Job Opportunity at UNICEF, Individual International Consultant – PFM Specialist

Contract type: Consultancy

Level: Consultancy

Location: United Republic of Tanzania

Categories: Social and Economic Policy

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, future.

The UNICEF Social Policy programme works to strengthen national statistical, public financial management, and social protection systems and coverage, in addition to building national capacity around research and evaluation on children’s issues, to inform better decision-making for children.

A recent consultation with the Region Administrative Secretary (RAS) of Songwe has identified public financial management systems in Songwe as vulnerable to a wide range of challenges (e.g. low budget credibility and execution rates, limited linkages between plans and budget allocations) and the need to strengthen analytical capacity of selected staff to undertake budget analysis. These challenges have significant implications for the effective delivery of national programmes affecting children, in terms of both the availability and accessibility of essential social services.

With a view to enhance monitoring efforts towards effective implementation of government programmes and projects, is needed to establish a Budget Monitoring Unit concerned with tracking implementation of selected government initiatives was identified. This unit tracks implementation of selected government initiatives, assesses value for money, and ultimately monitors actual performance in the face of commitments as outlined in sector and LGA plans and budgets. Key means of verification include quarterly performance, as well as financial and physical performance reports. This information is released in semi-annual budget monitoring reports and policy briefs which are distributed to MOFP and other government officials, Members of Parliament, development partners and civil society organizations. Most importantly, the Unit has a direct reporting line to regional level senior management so that priority concerns can be flagged and promptly addressed. An additional responsibility nested within this unit’s operations incudes undertaking research to better understand specific bottlenecks which may lead to poor performance.

How can you make a difference?

Strengthened PFM systems rest on high quality engagement across multiple layers of government’s institutional architecture. Strong systems, in turn, result in the effective delivery of basic services affecting children and other vulnerable groups. By strengthening the technical skills of the officers within the budget monitoring and accountability unit, this effort aims to promote the use data and evidence to inform strategic policy decisions in Songwe.

Building on on-going efforts to strengthen national public financial management systems, the PFM specialist will work under the direct supervision of the Economist and the Regional Medical Officer, and in close collaboration with the Social Policy Specialist based in Dodoma. Technical engagement will require regular presence in Songwe and Dodoma.

KEY TASKS, DELIVERABLES AND TIME FRAME   

Summary of key tasks:

1. Build capacity of selected staff to undertake budget analysis and monitoring and report writing

• Strengthen the capacity of the budget monitoring unit to track implementation of selected government initiatives, assess value for money, and ultimately monitor actual performance in the face of commitments as outlined in sector and LGA plans and budgets. Key means of verification include quarterly performance, as well as financial and physical performance reports.
• Conduct local capacity building to develop and institutionalize the development of semi-annual performance assessments to enhance budget execution and the implementation of national programmes;
• In close collaboration of selected line ministries, lead budget analysis (e.g. budget execution reviews, quarterly reports) and research to better understand specific bottlenecks which may lead to poor performance;
• Facilitate regular dialogue between Songwe, MOFP and relevant MDAs and LGAs with a view to translate policy dialogue and upstream policy engagement into institutionalized mechanisms and processes to enhance service delivery at all levels

2. Support Songwe to build a consolidated database of financial data and key outcomes indicators for selected sectors

• Review relevant financial and outcomes data systems (PlanRep, FFARS, MUSE, IFMIS, EPICOR, DCMIS, DHIS 2/HMIS, EMIS) with the aim to promote integrated approaches to data analysis, develop an internal database, and contribute to national efforts to promote data convergence and aggregation, e.g. integrated statistical systems portal;
• Train selected staff to regularly update the internal database and create effective data visualizations.

3. Strengthen and develop systematic workflows and monitoring processes harnessed on flagship publications for policy advocacy and high-level engagement

• Establish clear processes / cycles (i.e. budget monitoring/ analysis calendar) to undertake budget analysis with a view to monitor the implementation of national programmes
• Lead on the development of selected publications
• Support the engagement with key counterparts (e.g. other MDAs, LGAs, stakeholders, etc.) at local government, regional and national level on budget implementation bottlenecks , and oversee all planning and organizational aspects of a high-level policy forum to showcase the work of the budget monitoring unit.

TASKS, DELIVERABLES, TIMELINE & PAYMENT SCHEDULE

PAYMENT SCHEDULE.

Payments will be made upon submission and acceptance of the specified deliverables in the table above under section TASKS, DELIVERABLE AND TIME FRAME. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/output is incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines.

MEDICAL EVACUATION COVERAGE.

The consultant will be required to submit the proof of medical/Health Insurance with medical evacuation coverage.

SUPERVISING AND REPORTING

The consultant will work under the direct supervision of the Economist and the Regional Medical Officer, and in close collaboration with the Social Policy Specialist based in Dodoma.

LOCATION

The consultant technical engagement will require regular presence in Songwe and Dodoma.

DURATION OF THE CONSULTANCY

This consultancy covers a period of 59 working days.

EVALUATION PROCESS AND METHODS

Proposals will be both technically and financially evaluated. The technical part will carry a weight of 75%, in which the consultant will put clear his/her technical approach to ensure quality attainment of each deliverable and the consultancy in totality. The financial part will carry 25% showing proposed budget breakdown of consultancy cost for each deliverable and eventual total consultancy cost. This will make a total of 100%.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

The AGYW Technical Advisor will be under the direct supervision and management of the TACAIDS Director of National Response, with regular oversight from the Chief of HIV at UNICEF Tanzania. Day to day communication and guidance will be managed by the UNICEF HIV Prevention Specialist. He/she will work in close contact with relevant TACAIDS staff, GF country team, GF AGYW advisor as well as Senior Government Staff from other Government Agencies and NGO staff involved in the GFATM AGYW Programme. He/she will also work closely with UN, Development Partners and NGO partners. He/she will also work closely with AGYW constituencies to strengthen their participation in the programme and coordination

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will need to have the following…

• Minimum of 5 years of relevant professional work experience at national and international level in policy analysis and advocacy.
•  Knowledge of public finance and PFM; Excellent analytical, communication, advocacy and research skills;
• Computer literacy, especially MS Office programmes, is required;
• Proficiency in at least one of the UNICEF working languages: English, French or Spanish and fluent in the working language of the office (English);
•  Knowledge of the Tanzania context and knowing Kiswahili is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

Builds and maintains partnerships, demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness, innovates, and embraces change, drive to achieve results for impact, manages ambiguity and complexity, thinks, and acts strategically, work Collaboratively with others.

To view our competency framework, please click the link below.

https://www.unicef.org/careers/media/1041/file/UNICEF%27s_Competency_Framework.pdf

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.

The deadline for submitting the application is 04 January 2022.

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