Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Ministry of Finance Terms of Reference Position Information: Post Title: Organization: Type of Appointment: Level: Duration: Duty Station: Closing Date: Senior GRB Specialist Ministry of Finance, Directorate General Budget Contract Based According to NTA Salary Scale One year Kabul, Afghanistan Background on Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB): The Ministry of Finance is responsible for the preparation of the National Budget, management and execution of the budget, collection of taxes, organization and control of public expenditure and payments to the government and finally the management of Customs. Every government has to know the status of its revenues and expenditures, the management of its financial resources so as to allocate them effectively. The Budget Department of MoF is responsible for budget operations, strategic planning, reporting and financial analysis on proposed and actual legislation affecting the national budget of Afghanistan. The government s vision for Afghanistan is a prosperous nation where citizens enjoy security of person and property. In such an environment, all ordinary Afghan women and men can dream of and attain a better life for their children and society at large. There is an increasing acknowledgement that the above mentioned vision cannot be attained without concerted efforts to strengthen the status of women, and gender equality. The funding and programs under the national budget are therefore, the foundations to ensure gender responsiveness. Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) was introduced in Afghanistan as an instrument for analyzing and allocating resources in national budget to meet gender objectives stipulated in the Afghanistan National Development Strategy (ANDS) and the National Action Plan for the Women of Afghanistan (NAPWA) during mid-2000s. The GRB process was launched in 2010 and incorporated in the 2011 national budget through including the requirements of GRB in Budget Circular 1 (BC1), Budget Circular 2 (BC2) forms and GRB guidelines attached to BC2 instructions by the MoF. During 2015, MoF launched a strategy on GRB. This strategy aims to provide guidelines, and actions to address the GoIRA s commitment to gender equality be reflected through allocation of adequate resources, thereby, create opportunities for advancing gender equality, women s empowerment, and contribute to the overall national development. Since this is a relatively new
concept in Afghanistan, and therefore, technical and capacity building support is needed to institutionalize the GRB mechanism in the country s budgeting process. Organizational Context: The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) is dedicated to advancing gender equality and women s human rights in Afghanistan and works closely with Government, the international community and civil society to promote and advocate for gender equality and women s empowerment. UN Women supports MoF through a Letter of Agreement (LoA) in successful implementation of a joint MoF- UN Women work plan towards ensuring the gender responsiveness of the national budget. The Joint MoF/UN Women Work Plan for the year 2016-2017 involves technical and financial support by UN Women to implement the national GRB strategy and initiate the process within the 7 identified pilot ministries. MoF will recruit a Senior GRB Specialist with the support from UN Women to build capacity of the relevant staff of budget and gender units of the pilot ministries in order to make the budget responsive to gender needs. Summary: Having dual reporting obligation, the GRB Specialist works under the overall guidance and supervision of the Programme Manager of Political and Economic Empowerment Pillar (PEEP) of UN Women and the direct, day to day supervision and guidance of Budget Policy & Reform Director of MoF. The Specialist will work in close collaboration with the UN Women International GRB Specialists/experts. The incumbent is tasked with the overall GRB related initiatives as per the signed LoA between UN Women and MoF. The Specialist will provide coordination and technical services to Directorate General Budget (DG Budget) at MoF in rolling out GRB in seven piloted ministries as well as design and coordinate capacity building plan for the gender focal points of these ministries. Also, s/he will provide technical support for gender responsive data analysis, planning and reporting of the budgets of the seven pilot ministries. The GRB Specialist will represent MoF and UN Women in all GRB related meetings, forums and conferences. Main areas of work include the following: Budget Coordination and Liaison with line ministries and other stakeholders. Financial Analysis and Evaluation of Budget Proposals. Develop thematic and status reports on GRB with recommendations; Training and Capacity Building for relevant GRB focal points and Gender Focal Points. Functions/Key Results Expected: Budget Coordination and Liaison with Line Ministries and other stakeholders: Serve as primary focal point of coordination between UN Women and MoF to esure that the LoA and joint work plan are properly implemented. Support MoF in establishing an inter-ministerial coordination mechanism/grb Committee among the piloted ministries on implementation of GRB National Strategy and supporting MoF in leading coordination meetings, including collecting national budget related input from ministries. Organize the GRB meetings on regular basis for analysis and effective joint action.
