By continuing to browse this site, you agree to our use of cookies. Read our privacy policy

National Coordinator - Sustainable Development Finance (Tax and non-tax) for SDGs - (NPSA10)

Windhoek

  • Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
  • Location: Windhoek
  • Grade: Mid level - NPSA-10, National Personnel Services Agreement
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Development Cooperation and Sustainable Development Goals
    • Accounting (Audit, Controlling)
    • Economics
    • Banking and Finance
    • Environment
    • Managerial positions
  • Closing Date: Closed

Background

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP:  we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Revenue mobilization is a critical element in the development agenda of any nation including Namibia. This is because it provides means for financing the development priorities such as the provision of quality services including health, education, infrastructure development and security amongst others. Tax, as one of the sources of revenue in Namibia, as is the case in the rest of the world, is the primary source of government revenue. Although Namibia’s tax revenue collection regime is relatively efficient, several challenges persist. These challenges include: limited capacity and resources within the Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA), which makes it difficult to effectively collect taxes, especially corporate and business taxes; many individuals and businesses not complying with their tax obligations, which reduces the amount of revenue collected; complex tax laws and regulations, thus making it difficult for Namibian taxpayers to understand their obligations and for NamRA to enforce tax compliance; limited and fragmented technology and information systems and infrastructure, which make it difficult for NamRA to effectively collect taxes and for taxpayers to file their returns; and economic downturns experienced post 2016 as well as the economic impacts of COVID-19 and now the recent Russia-Ukraine conflict and recurrent climate shocks that are negatively impacting on tax revenue collection, as businesses experience declines in revenue and individuals experienced decreases in disposable income.

In this context, the UNDP Tax for SDGs Initiative has a particular emphasis on linking tax administration and tax and fiscal policies with raising domestic resources and other sources of sustainable finance in achieving the SDGs and ultimately the national priorities. Accordingly, the project proposes to support the Government of Namibia through the Namibia Revenue Agency in consultation with the Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprises and collaboration with other relevant sector Offices, Ministries, and Agencies (OMAs) to address the issues of low tax morale among taxpayers, economic inefficiencies, lack of equity, high costs of taxes administration, tax avoidance and evasion, transfer pricing including inefficient tax systems, and many other challenges impacting on sustainable revenue generation in the country.

In view of the above, UNDP Namibia in collaboration with the Namibia Revenue Agency seeks the services of an expert SDGs National Coordinator to effectively lead, manage, coordinate, and support the implementation of the UNDP-Government Tax for SDGs Initiative. S/he is expected to also provide support to UNDP Namibia on tax and development finance related engagements as part of the overarching goal of developing a sustainable financing architecture through the Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF) process to support achievement of the SDGs, ultimately the national development priorities in the Namibia National Development Plan and other national development frameworks.  

Duties and Responsibilities

A. Strategic and Multi-Stakeholder Engagement 
  • Support the UNDP Economics Advisor and Head of the Sustainable, Inclusive, and Green Growth (SIGG) Portfolio in embedding the UNDP Tax for SDGs Initiative in UNDP’s broader tax and sustainable development finance engagements in Namibia;
  • Lead implementation and multi-stakeholder engagement for the initiative in Namibia including engaging with tax experts, bilateral, regional, and multilateral organizations, and the government at national and local levels through the Namibia Revenue Agency in consultation with other relevant sector OMAs;
  • Support UNDP Namibia in building strategic alliances and partnerships with government at national and local levels, think tanks, civil society, academic institutions, other UN Agencies, development partners (bilateral and multilateral) and others to expand UNDP’s work on tax and fiscal policy, and overall, its work on sustainable finance through the INFF in Namibia; 
  • Work with the UNDP Economics Advisor and Head of the SIGG Portfolio to support other UNDP COs to learn from the Namibia experience in designing and implementing Country Engagement Plan (CEP) and in the broader engagement on tax and fiscal policy, as well as other sustainable development finance initiatives within the project and other related interventions;
  • Provide secretariat and technical support to the implementation of the Tax for SDGs Initiative and the SDG Fund Joint Programme that the UN system through the technical leadership of UNDP is supporting the Government on through the Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprises to develop the INFF and related strategic components.

