Background

The 2030 Agenda: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2030 Agenda), adopted by world leaders in September 2015 at an historic UN Summit, presents an ambitious, complex and interconnected vision for sustained and inclusive economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental protection, fostering peaceful, just, and inclusive societies. Realizing this vision will require mobilizing and effectively utilizing a diverse range of public and private resources. The Addis Ababa Action Agenda, which outlines a framework for financing the 2030 Agenda, calls for integrated approaches to finance that are driven at the national level. 

The Armenia Transformation Strategy 2050 (ATS 2050): The ATS 2050 is the nation-wide strategic development agenda for Armenia aimed to become a single point of reference for any government as well as civil society and business strategic initiatives for the upcoming three decades. The ATS 2050 is designed to be continuously updated due to new strategic issues arising and strategic solutions introduced through an inclusive and participatory process which is enabled by open innovation approach, as well as respective digital infrastructure and strategic communications. This calls for a systemic change for mobilization and re-alignment of public and private financial resources (domestic and international) towards sectoral and cross-sectoral initiatives, which can bring sustainable economic, social and environmental results.

SDGs: Budgeting for SDGs reform paths and solutions vary in their nature and can be applied in isolation or need an orchestrated effort throughout the whole Agenda-2030 timeframe. The modelling of Budgeting for SDGs (B4SDG) choice can vary from a base model aimed at enabling governments in understanding better the alignment of its budget resources with SDGs to a ’best practice model’, where country systems produce SDG related information, including the priorities, targets, progress in achievement of the goals and, most importantly, a wide range of stakeholders, including the governmental authorities, donors, IFIs and others.

Project overview: The Joint UNDP/UNICEF Project has been designed to strengthen the planning and budgeting processes in the context of MTEF strategic planning and in line with INFF implementation. Specifically, the work will build on SDG budgeting to strengthen the capacities of the National Assembly as well as the Government’s transparency and accountability, thus strengthening efficiency and effectiveness in Public Financial Management for the SDGs. The focus will be kept on those SDGs focusing on poverty reduction, education, social protection, gender equality and others, in close alignment with ongoing strategic planning exercises in social sectors, contributing to accelerated progress of Armenia towards the SDGs and further shaping of an Integrated National Financing Framework.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance of the UNDP Innovation and SDG Finance portfolio Lead, the National Expert on SDGs (“SDG Expert”) will work closely with PFM expert and National expert on development policies towards aligning the ATS Megagoals with SDGs/SDGs targets and integrating the SDGs into medium-term and/or annual budget policies.

• Analyze the ATS to identify key priority directions for the alignment, as well as prepare relevant analytical materials for ATS working meeting with the MoF
• Implement alignments between the ATS Megagoals and SDGs/SDGs targets in close cooperation with the GoA, MoF and other governmental authorities.
• Assist line Ministries and governmental authorities in the alignment of SDGs/SDGs targets with annual budget programs based on the SDG budgeting methodology.
• Implement alignments between SDGs/SDGs targets with 2023 budget programs based on SDG budgeting methodology.
• Design matrix (or another appropriate tool) on SDG Taxonomy for State Budget-SDG Alignment and Tagging
• Assist line Ministries and other governmental authorities in integrating SDGs (policies and targets) into the Mid-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and/or annual budgeting processes and documents in a systemic way.
• Conducting 3 capacity building workshops for Ministries, other governmental authorities and National Assembly’s thematic committees as well as producing a report with results and achived deliverables description after capacity building programs
• Provide overall methodology support to the Project team and line ministries, and assist in relevant capacity enhancement in effective SDG-related policy negotiations and integration of SDG targets/indicators in budget KPI framework.

The SDG expert will be responsible for the following key deliverables:

Payment terms:

Payment will be made in the following installments upon completion of the tasks under each output and approval of deliverables by the UNDP country office and PFM Expert:  

• Output 1 – 40% of total amount
• Output 2 and Output 3 – 35% of total amount
• Output 4 – 25% of total amount

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling 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 favoritism

Functional Competencies:

• Excellent intercultural, moderation, facilitation and negotiation skills;
• Builds strong relationships with stakeholders, focuses on impact and result and responds positively to feedback;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
• Ability to lead effectively, mentoring as well as conflict resolution skills
• Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills
• Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure
• Proven networking, teambuilding, organizational and communication skills

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced academic degree in public finance, economics, or equivalent discipline.

Experience:

• At least of 10 years of working experience in the development projects at country level,
• Working experience on alignment of SDG-s with policies, integrating SDGs in budgeting processes,
• Proven experience in policy analysis and public financial management, and advisory role to senior government stakeholders
• Proven experience in SDGs, their targets and budget programs alignments
• Research experience in the areas of SDG-s, public finance, policy alignments are required.
• Solid knowledge of UN Sustainable Development Goals, public finance, Innovative Financing for Development
• Demonstrated ability to engage in strategic analysis, and in-depth sectoral analysis.
• Excellent writing skills required, as demonstrated by previous high-quality research/analytical reports on relevant topics.
• Ability to lead consultations with senior government officials from ministries of finance, line ministries and relevant government institutions required.

Language:

• Fluency in Armenian and English languages

CANDIDATES WILL BE EVALUATED BASED ON THE FOLLOWING METHODOLOGY:

Candidates will be evaluated using a cumulative analysis method taking into consideration the combination of the applicants' technical qualifications, experience and financial proposal.The contract will be awarded to the candidate whose offer has been evaluated and determined as technically responsive/compliant/acceptable to the requirements of the ToR and received the highest cumulative (technical and financial) score out of below defined technical and financial criteria.

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points in the technical evaluation would be considered for financial evaluation.

Technical Criteria - 70% of total evaluation - max. 70 points

Financial Criteria - 30% of total evaluation - max. 30 points.

DOCUMENTS TO BE INCLUDED WHEN SUBMITTING THE APPLICATION.

• Financial Proposal and Availability form: OFFEROR’S LETTER TO UNDP (A total lump sum  option is applicable for this assignment)
• CV shall include Education/Qualification, Processional Certification, Employment Records /Experience

General Conditions of Contract is available here: GENERAL CONDITIONS OF CONTRACT

Note: Please note you can upload only one document to this application (scan all documents that should be included in the application in one single PDF file and upload it).