rwandan francs (200RWF). If public transport isn’t your style, cars are available for rent or purchase in Kigali. Major investment has been made in infrastructure, including roads, and congestion in this city has never been particularly bad.

Kigali is an exceptionally safe city. However, in case of emergency, there are several emergency numbers in Kigali, so be sure to know which to call. You can reach the police on a special line by dialling 999. Fire fighters can be reached at 111 and the emergency services are at 112. If you have or see a traffic accident, call 113.

The contract lasts for the period indicated above with possibility of extensions subject to availability of funding, operational necessity, and satisfactory performance. However, there is no expectation of renewal of the assignment. The Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) is paid at the end of each month to cover housing, utilities, transportation, communications, and oth-er basic needs.

Unified Conditions of Service for UN Volunteers can be accessed on the following link: https://www.unv.org/sites/default/files/unvpf/UNVcos2021%20Complete%20hi-res- fi-nal_compressed_30.08.2021.pdf

UNV will provide, together with the offer of assignment, a copy of the Conditions of Ser-vice, including Code of conduct, to the successful candidate