Macroeconomic Expert

Title of Consultancy:Macroeconomic Expert
Type of Contract:Individual Contract ( IC)
Duration of the assignment:9 months (with about 5 missions totaling 100 working days)
Duty station:Nairobi/ Somalia
Expected places of travel:Somalia
Supervisor:Project Manager SIDP
Anticipated presence at UNDP premises:part time
Date of Issue:1st March 2011
Closing Date:14th March 2011

II. Organizational Context

In the last four years UNDP has been providing support to the Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the Somaliland and Puntland Federal administrations to enable them to perform their functions effectively. Under the Somali Institutional Development project (SIDP) this support has focused on four areas, namely: (a) policy and legislative development (b) human resource management and development (c) public administration and financial management, and (d) rehabilitation of infrastructure and provision of essential facilities and equipment. Substantial progress has been made in these areas but a great deal more effort is required to bring the machinery of government to operate at a level which can enable the country to meet the aspirations of the Somali people, particularly in the key areas of public administration, public financial management and service delivery.

Sound PFM supports aggregate control, prioritization, accountability and efficiency in the management of public resources and delivery of services, which are critical to the achievement of public policy objectives, including achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Sound public financial management is also fundamental to the appropriate use and effectiveness of donor resources since aid is increasingly provided through modalities that rely on well-functioning systems for budget development, execution and control.

Through its Somali Institutional Development Project (SIDP) UNDP is working to strengthen the macroeconomic management in all of the three administrative governments of Somalia in order to promote economic growth. The purpose of this TOR is to hire a competent and experienced macroeconomic expert to provide technical assistance in macroeconomic management.

Reporting administratively to the SIDP Project Manager, and working under the technical supervision of the technical specialist for PFM, the macroeconomic expert will provide technical support in updating the macro-statistical database, conducting training in macroeconomic management, development of macroeconomic framework and macroeconomic policies among other key deliverables.

The full scope of work and required profile of the ideal candidate are detailed hereunder.

III. Scope of work

The macroeconomic expert will be responsible for the following tasks:
•training local counterpart staff in the three zones (Somaliland, Puntland and South Central) in developing macroeconomic and fiscal databases including indicators of real GDP growth, balance of payments and monetary stock;
•training local counterpart staff in the development of medium term macroeconomic frameworks for each of the three zones of Somalia (South Central, Somaliland and Puntland) to assess the macroeconomic and fiscal impacts of alternative macroeconomic policies;
•training local counterpart staff in using the macroeconomic frameworks to estimate fiscal resource envelopes including the available fiscal space for allocation to government priority policies in each zone;
•Providing support and training to counterpart staff in developing and analyzing the macroeconomic/fiscal implications of public investment plans (PIPs);
•Providing technical support to strengthen counterpart capacity in formulating macroeconomic policies and national development strategies;
•Providing regular technical briefings on government macroeconomic policies and the macroeconomic implications of government strategic plans to the Somali authorities, other stakeholders including DFID, World Bank and UNDP; and
•Any other duties assigned by the project manager.

IV. Monitoring and Progress controls

The consultant will work under the overall supervision of the SIDP Project Manager

V. Final product/deliverables

•Mission reports to be submitted to the Project Manager on progress made in the areas of responsibility mentioned above;
•Medium term macroeconomic frameworks developed for each zone with accompanying user manuals;
•Medium term macroeconomic projections including real GDP growth projections prepared for each zone;.
•Counterpart staff trained to maintain, implement and update macroeconomic frameworks for each zone;
•Counterpart staff trained to compile relevant macroeconomic data for each zone; and
•Counterpart staff trained to carry out macroeconomic policy analyses as required within each zone.

VI: Review/approval time

Maximum of 21 days upon submission

VII: Qualifications

•Advanced degree in Economics, econometrics or mathematics;
• Extensive experience in international macroeconomic modeling, financial programming and macroeconomic forecasting.
•Demonstrable Experience in linking policy, planning and budgeting
•Demonstrable experience in developing and successfully implementing medium term macroeconomic frameworks for developing countries
•Experience in working in conflict/post-conflict environments;
•Experience in working with senior government officials, donors and civil society on public policy and public sector management
•Ability to work in a team and in a multicultural environment.
•Ability to prioritise among competing and complex tasks
•Ability to communicate effectively in English, in writing and orally.
•Willingness to travel and work in Somalia.
VIII: Other information

The consultant will be located in Nairobi with frequent travels to Somalia and a possibility of relocation to Somalia when security situation permits.

All travel related and DSA costs will be borne by UNDP Somalia country office and arranged under the UNDP standard procedures

Applicants are required to fill and sign a P11 Form and submit it together with Curriculum Vitae on the online application.

UNDP will only be able to respond to those applications in which there is further interest.

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