Social Policy ( Public Finance) Specialist

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, a champion

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.Public financial management (PFM) systems across Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar remain vulnerable to a wide range of both structural and operational budget implementation bottlenecks, including low budget credibility and execution rates, limited linkages between plans and budgetary allocations. These challenges have significant implications for the effective delivery of national programmes affecting children and other vulnerable groups, in terms of both the availability and accessibility of essential social services.

With a view to strengthen budget monitoring and accountability functions, POFP requested UNICEF to provide long-term technical assistance through a PFM specialist based in POFP with a clear view to build institutional capacity and institutionalize an internally financed Budget Monitoring and Accountability Unit (BMAU). Along the spectrum of data, analytics, evidence-driven planning, and results-based financing, budget monitoring and analysis plays a central role in both Zanzibar and Mainland Tanzania’s central ministries and regional authorities’ operations. To this end, heightened budget monitoring and analytical efforts are expected to yield improved social outcomes by tracking the effective implementation of selected government initiatives, identifying barriers for effective budget implementation, assessing value for money, and ultimately monitoring actual performance in the face of commitments as outlined in sector and LGA plans and budgets. Key means of verification include quarterly, semi-annual and annual financial and physical performance reports, as well as analytical deeps dives and policy briefs.

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. Building institutional capacity and establishing a budget monitoring and accountability in POFP, Zanzibar is expected to promote the use data and evidence to inform strategic policy decisions. Notably, this effort is clearly nested within UNICEF broader PFM portfolio aimed at strengthening national public financial management systems at both national and regional levels across URT. To this end, in addition to being responsible for establishing effective institutional mechanisms aimed at enhancing POFP’s budget monitoring and accountability functions and supporting POFP’s efforts to establish a Budget Monitoring and Accountability Unit under the stewardship of Commissioner Budget, the PFM specialist will be responsible for supporting the UNICEF Social Policy Specialist based in Dodoma cement regional budget monitoring and analytical functions in Mainland Tanzania. The Public Finance Specialist will report to the Social Policy Specialist based in Zanzibar and work closely with the Social Policy Specialists based in Dodoma and Dar es Salaam.

MAIN TASKS AND DELIVERABLES

1. Strengthen the budget monitoring and accountability functions and institutionalize related operations in POFP, whilst supporting similar regional efforts in Mainland Tanzania

• Strengthen POFP budget monitoring and accountability capacity with a view to support the establishment of a Budget Monitoring and Analysis Unit (BMAU) 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 budgets.
• Conduct local capacity building to develop and institutionalize the development of semi annual performance assessments and policy briefs to enhance budget execution and the implementation of national programmes;
• In close collaboration of selected line ministries, lead sector-specific 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 POFP and relevant MDAs with a view to translate policy dialogue and upstream policy engagement into institutionalized mechanisms and processes to feed into the budget cycle and enhance service delivery at all levels;
• Oversee and coordinate UNICEF’s efforts to strengthen budget monitoring and analytical functions, as articulated above, across selected regions in Mainland Tanzania.

2. Develop workflows for systematic budget monitoring and accountability to build a consolidated database of financial data and key outcomes indicators for selected sectors

• Building on existing initiatives, including the Tanzania Integrated Statistical Systems Portal (TISSP), promote integrated approaches to analyze financial and outcome level data in both Zanzibar and across selected regions in Mainland Tanzania;
• Develop local capacity (e.g. budget and planning officers, members of the budget monitoring and accountability teams) to regularly update internal databases and create effective data visualizations to inform budget monitoring and analysis effort and reports;
• Facilitate meaningful engagement with key focal points (e.g. planning and monitoring and evaluation officers (M&E)) in relevant MDAs to improve data flow and data quality;

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 (e.g. policy briefs, case studies etc.)
• Support the engagement with key counterparts (e.g. other MDAs, MPs, stakeholders, etc.) on budget implementation bottlenecks

4. Provide technical oversight and support implementation budget monitoring and accountability portfolio in selected regions across Tanzania Mainland.

• Build the capacity of the UNICEF Social Policy Specialist based in Dodoma to coordinate regional budget monitoring and analytical effort, including meaningful engagement across the PFM institutional architecture at both regional and national levels;
• Support UNICEF Social Policy Specialist based in Dodoma establish systematic workflows and monitoring processes grounded on flagship publications for policy advocacy and high[1]level engagement, as articulated above, with a view to facilitate sharing of best practices across regions;
• Provide ad hoc inputs and build the capacity of PFM Specialists working at regional level to conduct capacity building activities, establish systematic workflows for budget monitoring and accountability and produce selected publications.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Education:
A Master’s Degree in Economics, Public policy or related field.

Experience:
Minimum of 5 years of relevant professional work experience at national and international level in policy analysis and advocacy. Knowledge of public finance and PFM; Excellent analytical, communication, advocacy and research skills; Computer literacy, especially MS Office programmes, is required; Proficiency in at least one of the UNICEF working languages: English, French or Spanish and fluent in the working language of the office (English); Knowledge of the Tanzania context and knowing Kiswahili is an asset.

Language Requirements
Fluency in English

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: https://uni.cf/UNICEFValues    

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1), Works Collaboratively with others (1), Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1),  Innovates and Embraces Change (1), Thinks and Acts Strategically (1), Drive to achieve impactful results (1), Manages ambiguity and complexity (1).

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here. 

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, are encouraged to apply.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

“The UN system in Tanzania provided a work environment that reflects the value of gender equality, teamwork, diversity, integrity, a healthy balance of work and life and equal opportunity for all, including persons with disabilities”

Qualified persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply for UN vacancies and are protected from discrimination during all stages of employment.”

The VA is open to all (internal and external candidates).