Consultancy to Support the formulation of Budget Framework Papers (BFPs) - 30 days

UNICEF is looking for a consultant to prepare five (5) 6-8 page sector specific issues papers to inform the preparation of the (i) health, (ii) education, (iii) WASH and (iv) social protection/social development, and (v) child protection/JLO sector Budget Framework Papers (BFPs) FY 2019/20, and develop a 10-12 page policy note elaborately documenting structural and operational bottlenecks hampering Government’s delivery of basic services at sector level. The latter aims to inform Government’s (especially MoFPED) formulation of the FY 2019/20 national budget strategy.

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

Uganda is one of the over 190 countries and territories around the world where we work to overcome the obstacles that poverty, violence, disease, and discrimination place in a child’s path. Together with the Government of Uganda and partners we work towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals, the objectives of the Uganda National Development Plan, and the planned outcomes of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework.

Visit this link for more information on Uganda Country Office https://www.unicef.org/uganda/

How can you make a difference?

Under the supervision the Chief of Social Policy and Advocacy, the consultant will prepare five (5) 6-8 page sector specific issues papers to inform the preparation of the (i) health, (ii) education, (iii) WASH and (iv) social protection/social development, and (v) child protection/JLO sector Budget Framework Papers (BFPs) FY 2019/20, and develop a 10-12 page policy note elaborately documenting structural and operational bottlenecks hampering Government’s delivery of basic services at sector level. The latter aims to inform Government’s (especially MoFPED) formulation of the FY 2019/20 national budget strategy.

Background

The Budget Strategy for FY 2018/19 builds on a number of interventions undertaken in earlier financial years under the following seven (7) broad strategic areas:

1.       Increasing production and productivity in agriculture;

2.       Enhancing industrialization to support job creation and exports;

3.       Infrastructure development: Transport , energy, and ICT;

4.       Stimulating private sector growth;

5.       Harnessing tourism potential;

6.       Improving service delivery and managing emerging issues such as inequality; population    growth, urbanization and climate change; and

7.       Improving governance.

The same strategy notes that the high increase in population growth rates, exacerbated by the refugee influx has continued to exert pressure on social services. To this end, Government recognises the need to gradually increase strategic investments in human capital development. In doing so, the budget strategy for FY 2018/19 identifies the following key policy priorities for health and education, respectively.

Health

•        Address stock-outs of essential drugs, and minimize mismatch of supplies vis-à-vis geographic specific needs;

•        Prioritize disease prevention measures at household and community level;

•        Improve maternal and new-born child health;

•        Equip referral system to enable early diagnosis and treatment of non-communicable diseases;

•        Recruit and train critical health staff.

Education

•        Address quality of education and skills gaps of pupils and students;

•        Undertake curriculum development and reform to match skills required by industries;

•        Enhance the capacity of technical and vocational training institutions to promote science and technology teaching by recruiting and training suitable teachers;

•        Enable youth without skills to acquire them through internships, apprenticeships, as well as attachment to construction and production sites.

On a more general note, in FY 2018/19 Government remains committed to empower Sector Working Groups (SWGs) to improve coordination in Government, and deepen the implementation of Programme Based Budgeting (PBB), covering both central and local governments. Government commenced the implementation of PBB in all central Government institutions in FY 2017/18. Notably, Government’s effort to transition away from Output Based Budgeting (OBB) towards PBB represents a clear commitment to results and impact. For instance, instead of focusing on the number of classrooms built, under PBB the focus will be on key education outcomes (e.g. test scores, completion, literacy rates). This public finance reform is closely tied to Government, EPRC and UNICEF’s Rethinking Public Finance for Children: Monitoring for Results joint initiative.

 Key Tasks:

Support the formulation of social sectors (health, education, WASH, social development, and JLO) budget framework papers.

• Thorough review of sector specific planning and budgeting documentation, and in-country sector specific consultations (facilitated by UNICEF sector focal points), whilst capitalising on existing sources of analysis assessing the effective delivery of national programme affecting children and other vulnerable populations.
• Develop a 10-12 page policy note elaborately documenting structural and operational bottlenecks hampering Government’s delivery of basic services at sector level.

Key Deliverables

• Submission of a 6-8 page sector specific issues paper for the Health Sector
• Submission of a 6-8 page sector specific issues paper for the Education Sector.
• Submission of a 6-8 page sector specific issues paper for the WASH Sector.
• Submission of a 6-8 page sector specific issues paper for the Social Protection/Social Development Sector.
• Submission of a 6-8 page sector specific issues paper for the Child Protection/JLO sector.
• Submission of a Policy note on Government’s delivery of the basic services at sector level

To qualify as an advocate]or every child you will have…

• University degree in Economics of related subjects.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in Public Finance Management, with an in depth knowledge of the national budget architecture and policy environment
• Excellent communication and inter-personal skills.                                      
• Excellent analytical and report writing skills.
• Excellent English skills necessary.

 For every Child, you demonstrate…

Our core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

 For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The technical competencies required for this post are….

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.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.

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.