Tax and SDGs Coordination Assistant

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.

Given the urgency of improving domestic resource mobilization and taxation in Djibouti, the government has requested the support of the UNDP and other development partners in improving tax collections efficiency and tax policy reforms to ensure that the fiscal code is well aligned with economic situation and development priorities in Djibouti.

UNDP’s Global Tax for SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) Initiative places emphasis on linking tax administration and tax and fiscal policies with raising domestic resources and achieving the SDGs. The Tax for SDGs Initiative (Tax4SDGs) places a particular focus on promoting the SDG agenda through reducing gender and social inequalities in tax and fiscal policy as well as taking forward climate action and environmental goals, and gender, health and Leave No One Behind (LNOB) outcomes. Representing the views of developing countries in the global normative tax discussions is critical and to this effect the UNDP Tax for SDGs Initiative also works to bring evidence and perspectives from developing countries into the regional and international discussions on taxation.

The Tax4SDGs is currently supporting the government of Djibouti in putting in place tax and fiscal policies to promote steadily increasing domestic revenue mobilization, in part to finance the achievement of priority SDGs in Djibouti, as well as developing strategic roadmaps and capacity building to strengthen the capacity of DTA’s tax administration. Building on UNDP Country Office portfolios and already existing engagements with Government of Djibouti, UNDP will bring a stronger focus on the role of tax and fiscal policy in achieving the Agenda 2030, in line with the Sustainable Development Strategy – Djibouti ICI – Inclusivity, Connectivity and Institutions, 2020-2024. This work will be informed by, and in keeping with the Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF) led by the Government of Djibouti. An engagement plan with was signed with the Ministry of Budget in 2023 and support will be ongoing throughout 2024.

A consultant has been contracted to support the roll-out of this engagement plan, and a UN Volunteer is now required to support the administrative and coordination aspects of this workstream. The Tax and SDGs Coordination Assistant

Under the direct supervision of Tax4SDGs Team (i.e. the Regional Tax Specialist, UNDP Economist and National Tax Coordinator), the UN Volunteer will provide support in the following areas:

A. Administrative, coordination and communication support related to Tax4SDGs activities

 Supports Tax for SDGs Team (comprised of the UNDP Djibouti Economist, Regional Tax Specialist for the Arab States, and the National Tax Coordinator) in ensuring full compliance with administrative activities with UN/UNDP rules, regulations, policies and strategies.  Organizes and prepares agendas and minutes of meetings and tracks follow-up actions  Coordinates and prepares reports for meetings and missions for the Tax for SDGs Team including research work to prepare briefing materials as applicable;  Any other task assigned by the supervisors.

B. Ensures effective financial, procurement, contracting and logistical support, focusing on achievement of the following results:

 Support the team of any procurement processes, backstops procurement processes, including submission of required templates and documents to the UNDP Djibouti Country Office Operations, Administration, Procurement and Finance Teams as well as Tax4SDGs Global staff as required;  Following-up on and supporting contracting processes as needed, and maintain records of all contracts related to Tax4SDGs work in Djibouti  Support Tax4SDGs Team in preparation of term of references as needed (utilizing the relevant templates)  Support the Tax4SDGs Team in organizing missions, making travel arrangements including preparation of travel authorizations, processing requests for visas, identity cards and other documents, including timely follow-up action on medical/security clearance, claims, signatures, as appropriate.  Monitor all travel-related payments for the Tax4SDGs mission participants traveling to Djibouti, and any other travel and logistics related to Tax4SDGs work; liaising appropriately with the UNDP Djibouti Country Office Operations, Administration, Procurement and Finance Teams as well as Tax4SDGs Global staff as required;  Administrative support to the organization and coordination of conferences, workshops, retreats.  Arrangement of vehicle transportation, if required.  Follow up on deadlines, commitments made, actions taken and coordination of collection and submission of the reports to head of unit.  Maintenance and monitoring of the budget plan and Gantt chart (workplan) for the work  Assistance in the preparation of budget, provision of information for audit, as needed.  Support the team of any HR processes including recruitments, processes of payments for PSA Short-term contract holders within the team, support in supplier creation, e-requisition and P0 creation.  Any other task assigned by the supervisors

