Public Finance for Sustainable Development Trainer and Technical Advisor (home-based, part-time 50%)

Background

UNDP is the UN’s global development organisation that supports countries around the world in their efforts to successfully address diverse development challenges, framed around three broad settings which require different forms of support: eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions; accelerating structural transformations for sustainable development; and building resilience to crises and shocks. Strengthening governance systems, promoting rule of law and human rights are cornerstones of UNDP’s work to achieve sustainable human development and eradicate extreme poverty. Within this broad governance mandate, the UNDP Pacific Office is implementing interventions aimed at preventing and fighting corruption and promoting integrity, transparency and accountability guided by SDG 16 (promoting peaceful, just, and inclusive societies) and in line with the planned outcomes of the United Nations Pacific Strategy and the UNDP Sub-Regional Project Document.

Pacific Islands countries (PICs) boast “big ocean” economies, with young and mobile populations and highly resilient and adaptative societies. Past and recent investments have however fallen short of developing diverse economies offering inclusive services and opportunities, resilient to external shocks and the increasing pace of climate disasters. While the scale of Pacific economies does not allow them to respond to all these challenges alone, public investment and revenues would gain from empowered officials accountable to keep basic service delivery and development priorities in mind while driving fiscal decisions.

For this reason, the “Accountable Public Finances to serve Pacific people – Vaka Pasifika” project (hereafter Vaka Pasifika project) builds on the results of the “Strengthening Public Finance Management and Governance in the Pacific” (PFM) project implemented between 2018 and 2022 thanks to the support of the European Union. The proposed overarching goal of this project is to strengthen the governance mechanisms enabling Pacific countries to deliver public services that are better calibrated to meet specific needs of the people. Its specific focus will be to ensure scarce Pacific resources are better managed and the resource base available for achieving national development goals will be increased. To achieve this goal, PIC economies require stable and reliable institutions implementing the right mix of creativity and rigor informed by ground reality. The Project will contribute to this vision by (a) supporting oversight institutions and decision makers to define and implement their priorities through leadership and institutional capacity strengthening and (b) enhancing responsiveness of service delivery and public finance management by developing institutional mechanisms for engagement and openness and strengthening civil society capacity.

The Vaka Pasifika project is implemented through a team based in Suva, Fiji in the UNDP Pacific Office. As part of the Effective Governance unit, the team is responsible for implementation of the project, its various activities and corresponding institutional processes and requirements.

The PFM Trainer and Technical Advisor will be responsible for the following activities:

• PFM modules: under the leadership of the Vaka Pasifika team and notably the Activity Manager deliver and ensure sustainability and constant upgrade and refinement of the tailored training offering on PFM of the Vaka Pasifika project
• Community of practice: collaborate on events to engage national partners, disseminate technical products, deliver trainings
• Deliver tailored technical support to project and partners on Public Finance for Sustainable Development
   

Duties and Responsibilities

The successful candidate will directly report to the Vaka Pasifika Project Manager and will closely cooperate and support the other project team members, consultants, and project stakeholders.

The Vaka Pasifika project team is situated in the Effective Governance Team of the UNDP Pacific Office in Suva.
 

Vaka Pasifika Modules & PFM Trainer

• Lead on the delivery of the Vaka Pasifika Modules (https://pfm-vakapasifika.moodlecloud.com/login/index.php) and PFM training for project partners by developing a strategy- for outreach, relevance, sustainability and integration of the modules in the project development, expanding on relevant partnerships, delivering on average one training per month (online/face to face depending on context), and supporting local consultants and partners when they lead on delivering the modules.
• Develop new and tailored content: develop a strategy for continued enhancement and upgrade of the modules including creation of new modules relevant to project partners, tailored country or context specific content, case studies and exercises. 
• Engage with project partners and ensure sustainability of the tools and knowledge generated by developing strategy and partnerships for adoption of curriculum widely and for instance with the University of the South Pacific, Public Service Commissions, institutions and non-governmental organisations. Collaborate with national, regional and international partners for visibility and sustainability of tools and knowledge.
• Ensure constant checks of balance of power ensuring that the needs of project partners are put at the centre and given priority. Create as much as possible space for project partners to lead on the evolution of the training content, and delivery by ensuring this feature prominently in the modules delivery strategy (co-design events, training of trainers, M&E strategy). Adapt content and messaging based on learnings from partners and project, grow repository of case studies on the Pacific notably fellowship activities, as well as global community of practice on Public Finance for Sustainable Development.
• Utilize innovation resources, global debates and latest technologies to explore and refine offer to partners.

