Economics Specialist (GEMS) 53 views0 applications

Background

South Sudan has experienced immense political, institutional, social and economic challenges, which have derailed its progress since independence and transition from Sudan in July 2011. In September 2018, parties to the conflict signed a peace agreement to end the conflict. The Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) brought renewed impetus towards stabilizing the fragile situation in the country. Following signing of the R-ARCSS, South Sudan is gearing up to embark on a transitional period with the Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU) mandated, among other things to implement the revitalized peace agreement with a renewed promise of no return to war, reintegrate refugees and internally displaced persons, undertake legal and institutional reforms, enforce accountable economic governance and improve service delivery to citizens.

The country is still working towards building coherent core institutional structures of governance and critical infrastructure. For a long time, South Sudan faced severe economic crises in light of persistent oil price volatility and oil production shocks. By signing the R-ARCSS, the signatories committed to implement the whole agreement including provisions of Chapter IV, which advances key economic reforms in the spirit of the New Deal for Engagement in fragile states. A well-calibrated economic management support package inspired by the R-ARCSS will enable the government to build on efforts to roll out the National Development Strategy (NDS), accelerate implementation of the targeted economic reforms, strengthen and improve governance and delivery of services. The government is also prioritising the production and timely dissemination of accurate information on socio-economic fundamentals as a key tool for decision making and effective management.

Reforms to enhance public Financial Management (PFM) is critical to ensure that public resources are spent effectively and efficiently in line with strategic priorities outlined in the R-ARCSS. Mobilizing and managing resources required to fund the R-ARCSS is very important for the successful implementation of the R-ARCSS.

Meanwhile the aid landscape in South Sudan is shaped by several years of crises which has seriously undermined the working of State institutions and eroded the basis of national leadership required to ensure the effectiveness of aid delivery. Government faces several obstacles to act on the principles contained in the Paris Declaration (2005), the Accra Agenda for Action (2008) and the New Deal for Engagement in fragile states.

Consequenty, developing and nurturing key partnerships with all stakeholders (government and public sector, donors, private sector and civil society) is essential. Enhanced coordination of partners would contribute to more efficient implementation of the R-ARCSS. Additionally, key reforms by government to strengthen economic management processes are crucial to build the mutual trust necessary for the R-ARCSS to be implemented.

Strategic capacity injection in key ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) is crucial for implementation of the public expenditure and accountability frameworks and build institutional capacities for adoption and application of PFM principles, as articulated in Chapter IV of R-ARCSS.

United Nations Development Programme, with funding from the Kingdom of Norway is supporting the government to build capacities for governance and economic management through the Governance and Economic Management Support project (GEMS).

Duties and Responsibilities

The Economics Specialist will provide substantive technical advice on restoring core economic management functions and revitalizing aid coordination. The core economic management functions include: decision-making and coordination at the center of government; public revenue and expenditure management; government employment and public administration; local governance; and aid management. These should be fragility sensitive and mainstream the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development as well as the Agenda 2063 of the African Union.

Under the direct supervision of Director General, Macroeconomic Planning and Aid Coordination on a day-to-day basis while being accountable to the UNDP Country Director for results, the Economic Specialist will undertake the following specific tasks;

1. Function: Revitalizing Economic Management Functions
2. Support the MoFP in the revitalization of essential economic management processes including: planning, public revenue and expenditure management, coordination and reporting
3. Support MoFP in the implementation of the fiscal and economic stabilization measures, with a greater focus on Public Finance Management. This also includes working with MoFP to strengthen linkages across the central government and states; as well as production and timely dissemination of accurate information on the economy.
4. Function: Capacity Development of MoFP-Aid Coordination Unit (ACU):
5. Provide strategic and practical advice and briefings to the ACU and senior management of the MoFP on how best to strategically manage donor support to GoSS to achieve national development objectives.
6. Provide mentor support to the director of ACU.
7. Provide capacity development to local counterparts to facilitate the transfer of responsibilities related to aid coordination and aid effectiveness issues.
8. Draft discussion papers for GoSS and donor partners on practical means of achieving GoSS aid effectiveness priorities
9. Function: Advance the Aid Coordination Agenda
10. Provide advice and briefings to GoSS management on building and enhancing robust partnerships for aid effectiveness
11. Assist the Aid Coordination Unit to revitalize partnership platforms to improve engagement with partners
12. Support the ACU in the facilitation of meetings between GoSS and donors
13. Function: Strengthen Strategic Dialogue on Partnerships and Support Aid Management
14. Support the ACU director and MoFP to proactively engage with key R-TGoNU processes particularly around the aid strategy and review of country systems
15. Support the review and revision of the Aid strategy in support of NDS priorities and the New Deal for Engagement in Fragile States.
16. Support proactive engagement by ACU and partners to promote alignment of aid with the priorities of the NDS and R-ARCSS.
17. In close collaboration and consultation with the Budget Department of MoFP and the donor community, device strategies to capture aid flows on the national budget
18. In close consultation with the Budget Department of MoFP, device strategies on increasing the local impact of external assistance.
19. Help ACU to analyze and assess all grant, loan and other development cooperation agreements and provide briefings to senior MoFP officials on their content and requirements, along with an understanding of their programs, sectoral and geographical focus and linkage/alignment of the proposed interventions with NDS sector priorities.
20. Assist the ACU with a communication strategy to improve strategic dialogue between the UN, donors and Government at all levels to achieve mutual understanding and facilitate information sharing. This will include utilization of the current dialogue mechanisms (HGPF, IMAC, etc), conducting periodic donor portfolio reviews.
21. Help ACU develop a mechanism for regular monitoring and reporting on Grant and Loan Agreements, assess their implications on the GoSS policies and report on the progress achieved towards meeting the relevant benchmarks.
22. Participate in and contribute to the monitoring surveys of the Paris Declaration to stimulate dialogue and track progress on aid effectiveness commitments.
23. Perform other duties as required by the Ministry of Finance and Planning as well as the UNDP Country Office

Competencies

nnovation

Ability to make new and useful ideas work

Leadership

Ability to persuade others to follow

People Management

Ability to improve performance and satisfaction

Communication

Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform

Delivery

Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement

Advocacy/Advancing a Policy-Oriented Agenda: Ability to identify and communicates relevant information for a variety of audiences for advocating UNDP’s mandate

Development and Coordination Effectiveness

Public Sector Development

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree in Economics or relevant field is required with 5 years of experience in relevant field, including specific experience with leading/coordinating New Deal processes; or bachelor’s degree in economics or relevant field is required with 8 years of experience in relevant field, including specific with leading/coordinating New Deal processes;

Experience:

Demonstrated experience in formulating and coordinating national development policy in conflict and fragile contexts, including working on the New Deal, fragility assessment and core governance functions. This includes working across the peace-relief and development contexts;

Demonstrated experience with partnership platforms, formulating and coordinating national aid policy/strategy

Demonstrated experience with relationship building – including inter-governmental as well as government and partners

Demonstrated experience from capacity development and coaching other staff;

Knowledge of mandates of key actors and the EU, UN and cluster system, and experience from UN cluster structures;

Experience with conflict prevention, peacebuilding, reintegration and conflict sensitive development;

Written and spoken English is essential; Excellent command of common Microsoft Office programs is a requirement; and Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in written and spoken English is required; Knowledge of Arabic language is an asset but not a

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