Project Coordinator (Technical Task Lead) (NPSA-9)

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the knowledge frontier organization for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy and programme work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office (CO) levels forms a contiguous spectrum of deep, local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. Within this context, UNDP invests in a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan.

The Tax for Sustainable Development Goals Initiative, or Tax for SDGs, supports developing countries in augmenting domestic resource mobilization (DRM) and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Initiative sees taxation as both a tool for revenue collection and a policy instrument to encourage sustainable growth strategies and influence behavior of economic actors towards desired outcomes related to climate, nature, wellbeing, and governance.

Leveraging UNDP’s role as an enabler, integrator, and catalyst at the country level, Tax for SDGs works to expand people’s choices for a fairer, sustainable future with planet and people in balance, and achieve the World as envisioned by the 2030 Agenda. Tax for SDGs is implemented by UNDP, funded by the Government of Finland and the Government of Norway. It works with Ministries of Finance, National Tax Administrations, and other stakeholders worldwide.

Taxation stands at the core of public development financing and is integral to achieving the SDGs. Recognizing the integrated nature of these goals, Tax for SDGs focuses on practical actions for capacity building, institutional and societal change in tax systems to support the financing and achievement of the SDGs. Tax for SDGs supports countries to identify, understand and leverage the role of taxation towards recovery from the COVID-19 crisis and building back better in three directions of change:

1. National Tax Administrations (NTA) and relevant agencies have increased capacity to tackle tax avoidance, tax evasion, and Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs).

2. Governments increasingly align tax and fiscal policies with the SDGs.
3. Evidence and perspectives from developing countries are incorporated into regional and international discussions on taxation.

SDG finance is a key direction of development assistance for UNDP in Armenia, and since 2017 it promotes various partnerships and new mechanisms to better align, increase and unlock financial (public and private) resources for the development goals. In 2021-2022 UNDP Armenia implemented the Development Finance Assessment (DFA) in Armenia, building a roadmap towards the Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF).

To support its work on the intersection of tax and sustainable development in Armenia, UNDP Armenia is willing to hire a Project Coordinator/Technical Task Lead for Tax and SDGs Initiative. The role combines administration of Tax for SDGs activities in Armenia with technical advice on several areas of UNDP tax work in the country including mapping of tax expenditures and aligning them with the SDGs as well as at least one other line of work (Tax and Health, Digitalization of Tax Administration, Tax and Gender, etc.).

UNDP in Armenia is seeking a Project Coordinator/Technical Task Lead to effectively manage and support the implementation of the UNDP Tax for SDGs Initiative and provide support to UNDP Armenia on tax related engagements as part of their agenda of Financing the SDGs in the country.

1) Strategic and Multi-Stakeholder Engagement

i. Support the Head of Innovation portfolio in embedding the UNDP Tax for SDGs Initiative in UNDP’s broader SDG finance portfolio in UNDP Armenia.

ii. Lead implementation and multi-stakeholder engagement for the project in Armenia including engaging with the national government, Tax Committee, Tax for SDGs global and regional experts, bilateral, regional and multilateral organizations.

iii. Support UNDP Armenia in building strategic alliances and partnerships with governments, think tanks, academic institutions, development partners and others to expand UNDP’s work on tax and fiscal policy.

iv. Work with the Portfolio lead on designing and implementing Armenia Country Engagement Plan (CEP) and its broader engagement on tax and fiscal policies within the overall global project.

2)  Programme Coordination

i.    Analyze local context and identify potential synergies with UNDP’s policy and development work in-country at national/federal/ sub national level and map out emerging trends and opportunities for the region.

ii.    Provide technical advice to support the implementation of the project and to backstop experts working under the project.

iii.   Identify potential synergies between the UNDP Tax for SDGs Initiative work of UNDP Armenia, the UNDP Regional Hub and UNDP Country Offices implementing similar projects.

iv.   Engage with policymakers on tax and fiscal policy matters and further develop the role of UNDP in taxation in Armenia.

v.   Coordinate the development of policy papers to promote understanding and integration of tax and fiscal policies and SDG issues.

vi.   Support the Head of Portfolio in relevant analytical and policy-oriented work on tax policy and administration, and on technical tax topics.

vii.  Draft internal UNDP briefing notes and talking points for Senior Management on UNDP Tax for SDGs Initiative.

3) Technical Assistance (to be delivered in cooperation with Project local, regional and global experts):

i. Engage in analytical reviews and assessments of current tax policies and tax administration in Armenia and develop relevant recommendations.

ii. Perform mapping of tax expenditures in place in Armenia and support linking them to the SDGs as well as National Development

iii. Provide technical assistance on thematic in-depth review and analysis of Tax for SDGs work in Armenia (to be agreed with the government; possible scope of one-two assignments on thematic areas such as Tax and Health, Digitalization of Tax Administration, Tax and Gender or alike).

4) Knowledge Management:

i.    Facilitate setting up the interventions under the project as well as coordinate their implementation as per standard operating procedures, including knowledge capture from past programmes.

ii.   Collaborate on evidence collection and lessons-learned from other countries, including promoting best practice sharing and peer learning through case-studies.

iii.   Collaborate on knowledge management between various stakeholders, including UNDP COs and tax experts (including through expert engagement platform).

iv.   Develop concept notes for technical workshops/webinars/side-events for UNDP Tax for SDGs Initiative.

5) Outreach Engagement

i.    Collaborate on project communications, including Annual Reports and Newsletters.

ii.    Coordinate the organization of events, including high-level launches of the programmes.

iii.   Collaborate on lessons-learned from the project activities, including through case-studies.

iv.   Develop resources to enhance capacities within UNDP on tax, fiscal policy issues and the SDGs.

v.   Follow technical discussions in other fora and represent UNDP in relevant meetings.

v.   Perform other duties, as may be required by the Supervisor.

i. The position will be embedded in the Innovation and SDG finance portfolio and work as part of the UNDP Armenia Country Office.

ii. The Project Coordinator will report to the UNDP Armenia Innovation and SDG finance portfolio lead.

iii. Throughout the project, collaboration and coordination with the rest of the UNDP finance and other teams will be required.

• Masters’ degree in law, economics, finance, public policy or a closely related field.

• Two years of progressively responsible experience of working in public finance management, taxation or domestic resource mobilization for a government or an international organization.

Required Languages:

• Fluency in English and Armenian

Required skills:

• Strong record in advising and engaging with international institutions and/or governments on public finance management or domestic resource mobilization with involvement in technical work such as producing tax policy proposals, auditing, conducting tax audits, computation of tax expenditures or drafting tax regulations

Desired skills:

• Excellent knowledge of current situation and policies regarding taxation, fiscal policy and PFM reform in Armenia.
• Thorough understanding of tax/fiscal policy, tax administration processes, public finance reforms and management.
• Excellent writing and analytical skills, including the ability to write concept notes, outcome reporting, and other written communication.
• Experience of working with UNDP or UN Development System on matters related to development finance and fiscal policies.
• Experience of results-oriented project management

Travel: 

The work may entail duty travel. In case of such travel, travel expenses will be covered by UNDP in accordance with the UNDP rules and regulations.

The following documents shall be required from the applicants:

1. Personal CV or P11, indicating all past positions held and their main underlying functions, their durations (month/year), the qualifications, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) the most recent professional references of previous supervisors. References may also include peers.
2. A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.