Technical Specialist for Minister of Finance and Development Planning

Tiered Approach

In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:

• Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
• Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
• Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
• Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.

Background/ Office/Unit/ Project Description

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

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Information on the project

Lesotho’s macroeconomic position has been deteriorating since 2015 with the economy remaining in recession since 2017 worsened by the widening of public spending that has peaked at 65% of GDP in the 2023/2024 financial year. The national capital budget is 27% of the total budget, compared to 73% incurred under the recurrent budget. Eighty-six percent of Lesotho’s national budget is absorbed by government consumption, particularly public wages which are estimated at 32% of the GDP. Public procurement, which accounts for 35 percent of GDP, although key in determining the effectiveness of government in delivering essential services, programs, and projects; faces numerous management challenges. The government’s revenues particularly from the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), declined by 22% of GDP in the 2022/23 financial year. In spite of the high spending in the public sector, and worrying revenue trends, this has not translated into satisfactory performance and high productivity in the public sector. The above shortcomings notwithstanding The Government of Lesotho is keen on creating a conducive environment to spur inclusive growth and development.

Upon assumption of office, the Government reassured Basotho its commitment, to deliver public goods and services, and to enable the realization of the fundamental human rights of every Mosotho. The Government underscored the importance of expediting ongoing National Reforms by acknowledging improvements the relative peace, political stability, and tolerance following the Luanda Angola, 2018 Double Troika Summit resolution of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). In this regard, the Government promised to fix the imbalances to achieve macroeconomic stability, reform the public service to make it more efficient, transparent, accountable, and effective, address corruption, and, introduce a rigorous system of monitoring and evaluation to counter poor performance. Equally important is the pledge to increase accountability in the public sector, and social engagement in performance. These shall be achieved through: i) enhancing inclusive and sustainable economic growth and private sector job creation; ii) Strengthening the human capital; iii) Building an enabling infrastructure; iv) Strengthening national governance and accountability systems for improved service delivery; v) Strengthen climate risk management resilience and adaptation; and vi). Strengthen public financial management.

Consequently, the UN initiated a Joint UN Programme on Improved Governance for Optimized Service Delivery to augment and complement the Government’s efforts to address the pervasive impediments to effective governance and public service delivery in Lesotho. At the core of the initiative is effective public service delivery to all Basotho people through:

a) Promote effective leadership and management of the public sector through Senior level leadership training and Executive Coaching Platforms (Cabinet and Principal Secretaries), capacity development, and Institutional strengthening;
b) Enhance efficient and informed resource allocation and utilization by, strengthening public financial accountability for efficiency and informed resource allocation as well as development assistance coordination and effectiveness and; building capacity of district and community councils on public financial management increased;
c) Establishment of e-governance for enhanced accessibility to government services by establishing One-Stop e-government centres for public services, coordination and standardization of e-government initiatives, and creation of an enabling legal and policy framework for e-governance;
d) Institutionalize a national accountability mechanism through measurements as well as, adoption, and implementation of Decentralization Policy, Mobile and digital platforms for citizen feedback and, strengthening horizontal and vertical inter/intra governmental linkages and accountabilities; Institutionalization of community accountability mechanism through performance-based climate resilient grants in local authorities;
e) Augment coordinated implementation of strategic public service reforms through operationalization of public sector performance-based management structures, systems, and processes; strengthening structures and capabilities for coordinated implementation of public sector reforms.

The Technical Specialist to the Minister of Finance and Development Planning shall be responsible for the provision of high-level policy advice, executive management of the Minister’s office, and for ensuring the efficient coordination, communication, and execution of the Minister’s decisions and initiatives. The S/he shall advise the Minister on strengthening the organizational, strategic, and leadership capabilities to deliver their mandate effectively. S/he shall work within the Minister’s Office and report directly to the Honourable Minister. The Specialist shall play a pivotal role in supporting the Minister's leadership.

Scope of the work

Duties and Responsibilities

The overall function of the Technical Specialist to the Minister of Finance and Development Planning in Lesotho is to provide high-level, strategic leadership, analysis, and guidance to the Minister on finance, economic, and development policy issues in support of the government's efforts towards macro-economic stability, fiscal discipline, sustainable development, help shape and implement government policies that address key challenges and advance national development objectives. The key roles shall be:

Economic Policy Analysis:

• Conducting in-depth analysis of economic trends, indicators, and data to inform and advise the Minister on policy formulation and decision-making. This includes assessing the macroeconomic environment, identifying challenges and opportunities, and recommending policy measures to promote economic stability, growth, and diversification.