C. Provide research support to Tax4SDGs work:

 Assist in conducting desk reviews and bibliographies by collecting, compiling, and summarizing relevant information from legislative and fiscal policies, regulatory policy, socioeconomic report sources and other background research as needed (e.g. on existing tax policies) to inform desk reviews and analysis for tax policy technical advisory, general Tax4SDGs work  Research and retrieval of statistical data from internal and external sources; preparation of charts, tables and reports as required  Monitoring developments in Djibouti in relation to tax policy reforms, tax administrative reforms, SDGs-related government strategy and planning developments; as well as staying abreast of engagement and technical support provided by the World Bank, IMF, AFD, and other partners to the Government of Djibouti on tax policy and tax administration. Provide updates to Tax4SDGs Team on all developments.  Maintain relevant documentation in the Tax4SDGs Team folder on SharePoint (e.g. budgets, project agreements, reports, analysis, background research, SDGs Tax Framework Assessments, copies of relevant fiscal code documents)  Any other task assigned by the line supervisors

D. Support to public and government engagement activities on taxation:

 Support in the design and development of (e.g. social media) communication, education (e.g. taxpayer education campaign materials) and knowledge product materials  Reaching out to, engagement and coordination with civil society actors, taxpayer groups, and private sector in relation to Tax4SDGs workstreams  Any other task assigned by the line supervisors

• Accountability • Adaptability and flexibility • Creativity • Judgement and decision-making • Planning and organising • Professionalism • Self-management

• Preferred: Advanced higher degree (bachelor’s degree at minimum) in a relevant area, e.g. Law, Finance, Economics, Social Sciences or area related to taxation and sustainable development; • Desired: 2 years of professional work experience at the national and/or international level in law, fiscal policy, tax administrations, project management, public administration, or economic development and analysis, or other relevant programmes; experience with tax policy is an asset, as is experience working in the UN or other international development organization; • Excellent coordination and communication skills • Excellent oral (presentation) and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills; • Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing; • Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment; • Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines; • Ability to work independently and autonomously, self-driven • Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including government officials at various levels, private sector, and civil society organizations • Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel; • Have affinity with or interest in sustainable development and tax policy, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System.

The UN security Level is at the level 3 for Djibouti-Ville. The average temperature varies from 23º to 29º in January and from 31º to 41º in July. Annual rainfall ranges from 127 mm in the capital to 380 mm in the mountains. There are local banking facilities only in Djibouti-Town and it is recommended to open a bank account. Credit cards are not wide-ly accepted in Djibouti. There are few automatic teller machines (ATMs) in Djibouti city. These ATMs only accept Visa cards and are frequently out of service, and travellers should not depend on them as the sole means for obtaining currency. French, Afar, So-mali and Arab are spoken by the local population and by the authorities. Availability of flight is as follows: Two weekly flight AIR France from Djibouti to Paris, Two daily flights with ETHIOPIAN Airlines from Djibouti to Addis Abab, twice a week flight with Turkish Air-lines from Djibouti to Istanbul, twice a week flight with Qatar Airways from Djibouti to Doha, daily flight Kenya Airways from Djibouti to Nairobi. At the arrival, it is recommend-ed to book a room in an authorized hotel (Kempinski, Sheraton, Acacias, Bavaria, Alia, Ali-Sabieh and Auberge Le Heron. There is also the possibility to rent a private accommoda-tion soon after few days passed at the hotel. For taxi, you are recommended to use only those painted in white and green or those provided by your hotel. Please make sure they know your intended destination and negotiate the fare before starting the journey. You are strongly recommended not to use buses as they are poorly maintained, and their operators even driven erratically with little regard for passengers’ safety.