Consultant for Child-Related Budget Tags

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF, established over 50 years ago, operates in 190 countries and territories, focusing on the rights and welfare of children. Its mission is to reach the world's most disadvantaged children, ensuring their survival, development, and protection. UNICEF has a significant presence in Sri Lanka, working to improve health, education, and protection standards for children, and has established partnerships with various national and international organizations to enhance its impact.

Job Overview:
The consultant's primary role is to provide technical support aimed at improving planning and budgeting processes from a child-rights perspective. This involves enhancing data availability on social sector spending, particularly in relation to Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) and nutrition services. The consultant will work closely with government stakeholders to define budget tags, conduct mapping exercises, and ensure that budget allocations effectively support children's well-being. The position requires a deep understanding of public finance management and the ability to communicate complex data effectively to inform policy-making and budgeting processes.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be responsible for several key tasks, including:

• Collaborating with government stakeholders to define the scope of child-related budget tags for ECCD and nutrition.
• Conducting a mapping exercise to identify existing programs and interventions related to ECCD and nutrition.
• Facilitating consultations to validate definitions and agree on tagging levels.
• Compiling ECCD and nutrition budgets and providing recommendations for business continuity.
• Presenting findings and recommendations at stakeholder workshops and refining them based on feedback.
• Preparing detailed reports documenting the approach, limitations, and workplan for the assignment.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master's degree in social sciences, economics, development studies, or related fields. They should have at least seven years of proven experience in public finance management, including policy analysis and development. Strong analytical and communication skills are essential, along with experience in writing reports and documentation. Familiarity with ethical safeguards in evidence generation is also required.

Educational Background:
A Master's degree in social sciences, economics, development studies, or a related field is mandatory for this position. A PhD may reduce the required experience by two years, allowing candidates with advanced degrees to qualify with five years of relevant experience.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of seven years of experience in public finance management, which includes consultancy, research, teaching, or capacity building. This experience should encompass policy analysis and development, with a strong emphasis on both quantitative and qualitative methods. Previous experience working with government stakeholders and UN agencies is considered an asset.

Languages:
Excellent written and oral communication skills in English are required. Proficiency in Sinhala and/or Tamil is also necessary. Candidates should be able to effectively communicate complex information to diverse audiences.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is home-based in Sri Lanka and is expected to run from May 2005 to March 200

• Candidates are required to submit a resume and indicate their availability and fee in LKR. UNICEF emphasizes diversity and inclusion in its workforce and encourages applications from all qualified candidates, including those with disabilities. The organization offers flexible working arrangements and has a commitment to safeguarding children and promoting ethical conduct.