Individual National Consultancy: Financial Tracking and Budget Analysis of Multi-Sector Nutrition Plan (For Nepalese Nationals Only)

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, health.

The objective of this consultancy is “to support NPC/NNFSS for financial tracking and budget analysis of nutrition interventions at all levels of the Government including Federal, Provincial and Local levels”. This will involve the collection of data on the allocated budget as well as expenditures on nutrition interventions for the year 2019/2020 and 2020/2021.

How can you make a difference?

Specific Tasks

• Coordinate with NPC and National Nutrition Food Security Secretariat (NNFSS) for nutrition budget expenditure analysis exercise.  Prepare necessary document/s (concept note), which justifies the adoption of a budget code.
• Review MSNP-II and sectoral plans and policies related to nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive programs including nutrition programs supported and implemented by development partners for a better understanding of the sector.
• Review nutrition activities of MSNP sectoral ministries through sectoral Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWPB) and classify different nutrition activities under nutrition specific or sensitive categories.
• Consult with NPC, Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration (MoFAGA),  Ministry of Health and Population and other sectoral ministries and departments including provincial and local governments to calculate expenditures and costs related to nutrition from conditional grants, equalization grants, special grants, and supplementary grants.
• List out nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions implemented at the federal, provincial and local levels by the government and development partners.
• Review and gather Redbook based budget information of relevant Ministries and sectors allocations and expenditures for nutrition programme in the fiscal year 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 and confirm whether the Redbook budget was spent on nutrition or not in each fiscal year
• Access, identify and analyse information on diversion of nutrition budget to other programs (rakamantar) and reasons for underspending
• Determine the weightage of each of the nutrition interventions within line ministries according to their percentage contribution to nutrition
• Review available resources and Identify funding/resource gaps for implementation of MSNP-II full package across three tiers of government.
• Based on the result of the Nutrition Budget Analysis, develop a concept note for a resource mobilization strategy for MSNP.

The consultant will work closely with the National Planning Commissions, Line Ministries at federal levels, Provincial Policy and Planning Commissions of 7 provinces as needed and selected local governments. Similarly, as, and when required, the consultants will also work closely with UNICEF programme sections, donors, and development partners. 

Deliverables:

Description of Deliverables	Target Delivery Date	Proposed Professional Fee in NPR as per deliverable
Submission of inception report including detail action plan for financial tracking and budget analysis of MSNP II agreed with NPC	31 October 2021
Submission of the review and analysis report of the MSNP budget channelled to Federal, Provincial and Local levels of  MSNP-II  (Nutrition Sensitive and Nutrition Specific)  by using Government grants, funding from the development partners through the “Redbook”,  direct funded by donors/development partners through programs and projects, and internal sources of  Provincial and Local levels. Submission of the findings of funding/resource gap for implementation of MSNP-II at three tiers of Government and resource gap for MSNP interventions for 2022.	15 January 2022
Submission of the final report of financial tracking of MSNP II; nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions the year 2019/2020 and 2020/2021  Submission of budget analysis report of MSNP II and,  Submission of the concept note/proposal for the resource mobilization for the nutrition programme for MSNP-II and MSNP-III Submission of advocacy tools for “nutrition budget code for NPC to advocate with the Ministry of Finance (MoF).	Mid-March 2022
Total Professional Fee

Duration of the contract

The duration of this consultancy will be five months, tentatively starting from 15 October 2021 to 14 March 2022.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Minimum Qualifications Required

• Education: The Consultant should have at least Masters’ degree in Public Health Economics or other closely related field of study.   PhD in public health economics will be an asset. In absence of academic degree on Public Health Economics, similar social science degree is required with proven experience on Public Finance Management, budget and expenditure analysis, financial tracking of public sector investments on social issues.
• Work Experience: At least 5 years working experience in costing and budget analysis of public sector expenditures who have completed PhD. At least 8 years of similar experience if the candidate has only master’s degree. Experience in health/nutrition program/project development in UN system agency or organization is an asset.
• Special skills and competencies: The consultant should have the following skills and competencies:

• • Strong analytical skills with ability to analyze data with attention to detail and accuracy.
  • very good skills on economics data analysis and database management
  • Familiarity with the economics and financial issues, knowledge on children, adolescent and maternal health, and nutrition issues of Nepal,
  • Proven professional experience in collaborating with governmental, Donors/development partners, United Nations and non-governmental agencies in Nepal.
  • Skilled in the development of budget analysis tools and expenditure tracking,
  • Skills to analyse cost-effectiveness, cost-utility, cost-minimisation, cost-consequence, and budget impact model
  • very good documentation and report writing skills and fluency in English and Nepali languages
  • Analyzing, negotiating, communication and advocacy skills   
  • Strategic thinking, coordination, and collaboration,

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Please submit your financial quotation for this assignment in local currency (NPR) along with your application. The quotation should be based on deliverables for this assignment.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

UNICEF is not liable, and the consultant/individual contractor is responsible for paying taxes incurred from the remuneration under this contract to the relevant government authorities following the Income Tax Act 2002 of Nepal.