NATIONAL CONSULTANCY to Conduct State Budget Analyses and to prepare Budget Briefs in collaboration with an International Consultant

The National Consultant will Conduct State Budget Analyses and produce Budget Briefs supporting and in collaboration with an international consultant

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,

How can you make a difference?

Goal and Objective:

UNICEF Sri Lanka aims to hire a national consultant to support and work in collaboration with an international consultant to embark on 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 national consultant will work in close collaboration with the international consultant, and coordinate with the international consultant the different tasks (data collection, analyses, contacting resource people, delivery of products, etc.) necessary to produce high-quality Budget Briefs.  

The methodology to be applied will be to:

- 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, e-mails and face-to-face meetings 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;

-  Support data collection, including construction of databases with budgetary information (allocation, expenditure, outcomes, etc.);

-  Identify and contact key resource people (e.g., in Government, Development Cooperation Partners, think tanks, academia) to be contacted for data, further information and clarification, as necessary;

- Support the international consultant in the development of analyses 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 coordination with the international consultant, 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;

-  In coordination with the international consultant, 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. The consultant is expected to follow guidance from Social Policy section of UNICEF Sri Lanka Country office, and of the international consultant in terms of developing the analyses and narrative, and 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 to UNICEF at the end of the contract, including excel databases and calculations.

Duration :  10 September 2018 to 10 February 2019

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 undertaking/supporting similar high-quality budget analyses with focus on social sectors will be an added advantage (e.g., Budget Briefs, Policy Briefs, Expenditure Analyses, etc.);

  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 in Sri Lanka, particularly for social sectors, is a must;

  Strong analytical and writing skills, including the ability to present results of analyses 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 in Sri Lanka;

  Ability to work well as part of a team, and to collaborate with 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;

  Strong network with key resource people in Sri Lanka is highly desired.

  Language skills:

  High proficiency in English

  High capacity to digest financial statements and strategy documents 

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.

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:

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