Job Opening
Job Opening ID: 227369
Job Network : –
Job Family : ACC
Category and Level : Consultants, CON
Duty Station : NEW YORK
Department/Office : Department of Economic and Social Affairs
Date Posted : Feb 2, 2024
Deadline : Feb 9, 2024

Result of Service
Successful implementation of asset management on fixed assets registry, strengthening financial reporting in selected public sector entities and state-owned enterprises in Zanzibar, Tanzania.
Work Location
Home-based
Expected duration
The national consultant will be engaged during the period from 20 February 2024 to 30 November 2024.
Duties and Responsibilities
The position is located in the International Tax and Development Cooperation Branch of the Financing for Sustainable Development Office (FSDO) in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs in New York. The incumbent reports to the Senior Economic Affairs Officer, under the overall guidance of the Chief of the Branch. The FSDO works to advance policy and action on financing for sustainable development to support Member States and other stakeholders in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development: by providing thought leadership and agenda shaping, promoting multi- stakeholder dialogue, identifying policy options and best practices, and offering strategic advice and support for capacity development in key areas. More information can be found at: https://financing.desa.un.org/.

The current terms of reference support the implementation of “UN capacity development initiative on enhancing the resilience, accessibility, and sustainability of infrastructure assets in developing countries in support of the 2030 Agenda.” The project is implemented jointly by UNDESA, UNCDF and UNOPS and aims to address the lack of a sustained and systematic strategies, policies and actions at the national and local government levels to ensure that infrastructure assets support inclusive, affordable and sustainable essential public services over their entire lifespan. The project covers training of local and central government officials in beneficiary countries in designing, implementing, monitoring, and reviewing forward-looking, risk- informed, and data-driven infrastructure asset management strategies, policies, and action plans in support of essential public services that leave no one behind. The project also aims in the building of capacity at the level of central governments on how to design and implement an improved policy, regulatory and legislative framework to support infrastructure asset management at the national and local levels. The key stakeholders include local government officials and central government ministries (finance, local government, urban development), national agencies (elected and administrative) as well as civil society and the private sector.

In this broader context, FSDO will engage services of a national consultant to: (i) Enhance the implementation of the UN asset management diagnostic tool in Zanzibar by assessing current methods and practices for strengthening their financial reporting in selected public sector entities and state-owned enterprises; (ii) Support the development of a road map and draft data migration strategy by proposing concrete action areas and steps needed for implementing accrual accounting in public sector entities, as well as to advance on IPSAS compliant financial statements, reports, and asset registries; (iii) Design and deliver specialized materials for an in-person Training of Trainers workshop on implementing and maintaining a national asset registry by focusing on closing existing gaps in accounting practices, financial reporting, as well as accounting taxonomy to strengthen the adoption of accrual accounting methods and IPSAS 45 compliant financial reporting; (iv) Implement in-country missions and on the job training to support the adherence of practices to IPSAS accounting standards and the UN Toolkit for sustainable asset management in fixed assets registries.
Qualifications/special skills
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in business administration, economics, public administration, urban planning or related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
A minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience at the regional/national level, involving both analytical and policy development work in the field of accounting, auditing, and risk assessment is required.
Familiarity with the work of Financing for Sustainable Development, SDGs/the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is desirable.
Excellent communication skills, both oral and written, in English and Swahili languages are required.
Languages
Excellent communication skills, both oral and written, in English and Swahili languages are required.