UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office and Malaysia Country Office are seeking an individual consultant to provide support to UNICEF’s partners in Malaysia in understanding and implementing a child outcome, equity and social inclusion centred-approach in the public budget policy process - planning, resourcing, implementation, reporting and evaluation - referred to as the Public Finance for Children (PF4C) approach, as well as to support UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office (EAPRO) technical assistance to Country Offices in East Asia and the Pacific on PF4C.

Work Assignment:

Under the supervision of the Regional Advisor Social Policy and Economic Analysis and in close consultation with the Deputy Representative UNICEF Malaysia, the consultant key responsibilities are:

1)Tasks

1.1 Establish a clear baseline describing the relationship between child outcomes and the planning, resourcing, implementation, reporting and evaluation process in Malaysia.

1.2 Carry out a comparative analysis of the public budgeting process from the viewpoint of child outcomes focusing on quantitative and qualitative changes associated with the move towards OBB over the last years in different sectors.

1.3 In cooperation with the Ministry of Finance and social sector ministries and partners generate planning and budgetary information analysing the causality i.e. impact and cost implications of decisions most relevant for equity in child outcomes – within the framework of the OBB.

End Product/deliverables

An analytical report which describes the public budgeting process in Malaysia from the viewpoint of child outcomes, highlighting enabling factors and bottlenecks for equity, allocative and vertical efficiency as well as key lessons from a comparative analysis Malaysia’s OBB framework with program budgeting approaches practiced in other countries, with a focus on child outcomes. This analysis will be backgrounder for the National Consultation on Equity in Chid Outcomes (Task 2) and highlight

(i) allocations to social sectors in the current budget;

(ii) impact of budgetary decisions on children and families;

(iii) advocacy and partnership options for UNICEF to increase the attention of decision makers on PF4C within the framework of the OBB.

Timeline

Sep to Nov. 2014

2)Tasks

Prepare and provide technical assistance for the organisation of a National Consultation on PF4C and child-focused budgeting in close cooperation with MOF – to be held in November 2014 (held possibly back-to-back with the PEMNA meeting in Kuala Lumpur in November 2014).

End Product/deliverables

Concept Note, Agenda, List of Participants and other related documents prepared for the National Consultation. Liaise with RO and HQ on the content and input for the National Consultation. On completion of National Consultation, prepare a Consultation Pack with all the relevant documentation for use by other UNICEF offices in the region.

Timeline

Sep to Dec. 2014

3)Tasks

Participate in follow up meetings with specific social sector ministries to take forward the conclusions and recommendations from the National Consultation.

End Product/deliverables

Specific policy guidelines, protocols, tools for implementing child-focused OBB in specific social sector ministries.

Timeline

Dec. 2014 to Mar 2015

4)Tasks

Support and as necessary help organising training workshop for UNICEF Malaysia staff and key partners on PF4C and child-focused budgeting in close collaboration with UNICEF EAPRO SPEA and Headquarters.

End Product/deliverables

At least two workshops or training events responding to UNICEF and partner needs benefit from child-focused OBB approach.

Timeline

Between Jan. and Jul 2015

5)Tasks

Brief the supervisor, senior management and the Regional Adviser on the progress achieved, with recommendations on strategic options to further enhance UNICEF’s positioning in collaboration with MOF and social sector ministries in advocating and implementing PF4C.

End Product/deliverables

Eleven monthly progress reports produced on the activities conducted, the outcomes achieved and follow up recommendations; final contract report produced with strategic recommendations on directions to be undertaken in 2015 to enhance the PF4C agenda in Malaysia and EAP.

Timeline

Last day of month; final report after end of contract

The consultant is expected to submit a monthly progress reports and any other deliverables by the end of each month as per agreed work plan.

Estimated Duration of Contract: 11 months

Official Travel: The consultant will be expected to Travel to/from duty stations (Kuala Lumpur/Bangkok) as well as other travel to UNICEF Country Offices in EAP as agreed by supervisors.

• Advanced University Degree in Economics or related area
• Minimum 3 years of relevant experience in analytical work on public finance management and/or social budgeting; specific focus on social budgeting for children an asset
• Familiarity with Results Based Management
• Familiarity with topics related to UNICEF’s social policy and budgeting programs an asset
• Previous experience in preparation of reports and concept papers
• Good knowledge of EAP context an asset
• Excellent interpersonal and collaboration skills
• Excellent spoken and written in English
• Experience of working in developing countries.
• Ability and willingness to travel to all countries across East Asia and Pacific region.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious and effective relationships with national partners.

Interested candidates are requested to submit CV or P-11, a relevant work sample, full contact information of minimum 2 references, availability, proposed monthly professional fee, and all-inclusive travel cost (a return economy class ticket plus other incidentals) to/from Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur (if applicable) in USD by 7 September 2014 to < hrbangkok@unicef.org >.

------------ Only short listed candidates will be notified. ------------