International consultancy to conduct State Budget Analyses and produce Budget Briefs

UNICEF Sri Lanka aims to hire an international consultant to embark in the proposed State Budget Analyses exercise, which is expected to lead to a series of five Budget Briefs. These Budget Briefs will be used as an important information source and an advocacy tool. Budget briefs will be developed for key social areas, namely: Education (including ECE), Health (and Nutrition to the extent possible, given data limitations), Water and Sanitation, and Social Protection.

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UNICEF Sri Lanka aims to hire an international consultant to embark in the proposed State Budget Analyses exercise, which is expected to lead to a series of five Budget Briefs. These Budget Briefs will be used as an important information source and an advocacy tool. Budget briefs will be developed for key social areas, namely: Education (including ECE), Health (and Nutrition to the extent possible, given data limitations), Water and Sanitation, and Social Protection.

The Budget Briefs will have two main objectives:

-Expand the debate on PFM issues through more simplified information: The budget documents are very dense and difficult to read and interpret. The Briefs will provide simplified information, attempting to stimulate the debate through key questions that the public may want to address to the Government. At the same time, the Briefs are aimed at influencing political decision makers in the Parliament and Government for a more equitable and participative resource allocation for the progressive realization of all citizens' rights;

-Provide analyses of the budget, trying to understand the revenue and allocation trends to four social sectors: Education, Health, Social Protection and Water and Sanitation. It is important that the public understands how the Government is prioritizing its resources across provinces and across sectors. Other documents are also used as key information to the analysis such as: The Budget Speech, The Budget Proposal, Execution Reports, State Accounts, Medium-Term Budgetary Framework, Audit Reports, etc.

Methodology and Technical Approach

The international consultant will collaborate and work together with a local researcher, with deep knowledge of the national PFM and Budget framework.

The methodology to be applied will be:

-Desk review of the relevant budget documents (legal instruments, policies, strategies and operational plans) and existing analyses that can be useful;

-Data collection and analysis;

-Consultations through phone, skype or e-mails on a need-basis with relevant stakeholders, which include UNICEF programme staff, partners from CSOs, think tanks, Government and donor/development partners community;

-Development of Budget Briefs, which include texts, graphs, figures, tables, etc.

Activities and Tasks:

Become familiar with all PFM instruments in Sri Lanka and key Strategies, including Vision 2025, SDGs, and sector strategies;

-Produce the Briefs in collaboration with a local researcher/national consultant;

- Conduct in-depth analysis of the Sri Lankan State Budget, with a focus on the Education, Health, Social Protection and Water and Sanitation sectors/subsectors, which will result in 5 Budget Briefs. The sectoral briefs will cover the period 2010-2018 (data permitting), and be developed according to the structure outlined in Annexure I, but not limited to it.

The five Briefs will be:

• Budget Process/Cycle Budget Brief (a description of the State Budget planning and preparation process and the budget cycle in Sri Lanka)
• Education Budget Brief
• Health (and Nutrition) Budget Brief
• Social Protection Budget Brief
• Water, Hygiene and Sanitation Budget Brief

-Present results in word version with illustrative figures- graphs, tables, maps and diagrams, as well as a PPT with main information (each brief should be no longer than 20-25 pages);

-Work on incorporating feedback received on drafts presented in order to develop the final products;

-Ensure data quality control of the graphs, tables, maps and diagrams in all briefs during the layout and designing phase. Layout and design will be the responsibility of UNICEF Sri Lanka

Each Brief should be accompanied by a PPT presentation with main highlights. Products are to be delivered in English. All products should follow guidance from Social Policy section of UNICEF Sri Lanka Country office, and the consultant is expected to work in close collaboration in terms of developing the analysis and narrative, incorporating inputs and feedback from UNICEF. The outputs will be considered delivered when they are approved by the Representative. Quality check of the products will be done through a peer review process by the Social Policy section, an Education Specialist, a Health Specialist, Water and Sanitation specialist and the Deputy Representative and finally by the Representative. All data generated for this exercise must be delivered at the end of the contract, including excel databases and calculations

Deliverables

• Budget Process/Cycle Budget Brief
• Education budget brief
• Health budget brief
• Social protection budget brief
• Water, sanitation and hygiene budget brief
• Data and text quality control of the 2018 budget briefs

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

• Academic qualifications:
  • At least a graduate degree in Economics, Public Policies, International Development, or other relevant areas
• Work experience:
  • Proven experience of doing high-quality budget analyses with focus on social sectors
  • At least 5 years of relevant work experience in research, analyses, PFM, evaluation
• Specific knowledge, competencies, and skills required:
  • A solid knowledge of Public Financial Management, particularly for social sectors;
  • Strong analytical and writing skills, including the ability to present the results in a simple language, making use of interesting visual aid (maps, graphs and other visual tools);
  • Consolidated knowledge and foundation on crosscutting themes such as equity, efficiency and sectoral decentralization;
  • Ability to work well as part of a team, and to collaborate with local resource people
  • Strong data manipulation and analysis skills, including hands-on experience with Statistical Packages;
  • Ability to complete the task in a tight schedule and with limited supervision.
• Language skills:
  • High proficiency in English
  • High capacity to digest financial statements and strategy documents

Duration of the consultancy: 5 months (10 Sept 2018 - 10 Feb 2019)

Qualified candidates are requested to submit a resume, cover letter and other relevant documents through the UNICEF e-Recruitment system at https://www.unicef.org/about/employ/ ­

Interested consultants should indicate ability, availability and all-inclusive fee rate for expected deliverables to undertake the terms of reference.

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

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

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.