Individual International Consultant – PFM Specialist- Tanzania

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, future.

The UNICEF Social Policy programme works to strengthen national statistical, public financial management, and social protection systems and coverage, in addition to building national capacity around research and evaluation on children’s issues, to inform better decision-making for children.

A recent consultation with the Region Administrative Secretary (RAS) of Songwe has identified public financial management systems in Songwe as vulnerable to a wide range of challenges (e.g. low budget credibility and execution rates, limited linkages between plans and budget allocations) and the need to strengthen analytical capacity of selected staff to undertake budget analysis. These challenges have significant implications for the effective delivery of national programmes affecting children, in terms of both the availability and accessibility of essential social services.

With a view to enhance monitoring efforts towards effective implementation of government programmes and projects, is needed to establish a Budget Monitoring Unit concerned with tracking implementation of selected government initiatives was identified. This unit tracks implementation of selected government initiatives, assesses value for money, and ultimately monitors actual performance in the face of commitments as outlined in sector and LGA plans and budgets. Key means of verification include quarterly performance, as well as financial and physical performance reports. This information is released in semi-annual budget monitoring reports and policy briefs which are distributed to MOFP and other government officials, Members of Parliament, development partners and civil society organizations. Most importantly, the Unit has a direct reporting line to regional level senior management so that priority concerns can be flagged and promptly addressed. An additional responsibility nested within this unit’s operations incudes undertaking research to better understand specific bottlenecks which may lead to poor performance.

How can you make a difference?

Strengthened PFM systems rest on high quality engagement across multiple layers of government’s institutional architecture. Strong systems, in turn, result in the effective delivery of basic services affecting children and other vulnerable groups. By strengthening the technical skills of the officers within the budget monitoring and accountability unit, this effort aims to promote the use data and evidence to inform strategic policy decisions in Songwe.

Building on on-going efforts to strengthen national public financial management systems, the PFM specialist will work under the direct supervision of the Economist and the Regional Medical Officer, and in close collaboration with the Social Policy Specialist based in Dodoma. Technical engagement will require regular presence in Songwe and Dodoma.

KEY TASKS, DELIVERABLES AND TIME FRAME   

Summary of key tasks:

1. Build capacity of selected staff to undertake budget analysis and monitoring and report writing

▪ Strengthen the capacity of the budget monitoring unit to track implementation of selected government initiatives, assess value for money, and ultimately monitor actual performance in the face of commitments as outlined in sector and LGA plans and budgets. Key means of verification include quarterly performance, as well as financial and physical performance reports.

▪ Conduct local capacity building to develop and institutionalize the development of semi-annual performance assessments to enhance budget execution and the implementation of national programmes;

▪ In close collaboration of selected line ministries, lead budget analysis (e.g. budget execution reviews, quarterly reports) and research to better understand specific bottlenecks which may lead to poor performance;

▪ Facilitate regular dialogue between Songwe, MOFP and relevant MDAs and LGAs with a view to translate policy dialogue and upstream policy engagement into institutionalized mechanisms and processes to enhance service delivery at all levels

2. Support Songwe to build a consolidated database of financial data and key outcomes indicators for selected sectors

▪ Review relevant financial and outcomes data systems (PlanRep, FFARS, MUSE, IFMIS, EPICOR, DCMIS, DHIS 2/HMIS, EMIS) with the aim to promote integrated approaches to data analysis, develop an internal database, and contribute to national efforts to promote data convergence and aggregation, e.g. integrated statistical systems portal;

▪ Train selected staff to regularly update the internal database and create effective data visualizations.

3. Strengthen and develop systematic workflows and monitoring processes harnessed on flagship publications for policy advocacy and high-level engagement

▪ Establish clear processes / cycles (i.e. budget monitoring/ analysis calendar) to undertake budget analysis with a view to monitor the implementation of national programmes

▪ Lead on the development of selected publications

▪ Support the engagement with key counterparts (e.g. other MDAs, LGAs, stakeholders, etc.) at local government, regional and national level on budget implementation bottlenecks , and oversee all planning and organizational aspects of a high-level policy forum to showcase the work of the budget monitoring unit.