UNDP Jobs - 19954- Technical Advisor (Public Finance Management)

Technical Advisor (Public Finance Management) - (re-advertisement)

Location :

Port Louis, MAURITIUS

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

03-Jan-2011

Application Deadline :

19-Nov-10 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-5

Duration of Initial Contract :

One year (renewal)

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. 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.

Background

Economic and financial reforms are among the most important and difficult reforms as it knocks all doors and opens all files. As the Government of Mauritius assumes a broader, more significant role in response to the crisis, it becomes ever more important that it should be efficient and effective – otherwise it would compound the severity of the problems. This crisis is the public sector’s ultimate test.

In this context, the UNDP jointly with the Government, under a Multi-Donor Agreement aims to promote under its current 2009-2011 Country Programme a broad-based economic and inclusive growth while ensuring equitable access to public services and opportunities for the poor and vulnerable groups.

The Project “Strategic Budgeting in the Government of Mauritius” (SB) started in 2007 under the UNDP Country Programme 2005-2008 and is continued under the 2009-2011 UNDP Country Programme. With a baseline as input based planning, long service delivery timelines, the related outcome of the UNDP project is to improve capacity of Government agencies in result-based policy making, planning, performance management and public service delivery.

The main objective of the project is to support the 10-Year Economic Reform Programme of the Government of Mauritius with a particular focus on Strategic Budgeting. It takes into account the implementation of a full-fledged Programme-Based Budget (PBB) embedded in a three-year Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), as of budget 2008/09, and the priority of increasing the competitiveness of the economy, attracting foreign direct investment, empowering the poor and strengthening fiscal management, as pointed out in the 2006/2007 Budget Speech.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Technical Advisor (Public Finance Management) will be called upon to provide assistance to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Empowerment (MoFEE). Under the supervision of the Director of the Budget Strategy and Management Directorate (BSMD) and the United Nations Resident Coordinator/UNDP Resident Representative, he/she will actively contribute to the implementation of the budgetary reforms especially in deepening the Programme-Based Budget (PBB) in line with the development of the Performance Management System (PMS).

Supervisor: UN RC / UNDP RR and Director of the Budget Strategy and Management Directorate (MoFEE)
Post Category: Development Project Funded (DPF) post

Summary of Key Functions:

Programme-Based Budget (PBB) further development and implementation
Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) / PBB training
Budget Technical Support

Programme-Based Budget (PBB) further development and implementation

Advise on the scope and phasing of reforms in the context of the PBB to be aligned with the Performance Management System (PMS);
Assist MoFEE in preparing a new comprehensive Public Financial Management Law;
Assist in the preparation of Budget Circular Letters in specific areas and in refining the budget allocation process;
Support Ministries / Departments in preparing, refining, and updating their Strategic Plans in line with Budget calendar through costing of services and overall quality control;
Support Sector Ministry Support Teams (SMSTs) in the analysis of a pipeline of investment projects to be selected on a priority basis for the Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP);
Guide and Support SMSTs and Ministries / Departments in refining the structure of programmes and sub-programmes;
Guide and Support SMSTs and Ministries / Departments in formulating adequately Service Delivery in line with Government priorities;
Advise SMSTs and Ministries / Departments in improving performance specification through the selection of relevant Service Standards (Quantity, quality, Timeliness, Efficiency, Equity) pertaining to service delivery;
Assist SMSTs and Ministries / Departments in determining the annual level of PBB targeting aiming at measuring the budget execution;
Assist SMSTs and Ministries / Departments in following up on recommendations listed in the annual Director of Audit report (National Audit Office); and
Provide relevant technical support for finalizing and then regularly updating the Financial Management Toolkit;
Contribute to the carrying-out of an outcome evaluation of the ‘Strategic Budgeting in the Government of Mauritius’ project within the Evaluation Plan for the Mauritius 2009-2011 UNDP Country Programme

Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) / PBB training

Assist MoFEE in reorganizing MTEF-PBB training modules in line with current needs;
Help build capacity across the sectors in the context of Programme-Based Budget (PBB) further development and implementation through training of selected Government officials on MTEF/PBB and PMS;
Provide requested technical support to various RMCE (Regional Multidisciplinary Centre of Excellence) activities organized in Mauritius; and
Give lectures on MTEF/PBB and conduct seminars and workshops on request from MoFEE and on a demand-driven basis from Ministries / Departments, Local Authorities, Rodrigues Regional Assembly and relevant Statutory Bodies.

