UNDP Jobs - 94797- Technical Expert to Develop Funding and Financing

Technical Expert to Develop Funding and Financing Framework - Eswatini UNSDCF 2021-2025

Location :

Mbabane, SWAZILAND

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

04-Nov-2020

Application Deadline :

27-Oct-20 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

12 Days

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

12 Days

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

As part of the unfolding global reform of the UN Development System, the UN has released new guidelines to support the development of the next generation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF). The process of developing the new UNSDCF between the Government of Eswatini and the UN in Eswatini began April 2019. In preparation for the UNSDCF, the UN commissioned a Common Country Assessment (CCA) and held an internal pre-Strategic Prioritization Retreat to agree on the broad contours of the UNSDCF, aligned with Eswatini 2019 – 2021 National Development Plan (NDP) and 2019 – 2023 Strategic Road Map (SRM). The recent joint National Steering Committee meeting adopted the strategic priority areas and outcomes for the UNSDCF in Eswatini for the next cycle of 2021-2025.

The Government’s National Development Plan implementation plan and accompanying Strategic Road Map have guided the UNSDCF priorities and action for the period 2021 – 2025. The development of the new UNSDCF between the UN and the Government offers the UN the opportunity to frame its work in the country firmly on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For Eswatini, at the funding and financing level, grants predominate despite the country’s middle-income status, which precludes it from accessing some grant financing instruments. In total, 62.9 per cent (US$122.9 million) of the country’s assistance in 2017/18 was in the form of grant aid, as the majority of Eswatini’s partners preferred this method of support. While loans represent a smaller proportion of overall external assistance, there has been an upward trend, with the Government securing new loans to finance development projects. Given the economic contraction expected in 2020 and 2021, as well as the socioeconomic impact of COVID-19 in Eswatini, now more than ever there is a need to expand the sources of funding for the SDGs, as well as the actors acting on SDGs. (More detailed information on Eswatini financial landscape can be found in Eswatini 2020 Common Country Analysis). The UNSDCF is the core instrument for articulating, planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating the United Nation’s role in achieving collectively owned development results under 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. As the most important UN planning and implementation instrument at the country level, it governs all programming efforts of the United Nations Country Team (UNCT).

The UNSDCF was prepared and finalized in full consultation with national partners including: Government, civil society, academia, key populations, private sector and other development partners. It seeks to fully integrate the perspectives of these sectors into a coherent articulation of what could constitute the UN contribution to national development based on its comparative advantages as a system. The UNSDCF is fundamentally built on the logic that the UN is present in a country to support national development efforts that have been articulated by the people of the country, in the form of a national development plan or similar instrument. Therefore, the UNSDCF is aligned with the country’s national development priorities as articulated in national programmes and policies and focusses on substantively contributing to areas critical to the realization of national SDG targets in the country.

“Leave No One behind” is the core unifying principle underlying the partnerships that the UN enables. It is underpinned by three other principles: 1) human rights, gender equality and women empowerment; 2) sustainability and resilience; and 3) accountability. In line with the commitments in the global Funding Compact, the UN Development System in Eswatini shall develop a Funding and Financing Framework that is based on an assessment of the resources required to deliver the Cooperation Framework. It presents overall funding needs to achieve prioritized outcomes, identifies available resources and makes visible the remaining funding gaps. It outlines the strategy for securing needed resources, including through analysis of various types that can be mobilized (e.g. core funding; global/vertical and country-level pooled UN development system; agency-specific thematic UN development system; and other non-core resources).

Duties and Responsibilities

Purpose

In this context, UNCT Eswatini seeks the services of a Consultant to draft the UNSDCF Funding and Financing Framework in line with UNSDCF 2021-2025.

Scope of work

Under the overall supervision of the Resident Coordinator, coordination through the Team Leader/Strategic Planning Officer in the Resident Coordinator’s Office and in close collaboration with the UNCT, UNSDCF Technical teams and the Partnerships and Development Finance Adviser in the Resident Coordinator’s Office, the Consultant will draft the UN funding framework for UNSDCF 2021-2025 and assist in the development of the SDGs financing strategy in Eswatini. This assignment would entail supporting the following tasks:

Facilitate with the CF Results-Groups and finalize CF costing exercise
Write up of the funding framework for UNSDCF 2021-2025 for consideration by the RC, UNCT and UNSDCF Technical Teams.

Deliverables

The Funding Framework for UNSDCF is the basis for periodic funding dialogues with the Government and donors that recognize the need to better align funding support to the UN development system with the needs of the Cooperation Framework. The Funding Framework is translated and operationalized annually as part of UN joint workplans. Funding follows the needs-based logic underpinning the Cooperation Framework.

The Funding Framework will:

Outline how to maximize impact through smart investment of existing resources, greater access to additional resources and better leveraging of larger financial flows.
Build on existing data on financial flows as provided by the international financial institutions, and the National Financing Framework, to the extent possible.
Articulate necessary partnerships among UN entities and between them and external stakeholders, such as the international financial institutions and the private sector.
Identify.

The approximate amount of financing needed to achieve (each) SDG in the country.
Domestic, international, public and private financing flows, and relevant stakeholders.
Instruments and modalities through which the UN development system’s resources can be paired with other financial flows.

Identify specific financing opportunities that reduce inequalities and exclusion, such as those that target finance to the poorest areas of a country.

The Funding Framework, based on an assessment of the resources required to deliver the Cooperation Framework, must:

present overall funding needs to achieve prioritised outcomes,
identify available resources,
outline the strategy for securing needed resources,
analyse various types of resources that can be mobilized (e.g. core funding; global/vertical and country-level pooled UN development system; agency-specific thematic UN development system; and other non-core resources),
highlight the funding gaps.

The key deliverables for the funding framework would be:

A costed UNSDCF (at the output level)
Strategy for identifying available resources, sources of funds, funding gaps, developing resource mobilization strategies, and building the necessary partnerships for effective implementation of the UNSDCF over the five-year period.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards
Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of the UN
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability

Functional Competencies:

Communication Skills

Excellent writing and analytical skills in English
Ability to communicate and present ideas clearly

Knowledge Management and Learning

Ability to provide a high-quality funding framework and finance strategy
Excellent research and data management skills
Experience and knowledge in Finance and economic modelling

Development and Operational Effectiveness

Experience in strategic planning, results-based management, and reporting
Ability to apply finance and economic theory to the specific country context

Management and Leadership

Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
Ability to converge or persuade differing groups towards a common goal.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

A Postgraduate degree in Finance, Economics, Statistics and/or Interdisciplinary Development Studies.

Experience:

At least 7 years of work experience, with increasing independence, in an international organization.
Experience in the areas of public finance, budget review, public expenditure review, development finance, private investment and/or innovative financial instruments.
Demonstrated understanding of substantive policy issues in the field of development finance, public finance, or economic and development cooperation.
Specialised knowledge of development issues particularly economic and development co-operation issues, development finance challenges, and related fields.
Experience in conducting reviews and analysis in related areas and having produced high quality review reports, and excellent knowledge of data collection, analysis and statistics tools.
Deep knowledge of the macroeconomic situation and policies of Eswatini.

Computer Skills:

EViews, SPSS, STATA software as appropriate for this assignment
Very good use of Microsoft applications – word, excel.

Language Requirements:

Proficiency in written and spoken English.

Additional Requirements:

Candidates are requested to submit a financial proposal for this assignment
Candidates to upload a completed P11 Form using link:use https://un.org.sz/p11/P11.docx