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, Results 

UNICEF works to protect the rights of every child in Sri Lanka. Our goal is to ensure that all of our children survive, thrive and fulfill their vast potential.

In a world that is rapidly changing, children are faced with complex challenges and unprecedented opportunities. UNICEF’s programs are designed to reach and benefit all children so that they can withstand these challenges, leverage these opportunities and be the drivers of their own destiny.

UNICEF is committed to creating a country in which every child is free to learn, play and grow. Our programs work towards providing all children in Sri Lanka with shelter, nutrition, protection and education, wherever they may be. We strive to create communities in which children can live with dignity and hope, free from discrimination, violence and fear.

We make every effort to create and maintain environments that will enable and empower children to be the very best that they can be.

In this way, all children will not only benefit from economic and social growth but will become the driving force behind sustainable national development.

For over 50 years, with the help of our vast network of partners, UNICEF has made significant strides in raising health, education and protection standards for children in Sri Lanka. From achieving Universal Child Immunization (1989) to establishing The National Child Protection Authority (1998) to providing decades of crucial relief in the wake of devastating conflict and natural disaster, UNICEF has played a pivotal role in creating an environment in which children have the best chance to survive and thrive.

Yet, many challenges still exist, especially for the most vulnerable. Some national and regional bodies require resources and reinvigoration. Individuals and institutions need to be strengthened, coordinated and aligned with global standards so that children enjoy support in their schools, communities and homes to help them overcome challenges and unleash their full potential into the world.

Due to our long-standing reputation as an experienced, neutral and collaborative partner, UNICEF is ideally suited to drive these efforts. Our history of success in Sri Lanka is built on our ability to tap into a wide network of national and international partners which, in turn, is bolstered by our own far-reaching presence in the field. In working closely with these government, non-government and private entities, UNICEF takes a leadership role, drawing on our technical expertise to accurately assess existing challenges and develop, execute and coordinate solutions that are relevant and scalable on the ground.  For more information about UNICEF Sri Lanka and its work visit: http://www.unicef.org/srilanka

 

How can you make a difference? 

Purpose-

The aim of this assignment is to provide technical support to selected provincial and local authorities (mainly Eastern and Northern Provincial Councils and other local authorities as applicable) to improve public participation in local planning and budgeting processes through the development of key tools that support monitoring from a child-rights perspective, such as Citizens Budgets.

 

Background:

Since 2019 UNICEF, together with the EU as part of the EU-UNICEF Public Finance Facility in South and Southeast Asia, has sought different ways to engage the public with the budgetary process – with this work happening mainly at the subnational levels of governance that are closest to people. Citizens Budgets, which present provincial budgets in a more accessible manner and show in more tangible ways how budgets impact peoples’ lives, are vital for promoting transparency, accountability and public engagement and have been firmly established in the Eastern and Northern Provinces. They support monitoring of spending through civil society and can be used to promote public participation. In a related manner, the Northern Province has championed the development of Participatory Community Appraisals (PCAs). Through this approach, community members identify, analyze and prioritize issues that affect them, devise practical solutions to address challenges, and start a dialogue with government authorities and other partners to allocate resources accordingly. UNICEF supported the development of a facilitator’s guide on conducting PCAs.

This consultancy contributes to initiatives that support increase budget accessibility and participation to help build demand for adequate and equitable public investment in children, including at subnational level through the Child-Friendly Local Governance approach as a platform to increase budget accessibility and participation, and explore its expansion to other provinces. More specifically, it contributes to improved knowledge and tools of civil society for monitoring social sector budgets for children’s well-being, which is one of the outputs under the second phase of the EU-UNICEF Public Finance Facility for South and Southeast Asia in Sri Lanka.

Scope of work: The consultant will work closely with key officials in the Eastern and Northern Provincial Councils to support the development of the next round of Citizens Budgets, and, in this context, suggest improvements to planning and budgeting processes at the provincial level from a child-rights angle. In addition, the consultant will work with local authorities to firmly integrate the PCA in local planning and budgeting processes and support the institutionalisation of participatory planning and budgeting processes.

