Realization of Sustainable Development Goals remains a challenge for Sri Lanka despite having made significant strides in reducing poverty and promoting social development over the last decades. Currently, Sri Lanka faces a period of adjustment as it addresses a challenging socio-economic context exacerbated due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The policy framework of the Government, the Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour aligns with the spirit of the 2030 Agenda and commits to a programme of actions to achieve the SDGs through a focus on a productive citizenry, happy family, disciplined society and prosperous nation.

‘Better budgeting’ in the context of 2030 Agenda means explicit and measurable presentation of SDG targets in budget allocations and reports (and in other elements of the budget cycle) and use of those in budget decision-making. When SDGs become part of the country’s national policy framework, it is crucial that the process is then followed by SDG integration into the countries’ budgetary frameworks. This is essential to ensure that the policy prioritizations are expressed in budgets as the latter is the strongest domestic legal basis that re?ects countries’ commitments to 2030 Agenda and its related SDGs. If not integrated into the budgets, then it is very likely to expect disconnects between the strategic planning frameworks that have made commitments to the 2030 Agenda on the one hand, and public budgets that remain driven by “business as usual” on the other.

With over five decades of experience in Sri Lanka and with a global footprint spanning over 150 countries, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) along with National Budget Department and the Sustainable Development Council along with other members of the Technical Working Committee on SDG Budget Tagging, has undertaken the task of integrating the SDGs into the National Budget process. This would enable allocation of public resources with targeted application and minimal wastage, especially given the current constrains in the fiscal space. In turn, such a comprehensive yet simple measure could lend support to Government decision-makers via a whole-of-society approach to problem-solving, combining energies of different departments, and ministries where required.

Scope of Work

This proposed policy-based and standardized codification system would identify, tag, and monitor SDG initiatives across government agencies through the National Budget, thereby strengthening the country's SDG planning, implementation, and financing capabilities. The objectives of SDG Budget Coding and Tagging system are to:

a.           Stand as an effective basis for allocation and prioritization of public resources on SDG programs through:

1. Prompt timely analytics on resource allocation and generate baseline to evaluate the impact of public expenditures on meeting the SDGs.
2. Developing guidelines on how SDG issues could be addressed in project planning and investment programming, requiring a description of SDG-related objectives and expected outcomes, and its rationale in budget proposals.
3. Increasing budget allocation and transparency of fund planning.
4. Laying the foundation of development of an SDG budgeting and planning system.
5. Aligning SDG-related programme, activities and projects with the government framework for identifying, aggregating, and reporting financial transactions in the budget preparation, execution, accounting, and auditing processes; and
6. Identifying the least and most underfunded SDGs and targets in the budgeting processes and making recommendations that support the government to develop interventions to address financing gaps.

b.           Promoting coherence by fostering links between the government budget and SDG related policies by:

1. Establishing clear institutional responsibilities for SDG monitoring and reporting.
2. Determining effectiveness of these institutional mechanisms in translating policy goals into development outcomes; and

c.           Identifying and make recommendations on financing opportunities to accelerate SDG implementation.

Against this backdrop, the UNDP is looking to commission an independent consultant to support the Sri Lankan government in designing and implementing an SDG budget coding and tagging system. The assignment should be carried out in close consultation with Government partners i.e. Sustainable Development Council, National Budget Department, National Planning Department, relevant sector Ministries and UNDP’s technical advisers as well as other relevant national stakeholders including development partners, donors, civil society and sample selection of beneficiaries.

Scope of Work

This proposed policy-based and standardized codification system would identify, tag, and monitor SDG initiatives across government agencies through the National Budget, thereby strengthening the country's SDG planning, implementation, and financing capabilities. The objectives of SDG Budget Coding and Tagging system are to:

a.           Stand as an effective basis for allocation and prioritization of public resources on SDG programs through:

1. Prompt timely analytics on resource allocation and generate baseline to evaluate the impact of public expenditures on meeting the SDGs.
2. Developing guidelines on how SDG issues could be addressed in project planning and investment programming, requiring a description of SDG-related objectives and expected outcomes, and its rationale in budget proposals.
3. Increasing budget allocation and transparency of fund planning.
4. Laying the foundation of development of an SDG budgeting and planning system.
5. Aligning SDG-related programme, activities and projects with the government framework for identifying, aggregating, and reporting financial transactions in the budget preparation, execution, accounting, and auditing processes; and
6. Identifying the least and most underfunded SDGs and targets in the budgeting processes and making recommendations that support the government to develop interventions to address financing gaps.

