Background

NOTE: Signed Offeror’s Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and availability - https://www.ba.undp.org/content/dam/bosnia_and_herzegovina/docs/Operations/Jobs/Offerors%20Letter%20to%20UNDP%20Confirming%20Interest%20and%20Availability.docx - Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability.docx - to be sent to e-mail ba.shared.hr@undp.org with Subject: Job ID 105850.

Bosnia and Herzegovina (BIH) has committed to implement Agenda 2030, which has been domesticated through the Framework for Sustainable Development Goals (SDG Framework) adopted by the BIH Council of Ministers as well as by the governments of Brcko District BIH (BD BIH), Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBIH) and Republika Srpska (RS).

With its ambition of being transformational, Agenda 2030 and the SDG Framework will present significant challenges for governments at all levels in BIH. This concerns the traditional government-centred approach to development and financial planning that will require urgent transformative changes and actions to strengthen SDG financing through more optimised public government funding, more active involvement of private sector and other interested parties in sustainable development investments, including through broadening the traditional financing landscape by introducing new and innovative financing instruments successfully applied throughout the world.

As this will demand significant shifts in the way existing resources are planned, prioritized and used as well as increases in capacities for SDG-based financing, with support of the Joint SDG Fund, the UN agencies in BIH support governments in BIH (state, entity and Brcko District BIH) in creating the architecture for systemic SDG financing. These efforts are complemented by the Government of Slovakia which, through its Ministry of Finance, supports the conducting of gender-responsive public expenditure review to assess current and planned allocations for SDG implementation from government sources at different levels in BIH. These will serve as inputs into the wider Development Finance Assessment that is being conducted and that will represent key foundation for the design of an SDG Financing Framework in BIH. The SDG Financing Framework will ultimately provide long term strategic directions to national partners and other stakeholders for integrated sustainable development financing (i.e. integrating funds from different sources such as the public and public sector, donor community and other stakeholders).

Under these ToR, 7 national experts will be engaged to undertake a rapid SDG-related gender responsive public expenditure reviews (hereinafter: “SDG-PER”) to assess current and planned allocations for SDG implementation from government sources in BD BiH, the FBIH and RS entities as well as the 10 cantons in the  FBIH. The experts will be responsible for conducting an SDG-related PER based on the methodological approach and the tool for data collection, analyses and reporting  that was used for (pilot) SDG PER at the BIH state level. The Expert will be assigned for conducting an  SDG PER assessment for one of BiH government level (e.g., FBiH or RS or 1-3 Cantons or BD BIH). 

Duties and Responsibilities

Under these ToR, the Expert is expected to conduct an SDG PER for assigned one of BiH government levels (e.g., FBiH or RS or 1-3 Cantons or Brcko District) based on the existing (already piloted) approach at BiH state level.

More specifically, the Expert will be expected to perform the following tasks:

Task 1 – Review the existing methodological approach and prepare a work plan for conducting SDG PER for the assigned government level

Prior to initiating this task, the Expert will undertake several preparatory steps.

Firstly, the Expert will familiarise him/herself with the SDG Framework in BIH and the concept of the SDG streamlining through the development planning and management system in BIH (state, entities, BD BIH, cantons and local governments)[1].  

Secondly, the Expert will familiarize himself/herself with the existing (already piloted) methodological approach and tools for SDG PERs applicable for all government levels in BiH. Particular attention will be paid to SDG PER approach that  is  engendered to allow the SDG related expenditure screening from gender perspective, provided that data is available. Furthermore, the National Expert will familiarize himself/herself with the SDG PER tool designed in a MS Excel to allow for similar assessment approach at all government levels.

Methodological approach key parameters.

The SDG PER approach and tool is based primarily on a rapid review of governments’ budgets and public investments, taking in consideration government’s development strategies’ mid-term and annual implementation action plans, as well as institutional work plans[2] (and their realisation reports) with aim to analyse how much finance was allocated for SDG related priorities in the 2018-2020 years at target specific government level in BIH. Findings will be collected in the SDG PER tool that allows for specific analyses to identify governments’ expenditure trends and structure in the period 2018-2020, which are linked to the development pathways, accelerators and drivers envisaged in the SDG Framework in BiH. The assessment data will be collected through publicly available sources (governments’ institutional web pages and direct contacts with the respective ministry of finance / other ministries. The PER SDG  will be focusing on public expenditures for projects and activities that contribute to achievements of SDG development pathways, accelerators and drivers, which are financed from governments budget’s current and capital grants and capital expenditures, and as those that are realised through PiP from the government external financial resources.  Hereby, the SDG PER output for the targeted government level will contribute to further identifying the average level of financing (a) for all government levels in BiH (BiH, FBiH, 10 Cantons, RS and Brcko District) and (b) the total average financing for the BiH as whole.

Based on preparatory activities, the National Expert will prepare the work plan, which will be submitted to UNDP for validation.

Task 1 is expected to be completed by the end of-April 2022 with an estimated level of effort of 2 days.

Task 2 – Conduct a (pilot) SDG PER data collection and analyses and prepare the report for the assigned BIH government level

Based on the approach and tool prepared within the Task 1, the Expert will conduct the SDG PER for the assigned BiH government level. Following this, the Expert will prepare the SDG PER report for the assigned government level which will be shared with the designated government focal points / members of the SDG Financing Working Group for feedback and validation.

The finalised report (including the SDG PER tool with data collected and analysed) will be submitted to UNDP for validation.

Task 2 is expected to be completed by end of May 2022 with estimated level of effort of 18 days.

The Expert will be responsible for his/her travel arrangements.

In case of imposed strict travel limitations due to COVID-19, the envisaged activities in all tasks that require in person meetings or travel will be organised through electronic means of communications.

The entire service will be delivered in BHS language.

Deliverables/outputs

[1] The SDG framework and development planning system framework snapshot will be provided by the JP team

[2] This may include disbursement programmes by individual government institutions

Competencies

Corporate competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
• Treats all people fairly without favouritism;
• Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment

Functional competencies:

• Strong interpersonal skills, communication and diplomatic skills, ability to work in a team
• Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback
• Ability to work under pressure and stressful situations
• Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities
• Excellent public speaking and presentation skills

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications/Education:

• University degree in in economics, public finance, or other relevant area.
• Advanced University degree will be considered as an asset;

Experience:

• At least 5 years of experience in the field of macro economy and finance, sustainable development or budgeting and planning. Previous experience with a development partner or government is a very strong advantage.
• Previous research experience and/or technical support to government in Bosnia and Hercegovina in the area of sustainable development policies, including SDGs/Agenda 2030 is required, including good knowledge of data collection and analysis that is essential.
• Previous experience in technical support to government in the area of sustainable development operational planning, budgeting and financing in Bosnia and Hercegovina.

Languages Requirements:

• Fluency in official languages in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Longlisting/Shortlisting Criteria

Qualifications as stated in the ToR

Technical Evaluation Criteria

Evaluation

Individual  will be evaluated based on the following methodology:

Cumulative analysis

When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract should be made to the candidate whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:
a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, and
b) Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

• * Technical Criteria weight-70%
• * Financial Criteria weight- 30%

Interested candidated must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

• Personal CV including experience and at least 3 references.

Please scan all above mentioned documents and upload as one attachment only online through this website.

Note:

• All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. 
• For an assignment requiring travel, consultants of 65 years or more require full medical examination and statement of fitness to work to engage in the consultancy.
• Due to large number of potential applicants, only competitively selected candidates will be contacted for remaining steps of the service procurement process.