CONSULTANT TO UPDATE/DEVELOP/COST ENTITY STRATEGIC PLANS REQUIRED FOR THE MTEF BUDGET PREPARATIONS

Background

The Government of Swaziland has since 2011 embarked on the implementation of various public financial management reforms aimed at increasing the quality and quantity of public services to facilitate the poverty reduction and economic growth processes. The reforms particularly focus on the way Government formulates and executes budgets, improving financial controls and accounting for public resources in the Office of the Accountant General, improving budget oversight both in Parliament and Auditor General’s Office, strengthening internal audit, and generally improving value for money for the public resources injected into the economy. One of the key reforms to be implemented is the introduction of a medium term perspective in budgeting. Towards this end, Government plans to start implementing a Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) in the 2015/16 financial year on a pilot basis, and to have the system fully rolled out by the start of the 2017/18 financial year. In FY2015/16 MTEF is planned to be piloted in seven ministries namely Health; Education; Agriculture; Public Works and Transport; Finance; Public Services; and Economic Planning and Development. Preparation of credible MTEFs requires entities to have costed strategic plans, among other requirements. However, currently most of the government entities do not have costed strategic plans. Even among the ministries earmarked to pilot MTEF starting FY2015/16, only three ministries have costed strategic plans, meanwhile the costing of entity plans for the other four pilot ministries is underway. In order to facilitate a smooth rolling out of the MTEF in FY2016/17, Government desires that all budgetary entities should have strategic plans that are not only costed but with an output orientation and medium term perspective, and in line with the Government’s Programme of Action as well as the National Development Plan. Each budgetary entity will be required to elaborate or update its Strategic Plan and define its objectives in line with overall Government priorities that will include both the specific actions required to achieve the priority objectives and outcomes as well as ways in which the actions are to be implemented over the medium term.  Objective: The objective of the consultancy is to assist Government budgetary agencies to develop development oriented, costed and acceptable strategic plans contribution to the achievement of the NDS 2022 and beyond.  The strategic plans will also be used for the preparation of entity MTEF budgets in FY 2016/17 as well as prepare the ground for a more effective management. Government, with the support of UNDP and other partners, aims to ensure that all ministries and agencies have costed strategic plans before the start of the budget cycle for the financial year 2016/17. Government proposes a short term consultancy to train officials in strategic planning and to guide them in the preparation of the needed strategic plans. Proposed Role of the Trained Officials: The expected role of the trained officials will be to guide and facilitate the process of developing/updating and costing strategic plans for their respective ministries and agencies. In specific terms, the officials will be expected to do the following: Consult the entity leadership to ensure they (leaders) drive the process of strategic planning for the entity; Organize strategic planning meetings for all key entity stakeholders (specifically to conduct a situational analysis for the entity; develop/update entity vision, mission, goals, objectives, strategy, outputs; costing the entity objectives; assessing the entity resources; establishing a monitoring and evaluation criteria); Prepare relevant material and documents that will be needed during the strategic planning meetings e.g. Government Programme of Action for 2014-2018, NDP, PRSAP, entity budget reports, unit costs for common items and outputs for the entity, etc Work with the UNDP consultant to draft the entity strategic plan; Organize a workshop to discuss and validate the draft strategic plan.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Consultant will be responsible for the following tasks: Train Government Officials on Strategic Planning; Undertake a desk review of existing documentation including the National Development Plan, Government Programme of Action, entity past strategic plans, etc; analyze, document and highlight issues/areas/gaps or critical factors for entity strategic planning; Liaise with entities’ focal points (trained officials) as necessary, to obtain/ascertain information related to entity strategic planning.  The consultant is expected to assist the sectors to form teams and develop communication mechanisms to facilitate the development and buy in of the strategic plan; Support the entity focal points in organizing and facilitating entity strategic planning meetings and to serve as a resource person during these meetings; Draft the entity strategic plans based on the information generated from stakeholder meetings and inputs from staff of the Ministries; Ensure that the draft strategic plans for the entities are in line with Government priorities articulated in the Programme of Action and the National Development Plan and also in line with the entity priorities. Deliverables: Inception Report; Trained Government Officials on strategic planning; Training materials; Monthly progress reports; Entity costed and validated strategic plans; Final Consultancy report.

Competencies

Proven analytical, organizational development and inter-personal skills; Research and evaluation skills including ability to synthesize voluminous information concisely; Excellent oral and effective presentation and report-writing skills; Ability to meet deadlines with minimum supervision; Ability to lead teams and manage conflicting ideas and views from diverse groups; Excellent social and communication skills; Excellent analytical skills and proven ability to plan, communicate effectively; Ability to consolidate and synthesize substantive comments from multiple sources in a balance and concise manner.

Required Skills and Experience

Education: Advanced University Degree in Economics, Development studies, Social Science or related field. Experience: Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in strategic planning and public sector budgeting; Experience at country level desired; Previous experience in preparation of costed strategic plans; Awareness of the functioning systems that guide the medium term budget preparation process; Familiar with Results Based Management. Languages: Profiency in English language.

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

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