[Hiring] National Economist @AGORA

Role Description

The purpose of this consultancy is to support the preparation of the economic and financial analysis, detailed budget, financing structure and procurement elements of the Funding Proposal by providing the national cost, fiscal, co-financing, public-finance and procurement evidence on which they rely.

• Provide the national cost evidence for the project: a unit cost database and costing assumptions based on Maldivian prices and atoll logistics.
• Prepare and maintain the line-by-line budget and support notes for the detailed budget (Annex 14), under the direction of the international finance specialist.
• Prepare the evidence package for the Government co-financing and the national tax information, for validation by the international finance specialist.
• Assess the legal and institutional feasibility of ring-fencing savings and transferring funds under national public-finance rules, as the basis for the Maintenance Fund options.
• Compile and validate the national datasets for the economic and financial analysis (Annex 11) and the procurement data for the procurement plan (Annex 6), as specified by the international finance specialist.
• Facilitate the collection and validation of national financial, fiscal and procurement information from government agencies and service providers.

Qualifications

• Education: Masters in a university advanced degree in finance, accounting, economics, public administration or a related field. A professional accounting qualification is an asset.
• Work Experience:
  • At least 4 years of experience in budgeting, financial management or public finance.
  • Experience preparing budgets for projects funded by the GCF, a multilateral development bank, the UN or bilateral donors.
  • Sound knowledge of Maldivian public finance, budget processes and taxation.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English and Dhivehi.
• Knowledge/Expertise/Skills:
  • Precision and consistency in budgeting.
  • Advanced spreadsheet skills.
  • Ability to meet tight deadlines while working with several teams.
  • Clear documentation of assumptions.
• Desirables:
  • GCF budget experience is a strong asset.
  • Experience costing infrastructure or education projects in the Maldives is an asset.
  • Experience in undertaking economic and financial analysis is desirable.

Requirements

• UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it.
• UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does.
• 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.
• UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF.

Benefits

• UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities throughout the recruitment process.
• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
• UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes.

Company Description

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed.

We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.