Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Closing Date: Aug 28, 2023, 05:59 AM
Job Description
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the knowledge frontier organization for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy and programme work, carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office (CO) levels, form a contiguous spectrum of deep, local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. Within this context, UNDP invests in a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan.
The UNDP Tax for SDGs Initiative is managed by the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS’s) Sustainable Finance Hub (SFH), with resource persons embedded in the SDG Finance Teams in Amman, Bangkok, Istanbul, Panama and Pretoria.
The Bureau for Policy and Programme Support has the responsibility for developing all relevant policies and guidance to support the results of UNDP’s Strategic Plan and help countries to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). BPPS’s staff provides technical advice to Country Offices; advocates for UNDP corporate messages, represents UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora including public-private dialogues, government and civil society dialogues, South-South and Triangular cooperation initiatives, and engages in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas.
The UNDP Tax for SDGs Initiative expands on the joint OECD/UNDP Tax Inspectors Without Borders Initiative (TIWB), which UNDP continues to support through one of its workstreams. Tax for SDGs has a particular emphasis on linking tax administration and tax and fiscal policies with the broader SDGs. Building on UNDP Country Office portfolios and already existing engagements with Ministries, UNDP will bring a stronger focus on the role of tax and fiscal policy in achieving Agenda 2030. The project places a particular focus on reducing gender and social inequalities in tax and fiscal policy as well as taking forward climate action and environmental goals, and health outcomes. Representing the views of developing countries in the global normative tax discussions is critical and to this effect Tax for SDGs will also work to bring evidence and perspectives from developing countries into the regional and international discussions on taxation.
UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) is seeking a Regional Tax for SDGs Programme Specialist for Sub-Saharan Africa to effectively manage and support the implementation of the UNDP Tax for SDGs Initiative and TIWB, in addition to providing support to the UNDP Regional Bureau for Africa (RBA) on tax related engagements as part of their agenda of Financing the SDGs across countries in the African region.
a) Strategic and Multi-stakeholder Engagement
- Lead the UNDP Tax for SDGs Initiative in Sub-Saharan Africa. Specifically, the Regional Specialist is expected to work with the following countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Cote D’ivoire, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan and Togo (hereinafter referred to as the “Countries”).
- Lead implementation and multi-stakeholder engagement for the UNDP Tax for SDGs Initiative in Southern Africa including engaging with tax experts, bilateral, regional and multilateral organizations, governments and UNDP Country Offices (COs) in the region.
- Among the different partnership, the Regional Tax for SDGs Programme Specialist for Sub-Saharan Africa will lead the Tax for SDGs partnerships with the African Union, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and The New Partnership for Africa’s Development.
- Support UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Africa and COs in building strategic alliances and partnerships with governments, think tanks, academic institutions, development partners and others in Southern Africa to expand UNDP’s work on tax and fiscal policy.
- Work with the rest of the Tax for SDGs team to support UNDP COs in designing and implementing Country Engagement Plans (CEPs) and in their broader engagement on tax and fiscal policies.
b) Policy and Programme Support
- Engage with UNDP Country Offices to analyze local context and identify potential synergies with UNDP’s policy and development work in-country at national/federal/ sub national level and map out emerging trends and opportunities for the region.
- Provide technical advice to support the implementation of the activities under the Tax for SDGs project and to backstop experts working under the project.
- Create demand and facilitate the setting up of TIWB programmes under the project as well as coordinate their implementation as per standard operating procedures, including knowledge capture from past programmes.
- Identify potential synergies between the tax and fiscal policy work of RBA, the Pretoria Regional Hub and UNDP COs with the project.
- Engage with policymakers on tax and fiscal policy matters and further develop the role of UNDP in taxation in the African region.
- Coordinate the development of policy papers to promote understanding and integration of tax and fiscal policies and SDG issues.
- Support the regional economist in relevant analytical and policy-oriented work on tax policy and administration, and COs on technical tax topics.
- Draft internal UNDP briefing notes and talking points for Senior Management in the UNDP for the Tax for SDGs Initiative and the TIWB Initiative.
