Consultant – Development of budget briefs for ROSA and EAPRO, UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office (EAPRO), Bangkok

The Social Policy and Economic Analysis Section, UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office (EAPRO) is seeking an individual consultant to generate evidence on the budget allocation/performance for the social sectors for 13 countries in East Asia and the Pacific, as well as 4 countries from South Asia. The evidence will serve for informing high level advocacy at both country level, but also to form a regional advocacy agenda for safeguarding the budgets for children especially in a situation of COVID 19.

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 fulfilling 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 better future

UNICEF works to ensure the rights of all children in the East Asia and Pacific Region.  This means the rights of every child living in this country, irrespective of their nationality, gender, religion or ethnicity, to:

• survival – to basic healthcare, peace and security;
• development – to a good education, a loving home and adequate nutrition;
• protection – from abuse, neglect, trafficking, child labour and other forms of exploitation; and
• participation – to express opinions, be listened to and take part in making any decisions that affect them

How can you make a difference?

The Social Policy and Economic Analysis Section, UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office (EAPRO) is seeking an individual consultant to generate evidence on the budget allocation/performance for the social sectors for 13 countries in East Asia and the Pacific, as well as 4 countries from South Asia. The evidence will serve for informing high level advocacy at both country level, but also to form a regional advocacy agenda for safeguarding the budgets for children especially in a situation of COVID 19.

Work Assignment:

1. Regional budget analysis

The regional Budget analysis will explore the extent to which government (national and subnational) budgets for the key social sectors to address the needs of children in the East Asia and the Pacific. It will provide a synthesis of the analysis of the trend, size and composition of budget allocations, in the different countries in the latest five fiscal year with available data, as follows:

• Collect budget data from national and international sources for the social sectors in EAP countries. - sector budget allocation as % of GDP/% of total Gov budget.
• Comparison among sectors budget allocations. Verification of its comparability across countries.
• Sectoral budget allocation Central – decentralized level where available
• Sector budget allocation according to levels – e.g. primary education, secondary education etc.
• Sector budget allocation by economic classification– wages; goods and services; capital.
• Comparison of sector budget allocation against international benchmarks - e.g. Abuja declarations, LIC/MIC status.  ASEAN countries, OECD average.

NB. Data is subject to availability and verification with the respective country offices.

Geographic focus: the Brief will focus in all UNICEF’s programme countries:

1. Twelve (12) countries in East Asia: China, Indonesia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Philippines, Thailand, Lao PDR, Cambodia, Timor-Leste, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea (PNG).
2. 5 from the Pacific Island Countries (PICs), including: Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands
3. 4 countries in South Asia: Sri Lanka; Bangladesh; Pakistan; Nepal

2. Develop regional Budget Brief by consolidating data regionally and relating main findings and regional trends.

The countries who participate in the EU UNICEF PFM facility have started developing budget briefs for different social sectors among which health, WASH, education and Social protection. The task will therefore offer a summary analysis of the budget briefs submitted from the countries under the FPM Facility for South East and South Asia, by sector (health, education, WASH, social protection).

Geographic focus: the summary brief will focus in all UNICEF’s programme countries:

1. 3 countries from South East Asia: Myanmar, Cambodia and Lao PDR
2. 4 countries in South Asia: Sri Lanka; Bangladesh; Pakistan; Nepal

3. Develop summary of the fiscal responses to covid and overall analysis of the fiscal performance (contraction/expansion for the key sectors) for the all the countries in EAP and the 4 countries in ROSA.

Geographic focus: the Brief will focus in all UNICEF’s programme countries:

3. Twelve (12) countries in East Asia: China, Indonesia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Philippines, Thailand, Lao PDR, Cambodia, Timor-Leste, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea (PNG).
4. 5 from the Pacific Island Countries (PICs), including: Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands
5. 4 countries in South Asia: Sri Lanka; Bangladesh; Pakistan; Nepal

End Product(s):

The following deliverables are expected from this assignment:

Duration of Contract:  62 working days during the period of 10 August 2021 to 15 December 2021

Working Location: The individual contractor will work remotely in his/her own premises but will regularly report to the supervisor.  All office supplies and materials will be provided by the Consultant.

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

• Master’s degree in social sciences, economics, public policy or related field.
• Minimum 8 years of relevant work experience in public financial management (PFM).
• Previous experience in preparation of budget briefs, and PFM analytical reports.
• Demonstrated capacity to synthesize complex information.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated capacity for achievement of deadlines.
• Familiarity with the work of UNICEF in public finance for children (PF4C) is an asset.
• Knowledge of South Asia and South East Asia is an asset.

Interested candidates are requested to submit CV or P-11, full contact information of minimum 3 references, availability, and proposed daily professional fee in USD by 7 August 2021.

  FORM P11.doc

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People, and Drive for Results.

View our competency framework at

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

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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.

UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children.