Technical Advisory and quality assurance

• Conceptualise and coordinate delivery of technical events as per Vaka Pasifika workplan (dissemination of knowledge products, community of practice meetings, high level peer-to-peer exchanges, trainings …) including development of agenda and concept notes, identification and preparation of panels and sessions, drafting of reports and knowledge products across activities.
• Deliver on average PFM training to 1group per month, engage fully in the design, implementation, facilitation and country support of the Vaka Pasifika fellowship and connected activities;
• Ensure full integration of latest PFM, Gender and PFM, Public Finance for Sustainable Development knowledge to the project technical advisory support, activities, products and communication across all outcomes.
• Provide tailored technical advisory services to project partners on PFM and Public Finance for Sustainable Development: conduct mission, produce tools and guidelines, case studies and knowledge products, coordinate with project team to ensure smooth delivery of activities and initiatives. Ensure project technical advisories are respectful of project partners and beneficiaries, respect UN principles and have sustainability and MEL plans.

Community of practice, Publications and knowledge products

• Ensure thought leadership and positioning of UNDP on Public Finance for Sustainable Development by ensuring visibility of results including submission of solutions designed for international prizes, collaboration with international and regional partners and visibility of regional and national partners at events.
• Publish on average (2) technical knowledge products (reports, briefs, blogs…) per year summarizing lessons learnt and documenting the progress and learning on Public Finance for SD and impact in the Pacific. Ensure specific products are dedicated to gender and other cross-cutting thematic issues.
• Design and lead exchange between partners engaged in the activities in a Community of Practice and provide regular updates and food for thoughts on technical matters and potential for improvements. Engage in the broader Community of Practice for Vaka Pasifika project.
• Build over the years a network of local consultant and conduct capacity strengthening and community management to ensure the project is always in a position to deliver tailored and relevant technical services in that area of work.

Digital innovation and learnings 

• Develop further and explore partnerships and innovative digital learning tools (e-learning platform) and other digital and non-digital communication and participation tools based on pilots by the project and ensure that tools produced by the project are always reviewed and enhanced based on partners feedback and latest technological developments;
• Contribute to the continuous learning of the project by participating and convening reflection and learning sessions internally and with external partners;
• Draft, review and advise on publications, knowledge products, communications products and reports (internal, donors, others) to ensure the project contributes to the wider narrative and debate on PFM globally and in the Pacific.
• Actively engage in the design and implementation of the project’s fellowship if required.

Partnerships

• Cultivate and maintain strong relations with key stakeholders including outsourced service providers, beneficiaries, government, private sector and other development actors;
• Expand the network of the project regularly and ensure due space is given to marginalised and fringe actors;
• Ensure the project networks include stakeholders who can make a significant contribution on gender, climate and cross-cutting issues;
• Support the Project Manager in liaising and reporting to development partners and donors when appropriate.   

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact 
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems 
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands 
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Business Management

• Partnership management: Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies
• Project Management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals

2030 Agenda: Peace

• Governance: Core Government Functions. Institutional Capacity to Implement and Coordinate SDGs.

Business Development

• Knowledge Generation: Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for content, or responsive to a stated needed

Business Direction & Strategy

• System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Public Finance Management, Audit, Accounting, Public Sector and Administration, Political Science, Social Science or related is required, or 
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in Public Finance Management, Audit, Accounting, Public Sector and Administration, Political Science, Social Science or related in combination with additional 2 years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of Master´s degree.

Experience:

• Minimum 7 years (with Master´s degree) or 9 years (with Bachelor´s degree) of experience in Public Finance Management and/or public sector oversight (parliament, Supreme Audit Institution, civil society, related) within government institution, political institutions, civil society organisation or as technical advisor.
• Experience delivering training events, capacity strengthening, on-the-job trainings and/or online courses to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Experience delivering technical advisory services in the Public Finance for Sustainable Development sector specifically on oversight and/or to parliaments, SAIs, CSO and/or media.
• Experience working in the international development sector notably in Small Islands States or the Pacific
• Experience with e-learning tools, and/or webinars and/or providing technical advisory online/remotely to a diversity of audiences.  
• Experience drafting technical reports and case studies.

Required Languages:

• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of Pacific vernacular language an advantage.
   

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Scam alert

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