National Consultant- Technical Support to the Ministry of Finance to Strengthening Monitoring and Reporting Tools across the Public Financial Management Cycle, Accra, Ghana (For Ghanaian Nationals ONLY)

Poste numéro: 584352
Type de contrat: Consultant
Situation géographique: Ghana
Catégorie: Social Policy

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UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built. We offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture., coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to social protection 

Scope of Work:
In support of the Ministry of Finance (MoF), UNICEF seeks a highly qualified and experienced individual consultant to support the MoF in strengthening its Budget Monitoring and Reporting Tools across the Public Financial Management (PFM) cycle. The Consultancy will also place particular emphasis on monitoring budget allocations and implementation for the social sectors, with a focus on interventions benefiting children. This support aims to ensure that public resources are allocated and utilized efficiently to deliver tangible results for the people and children of Ghana.
 
The Budget Office of the Ministry of Finance, Ghana has undergone a number of organizational changes in recent times to reflect the new policy direction of government. The Office currently consists of four major groupings with Group Heads. These groups are, namely; 1.) Budget Development and Reforms Group, 2.) Budget Implementation Group, 3.) Compensations Management Group and 4.) Budget Monitoring and Reporting (BMR) Group.
 
The Budget Monitoring and Reporting Group (BMR), has the following units under its supervision; the Public Expenditure Management Unit (PEMU), the Fiscal Decentralization Unit (FDU), and the Budget Technical Assistance Support (BTAS) unit. The BMR group have a core responsibility of monitoring government policies, projects and programmes earmarked in the Budget and further evaluate these monitoring reports to inform government policies for an improved decision making, and sustainability.
 
Additionally, given the above responsibilities of the Budget Monitoring and Reporting Group (BMR) of the Ministry, one of its Unit’s, PEMU focuses on budget expenditure monitoring and reporting, government finance & cash management as well as aspects of energy-related revenue monitoring. Given their interconnected nature, tasks such as ensuring timeliness, making efforts towards reconciliation, and collecting data from various stakeholders may be susceptible to errors due to their complexity and interdependencies. There is, therefore, the need to review the existing frameworks, methodologies, reporting tools and structures that are used, identify the strengths, weaknesses, gaps and recommend improved ways of managing these tasks. The service of a consultant is being requested to assist the PEMU undertake these tasks.

How can you make a difference? 

Purpose of the Assignment
 
The consultancy’s overall purpose is to enhance the existing monitoring and reporting tools of the Public Expenditure and Monitoring Unit (PEMU) of the Budget Office of the Ministry of Finance, to equip its staff to effectively monitor and prepare reports on future projects and programmes for effective decision-making, including on future projects and programmes. This will also ensure the timely availability of budget implementation data, as well as other non-financial information on project and programme implementation, including for social sector initiatives that benefit children.
 
The consultant is to undertake:
• desk review of the existing monitoring and reporting tools and provide recommendations and observations aimed at strengthening the tools/framework/template.
• redefine the tools/templates / framework to meet international standards and PFM cycles
• validate the new framework with stakeholders of the Ministry
•develop a manual and train relevant Ministry staff on the usage of the new tools/framework.
• develop a self-administered framework for the BMR Group to evaluate the tools’ efficiency after six months.
 
Objective of the Assignment
 
The overall objective of the assignment is to contribute to an improvement of budgeting and budget implementation through strengthening PEMU’s monitoring and reporting function. This TOR, therefore, provides information on the overall objectives of the consultancy assignment, the general methodology, tools, and approaches, expected outputs/deliverables.
 
The specific objectives are to:
•Assist PEMU to review and strengthen its monitoring and reporting tools, to effectively discharge its mandate.
•Build the necessary expertise to apply budget monitoring and reporting tools effectively, including assessing the impact of public expenditure on actual budgetary outcomes at the ground level.
 
Methodology of the Assignment
 
The detailed methodology will be agreed with the consultant. However, irrespective of the approach taken by the consultancy, it will be centered around the following key elements:
1.Desk review of the existing monitoring and reporting tools
2.Provide recommendations and observations aimed at strengthening the tools
3.Redefine the tools to meet international standards within the PFM cycle
4.Validate the new tools with stakeholders of the ministry
5.Develop manual on the usage of the tools and share with stakeholders
6.Train relevant/ core staff on the use of the new tools
7.Develop a self-administered framework for the BMR Group to evaluate the tools’ efficiency after six months.
 
The consultant will be required to submit and discuss an indicative assignment planning and time schedule for delivery of the assignment during Inception Meeting with the Budget Office and other stakeholders commencing the assignment to mutually agree on the understanding of the assignment as well as to establish expectations/concerns. The meeting should result in an inception report.
 
While the selected expert will elaborate on the working methodology in the inception report for final adoption by the PEMU, it is assumed that the expert will apply a highly participatory approach to ensure the full ownership to both the tools and reporting templates for management decision.
 
It is, moreover, envisaged that the expert will ensure knowledge and skills transfer to staff in PEMU to ensure that the Division is able to maintain and further refine its budget expenditure monitoring and reporting capabilities once developed and implemented.
 
Duration and Reporting Arrangements
 
A total of 30 working days spread over a 3-month period has been allocated for the assignment, commencing on 1 October 2025.
For technical work, the expert will be placed at the Ministry of Finance in Accra. He/she will work in close cooperation with designated staff throughout the mission and report to the Director of Budget through the Group Head, Budget Monitoring and Reporting. UNICEF’s Social Policy Manager will oversee contract administration and technical deliverables, in collaboration with the Group Head, BMR.
 
Work Assignment Timelines and Deliverables

Work Assignments Overview

Deliverables/Outputs

Delivery deadline

 
  • Review relevant documents and international literature/ budget monitoring & reporting tools
  • Inception meeting with Budget Office to agree on objectives, scope, approach and timelines
  • Drafting and submission of draft inception report
  • Incorporation of comments, finalization and submission of inception report

 

Inception Report submitted

10 days

 
  • Develop draft budget Monitoring and Reporting framework
  • Conduct testing sessions with relevant stakeholders
  • Validation of framework
  • Finalisation of framework

 

Revised Budget Monitoring and Reporting framework

15 days

 
  • Prepare training materials based on the final framework
  • Conduct of training of users
  • Produce a training report

Comprehensive training Report submitted. _ user training on the application of the framework

5 days

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

Minimum requirements:

Education: 

  • Masters degree or equivalent educational background in Economics, public financial management, accounting or auditing

Work Experience: 

  • Minimum 8 years’ hands-on experience with budget monitoring and reporting or PFM reporting frameworks
  • Working experience in the relevant field in Sub-Sahara Africa
  • Experience with public financial management reform design and implementation strategies, preferably at supra central government agency level such as Ministry of Finance
  • Proven track record in budget monitoring and reporting or M&E training or participation in PFM capacity building projects.

Skills

  • Analytical skills – ability to interpret financial data and identify trends, variances, and risks.
  • Financial reporting skills – preparing clear, accurate, and timely budget monitoring reports.
  • Data visualization skills – using tools like Excel, Power BI, or Tableau to build dashboards.

Language Requirements: 

  • Excellent oral and written communication skills in English

Desirables:

  • Relevant experience at country level, particularly in public finance management and budget monitoring & tracking.

How to Apply.

Interested Candidates should submit a one-page motivation/ application letter, Technical Proposal on how they will execute the assignment as well as the Financial Proposal (stipulating the daily professional fees for the assignment)

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

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.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:  

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates and candidates from marginalized communities are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

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