Mozambique has embarked upon a new phase of decentralization, with the aim of improving governance, strengthening democracy at the sub-national levels, and striving to deliver better public services. Through a Constitutional amendment and a spate of subsequent legislation termed as the ‘Decentralization Package’, the Government has laid the foundations for a deeper form of decentralized governance. As a political reform, it paves the way for deepening of democracy, strengthening social cohesion, national reconciliation and embedding democratic principles within all tiers of government; and as a governance reform, it creates a platform for more accountable and more responsive government, one that seeks to improve public services by responding to citizen’s needs. The government has undertaken a number of steps to implement the decentralization reforms, including laying out the principles and objectives of a National Program for Decentralization (PND) and drafting several legal frameworks.
To provide further impetus to this process, the Government of Republic of Mozambique and UNDP have developed this Decentralized Governance Promotion Program (DGPP). This Program is the result of consistent dialogue with government (including at the political level); is fully aligned with the legislative changes introduced under the Decentralization Package; will form an integral part of the National Program for Decentralization (PND) which will be finalized in the first quarter of 2020; and complements support provided by other development partners, both within and outside the UN system. The Program takes a flexible, inclusive and equity-oriented approach and seeks to bring to the fore political leadership for implementation of reforms, while addressing gaps in institutional capacity at all levels. Through the Program, UNDP will assist the government to undertake foundational reforms that lead to more inclusive form of decentralized governance, shared prosperity, and a more capable local government system. This support to government is built on three pillars:
Given the nature of the subject covered, the Project will work with several institutions and entities, including Government institutions, non-governmental and civil society organizations, at central and decentralized levels. The most direct entities will be the implementing partners, namely the Ministry of State Administration and Civil Service as well as the Ministry of Economy and Finance. This project’s timeframe is the period between 2020 and 2024.
Within this framework, UNDP seeks to recruit a Public Finance Management Specialist to work in the Governance and Social Cohesion Unit and support the Government of Mozambique, through the Ministry of Economy and Finance in the implementation of the ongoing PFM reforms and to strengthen economic governance in Mozambique with particular focus on local government and decentralized governance.
Under the overall guidance of the Head of Governance and Social Cohesion Unit and the direct supervision of the Chief Technical Advisor DGPP, the Public Finance Management Specialist will be responsible for supporting the MEF and other key stakeholders in the successful implementation of the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) component within the Project “Decentralized Governance Promotion Programme”, contribute in strategic planning and in the day to day monitoring of the activities of the annual work plan within the MEF component. The Public Financial Management (PFM) Specialist provides policy, technical and institutional support to national institutions in the area of public financial management, informed by understanding of the political dynamics of PFM, recognizing the close link between public finances, effective democratic public authority, political stability and economic growth.
Areas of work will include but will not be limited to, budget planning and implementation, internal and external audit, public procurement, risk management, civil society participation in the budgetary process, etc. The PFM Specialist will work in direct coordination with the CO senior economist. He/she will further work in team with the Governance and Social Cohesion Unit team and whenever needed, oversee the work of the Project support staff at MEF to prepare all scheduled activities. He/she analyzes and interprets the financial and procurement rules and regulations applicable to implement the project.
The PFM Specialist will be housed at UNDP and, whenever necessary will work in the Project Implementation Unit within the Ministry of Economy and Finance (a dedicated calendar may be formulated and agreed upon with the CTA and MEF team on the time needed).
The Public Finance Management Specialist will assist the CTA, the MEF and the Governance and Social Cohesion Head of Unit, in the areas of Public Finance Management and financial decentralized governance by providing:
Support to the process of implementation of the PFM reforms envisaged under the DGPP, in particular for:
Strategic and technical advice to the Ministry of Economy and Finance, project technical team, and project beneficiaries on public financial management, through the following:
Corporate Competencies:
Functional Competencies:
Development and Operational Effectiveness
Management and Leadership
Communication: