Job Opening
Job Opening ID: 226283
Job Network : –
Job Family : –
Category and Level : Consultants, CON
Duty Station : SUVA
Department/Office : Department of Economic and Social Affairs
Date Posted : Jan 19, 2024
Deadline : Jan 31, 2024

Result of Service
The ultimate result of this service is to advise Fiji to develop and execute a financing strategy that aligns with its sustainable development priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through tailored technical assistance and country-specific advice, the consultant will assist Fiji in building its capacities related to Integrated National Financing Frameworks (INFFs). This will involve leveraging INFF guidance materials provided by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Financing for Development (IATF), as well as drawing insights from relevant analytical work conducted by development partners in the field of financing for development. Additionally, the consultant will benefit from technical support on INFFs from UNDESA/FSDO as part of the mentorship component.
Work Location
Fiji
Expected duration
12 months
Duties and Responsibilities
The Financing for Sustainable Development Office (FSDO) of UNDESA is currently seeking the services of a consultant to support the INFF capacity-building activities to be carried out under the project, as embedded expert in Fiji. The consultant will work at the Ministry of Finance, Strategic Planning, National Development & Statistics of Fiji. The consultant will be based in Fiji and will report to UNDESA/FSDO through the Policy Analysis and Development Branch (PADB) staff designated as his/her Supervisor.

The objective of this assignment is to provide technical assistance and tailored country-specific advice to Fiji for the design and implementation of a financing strategy in support of its sustainable development priorities and the SDGs. The consultant will help Fiji build its capacities on INFFs by drawing on the INFF guidance material developed by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Financing for Development (IATF), other relevant analytical work produced by development partners on the area of financing for development, and existing country-experiences.

Under the supervision of PADB staff at FSDO and with the technical backstopping of FSDO, the consultant will be responsible for the following work assignments:

1. Provide technical advice to the Ministry of Finance, Strategic Planning, National Development & Statistics of Fiji for the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of an INFF that help to mobilize additional resources to finance and is aligned with the national development priorities and the SDGs. In particular, the consultant will:
a. Provide technical advice in connection with the institutional arrangements and governance mechanisms required to advance the INFF process in Fiji and assist with the engagement of relevant national stakeholders.
b. Provide technical advice and assist government officials in an appropriate INFF strategy to support the National Development Plan, as required.
c. Engage with other relevant parts of the UN system, including the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office, the UN Country Team, the UN Regional Commission, and UNDP, as well as with international financial institutions working on financing for development-related issues in Fiji (including the World Bank Group, IMF, regional development banks and other international development agencies), in order to provide the support on INFF in Fiji in collaboration and coordination with them.
d. Make substantive contributions to and lead the preparation and delivery of workshops, seminars, trainings, and other capacity development events, as well as develop training programs / resources on INFFs and other financing for development-related topics, aimed at increasing the capacity on INFFs of pertinent national authorities and other national stakeholders.
e. Ensure that the M&E of the INFF template / or guideline developed is harmonized with the M&E framework currently under development for public capital investment projects.

2. Actively contribute to the peer exchange activities undertaken as part of the project by:
a. Advising and assisting the Ministry of Finance, Strategic Planning, National Development & Statistics of Fiji with the preparations for participating in the sub-regional, regional and international peer knowledge exchange events.
b. Participating and making substantive contributions to the sub-regional, regional and international peer knowledge exchange events.
c. Participating in the regular discussions among the embedded experts deployed in the target countries under the project.
d. Contribute to the compendium of experiences of targeted SIDS on INFF design and implementation that will be produced as part of the project, by providing inputs and detailed information on the experience of Fiji advancing INFF.

3. Participate in regular technical backstopping sessions to be provided by FSDO experts as part of the mentorship program under the project to discuss and probe progress made, challenges, lessons, and next steps regarding the INFF activities undertaken in the country.
4. Support the required reporting, monitoring and evaluation of the project, including the preparation of the mid-term and final progress reports on the implementation of the project, by providing inputs on the activities carried out in Fiji.
5. Review the progress made on SDG goals and targets and advice on improving the reporting and data collection for the next VNR.
6. Provide necessary inputs and also drafting of relevant related chapters for the new national development plan, particularly on the financing strategy, and as required.
7. Perform other relevant duties, as required.
Qualifications/special skills
Advanced university degree in economics, development studies or other relevant academic discipline is desired; first university degree in the relevant academic discipline plus 2 additional years of experience maybe qualified in lieu of an advanced degree.
A minimum of 15 years of experience working in financing for development issues or related, particularly in a SIDS context (regional and/or national) is required.
Experience in public financial management, climate finance, or long-term national development planning is desired.
Experience in engaging high-level officials and facilitating dialogues with varied stakeholders, including significant experience on building partnerships and coordination is desired.
Demonstrated ability to independently plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures, and protocols to achieve specific goals is desired.
This is a local consultancy. The candidate should preferably be a national of Fiji or have a valid work permit/visa to take on the assignment by the time of his/her engagement.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is desirable.