Re-Advert - Consultancy; Potential Budget Implications of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Child-focused Priority Spending in Botswana, Gaborone Botswana (Opened to Botswana Nationals only)

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 fair chance

How can you make a difference?

Botswana’s overall fiscal position has been healthy over many years, on the back of high levels of mineral revenues (from diamonds) and distributions from the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). Government spending has historically been high (35-40% of GDP), with over one-third of fiscal spending devoted to child-focused priority areas (health, primary and secondary education, and social assistance).

Currently, Botswana is experiencing a period of fiscal transition, as the diamond industry matures, with no significant growth expected in SACU revenues. Despite the apparent strength of Botswana’s fiscal position, the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated existing trends. According to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MFED), it is expected a 7.7% contraction in economic growth, the largest in the country’s modern history. The outlook for the domestic economy is, however, positive, with a growth rate of 8.8% projected for Botswana in 2021.

The public budget is under immense pressure. In 2020, the official foreign exchange reserves have declined by 10%, which were largely a result of a drawdown on the foreign exchange reserves attributable to payments for imports, Government external obligations and net capital flows. The COVID-19 outbreak has negatively impacted the implementation of the 2020/21 budget. The Government was forced to adjust its spending plans against declining revenues. A key challenge remains to maintain levels of priority spending for children while fiscal resources are under pressure, to ensure that past gains are not lost.

The main purpose of this study is to examine the Government’s fiscal adjustments amid COVID-19 pandemic and to analyse fiscal space for priority expenditure devoted to child-focused priority areas, as well as to develop policy recommendations on financing options. The overall objective is to ensure that the current government policies/decisions do not adversely impact children’s services now or in the future.

Work Assignment Overview:

In Botswana, the UN is supporting the Government in developing several national and sectorial recovery plans. Specifically, UNICEF is part of ongoing initiative aimed at building a better social protection system, drawing lessons from the COVID-19 crisis and advising recovery plans. The proposed study will be an add-on to this process by providing a set of recommendations on general financing options. A local consultant or research agency will be contracted to conduct this study. The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MFED) and social sector ministries will be actively involved in all stages of the study. The final report will be produced after the first draft has been reviewed and comments satisfactorily incorporated and submitted for validation with key stakeholders

Scope of Work:

1. Assess the impact of the COVID-19 on government budget with specific emphasis on budget allocations for vulnerable groups, including women, youth, and children.
2. Examine the Government’s fiscal adjustments amid COVID-19 pandemic and their potential medium- and long-term implications.
3. Revisit/update the Fiscal Model for Botswana which was developed within the 2018 UNICEF-commissioned study on fiscal space for children.
4. Based on the updated Fiscal Model above, provide a multi-year projection of Botswana’s fiscal space and present options for maintaining enhancing the allocation of fiscal resources to priority spending using a set of scenarios.

Tasks/Milestone:

Deliverables/Outputs:

Timeline

1) Inception phase, which includes revisiting/updating the Fiscal Model for Botswana which was developed within the 2018 UNICEF-commissioned study on fiscal space for children

Inception report with a clear roadmap for undertaking and completing the assignment and the updated Fiscal Model for Botswana

June 2021

2) Assess the impact of the COVID-19 on government budget with specific emphasis on budget allocations for vulnerable groups, including women, youth, and children

First draft report covering analysis, a set of scenarios and policy recommendations submitted for validation with key stakeholders

July 2021

3) Examine the Government’s fiscal adjustments amid COVID-19 pandemic and their potential medium- and long-term implications

Final report presented to key stakeholders and approved

August 2021

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or PhD) in Public Finance Management, Social or Public Policy, Development Economics, Statistics, or other relevant social science
• At least 5 years of relevant experience and proven expertise in preparing background policy analyses, preferably in the area of PFM
• Ability to analyze and synthesize information from a broad range of sources
• Excellent report writing skills, analytical skills, as well as good computer skills
• Effective communication and relationship-building skills

Note to Consultants:

1. Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.
2. 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 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.
3. Consultant will be required to complete online courses related to Ethics, Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Security related trainings prior to taking up the assignment and/or travel

4. Consultant will be required to sign the Health Statement for consultants/individual contractor prior to taking up the assignment, and to document that they have appropriate health insurance, including Medical Evacuation. HOW TO APPLY

   Qualified candidates are requested to complete an application including profile to the respective advertisement online. Please indicate your ability, availability and financial proposal/quote to complete the terms of reference above.

   Rates must include all expenses related to the assignment (e.g. consultancy fee), quoted in BWP

   Applications submitted without a fee/ rate will not be considered.

   If you have not been contacted within 2 months of the closing date, please accept that your application was unsuccessful. Regret emails will be sent only to shortlisted/contacted candidates.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

[insert competencies]

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

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

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.