- Support the technical specialists in finalizing concept notes and other technical documents for implementation of different thematic areas of the project (e.g., taxation and the environment, health taxation, digitalization of tax systems, etc.)
c) Knowledge Management
- Collaborate on the Tax for SDGs and TIWB projects’ terms of reference and coordinate selection of roster experts, including in their procurement and contracting as per UNDP standard operating procedures.
- Collaborate on evidence collection and lessons-learned from the implementation of Tax for SDGs and TIWB projects. This includes promoting best practices and peer learning through case studies.
- Collaborate on knowledge management between various stakeholders, including UNDP COs and tax technical experts (including through expert engagement platform).
- Develop concept notes for technical workshops/webinars/side-events for the UNDP Tax for SDGs Initiative and TIWB Programme.
- Manage the Tax for SDGs and TIWB reporting in Sub Saharan Africa.
d) Outreach Engagement
- Collaborate on project communications, including Annual Reports and Newsletters.
- Coordinate the organization of events, including high-level dialogues, regional workshops and TIWB programme launches.
- Develop resources to enhance capacities within UNDP on tax, fiscal policy issues and SDGs.
- Follow technical discussions in other fora and represent UNDP Tax for SDGs in the relevant meetings.
- Perform other duties, as may be required by the Supervisor.
Institutional Arrangement
- The position will be embedded in the UNDP Africa Finance Sector Hub in Pretoria and work as part of the Global Policy Network based out of Addis Ababa.
- The Regional Tax for SDGs Specialist will report to the Head of Tax for SDGs (based in New York) with matrix reporting to the Regional SDG Finance Advisor (based in Pretoria).
- Throughout the project, collaboration and coordination with the Regional Tax for SDGs Specialist for Southern Africa, the Tax for SDGs team and TIWB team will be required.
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
- Programme and Knowledge Management and Learning – Apply & Adapt:
- Ability to efficiently handle and share information and knowledge
- Development and Operational Effectiveness – Apply & Adapt:
- Knowledge of development effectiveness concepts, principles and issues and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations, covering the economic, social and environmental dimensions
- Public Finance – Apply & Adapt:
- Knowledge of public finance and fiscal policy reform and ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations
- Global Development Finance – Apply & Adapt:
- Knowledge of global development financial trends, global financial institutions and processes, and ability to apply in strategic and/or practical situations.
- Collaboration and Partnership – Implement & Manage:
- Ability to develop, maintain, and strengthen partnerships with others inside (Programmes/projects) or outside the organization who can provide information, assistance, and support.
- Sets overall direction for the formation and management of strategic relationships contributing to the overall positioning of UNDP.
- Communication – Implement & Manage:
- Ability to effectively communicate intensions and requirements to internal and external stakeholders
- Resource Mobilization – Implement & Manage:
- Ability to identify and organize programmes and projects to implement solutions and generate resources.
Desired additional skills and competencies:
- Experience of working in or with different developing countries in African region is desired.
- Experience with and knowledge of current trends & debates regarding development financing and taxation issues in Africa is desired.
- Experience in policy research is desired.
- Strong publications and writing record is desired.
- Experience with UNDP or UN-system is an advantage.
- Master’s degree in taxation, law, economics, finance, public policy or related field
- At least 5 years of progressively responsible work experience in a position directly related to public finance, taxation or financing for development is required.
Required skills:
- Experience in advising international institutions and/ or governments on public finance management, taxation and financing for development in Africa is required.
Language:
- Fluency in written and spoken English and French is required.
Travel:
- The duty station is Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
- UNDP will cover the cost of travel of the individual to the duty station, as well as return to place of recruitment upon completion of services.
- Travel costs are covered only in the event that the function will be undertaken physically in the duty station and excludes working from home arrangements.
- The work may entail duty travel. In case of such travel, travel expenses will be covered by UNDP in accordance with the UNDP rules and regulations.
The following documents shall be required from the applicants:
- Personal CV or P11, indicating all past positions held and their main underlying functions, their durations (month/year), the qualifications, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate, and at least three (3) the most recent professional references of previous supervisors. References may also include peers.
- A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.