Deadline extended: Nat. Indiv. Consultancy to build the capacity of the Local Public Authorities on formulating, implementing, and reporting on child friendly budgets_UNICEF Moldova

UNICEF Moldova is contracting the services of a National Individual Consultant, to to support Cahul and Ungheni (LPAs level one and two) to strengthen their capacities in child focused budget formulation, execution, and monitoring, particularly linked with preparing programme-based budgets, defining performance indicators as well as public procurement.

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, results

UNICEF Moldova is the implementing partner of the EU4Moldova: Focal Regions Programme, funded by the European Union and implemented in partnership with UNDP. The overall objective of the five-year programme (2019-2024) is to strengthen the economic, territorial, and social cohesion in the Republic of Moldova through facilitating inclusive, sustainable and integrated local socio-economic growth and improving the standards of living of children, adolescents and all citizens in the two focal regions Cahul and Ungheni. 

As part of the program, in 2021, a public finance training course was developed and delivered with UNICEF support to build the capacity of local public authorities. The LPAs’ representatives learned about linking multi-year planning to budgeting; programme-based budgeting; performance indicators; processes, procedures, and best practices in public procurement; and budget monitoring and reporting.

The capacity gap assessment conducted in June 2021 by UNICEF in Cahul and Ungheni identified some constraints in planning and implementing child focused budgets across Cahul and Ungheni LPAs, particularly linked to strategic planning, budget preparation and execution. In budget preparation, the area that needs further strengthening is linked to preparing programme-based budgets and defining performance indicators. Performance indicators are developed when the budgets are prepared in each sector and at each level, but LPAs have signalled that this area needs further improvement for them to be able to develop SMART indicators. Finally, with respect to budget execution, procurement has been identified as a key area where LPAs, as well as pre-schools and schools, would need further support for them to avoid time waste and penalties.

How can you make a difference?

1. Purpose of the consultancy

The purpose of this consultancy is to support Cahul and Ungheni (LPAs level one and two) to strengthen their capacities in child focused budget formulation, execution, and monitoring, particularly linked with preparing programme-based budgets, defining performance indicators as well as public procurement.

In seeking to further build Public Finance Management and budget planning and analysis skills, the consultant will support local stakeholders in budget and expenditures analysis at district and municipal levels and in planning, costing and executing local child related social sector service budgets which better link the budget preparation and implementation to children, adolescents and youth related policies, contributing to enhanced access to quality and equitable services for child, adolescents and youth.

2. Deliverables and delivery dates

Tasks	Deliverables	Timeline	Tentative timeframe*
Inception phase and planning	Inception report in Romanian, including a methodology, a workplan and a roadmap for the deliverables and activities of the consultancy.	3 days	By 10 May 2024
Develop a training module on child focused budget formulation, execution, and monitoring	Draft training materials and presentations	5 days	By 24 May
Capacity building of LPAs’ in child focused budget formulation, execution and monitoring. Specific activities include:   – preparing programme-based budgets, defining performance indicators as well as public procurement. To include at least 2 workshops with stakeholders   – On the job support for budget formulation, execution and monitoring based on needs (and in alignment with child, adolescents’ and youth related national policies)	Workshop reports containing:   Short narrative with recommendations how to improve public procurement process, define performance indicators and prepare a programme base budget at local level in Cahul and Ungheni.   Sector specific local draft budget formulation, execution, and monitoring covering: education (including pre-school), health, child protection, social protection and youth services	4 days workshops (2 days in Cahul and 2 days in Ungheni)                 3 days for short reports based on workshops.     10 days (5 days in Cahul and 5 days in Ungheni)	By end June 2024
Documenting lessons learned Produce a Final Report of this consultancy, including an executive summary, documentation of the results, identifying lessons learned and providing recommendations for improved approach in future similar actions (maximum 12 pages)	First draft narrative report on capacity building actions conducted, challenges and recommendations.     Second draft report   Final report	5 days	By end September 2024

*Exact deadlines will be mutually agreed upon contract signature

3. Definition of supervision arrangements

The selected consultant will work under the oversight of Social Policy Officer of UNICEF Moldova. Fees will be rendered upon written approval by the UNICEF Supervisor, and contingent upon the quality of deliverables.

4. Work location and official travel involved

The work will be provided remotely and will require at least 4 missions (up to 10 days, overall) to Cahul and Ungheni districts, in order to conduct in-person training sessions and on the job support to the local authorities. The consultant is expected to cover costs, arrange and schedule such visits, including transportation. The UNICEF office will facilitate introductions to key informants. Consultant will make and pay for own travel arrangements.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have

• Advanced University Degree in economics, finance, international development, or a related field;
• A solid knowledge of PFM instruments and proven experience (at least 8 years) with government social sector budget process and budget analysis, at national and decentralised levels;
• Familiarity with the child rights and social protection in Moldova;
• Experience with collecting and working with complex financial data sets;
• Demonstrated experience conducting capacity building with public servants, and familiarity with ethical guidelines when working with human subjects;
• Fluency in Romanian, both oral and written;
• Working knowledge of English is a minimum, good command of English is a strong asset, both oral and written.

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. 

 For more details on the consultancy assignment and requirements, please refer to attached Terms of reference (ToR)

 2024_ToR_Nat Indiv Consultancy_Capacity building PF4C Cahul&Ungheni_VA.docx

HOW TO APPLY: Your online application should contain the Technical Offer and Financial Offer (templates below). Please secure the Financial Proposal *.pdf document with a password on document view; the password will be requested only from technically qualified candidates. 

 Technical Offer_Capacity building PF4C Cahul&Ungheni.docx

 Financial Offer_Capacity building PF4C Cahul&Ungheni.xlsx

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.