B. Policy and Programme Coordination

  • Analyze local context and identify potential synergies with UNDP’s policy and development work in-country at national/regional/community level and map out emerging trends and opportunities for the country and the SADC and SACU regions, as well as global tax environment; 
  • Provide technical and policy advisory support to the implementation of the UNDP Tax for SDGs Initiative and backstop tax experts working under the project;
  • Identify potential synergies between the UNDP Tax for SDGs Initiative work of UNDP Namibia, other sister UN Agencies, the UNDP Regional Finance Hub and UNDP Country Offices implementing same Initiative; 
  • Engage with policymakers on tax and fiscal policy matters, as well as other sustainable development finance initiatives and further develop the role of UNDP in these strategic areas in Namibia; 
  • Lead and coordinate the development of policy papers, policy briefs, and articles to promote understanding and integration of tax and fiscal policy, sustainable development finance, the economy, national development issues, and the SDGs;
  • Support the UNDP Senior Management and the Government through NamRA in relevant analytical and policy-oriented work on the economy, tax and SDGs, tax policy, tax administration, budget process, sustainable development finance and INFF, and on other technical tax and non-tax topics;
  • Draft internal UNDP briefing notes and talking points for Senior Management on UNDP Tax for SDGs Initiative and the INFF process, as well as other sustainable and innovative finance initiatives.

C. Knowledge Management

  • 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;
  • Collaborate on evidence collection and lessons-learned from other countries, including promoting best practice sharing and peer learning through case-studies;
  • Collaborate on knowledge management between various stakeholders, including UNDP CO, Namibia Revenue Agency, and tax experts;
  • Develop concept notes for technical workshops/webinars/side-events and resource mobilization for UNDP Tax for SDGs Initiative.

D. Engagement

  • Lead and coordinate on project implementation, management, monitoring and evaluation, reporting, and communications, including drafting of annual reports, newsletters, policy briefs, articles, policy papers, annual reports, quarterly reports, etc;
  • Lead and coordinate the organization of events, including high-level meetings, training workshops, forums, and launches of strategic interventions;
  • Lead and coordinate on documenting lessons-learned from the project activities, including through case-studies and assessments;
  • Develop resources to enhance capacities within UNDP and Namibia Revenue Agency/Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprises on tax issues, fiscal policy issues, the economy, development finance issues, and the SDGs;
  • Participate and follow technical discussions in other fora and represent UNDP in relevant meetings, forums, discussions, seminars, and conferences where required;
  • Perform other duties, as may be required by the Supervisor and the UNDP RR.
Institutional Arrangement

The National Coordinator will report directly to the UNDP Economics Advisor in consultation with the UNDP Deputy Resident Representative (DRR) and the CEO of the Namibia Revenue Agency. The Regional Programme Specialist of UNDP Tax for SDGs Initiative will backstop the National Coordinator.  Throughout the project, collaboration and coordination with the UNDP Tax team, the Head of the UNDP SIGG Portfolio, relevant staff of the Namibia Revenue Agency, and other teams will be required including those from other UN Agencies and Government institution.

Competencies

Core Competencies

  • Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact;
  • Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems;
  • Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences;
  • Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands;
  • Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results;
  • Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration;
  • Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity.

Functional/Technical competencies

Cross-Functional

  • Strategic Thinking: Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritize plans in line with UNDP’s objectives, based on systematic analysis of challenges and potential, opportunities, linking the the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions. 

Cross-Functional

  • Business Acumen: Ability to understand and deal with business situation in a manner that is likely to lead to good outcome.

Cross-Functional 

  • Portfolio Management: Ability to select, prioritize and control the organizations programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimizing return on investment. 

Technical

  • Strategic Policy Engagement: Financing for development including the INFF.

Technical

  • Partnership engagement: Ability to capture and sustain attention, interest, and agreement of high-level, influential policy and decision makers and secure their buy-in of high-level vision and objectives.
Required Skills and Experience

Education:
  • Master's degree in Finance, Taxation, Economics, Public Policy, Management (MBA, Finance), International Development or related fields.
  • Bachelor's degree in relevant field with additional two years of qualifying experience may be given due consideration in lieu of Master's degree.
Experience:
  • Minimum 5 years (Master's degree) or 7 years (Bachelor's degree) of relevant work experience in taxation, public finance management, or domestic resource mobilization for a government or international organizations; 
  • Solid knowledge of taxation in the innovative financing sector, and the Namibian context in taxation and finance. 

Required skills:

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

Desired additional skills:

  • Excellent knowledge of current debates regarding taxation, fiscal policy, sustainable development finance, and illicit financial flows in Namibia;
  • Thorough understanding of tax/fiscal policy, and tax administration processes;
  • Excellent writing and analytical skills, including the ability to write concept notes, outcome reporting, and other written communications;
  • Experience working in and with developing countries in Africa;
  • Experience working with UNDP or the UN Development System on matters related to taxation and fiscal policies will be an advantage; 
  • Experience in results-oriented based project management.

Language:

  • Fluency in English (oral and written).
Disclaimer

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Scam warning

The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.

This vacancy is now closed.
However, we have found similar vacancies for you: