International Consultant to Support the Analysis and Development of the Guidelines

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) was established to support African member States in their efforts to strengthen national planning systems and improve public financial management. The ECA plays a crucial role in facilitating the implementation of Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. With a mission to promote economic and social development in Africa, the ECA operates across multiple countries on the continent, engaging with various stakeholders to enhance policy frameworks and governance structures. The organization is committed to fostering sustainable development through evidence-based research and collaborative initiatives.

Job Overview:
The consultancy aims to develop practical, evidence-based continental guidelines that enhance the integration of national planning, budgeting, and financing systems across African countries. The consultant will work closely with the ECA to create a comprehensive analytical framework that links planning, budgeting, and financing. This role involves conducting comparative analyses of planning and budgeting systems in selected African countries, designing a country diagnostic methodology, and developing operational guidance on planning-budget integration. The consultant will also support the validation of these guidelines through consultations with member states and regional stakeholders, ensuring that the final outputs are relevant and actionable for national contexts.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The International Consultant will undertake several key tasks under the supervision of designated officials from the Sustainable Development and Integrated Planning Section. The duties include:

• Inception Phase: Reviewing existing literature on planning, budgeting, and public financial management in Africa, and developing an inception report that outlines methodology, workplan, diagnostic framework, country selection criteria, and consultation strategy.
• Country Diagnostic and Typology Development: Creating standardized diagnostic tools to assess planning-budget integration across selected African countries, focusing on various aspects such as national development planning systems, programme-based budgeting structures, and domestic financing arrangements.
• Comparative Analysis: Conducting a comparative analysis of selected countries to identify common institutional patterns, assess financing approaches, and document lessons learned.
• Development of Continental Guidelines: Preparing comprehensive operational guidelines that cover alignment between national development plans and budget systems, programme-budget mapping, and institutional coordination mechanisms.
• Stakeholder Consultations and Validation: Supporting ECA in organizing technical consultations and validation workshops, preparing consultation materials, and incorporating stakeholder feedback into the final guidelines. The consultant is expected to produce deliverables such as an inception report, country diagnostic methodology, and validation workshop materials throughout the consultancy period.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree in economics, statistics, sociology, development studies, or related fields. A first-level university degree combined with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. Additionally, at least 15 years of progressively responsible experience in development planning, public financial management, macroeconomic policy, or public sector reforms is required. Extensive experience in Programme-Based Budgeting (PBB), Medium-Term Expenditure Frameworks (MTEFs), and public investment management is desirable. Candidates should also have demonstrated experience in supporting governments in Africa on planning and budgeting reforms, conducting institutional diagnostics, and drafting high-level policy guidelines and analytical reports.

Educational Background:
The position requires an advanced university degree in relevant fields such as economics, statistics, sociology, or development studies. A first-level university degree may be accepted if accompanied by substantial qualifying experience. This educational background is essential to ensure that the consultant has the necessary theoretical and practical knowledge to effectively contribute to the objectives of the consultancy.

Experience:
The consultant should have at least 15 years of progressively responsible experience in areas related to development planning, public financial management, and macroeconomic policy. This extensive experience is crucial for understanding the complexities of public sector reforms and for providing high-quality analytical outputs. Experience in Programme-Based Budgeting (PBB) and Medium-Term Expenditure Frameworks (MTEFs) is particularly important, as is a proven track record of working with governments in Africa on planning and budgeting reforms.

Languages:
Proficiency in English or French is required for this position, as these are the working languages of the United Nations. The consultant must demonstrate strong written and oral communication skills in at least one of these languages to effectively engage with stakeholders and produce high-quality reports and guidelines.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is expected to last for a duration of 9 months, with a competitive fee offered based on the consultant's qualifications and experience. Remuneration will be deliverable-based, with payments disbursed upon the satisfactory completion of agreed milestones. The consultant's performance will be assessed based on the timely submission of deliverables, the quality of analysis, and responsiveness to feedback. The work location is primarily remote, although travel may be required depending on project needs and prior authorization. It is important to note that the United Nations does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process.