Summary
Date Posted: Tuesday, March 22, 2022 , Base Salary: Not Disclosed

JOB DETAILS:
Public Finance Officer (Host entity: UNICEF)
Mission and objectives
UNICEF is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children’s rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential.
Context
The Government of Uganda has made considerable progress in reducing levels of extreme poverty and improving the well-being and survival of children and other vulnerable people. This has seen the country setting its Vision 2040, which aims to transform the country from a predominantly peasant and low-income economy into a competitive, upper middle-income one. To achieve this goal, government spending has shifted away from social sectors such as education and health towards infrastructure. However, there has been a recent downturn in social indicators, even before COVID-19, that suggests that it is time to reconsider the balance between economic and social sector spending. This emphasis on infrastructure, against a reversal in certain social indicators such as a recent decline in primary education completion rates, raises questions about the balance between social and productive spending. Under the Country Programme Document (2021-2025), UNICEF Uganda, through the Social Policy Programme, seeks to provide more evidence on social spending, both at local and national level. The Social Policy Programme seeks to improve policy environment and systems for disadvantaged and excluded children, guided by improved knowledge and data. This is being pursued through critically looking at resource planning, but also allocation and utilization, and supporting Government systems to strengthen budgeting for children. Against this background, UNICEF Uganda, through the Social Policy Programme, is seeking the services of a National Volunteer to support its work on Public Finance. The Social Policy Officer will support the Public Finance programme in collecting and organising relevant national and sub national data on government investments in children as well as support the co-ordination of Social Policy interventions at sub national level. This is particularly important given that government is now implementing the Parish Development Model, which has a bearing on UNICEF programming.

Task description
Under the direct supervision of the Social Policy Manager, the National UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks
• Support the collection of central and subnational tiers of government budget data, including development of the relevant data collection and processing templates.
• Provide assistance and inputs to reviews and analysis of public finance data, at national and subnational level.
• Support coordination of capacity assessment and plan for capacity building activities for local subnational public finance stakeholders.
• Support and facilitate integration and harmonisation of public finance work with decentralisation processes and consolidate synergies with other partners at local level
• Support Social Policy in strengthening and coordinating internal UNICEF work around decentralization, community empowerment and systems strengthening at community level.
• Support Social Policy advocacy aimed at promoting better spending decisions and enhanced service delivery at subnational level that ultimately contribute to improved outcomes for children.
• Support collaboration with local authorities to strengthen capacity on quality data collection, analysis for policy development, planning, implementation, coordination, monitoring of essential social services, with emphasis on community participation and accountability. Results/Expected Outputs:
• Updated and clean budget information databases, both for national and subnational tiers of government.
• Preliminary analysis of budget data
• Subnational governments capacity building plan and a local stakeholders empowerment strategy on public finance.
• An analysis of spending patterns of subnational tiers of government on social sectors and policy implications for children conducted (subnational budget briefs for social sectors prepared
• A statement of achievements towards volunteerism for development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed

Required experience
• 3 years of experience in Understanding of public finance data and participatory approaches to programming, Sound experience in Local Development and Decentralization, Specialized technical knowledge and research experience in policy research and analysis both qualitative and quantitative research.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel software skills, including use of macros in Excel.
• Excellent writing, conceptual and analytical skills including the ability to present complex processes and issues clearly to a heterogeneous audience and in an actionable manner.
• Experience working and engaging with government officials on policy and strategic issues.
• Area(s) of expertise
• Economics and finance
• Languages
• English, Level: Working knowledge, Required

Required education level
Master degree or equivalent in Statistics, Economics, Data Science or Development Studies. Demonstrated proficiency in data processing software systems such as SAS, SPSS, STATA and CSPro (quantitative) or NVivo, Atlas.ti and Nudist (qualitative) etc.
Competencies and values
• Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to UNICEF; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to UNICEF procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgement; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented;
• Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and UNICEF in daily activities and behaviours while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the organization’s interest even if they are unpopular.
• Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural environment.
• Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment.
• Planning and organizing effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner.
• Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports.
• Flexibility: adaptability and ability to live and work in potentially hazardous and remote conditions and willingness to travel within the area of operations.
• Living conditions and remarks
• As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials.

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 36

Level of Education: Postgraduate Degree

Job application procedure
Apply online at https://app.unv.org/opportunities/1686972304157952

All Jobs

QUICK ALERT SUBSCRIPTION