Historique

Swaziland’s economy has been adversely impacted by the fiscal challenges of the past few years. With annual growth averaging about 2.0 percent over the last two decades and widespread poverty, the country’s development has lagged behind other economies in the region. Although the economic base is fairly diversified, weak regulatory and legal frameworks have dampened investment, particularly from the private sector. Swaziland’s ranking in the Doing Business Indicators has been generally lower than in other SACU countries. Thus, the need for interventions at macro and enterprise levels to promote the private sector as an engine for economic growth and development has become necessary. In light of these trends, the country has acknowledged the need for reform and has developed an Economic Recovery Strategy aimed at easing its fiscal challenges. It has also developed an Investor Road Map to encourage trade and investment. At the same time, Government has been seeking ways to improve the economic climate through policy initiatives that will increase investments through pro-poor Public Private Partnerships (PPP) in order to create jobs and lift the economic well being of its citizens. Furthermore, the country recognizes the need to improve its attractiveness of private sector investment benefits from its strategic location near South Africa, the continent’s largest economy, and favourable market access to regional blocs such as the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Common Market for Eastern and South Africa (COMESA) and Southern African Customs Union (SACU).

The UNDP CO in Swaziland is committed to deepen its strategic partnerships and support to the Government of Swaziland in its efforts to promote trade and attract foreign direct investment, and lay the foundations for sustainable growth and recovery. The CO  seeks to help the Government catalyze the rapid scaling up of Private Sector Development (PSD) initiatives including the promotion of entrepreneurship, FDI and SME linkages, and inclusive market approaches to enhance national effort towards achieving inclusive growth, poverty reduction and overall socio-economic transformation. This is to be achieved through the development of strategic partnerships, advocacy, alliances and capacity building to generate stakeholder interest.  Building strategic partnership with the private sector is of paramount importance for the promotion of inclusive growth and development in addition to diversifying sources of development fund.

Conversely, the country has been facing limited donor resource base, which stems from country middle income status and lack of donor prioritization, as well the current fiscal challenges and low domestic revenue mobilization.  In the current context, with donorship on the decline as need grows exponentially for development assistance in the country, a focus on support for strategic partnerships is fundamental to reach significant development results. This pattern reiterates the need to strengthen resource mobilization and development of innovative financing including the promotion of Public Private Partnership (PPP).

To facilitate this process, the CO seeks to engage an experienced and motivated Private Sector Development (PSD) Consultant to join the Country team, for approximately 11 months assignment to strengthen the CO Private sector and partnership development portfolios. The main function of the consultant will be to provide technical advice and expertise to UNDP CO with regard to development of break through strategies, methodologies, innovations, tools and working instruments in the fields of private sector development/finance and to share positive experiences in inclusive market approaches and other related areas. S/He will work alongside UNDP CO staff and other stakeholders to come up with a strategy in support of  the Government’s ongoing efforts to review and update its institutional and legal framework underpinning the country’s' private sector with focus on FDI and finance.rpinning the country’s' private sector with focus on FDI and finance.

Devoirs et responsabilités

Under the overall guidance of the Resident Representative and direct/joint supervision of the Deputy Resident Representative and the  Economic Advisor, the Private Sector Consultant will perform the following tasks:

• Scan the business environment, and other ongoing efforts of the CO, the Government, the organized private sector and donors with a view to promoting PPP;
• Provide advice to the CO on significant policy measures being considered or implemented by the Government in the fields of private sector development and inclusive market development and identify points of entry for UNDP’s collaboration;
• Facilitate the preparation of policy and technical briefs/notes and provide advice on methodologies, innovations, tools and working instruments in the fields of FDI and finance including private sector development and other related areas;
• Identify strategic and innovative areas for possible collaboration with interested development partners in supporting private sector development  and inclusive market development, trade and finance;
• Contribute to the building of  capacities within the CO and with relevant national counterparts in private sector development, trade and investment facilitation;
• Liaise with the African Facility for Inclusive Markets (AFIM) in support for exchange of knowledge, information and experience sharing with other countries;
• Advise on approaches for effective networking with regional private sector organizations;
• Assess the current framework of PPP policies, laws & regulations, institutions, and procedures in the country and contribute to formulation of policy, strategies and programs to accelerate private sector development and public-private partnerships (PPP);
• Participate in policy dialogue with Governments, development partners, private sector, and other stakeholders on meeting challenges to enhanced PPP.
• Reviews the country office partnerships building and resource mobilization strategy (RM), tools and procedures and advice on their implementation

Key Deliverables:

• Strategic document on private sector development and finance with an action plan and timeline.
• Technical/Policy notes on the main work areas identified above.
• Development and implementation of capacity building activities in selected institutions
• Provision of technical/advisory services to expand the funding base of the UNDP programme in the country

Compétences

Functional Competencies:

• Knowledge of private sector work focusing on finance and  value chain approaches;
• Strong analytical aptitude, communication and presentation skills
  

Core Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity and high ethical standards;
• Self starter with strong  partnership building skills;
• Solution oriented, positive, constructive attitude and consistently approaches work with energy;
• Team spirit, demonstrates openness to change and ability to receive and integrate feedback;
• Good networking skills to engage with both internal and external partners;
• Full command of written and spoken English

Qualifications et expériences requises

• Masters degree in related fields (business/finance, economics, etc)

• A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in private sector development and finance
• Familiarity with and/or  experience of African regional organizations is an asset
• Understanding of inclusive business models, inclusive market development, and business sustainability issues to engage private sector companies in job creation and income generation projects

Language:

• English