Review and Assessment Consultant, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Remotely (Open For Nationals Of Cambodia Only) Req#595122

Contract Duration:  3.5 Months

Working arrangement: Remotely

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                                                         TERMS OF REFERENCE

The main purpose of this consultancy is to work with international consultant in the review of the relevant documents from Khmer to English and English to Khmer related to performance informed budgeting and also development of the cost efficiency review framework in line with the final phase of Public Financial Management Reform Programme 2023-2027 (PFMRP Phase 4) and national budget system reform strategy 2025-2028.

To achieve this purpose, the national consultant shall work collaboratively with international consultant in providing technical support to the Ministry of Economy and Finance to address two main objectives:

1. Review and assess implementation of the performance informed budgeting (PIB) guideline with focus on implementation of annual performance plan and performance agreement in collaboration with General Department of Budget (GDB) of Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF)

2. Develop costing model for PIB implementation and cost efficiency review framework and relevant capacity building in support of GDB and General Department of Policy (GDP)

Scope of Work:

This assignment focuses primarily on the national-level budget, covering central ministries and their corresponding provincial line departments. The consultancy will involve a desk review of key budget and planning documents, including, but not limited to, the PIB Guideline, Annual Performance Plans, Performance Agreements, Budget Strategic Plans, Programme-Based Budgeting documents, the Monitoring and Evaluation Framework of the Pentagonal Strategy Phase 1 (PS1), and the National Strategic Development Plan (NSDP). The review and assessment will concentrate on selected line ministries, to be identified by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, and is expected to include approximately five to ten ministries. Throughout the review, the consultant shall systematically apply child rights–based, disability-inclusive, and gender responsive budgeting principles. This includes assessing the extent to which budget formulation and performance frameworks:

• Integrate the specific rights, needs, and priorities of children, persons with disabilities, and women and girls, as well as boys and men where relevant;

• Ensure the selection and design of programmes are inclusive and address structural inequalities and barriers faced by marginalized and vulnerable groups;

• Reflect clear and measurable performance indicators that capture differential impacts by age, gender, and disability status;

• Align programme objectives and indicators with relevant Cambodia Sustainable Development Goals (CSDGs) targets related to children, gender equality, and disability inclusion;

• Promote equitable allocation of resources and meaningful inclusion of these populations within Annual Performance Plans and Performance Agreements at both national and sub-national levels. The analysis will assess whether planning and budgeting processes demonstrate intentional prioritization of inclusive outcomes and contribute to reducing disparities related to child well-being, gender inequality, and disability exclusion across sectors.

In addition to desk review, the review also involves conducting in-depth interview including key informant interview, and focus group discussion with key stakeholders of selected ministries engaged in the budgeting process including finance and planning department, selected technical departments, and provincial line departments. In case, face to face meetings or interviews cannot be conducted, the meeting/interview shall be conducted virtually.

The consultant shall respond to the following key sets of questions in delivering objective 1: 1. To what extend the design and implementation of PIB guideline integrated result-based management principles? And enforcing the policy-budget linkages?

2. How effective the implementation of the guideline at line ministry central and provincial level? Any gaps or challenges during the implementation particularly the APP and PA.

3. To what extend the principle of efficiency has been integrated in the implementation of PIB?

4. What are inter-linkages between APP and PA with decentralization of the budget entities in delivering better result?

5. How are APP and PA linked with M&E Framework of PS1 and NSDP and also sector plans?

6. Is there functioning M&E mechanism to support implementation of APP and PA?

7. Based on implementation of APP and PA, assess the readiness of provincial line departments in implementing APP and PA especially in ensuring accountability and attribution to achieve line ministry result?

For objective 2, the consultant is expected to implement the following key tasks:

1. Review cost efficiency concept note and relevant document developed by GDP and practice of other countries

2. Develop cost efficiency methodological framework and provide capacity building for GDP team to implement cost efficiency review exercise

3. Provide technical advice to GDP team on design and report writing.

4. Conduct data collection and interviews with MEF and relevant ministries on costing model and develop costing model/template for use by line ministries in costing and budgeting for implementation of PIB This consultancy may require travelling to at least two provinces. The international consultant is required to engage local consultant to support Khmer-English review of documents and also conducting interviews with relevant stakeholders.

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here:  Terms Of Reference TMC0004932.pdf

Minimum requirements:

• Education:

Possess min Postgraduate relevant academic degree in the fields of public finance, development studies, public policy, economics, and other relevant field • Other relevant training courses in the field of PFM is considered an asset

• Work Experience:

Having at least 5 years of professional experiences in the field of public finance, result-based management (RBM), and M&E

• Language Requirements:

Having high proficiency in Khmer and English

• Knowledge/Expertise/Skills:

Familiar with government budgeting particularly programme budgeting and/orperformance budgeting

• Desirables:

Good communication skills and flexibility in working with government ministries

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

Qualified candidates are invited to submit the following documents via the online recruitment portal, TMS (Talent Management System):

• An up-to-date TMS profile and curriculum vitae (CV)
• Cover letter
• A separate financial proposal (only acceptable in the format of the linked template)  Financial Proposal TMC0004932.xlsx
• A detailed technical proposal

The proposal shall elaborate on understanding of the field of work and scope of ToR, methodology, approach and plan to produce deliverables with references of similar assignments provided.

Remarks:  

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.