UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, [insert tagline]

Background:

The Namibian Parliament established a standing Committee on Budget and Finance, on 10th July 2024.

The standing committee on Budget and Finance must exercise parliamentary oversight on behalf of the Assembly in pursuance of Article 63 (2) (a-b) of the Constitution in respect of Government Entities. The National Assembly shall further have the power and function, subject to this Constitution: (a) to approve budgets for the effective government and administration of the country, (b) to provide for revenue and taxation.

The mandate for emphasis is to ensure the approved budgets will ensure “effective government and administration of the country” and “to provide for revenue and taxation”.

Establishing a Standing Committee to exercise parliamentary oversight on behalf of the Assembly is a bold statement by the National Assembly to the effect that it is ready to take the Constitutional mandate of budget approval a notch higher. Accordingly, the Standing Committee on Budget and Finance on behalf of the National Assembly will undertake the scrutiny of estimates of state revenue (money bills) and expenditure (appropriation bill), monitoring and supervision of government and public agencies, including the implementation of policy and legislation arising out of the Annual Spending Plans.

To fulfil this mandate of the Standing Committee, there are anticipated changes in the way the estimates of state revenue (money bills) and expenditure (appropriation bill) is approved in the Plenary. The Committee is expected to perform an independent scrutiny, share its finding with the Minister for Finance and reach some level of understanding and /or accommodation prior to the Committee Stage of debating and approving all money bills and the appropriations bill. This will not only improve the quality of the budget priorities but will also smoothen the discussion of the budget on the floor.

To fulfill this important mandate, the Standing Committee on Budget and Finance needs to have capability, especially of technical scrutiny of the budget and finance documents. The committee however is new and requires support to build this capability sustainably.

How can you make a difference?

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:
To technically support the newly established Standing Committee on Budget and Finance (BFC) of Namibian Parliament, to establish its technical capabilities to discharge its mandate of oversight over budget and finance.

Main Tasks

1. Technically support the newly established Standing Committee on Budget and Finance (BFC) of Namibian Parliament, to establish the technical staffing structure needs and the support infrastructure required.
2. Cost the staffing structure and the support infrastructure, and support parliament to include the costs in the 25/26 budget, and the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) period.
3. Support the BFC to develop its 2025/26 and MTEF period overall work plan, cost the work plan and support parliament to include the costs in the 25/26 budget and the MTEF period.
4. Support the BFC to analyze key upcoming budget and finance policy documents and support to develop a BFC memorandum on the documents to be submitted by Parliament to relevant audiences like the Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprises. Some of the key policy documents upcoming include-the medium-term review of the 24/25 budget, the framework paper for 25/26 budget, the Public Finance Management Bill, the budget statement for 25/26 and National Development Plan 6.
5. Support to develop some of the initial analytical tools and templates for the BFC that can sustainably be applied over time.
6. Hold at least one training for the technical staff of the committees and the 9 Members of the BFC on the critical stages of budget cycle and the entry points of BFC at those stages.
7. Help the BFC to establish a smooth communication and liaison with the Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprises (MoFPE) and other oversight bodies of GRN.
8. In all the above (1-7), ensure the principles of inclusion of children and marginalized communities are embedded.

Work Assignment Overview

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• An advanced university degree (Master’s) in economics, Public Finance, Planning and Public Policy.
  *A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.
• A minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience in Economics, Public Finance, Planning, Public Policy and Budget Processes.
• Previous work experience with Parliaments, Ministry of Finance, Economic Think Tanks, Planning Departments of Ministries, or civil society that engages government in budget/public finance issues.
• Strong economic, public finance analytical skills
• Strong coordination, convening and persuasive skills
• Engaging politicians and policy makers
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to work under pressure with minimal supervision and without compromising quality and integrity.
• Must be able to work in a team with diversity.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).

To view our competency framework, please visit  here.

Required Competencies

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)
• Works Collaboratively with others (1)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (1)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (1)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

Administrative issues:
The selection and conditions of service of consultant will be governed by and subject to UNICEF’s Policies and General Terms and Conditions for individual consultants.

No contract may commence unless the contract is signed by both UNICEF and the consultant.  Consultant will be required to complete mandatory online courses (e.g. Ethics, Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Security) upon receipt of offer and before the signature of contract.

Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

How to Apply

Qualified and interested candidates are encouraged to submit an online application before the closing date.

Please submit expression of interest together with:
• A cover letter, no longer than 1 page, and curriculum vitae showing how the consultant meets the required qualifications, experience, and expertise.
• Technical Proposal demonstrating the consultant’s understanding of the advertisement/Terms of Reference, the proposed methodology/approach, and timelines for the respective deliverables; and
• A financial proposal/budget, which must include all expenses related to the assignment.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks: 

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.