Technical And Outreach Specialist – Sdg Taxation Framework- Ipsa 11

Description

Background
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Office/Unit/Project Description

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the knowledge frontier organization for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy and programme work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office (CO) levels, form a contiguous spectrum of deep, local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. Within this context, UNDP invests in a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan.

The UNDP Tax for SDGs Initiative is managed by the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS’s) Sustainable Finance Hub (SFH), with resource persons embedded in the SDG Finance Teams in Amman, Bangkok, Istanbul, Panama, and Pretoria. The UNDP Tax for SDGs Initiative has a particular emphasis on linking tax administration and tax and fiscal policies with the broader SDGs. Building on UNDP Country Office portfolios and already existing engagements with Ministries, UNDP brings a stronger focus on the role of tax and fiscal policy in achieving Agenda 2030. The project places a particular focus on reducing gender and social inequalities in tax and fiscal policy as well as taking forward climate action and environmental goals, and health outcomes. Representing the views of developing countries in the global normative tax discussions is critical and to this effect, the UNDP Tax and TIWB also work to bring evidence and perspectives from developing countries into the regional and international discussions on taxation.

In addition, the Tax for SDGs Initiative is designed to help governments take innovative approaches to taxation that will, on the one hand, improve domestic revenue mobilization to finance the SDG initiatives and, on the other, use tax policy tools to incentivize the achievement of the SDGs. This is to be achieved through the SDGs Taxation Framework (STF). STF is the comprehensive diagnostic framework which can be used by national governments to evaluate the coherence of their tax system with the specific targets/indicators of relevant SDGs. The purpose of the STF is to bring greater focus to the critical role of tax policy and revenue administration in achieving the SDGs by 2030. The STF identifies targets that need to be achieved and specifies what are the indicators to achieve these targets. It also explains how these indicators can be achieved and uses dimensions and sub-dimensions to inform stakeholders what further actions need to be undertaken to successfully accomplish the desired outcomes.
Duties and Responsibilities

UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) is seeking a Technical and Outreach Specialist for SDGs Taxation Frameworks. Under the direct supervision of the Head of Tax for SDGs, Sustainable Finance Hub and in close collaboration with members of the UNDP Tax team the Technical and Outreach Specialist will be responsible for coordinating the SDGs Taxation Frameworks ensuring efficiency in laying strong foundations for effective planning and delivery on the STF deliverables; liaising with other providers of capacity development and building partnerships with different national, regional and international institutions in the field of taxation and support UNDP; working with the UNDP Country Offices and Regional Hubs to support governments in augmenting taxation capacities; supporting Ministries in aligning tax and fiscal policies with the achievement of SDGs.

1. Specific Programmatic Support

Coordinate multi-stakeholder engagement for SDGs Taxation Framework (STF), including engaging with Tax experts, OECD and other Governments, UNDP Regional Hubs/Bureaus and Country offices.
Generate demand for STF by engaging with UNDP Regional Bureaus and Country Offices; Collaborate on funding proposals for mobilizing additional donor resources.
Work with Regional Programme Specialists to create synergies for country-level focused capacity building and leverage expertise and experience across world regions.
Collaborate on strategy for STF, including promoting South-South cooperation.
Identify potential synergies for STF and UNDP’s other areas of work.

2. Policy and Technical

Engage with UNDP country offices to analyze global and cross-regional contexts and identify potential synergies for STF with in-country policy and development work across developing countries.
Liaise with UNDP country offices to engage substantively on STF, including through providing expert advice, helping to formulate appropriate requests for assistance, and assisting with briefing of experts on STF.
Develop concept notes for technical workshops/webinars/side-events for STF.
Develop internal UNDP briefing notes and talking points for Senior Management on STF.

3. Knowledge Management

Manage STF as per developed manual.
Structure and collaboratively map-out emerging trends, and synergies with other activities and opportunities across regions and globally.
Coordinate setting up of STF programmes in country as required.
Coordinate evaluation and selection of STF tax experts and other experts for deployment worldwide, including overseeing their procurement and contracting as per UNDP standard operating procedures.
Manage reporting duties related to STF, including project budgeting and cash flow management, and oversee its maintenance as per UNDP standard operating procedures.
Collaborate on evidence collection and lessons-learned from STF country experiences, including promoting best practice sharing and peer learning through case-studies.
Collaborate on knowledge management between various stakeholders, including experts’ engagement

4. Communications and Outreach

Coordinate STF communications efforts, including for annual report, newsletters, videos, Twitter engagement, amongst others.
Coordinate the organization of STF related events, including for Governing Board Meetings, Technical Advisory Board Meetings, International Conferences, Side-events, amongst others.
Represent STF work at international forums, conferences, events, as required.
Perform other duties, as may be required by the Supervisor.

Institutional Arrangement

The Technical and Outreach Specialist – SDGs Taxation Framework will report to the Head of Tax for SDGs Initiative.
Throughout the project, collaboration and coordination with the rest of the UNDP Tax team will be required.

Competencies
Core
Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Strategic Thinking

Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritised plans in line with UNDP’s objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities, linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions
Negotiation and Influence Ability to reach an understanding, persuade others, resolve points of difference, gain advantage in the outcome of dialogue, negotiates mutually acceptable solutions through compromise and create win win situations
Project Management Ability to plan, organise, prioritise and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals
Monitoring Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback on the consistency or discrepancy between plant and actual activities and programme performance and results
SDG Integration SDG Acceleration and Bottleneck assessment
Strategic Policy Engagement Strategic policy advice in the context of Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development (FfD)
SDG Finance Public Sector Finance (Tax and domestic resource mobilization, public financial management and public expenditure)
Required Skills and Experience
Minimum Academic Education Master's degree in economics, law, political science, public policy, taxation or related field is required
Minimum years of relevant Work Experience At least seven years of work experience in a Ministry of Finance/ tax administration or in an intergovernmental international organization, bilateral development organisation with responsibility related to taxation and development, e.g. for tax policy design, tax laws and/or tax expenditures.
Required skills and competencies

Excellent knowledge of current debates regarding taxation, financing for sustainable development and the 2030 Agenda in developing and transition economies.
Experience of working in and with developing countries in at least two world regions.

Desired additional skills and competencies

Strong record in advising international institutions and/or governments on taxation and development.
Demonstrated experience in project management, programme coordination, overseeing the development of knowledge management and organization of high-level events.
Experience of working with UNDP or UN-system on matters related to taxation and fiscal policies is desirable.
Demonstrated experience in writing concept notes, briefing notes, outcome reports, and other communication and analytical inputs is a distinct advantage. Excellent writing skills.

Language(s) at working level Fluent in English.