Budget Technical Support

Assist in the technical preparation of the PBB, including and in the printing process;
Assist in putting in place effective coordination mechanisms and provide quality control on inputs from SMSTs;
Advise MoFEE on the proper alignment and provide necessary corrective actions for PBB/PMS;
Provide QA support in real time for each budget covering programmes, sub-programmes, performance specification, reporting and reviews including financial control;
Provide relevant technical support to regular IMF-FAD missions and also PEFA missions visiting Mauritius;
Provide necessary technical support to MoFEE official IT provider in developing and regularly improving under TAS a new application for processing non-financial PBB data (ORACLE Financials and ORACLE BSC or eventually ORACLE Hyperion);
Work with MOFEE staff and Programme Coordinators of Ministries / Departments as per deliverables in the PBB, including expansion of budget analysis and PBB support to Local Authorities, Rodrigues Regional Assembly (RRA), and selected statutory bodies;
Work with MOFEE staff and Programme Coordinators of Ministries / Departments as per deliverables in the PBB, including in-year and end-of-year reporting on service delivery, sector analysis and quality control on quarterly PBB monitoring reports;
Work with designated Programme Coordinators as per the deliverables on PBB and PMS joint issues; and
Upon request to undertake missions to Rodrigues Island to assist in developing and implementing the PBB.

Impact of Results:

Legislation – A comprehensive Public Finance Management Act voted in 2011 (2012 Budget preparation);
Effective extension of PBB to all Local Authorities and concerned Statutory Bodies;
A Financial Management Toolkit widely disseminated;
A PBB Strategic Plan is prepared/updated every year by each Ministry-Department, Local Authority, Commission of Rodrigues Regional Assembly, and concerned Statutory Body in line with the annual Budget Calendar;
A pipeline of good investment projects to be selected for the Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP);
An effective network of Programme Coordinators in all Ministries-Departments, Local Authorities and concerned Statutory Bodies;
A stabilized structure of Programme and Sub-Programme structure, with well-defined Services and relevant Service Standards;
An online Monitoring and Reporting system for non-financial performance fully operational through TAS extension under ORACLE Financials in all Ministries-Departments, Local Authorities and concerned Statutory Bodies;
MTEF-PBB training modules reorganized in line in line with current needs of the budget reform and MTEF-PBB capacity building activities organized on a permanent basis for Ministries / Departments, Local Authorities, Rodrigues Regional Assembly (RRA) and concerned Statutory Bodies;
An effective alignment of PBB with Performance Management System (PMS).

Competencies

Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills and good facilitation skills;
Builds and promotes effective skills;
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
Strong strategic analytical skills combined with an ability to anticipate emerging trends and issues;
Demonstrates strong problem-solving skills.
Development and operational effectiveness
Ability to guide technical implementation teams and working groups
Ability to lead strategic planning results-based management and reporting;
Ability to implement new systems and affect staff behavioral/ attitudinal change.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

At least Master's degree in Economics, Public or Business Administration, Public Policy or any other related field, or a professional accounting certification (CPA, CA).

Experience:

At least 10 years of work experience in Public Financial Management (PFM);
Adequate awareness of public sector management and accounting;
Familiar with capacity development issues within Central Government Ministries and Departments, Local Authorities and Statutory Bodies;
Good practical knowledge of Performance Budgeting and Performance Auditing issues, especially in developing countries; and
Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English. Working knowledge of French is desirable.

Mode of Application:

Interested and qualified candidates should apply on-line through UNDP jobs website: http://jobs.undp.org.
Please ensure that you upload your UNDP Personal History Form – P11 (available at http://un.intnet.mu) in the relevant field of the on-line application.
Incomplete applications or applications received after the closing date will not be given consideration.
Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
Women are highly encouraged to apply.