Coordinate the establishment of procedures and policies in pilot ministries. Explore strategic opportunities to collaborate with other reputed organizations to support GRB implementation at national and subnational level. Financial Analysis and Evaluation of Budget Proposals: Conduct budget evaluation and gender analysis of financial proposals of the projects submitted by Line Ministries and provide recommendations for engendering them; Conduct assessment of gender responsive budgeting in the pilot ministries, and produce a GRB audit report based on the data analysis; Develop or adapt existing tools, manuals, guidelines and other relevant materials to ensure effective roll out of the GRB Strategy in the pilot ministries; Support sector ministries in reviewing their budget submissions from gender perspective, provide input to integrate GRB in Budget Statement and in other relevant documents of the budget department; Identify key actions required to enhance the integration of gender equality into policies, programmes, budgets and monitoring processes; Develop/adapt existing tools on engendered planning and budgeting to increase the knowledge of senior government officials, GRB focal point, Budget/Treasury Units and Gender Focal Points members of local assemblies, and local council members; Provide specialized technical support to MoF DG Budget and line ministries for enhancing GRB in programming cycle i.e. planning and decision making; Draft the quarterly and annual reports needed for the effective implementation of the project components described above; draft the technical papers related to the project s output including: activity proposals, meeting plans and reports, surveys, presentations, talking points, budget proposals, guidelines, and others; Prepare and submit to UN Women quarterly and annual reports and other updates and briefings needed on status of GRB implementation in Afghanistan; Training and Capacity Building. Based on the national GRB Manual and other available resources, develop/adapt materials for capacity building/trainings at different levels (basic, intermediate and advanced) to be used for capacity building programmes for the targeted ministries and stakeholders; Design the generic and customized internal and external capacity development plans(in close cooperation with technical units within Budget Department which developed relevant policies ) Facilitate trainings and workshops with/for sector managers, key government officials/relevant staff from line ministries at central and when/if needed provincial levels, Civil Society Organizations and others as required on GRB and on the policy and budgeting processes related to the core areas of the NAPWA, NPPs/ANDS; Identifying future capacity development needs in GRB related areas for budget department staff in particular for sector managers and officers; Document and disseminate resources for GRB, such as case studies and best practices from other countries; Support and coordinate among UN Women, MoF, line ministries and other stakeholders on exposure visits/study tours/forums/conferences to be attended by the relevant persons;
Produce and share analysis of the pilot ministries budgets from gender point of view with Parliament to advocate for more GRB; Evaluate budgetary proposals for the Mid-Year Review of the budget from a GRB perspective; Provide scheduled analysis of and reporting on budget allotments; Analyze expenditure and performance information submitted in quarterly and annual progress reports; Evaluate budgetary units budget requests performance and costing information and making corresponding recommendations for improvements; Coordinate activities with different units within Budget Department, to ensure all the specific policies requirements are adequately translated into capacity building programs to be delivered to line Ministries Any other task as assigned by UN Women and DG Budget; Reporting Relationship: The GRB Specialist will report to the Budget Policy and Reform Directorate and DG Budget and UN Women. Skills and Competencies: Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based budgeting, implementation and reporting. Ability to lead budgeting reform processes, e.g., re-engineering, implementation of new systems (business side), and affect staff behavioral/attitudinal change. Solid knowledge in the areas of project funding, external donor funds allocation processes and practices. Contracting and procurement, information and communication technology, technical report writing and general administration. Supervises a full complement of program/project and administrative support staff effectively demonstrating mentoring as well as conflict resolution skills. Experience in public financial management; Ability to provide top quality policy advice services on economic and gender related issues. Familiarity with Afghanistan s national budget processes; Knowledge of gender responsive budgeting; Ability to prepare various operational plans of the organization or project; Having specific skills in the related technical field; Having experience and ability of team management and leadership; In-depth practical knowledge of inter-disciplinary development issues; Ability to lead strategic planning, result-based management and reporting; Capacity to adapt policies, approaches and models to meet emerging needs; Focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to critical feedback; Demonstrated strong oral and written communication skills; Build strong relationship with client and external actors. Required Skills and Experience
Education: Bachelor or Master s Degree in Financial Management, Public Finance, Economics, Social Sciences, Gender Studies, or related field, with minimum of 5 years relevant professional work experience in the areas of gender Budgeting, budget policy, financial management, public finance. Experience: Excellent understanding and experience of gender and budgeting in the context of least developed or developing countries Experience in planning, budgeting, projects implementation, monitoring, reporting, evaluation and program coordination; Proof of relevant analytical skills, report writing, presentation skills; Capacity to take initiatives and work both independently and as part of a team. Clear understanding of the effect/impact of gender budgeting and gender equality and to address those issues to enhance women s participation at all levels An understanding of the legal, social, cultural, and political context of Afghanistan and its relation to gender. Proficiency in the use of computer, office software packages Fluency in professional written and spoken English and local language Pashto and/or Dari needed. Able to work under pressure and tight deadlines and deliver quality work products Must be willing to travel within and outside of Afghanistan. Languages: Fluency in English and Pashto or Dari (written and spoken) is required