Job Description
Public Finance Management Consultant - Training Manual Development, Mbabane, Swaziland
Background
The Government of Swaziland is preparing to introduce a Public Finance Management Act (PFMA). The Act provides a clear legal framework for encouraging good financial management practices and improving the value for money from public spending. The Act will clearly identify the legal responsibilities and processes in budget formulation, execution and reporting, as well as setting a legal requirement for accounting standards. The Government of Swaziland has approached UNDP to help develop materials and training that can be used to inform relevant stakeholders of how the PFMA changes the legal requirements governing how Government manages public money.
The objective of the consultancy is to develop a comprehensive training manual on the Public Finance Management for Government based on the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) and to develop materials that will improve the understanding of the changes that all civil servants and members of the general public may expect from the PFMA.
The draft PMFA Bill (2011) has outlined the following provisions as objectives for the PFMA:- to provide the regulation of the public finance management; promote accountability, transparency and sound financial management; to ensure that all revenue, expenditure, assets and liabilities of the government are managed efficiently, effectively and transparently.
Implementation of the Act will require that senior and middle managers of the public service are trained on Public Financial Management to ensure accountability, transparency, efficiency and effectiveness on the management of public resources is in line with the new legal requirements. The beneficiaries of thI training will be drawn from the public sector including all parastatals.
Successful implementation by Government will also require that all public sector employees and members of civil society understand the new legal requirements set by the PFMA. A people's guide to the PFMA will benefit all civil society organisations and challenge Government to deliver on its commitment, while synthesized pocket guides for the public sector will ensure that all public employees understand how the PFMA changes their day-to-day operations. Training of trainers will allow central government to further ensure that all line ministries understand the implications of and are ready to implement the PFMA.
Duties and Responsibilities
Scope of Work
1. Develop a simplified version of the Act that will be a “people's guide to the PFM Act”, summarizing the core principles of the Act and explaining how these will change and improve governance.
2. Develop a comprehensive manual on the PFM to be used for training of key stakeholders. The manual will cover:
Principles behind the new PFM Act
Roles and responsibilities of specific public entities and positions detailed in the new PFM Act, and how these have changed.
Fiscal practices and procedures required under the new PFM Act (such as budget formulation and execution) and how they have changed.
Accounting standards and reporting requirements under the new PFM Act, and how these have changed
Areas of the PFM process that require further efforts from Government to implement planned changes highlighted in the Act (such as the mapping of the chart of accounts of public enterprises to that of central government).
The training manual could include some of the following modules in addition to the above: frameworks for PFM; the PFM and political context; central government versus the broader public sector; elements of macroeconomics; developing the macro fiscal framework; direct budget support and policy responses; PFM institutional arrangements; budget formulation, classification and process; elements of costing; project cycle for capital budgeting; budget execution and control; financial management and reporting; budget formulation and implementation; revenue management; legal and institutional frameworks of public procurement and public disposal; institutional arrangement for debt management; inter-governmental fiscal transfers; aid modalities; integrating aid into the national budget; internal and external audits; elements of integrity, transparency and accountability; parliaments oversight role and role of civil society in PFM.
3. Develop a summary guide for civil servants on changes to the areas highlighted above and how this will affect their work (such as changes to procurement and reporting).
4. Develop a monitoring and evaluation plan for the effectiveness of the PMF training.
5. Collaborate with the Anti corruption Commission (ACC) and the Commission on Human Rights and Public Administration (CHRPA) as the Integrity Commission in the development of the material and facilitating the training.
Deliverables
.Comprehensive training manual on the PFM
Simplified version of the PFM Act that will be a “people's guide to the PFM Act”
Summary guide for civil servants on the implication of the PFMA and how it impacts on their work such as changes to procurement and reporting procedures).
Conduct a Pilot training on the manual and plan for training roll out and costs, collaborating with the ACC and CHRPA.
Competencies
Understanding the role of PFM legislation
Understanding of the PFM application within the developing context.
Fluency in English speaking and excellent writing skills.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
Minimum Master's degree in Economics, Development studies or similar field.
Experience:
Minimum 5-10 years experience in Public Finance Management and training manual development.
This is a Senior consultancy Assignment requiring high level functioning abilities and professional advice based on extensive experience on the Public Finance Management.
Language:
Fluency in written and spoken English.
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.
No Fee
AJS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS AND AJS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON BANK ACCOUNTS.
SOME EMPLOYERS MAY ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT OF YOUR APPLICATION.