b.           Promoting coherence by fostering links between the government budget and SDG related policies by:

1. Establishing clear institutional responsibilities for SDG monitoring and reporting.
2. Determining effectiveness of these institutional mechanisms in translating policy goals into development outcomes; and

c.           Identifying and make recommendations on financing opportunities to accelerate SDG implementation.

Against this backdrop, the UNDP is looking to commission an independent consultant to support the Sri Lankan government in designing and implementing an SDG budget coding and tagging system. The assignment should be carried out in close consultation with Government partners i.e. Sustainable Development Council, National Budget Department, National Planning Department, relevant sector Ministries and UNDP’s technical advisers as well as other relevant national stakeholders including development partners, donors, civil society and sample selection of beneficiaries.

Expected Outputs and Deliverables

The objective of this assignment is to establish the framework for the SDG Budget Coding and Tagging Systems and Processes. The Consultant will provide overall technical guidance and methodological support for the design, and implementation of the system, which includes the following phased deliverables:

• Output 1: SDG codification framework/methodological design:
  • Review the current budget classification and reporting system (for operational and investment budgets) and the government Financial Management information system.
  • Review the exercise of SDG budget coding and tagging initiated by the National Budget Department.
  • In collaboration with different stakeholders, the consultant will support the design of framework/methodology for SDG budget coding and tagging. This activity will require review of similar practices in other countries and recommending the most suitable methodology for Sri Lanka keeping in view the systems, capacity, and issues of sustainability.
• Output 2: Based on the framework/methodology, the consultant will undertake the coding and tagging exercise using budget and expenditure data at the most disaggregated level available, to be provided by National Budget Department. Once the coding and tagging exercise is undertaken, the consultant will undertake validation exercise with the technical working committee and other relevant stakeholders.
• Output 3: Preparation of SDG Budget Coding and Tagging guidelines.
• Output 4: Capacity Building sessions conducted for the use of the SDG Budget Coding and Tagging.
• Output 5: Preparation of a roadmap for: 1) sustaining the exercise in the government’s planning and budgeting system, 2) incorporating the exercise in the government’s computerized budgeting and accounting system and Chart of Accounts, 3) preparation of a dashboard to be hosted on the government’s website, 4) using the data for improved analysis, and influencing budgetary allocations.

All the outputs will require approval of the Technical Working Committee and other relevant stakeholders. Required approvals will be facilitated by the SD Council and UNDP.

Expected Deliverables:

Note: Some deliverables mentioned above will need to be conducted in parallel

Institutional Arrangement

The consultant will work under the supervision and the overall guidance of the UNDP Country Office, working very closely with the SDG Integration Specialist and the Public finance management and budgeting for SDGs expert from the UNDP’s Sustainable Finance Hub. The consultant will undertake the exercise in close collaboration with the government’s technical working committee on SDG budgeting, and other stakeholders.

Duration of the Work

The assignment will be delivered between July 2022 & February 2023

• Capacity to engage with senior decision/policymakers, and to synthesize and present complex arguments in easily understood terms.
• Ability to work collaboratively with team members by sharing information openly and displaying cultural awareness and sensitivity.
• Superior written/ oral communication skills, with the ability to convey complex development concepts and recommendations.
• Ability to use detailed and complex budget and expenditure data and mapping exercise using any of the most commonly used computer software (e.g., MS Excel).
• Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity.
• Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment.
• Informed and transparent decision making.
• Positive and results-oriented attitude, able to meet targets/deadline.

Educational Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in the field of Public Finance, Economics, or other relevant fields

Experience

• Minimum of ten (10) years of experience in the field of public financial management, government’s planning, budgeting and accounting systems
• Practical experience and knowledge on Sri Lanka’s national budgeting system, including budget formulation and classifications/tagging systems, chart of accounts, government financial management information system etc.
• Familiarity with the SDGs and the 2030 Agenda and familiarity on the Integrated National Financing Frameworks (INFFs) is an added advantage
• Experience of conducting a similar exercise either in Sri Lanka or any other country.

Language requirements

• Fluency in English and Sinhala language is required;

Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments

Consultant must send a financial proposal based on Lump Sum Amount. The total amount quoted shall be all-inclusive and include all costs components required to perform the deliverables identified in the TOR, including professional fee, travel costs, living allowance (if any work is to be done outside the IC´s duty station) and any other applicable cost to be incurred by the IC in completing the assignment. The contract price will be fixed output-based price regardless of extension of the herein specified duration. Payments will be done upon completion of the deliverables/outputs and as per below percentages:

In the event of unforeseeable travel not anticipated in this TOR, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and the Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed.

Payments will be based on the submission on written reports specifying tasks accomplished and corresponding number of working days put in towards achieving the deliverables outlined above.

Evaluation Method and Criteria

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology

Cumulative analysis

The award of the contract shall be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as a) responsive/compliant/acceptable; and b) having received the highest score out of set of weighted technical criteria (70%). and financial criteria (30%). Financial score shall be computed as a ratio of the proposal being evaluated and the lowest priced proposal received by UNDP for the assignment.

Technical Criteria for Evaluation (Maximum 700 points)

• Criteria 1: Education- Max 150 points
• Master’s degree in the field of Public Finance, Economics, or other relevant fields

• Criteria 2: Professional Experience- Max 550 Points
  • Minimum of ten (10) years of experience in the field of public financial management, government’s planning, budgeting and accounting systems (100 Points)
  • Practical experience and knowledge on Sri Lanka’s national budgeting system, including budget formulation and classifications/tagging systems, chart of accounts, government financial management information system etc. (200 points)
  • Familiarity with the SDGs and the 2030 Agenda and familiarity on the Integrated National Financing Frameworks (INFFs) is an added advantage (100 points)
  • Experience of conducting a similar exercise either in Sri Lanka or any other country. (50 points)
  • Language Skills (50 points)

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 490 points (70% of the total technical points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Shortlisted candidates may be called for an interview which will be used to confirm and/or adjust the technical scores awarded based on documentation submitted.

Documentation required

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications. Please group them into one (1) single PDF document as the application only allows to upload maximum one document:

• Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided in Annex II.
• Personal CV, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references.
• Technical proposal, including a) a brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment; and b) a methodology, on how they will approach and complete the assignment.
• Financial proposal, as per template provided in Annex II. Note: National consultants must quote prices in Sri Lankan Rupees.

How to apply

By accessing UNDP Jobs site: http://jobs.undp.org  

Incomplete proposals may not be considered.

FINANCIAL PROPOSAL  

All Inclusive Lump Sum Fee: LKR (_______________________________________)

Amount in words: (Rs._________________________________________________________)

Annexes

• Annex I - Individual IC General Terms and Conditions
• Annex II – Offeror’s Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability for the Individual IC, including Financial Proposal Template

Note: Payments will be based on invoices on achievement of agreed milestones i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR and certification of acceptance by the UNDP. The applicant must factor in all possible costs in his/her “All Inclusive Lump Sum Fee” including his/her consultancy and professional fee, travel (economy class flights is required to and from the Duty Station) honorarium, board and lodging, and any other foreseeable costs in this exercise. No costs other than what has been indicated in the financial proposal will be paid or reimbursed to the consultant. UNDP will only pay for any unplanned travel outside of this TOR and Duty Station on actual basis and on submission of original bills/invoices and on prior agreement with UNDP officials. Daily perdiums and costs for accommodation/meals/incidental expenses for such travel shall not exceed established local UNDP DSA rates.

For an Individual Contractor who is 65 years of age or older, and on an assignment requiring travel, be it for the purpose of arriving at the duty station or as an integral duty required travel under the TOR, a full medical examination and statement of fitness to work must be provided.  Such medical examination costs must be factored in to the financial proposal above. Medical examination is not a requirement for individuals on RLA contracts. 

For any clarification regarding this assignment please write to afraa.mohamed@undp.org

UNDP is committed to achieving diversity within its workplace, and encourages all qualified applicants, irrespective of gender, nationality, disabilities, sexual orientation, culture, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.