National Consultant on Public Financial Management Reform Coordination and Institutional and Institutional Engagement Support for Botswana. - MFGPD

Result of Service

Key outputs to be delivered are: a) Inception Report containing a conceptual framework and methodology to achieve the objectives of the assignment. b) A national kick-off workshop report conducted to launch the project and align stakeholders on objectives, scope, and implementation arrangements. c) Ensure timely dissemination of workshop materials, coordination of participants, documentation of proceedings, and preparation of workshop summary reports. d) A draft PFM Reform Prioritization & Sequencing Plan / report produced to support early PFM reform actions and provide structured guidance to national counterparts. e) Consultation summaries should capture stakeholder perspectives, institutional challenges, reform priorities, implementation risks, and coordination issues. f) Support compilation of stakeholder comments, recommendations, and agreed revisions emerging from the validation process. g) A report of national validation workshop organized to review, refine, and endorse the proposed early PFM reform actions. h) Final and government endorsed report on PFM reform prioritization and sequencing action reforms. Provide contextual national inputs to strengthen practical implementation considerations and institutional feasibility of proposed reforms.

Work Location

Botswana

Expected duration

6 months

Duties and Responsibilities

Background Botswana’s Public Financial Management (PFM) system has historically supported fiscal discipline and macroeconomic stability. However, recent IMF diagnostics highlight structural weaknesses in financial control, accounting, and reporting that undermine fiscal credibility. Key challenges include an outdated legal framework, lack of consolidated financial statements, an obsolete Chart of Accounts, instability in the Government Accounting and Budgeting System (GABS), and weak commitment controls leading to arrears. These issues arise as Botswana advances National Development Plan 12 and the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme, both of which emphasize efficiency, transparency, accountability, and results-oriented spending. In response, the Government has launched a four-year PFM transformation programme and requested UNECA’s technical assistance to strengthen institutional capacity and guide reform sequencing. ECA has confirmed readiness to provide upstream support to clarify priorities and establish a coherent framework for early reform actions. A carefully sequenced foundational phase is essential to ensure alignment, institutional readiness, and effective coordination before embarking on complex legal and technological reforms. This proposal therefore focuses on establishing the policy and institutional framework to guide early reform measures, laying the groundwork for sustainable modernization aligned with international standards and national priorities. Duties and Responsibilities The assignment recognizes the importance of national ownership, inter-institutional coordination and stakeholder engagement in ensuring successful implementation and sustainability of PFM reforms. The national consultant will support the lead consultant in the development of a government-endorsed Prioritization and Sequencing Plan for PFM reform actions, guiding the initial phase of the country’s transformation programme. The National Consultant will play a key role in supporting coordination among Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), facilitating stakeholder consultations and ensuring timely communication between national counterparts and UNECA. The national consultant will undertake assigned duties under the guidance of the lead consultant, providing support including data collection and technical inputs through the process of drafting and endorsement of the PFM prioritization and sequencing report. The consultant will contribute to strengthening institutional coherence and reform coordination mechanisms necessary for effective implementation of the broader PFM transformation agenda. The work will be conducted under the supervision of ECA. The main duties and responsibilities are as follows: • Support the lead consultant in the desk review to guide the drafting, validation and endorsement of country’s report on prioritised and sequenced PFM reform actions. • Data collection and provision of technical inputs to different outputs of the assignment. • Facilitate stakeholder engagement, including administration of the questionnaire, organisation of relevant meeting and workshops, and production of related reports. • Contribute to the drafting of final report and support the process of its endorsement by the government. • Provide technical and operational support during stakeholder consultations to ensure effective participation, consensus-building, and documentation of reform priorities. • Assist in monitoring progress against agreed assignment timelines and ensure timely follow-up on stakeholder inputs and deliverables. • Support integration of stakeholder feedback into revised draft reports and validation documents. • Contribute to knowledge management and documentation of lessons learned emerging from the consultation and reform prioritization process. • Support identification of quick wins and practical implementation considerations relevant to Botswana’s institutional context. Reporting Arrangements The National Consultant will report directly to UNECA and work closely with the International Consultant, Ministry of Finance, Office of the Accountant General and designated Government focal points. The consultant will ensure regular communication, timely submission of coordination updates, and effective follow-up on agreed actions with stakeholders. Confidentiality Clause All reports, workshop materials, consultation records, and outputs produced under this assignment shall remain the property of UNECA.

Qualifications/special skills

• An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in economics or a related field is required. A PhD degree in economics or a related field is desirable. • A minimum of (5) years of progressive experience in economic analysis, fiscal policy, Public Financial Management or related field is required • Ability to work effectively with senior government officials, development partners, and technical experts is highly desirable. • Demonstrated understanding of Botswana Government institutional arrangements, public administration systems, and inter-governmental coordination mechanisms is highly desirable. • Experience supporting Public Financial Management reforms, governance reforms, or fiscal policy initiatives in Botswana or the Southern African region is desirable. • Strong organizational, facilitation, stakeholder engagement, and communication skills are required. • Excellent report writing, meeting facilitation, stakeholder coordination, and documentation skills are required.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in written and oral English is required.

Additional Information

Not available.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.