National Project Coordinator

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Description

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Context

Tax remains a primary source of revenue for both central and local governments in Rwanda. With the decline in Official Development Assistance (ODA), the country has been undertaking several initiatives to strengthen its domestic revenues and improve management of its expenditures with a view to accelerating implementation of its priorities. These measures include improving capacity at the Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) to deepen the implementation of the MTRS such as improve tax compliance, enhancement of trade facilitation initiatives, promotion of equitable service delivery and tax reform initiatives. These measures are helping the government increase its revenue collections as well as strengthen its tax collection systems to operate in a more transparent manner. However, the tax-to-GDP ratio re-mains low despite gradual growth in the last ten years (15.9% of GDP in 2021/22). 

However, given the structure of the taxpayer population, which is dominated by MSMEs, tax authorities face capacity challenges in tax estimations and identification of new taxpayers. Most of MSMEs are mobile and informal businesses that keep most of their transactions off-book, tend to switch businesses, and misreport their income, expenses, and losses. 

The challenge of tracing and ensuring appropriate taxation is significant. In response, the UNDP Tax for SDGs Initiative focuses on building capacity for additional tax revenue mobilization and achieving SDGs. By enhancing domestic revenues, UNDP envisions that Rwanda will be able to implement the investments identified and achieve development aspirations within a short to medium period. Accordingly, the project proposes to support the Government and people of Rwanda in addressing the issues of low tax morale among taxpayers, economic inefficiencies, equity, high tax administration costs, tax avoidance and evasion, transfer pricing, and inadequate tax systems. More specifically, the initiative will support to the Government, at different levels, and the people of Rwanda through different interventions: 

• Strengthening tax collection by increasing digitalization and harmonizing with the taxpayer identification system; 
• Assess the option of instituting an innovative taxation framework, including green and gen-der-responsive taxes system and in line with international efforts to improve taxation and alignment with national priorities and SDGs; 
• Conducting tax gap analysis on income and wealth, corporate tax, direct/indirect taxation, health related taxes, gender sensitive taxation and property taxes;
• Reviewing the legal framework for tax exemptions and incentives Interlinking Rwanda Revenue Authority and UNDP, the Project Coordinator will support the day-to-day coordination of the Initiative, ensuring delivery of planned activities as part of the Initiative’s Country Engagement Plan (CEP).
• The Project Coordinator is also expected to contribute to providing advice to UNDP Senior Management on macroeconomic policies and trends and their linkages to UNDP programmes in order to enhance impact. The project coordinator will manage and support the implementation of the UNDP Tax for SDGs Initiative and provide support to UNDP Rwanda on tax-related engagements as part of their plan of financing the SDGs in the country. She/he will contribute to the analysis and formulation of strategies and briefings, closely collaborating with Government counterparts to identify policy options and solutions.

Scope of Work:

Under the direct supervision of the Country Programme Specialist/Inclusive Green Economy Unit, the project coordinator will undertake the following tasks:

Strategic and Multi-Stakeholder Engagement:

• Support the Head of IGEU in embedding the Tax for SDGs Initiative in UNDP’s broader SDG finance portfolio in UNDP Rwanda; 
• Lead implementation and multi-stakeholder engagement for the Initiative in Rwanda, including engaging with tax experts, bilateral, regional, and multilateral organizations, Government (central and local governments); 
• Support UNDP Rwanda in building strategic alliances and partnerships with Governments, think tanks, academic institutions, development partners and others to expand UNDP’s work on tax and fiscal policy; 
• Work with the Head of IGEU to support UNDP COs and the network of Regional Bureau for Africa (RBA) Economic Advisors to learn from the Rwanda experience in designing and implementing the CEP and in their broader engagement on tax and fiscal policies within the over-all Initiative;
• Provide a secretariat and technical support to the Development Partner Group on Tax or Public Finance Management in line with the requirements of the Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF).

Policy and Project Coordination:

• Facilitate setting up the interventions under the Initiative as well as coordinate their implementation as per standard operating procedures, including knowledge capture and reporting;
• To analyze local context and identify potential synergies with UNDP’s policy and development work in-country at national and sub-national level and map out emerging trends and opportunities for Rwanda;
• Provide technical advice to support the implementation of the UNDP Tax for SDGs Initiative and to backstop tax experts working under the project;
• Identify and leverage on potential synergies between the UNDP Tax for SDGs Initiative work of UNDP Rwanda, the UNDP Regional Hub and UNDP Country Offices implementing same Initiative;
• Engage with policymakers on tax and fiscal policy matters and further develop the role of UNDP in taxation in Rwanda;
• Coordinate the development of policy papers to promote understanding and integration of tax and fiscal policies and SDG issues;
• Support the Head of IGEU in relevant analytical and policy-oriented work on tax policy and administration, and on technical tax topics;
• Draft internal UNDP briefing notes and talking points for Senior Management on UNDP Tax for SDGs Initiative Knowledge Management;
• Collaborate on evidence collection and lessons-learned from other countries, including promoting best practice sharing and peer learning through case-studies;
• Collaborate on evidence collection and lessons-learned from other countries, including promoting best practice sharing and peer learning through case-studies;
• Collaborate on knowledge management between various stakeholders, including UNDP CO and tax experts;
• Develop concept notes for technical workshops/webinars/side-events for UNDP Tax for SDGs Initiative Outreach Engagement;
• Collaborate on project communications, including Annual Reports and Newsletters;
• Coordinate the organization of events, including high-level launches of the programmes;
• Collaborate on lessons-learned from the project activities, including through case-studies;
• Develop resources to enhance capacities within UNDP on tax, fiscal policy issues and SDGs;
• Follow technical discussions in other forum and represent UNDP in relevant meetings;
• Perform other duties, as may be required by the Supervisor. 

Institutional Arrangements

• The position will be embedded in IGEU and work as part of the UNDP Rwanda Country Office while operating from the Rwanda Revenue Authority as part of the Single Project Implementation Unit (SPIU). The Project Coordinator will report to the Head of IGEU UNDP Rwanda. The Regional Programme Specialist of UNDP Tax for SDGs Initiative will serve as the technical backstop for the Project Coordinator. Throughout the project, collaboration and coordination with the rest of the UNDP Tax team and other teams will be required

Requirements:

Minimum education requirements:

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in taxation, law, economics, project management, financial accounting, development studies or relevant related field is required OR;
• A first level degree in the areas mentioned above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of an advanced degree.

Minimum years of relevant work experience:

• Minimum 5 years (with Master’s degree) or 7 years (with Bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible work experience in a position directly related to taxation is required.

Required Skills:

• Experience in project management is required;
• Experience in the use of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and advanced knowledge of web-based management systems such as ERP.

Desired skills:

• Experience in working with Rwanda Revenue authorities and other regional Revenue authorities in Africa with focus to tax administration and fiscal polices is desired;
• Experience of working in or with different regional African countries in tax issues is desired;
• Knowledge of current trends regarding taxation issues in Africa is desired;
• Experience in policy research and writing for different audiences is desired;
• Experience with UNDP or UN-system is an advantage.

Language

• Fluency in written and spoken English and Kinyarwanda is required.

Source: https://estm.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1/requisitions/job/17990

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