Specifically, the objectives are to:

• In close collaboration with key officials, review the planning and budgeting processes in the Eastern and Northern Provinces from a child-rights perspective and suggest improvements.

• Engage with the Eastern and Northern Provincial Councils to use the PCA in local planning and budgeting processes.

• Technically support the Eastern and Northern Provincial Councils with the preparation of their next round of Citizen Budgets, with a view to building capacities of key officials, including but not limited to provincial context analysis and budget data analysis, to prepare Citizen Budgets on an annual basis.

• Explore, together with key officials, the steps needed to implement and institutionalise suggested changes to improve public participation in local planning and budgeting processes.

• Prepare a toolkit/resource materials for provinces based on the experiences in the Northern and Eastern Province to strengthen public participation in local planning and budgeting processes through PCAs and Citizens Budgets.

 

Activities and Tasks: 

1.Prepare inception report with detailed information on approach, limitations, and workplan

Deliverable - Inception report

2. Review of the planning and budgeting processes in the Eastern and Northern Provinces from a child-rights perspective

Deliverable - Summary report on the outcomes of the review, including stakeholders consulted and recommendations

3. Engage with the Eastern and Northern Provincial Councils to use the PCA in local planning and budgeting processes in line with the Government’s National Policy Framework.

Deliverable - Summary report on the outcomes of the engagement, including stakeholders consulted and recommendations/steps identified

4. Technically support the Eastern and Northern Provincial Councils with the preparation of their next round of Citizen Budgets, with a view to building capacities of key officials to prepare Citizen Budgets on an annual basis.

Deliverable - Summary report on the outcomes of the technical assistance, including stakeholders consulted and capacities built, and lessons learnt

5. Explore, together with key officials, the steps needed to implement and institutionalise suggested changes to improve public participation in local planning and budgeting processes.

Deliverable - Summary report with concrete recommendations

6. Prepare a toolkit/resource materials for provinces based on the experiences in the Northern and Eastern Province to strengthen public participation in local planning and budgeting processes through PCAs and Citizens Budgets.

Deliverable - Finalized toolkit/resource materials

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

Minimum Qualifications required:

• Masters Social sciences, economics, development studies, or related fields.

Experience/ Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

Years of experience:

• At least ten years of proven experience in public finance management and governance (consultancy, research, teaching/ training/capacity building) including policy analysis and development.

• Experience in applying both quantitative and qualitative methods and ability to effectively communicate data and analysis.

• Strong experience in writing reports, documentation to convey programming efforts.

• Experience with the ethics of evidence generation; familiarity with ethical safeguards.

 

Skills:

• Strong analytical skills.

• Strong communication skills including professional writing skills and presentation skills.

• Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills.

• Knowledge of methods and approaches used in planning and budgeting processes.

• Thorough understanding of public finance management and the governance structure at national and subnational level, including the roles and responsibilities of national and subnational authorities

 

Languages:

• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English required.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills in Sinhala and/or Tamil required.

 

 

 

Desirable:

•  Experience of working with provincial and local government authorities, particularly in social sectors, such as education and health.

• Working with UN agencies is an asset.

 

Competencies:

• Drive to achieve results for impact (1)

• Works collaboratively with others (1)

• Builds and maintains partnerships (1)

• Thinks and acts strategically (1)

• Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (1)

• Innovates and embraces change (1)

 

Start date: May 2025

Duration: 12 months 

 

How to apply:

Qualified candidates are requested to submit a resume and other relevant documents

Please complete your profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system. https://www.unicef.org/about/employ/index_consultancy_assignments.html

Please indicate your ability, availability and fee/rate in LKR to undertake the terms of reference above. (Indicate an all-inclusive fee (including lump sum travel, IT accessories, Internet and subsistence costs, as applicable) to undertake the tasks in the Terms of reference. Office 365 license will be provided by UNICEF, as applicable) 

Applications submitted without a fee/rate will not be considered  

 

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

  

To view our competency framework, please visit  here. 

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

Remarks:  

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

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. 

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts. 

If you think this position might be for you, please take the time to review our Country Office Mutual Agreements before you apply.

If you believe you can team member that can uphold these everyday, then we look forward to receiving and reviewing your application.