Fiscal Management:

• Providing strategic advice and guidance to the Minister on fiscal policy, budget formulation, revenue mobilization, and public expenditure management. This involves analyzing budgetary priorities, revenue projections, and expenditure patterns to ensure fiscal sustainability and alignment with national development goals.

Development Planning:

• Advise the Minister on the development and implementation of medium to long-term development plans, strategies, and frameworks. This includes advising the Minister on setting development priorities, defining sectoral strategies, and coordinating with relevant stakeholders to ensure coherence and effectiveness in development planning processes.

Policy Coordination:

• Advise the Minister on effective coordination with other government departments, agencies, and stakeholders to ensure alignment and coherence in policy development and implementation. This involves facilitating inter-ministerial collaboration, resolving policy-related issues, and promoting consensus-building on key policy matters.

Strategic Advice and Decision Support:

• Providing strategic advice and recommendations to the Minister on a wide range of economic and development issues. This includes assessing policy options, evaluating their potential impacts, and advising on strategies to achieve desired outcomes in line with government priorities.

External Engagement and Representation:

• Representing the Minister and the ministry in meetings, conferences, and other forums with domestic and international stakeholders whenever required. This includes engaging with development partners, multilateral institutions, and other external actors to foster cooperation, mobilize support, and advocate for Lesotho's interests.

Policy Research and Analysis:

• Conducting research and analysis on specific policy topics, emerging trends, and international best practices relevant to finance, development planning, and economic management. This involves synthesizing complex information, preparing briefing materials, and presenting findings to support evidence-based decision-making.

Capacity Building and Institutional Strengthening:

• Supporting capacity-building efforts within the ministry and relevant government institutions to enhance policy analysis, planning, and implementation capabilities. This includes providing training, technical assistance, and mentorship to staff to improve their skills and expertise.

General Policy Analysis:

• Conduct a thorough analysis of policy issues, trends, and data to inform decision-making processes. This involves researching relevant topics, gathering data, and assessing the potential impacts and fiscal implications of different policy options.

General Policy Development:

• Assisting in the development and formulation of new policies, strategies, and initiatives in alignment with the government's goals and objectives. This may involve drafting policy documents, proposals, and briefing notes for consideration by the minister and other stakeholders as part of feedback on resource implication of policy proposal from sister ministries.

Stakeholder Engagement:

• Engaging with various stakeholders, including government agencies, civil society organizations, international partners, and the private sector, to gather input, build consensus, and foster collaboration on policy issues.

Advisory Support:

• Providing expert advice and recommendations to the minister on policy matters, including potential risks, opportunities, and implications of proposed decisions. This involves keeping abreast of relevant developments and best practices in the field.

Policy Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Monitoring the implementation of policies and programs to assess progress, identify challenges, and recommend adjustments as needed. This includes developing performance indicators, conducting evaluations, and preparing reports on policy outcomes.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Institutional Arrangement

The Technical Specialist works under the general supervision of the Deputy Resident Representative and collaborates closely with the Minister of Finance and Development Planning on day to day activities. The Technical Specialist engages where relevant with the Ministry of Finance and Development, inclusive of various institutions, government, and development partners working to ensure the participation of all relevant stakeholders in the assignment.

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

Business Direction & Strategy: - Strategic Thinking

• Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized 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;
• Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNDP.

Business Direction & Strategy: - System Thinking

• Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.

Business Development:-Knowledge Facilitation

• Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share, particularly externally

2030 Agenda:Peace,Planet:- Governance

• Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and control resources, procedures, and protocols to achieve specific goals

Business Management: - Communication

• Ability to communicate in a clear, concise, and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience
• Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media, and other appropriate channels

Partnership management: -Relationship Management

• Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Minimum Education requirements

• Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in in Economics, International Governance, Developments Studies, International Development or any other related field of study; OR
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in above-mentioned fields in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

Minimum years of relevant work experience

• Minimum 5 years (with master’s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible relevant experience at the national or international level in areas of trade policy, economic development, or advisory services at a senior level, governance, public policy, and public administration providing advisory services.

Required skills

• Demonstratable understanding of macro-fiscal policy formulation and implementation;
• A good understanding of the economy, policy development and Lesotho's political landscape;
• Demonstrable practical experience in the provision of high-level policy advice to senior leadership in complex and volatile environment;
• Demonstrable understanding of the functioning of the Government machinery (systems, structure, mechanisms and processes) in Lesotho.

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section

• Experience in the public sector and/or international organizations is an advantage;
• Demonstrated understanding of economy, policy development and Lesotho's political landscape;
• Practical experience of an advisory role to a cabinet minister or equivalent level;
• A proven track record of ES in a high-level setting, including coordination of interdisciplinary teams.

Required Language(s)

• Fluency in English Language and Sesotho (or any other local language) is required.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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