Job Description
Background
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.
Project Description
The importance of domestic resources raised through taxation cannot be overemphasized in the context of Zimbabwe. Taxation as a revenue mobilization and redistribution policy tool is crucial to Zimbabwe’s long-term growth, and for the attainment of the national development objectives outlined in the first National Development Strategy (NDS1) including: sustainable economic growth; food security and nutrition; governance; inclusive growth and poverty reduction; moving the economy up the value chain; quality of life; human capital development; environmental sustainability; national unity; country image, along with regional and international standing; and a safe and secure nation.
When combined with economic progress, taxation decreases long-term dependence on aid and promotes good governance by encouraging accountability. Zimbabwe’s economy suffers from long standing macroeconomic challenges including a significant domestic and external debt burden, currency instability, inflation, low productivity, low investment, and policy inconsistencies.
In this context, joined up support to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MoFED) and the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) in supporting Domestic Resource Mobilization (DRM) is critical. Building on the existing engagements with the Government, UNDP will bring a stronger focus on the role of tax and fiscal policy in achieving both the NDS 1 and Agenda 2030 objectives. The Initiative places a particular focus on promoting the SDG agenda through reducing gender and social inequalities in tax and fiscal policy, as well as taking forward climate action and environmental goals, health and Leave No One behind (LNOB) outcomes. The Initiative also proposes to support the government and people of Zimbabwe to address the issues of low tax morale among taxpayers at sub-national level, digitalization of tax administration, informal sector taxation, economic inefficiencies, improving tax collector capacities, addressing tax avoidance and evasion, as well as property valuation to ensure appropriate fee fixing.
Institutional Arrangement
The position will be embedded in the Economic Policy Unit and work as part of the UNDP Zimbabwe Country Office. The National Coordinator will report to the Senior Economic Advisor of UNDP Zimbabwe. In addition, the Regional Programme Specialist of the UNDP Tax for SDGs Initiative will back stop the National Coordinator. Throughout the project, collaboration and coordination with the rest of the UNDP Tax team and other teams will be required.
Duties and Responsibilities
UNDP Zimbabwe is seeking to engage a Tax for SDGs National Coordinator to effectively manage and support the implementation of the Tax for SDGs Initiative and provide support towards local level tax related engagements as part of the agenda of financing the SDGs in the country.
Specifically, the incumbent will:
Strategic and Multi-Stakeholder Engagement:
- Support the process of embedding the Tax for SDGs Initiative in broader SDG finance portfolio in Zimbabwe.
- Lead implementation and multi-stakeholder engagement for the project in Zimbabwe including engaging with tax experts, bilateral, regional and multilateral organizations, governments (central and local governments).
- Support UNDP Zimbabwe in building strategic alliances and partnerships with Government, think tanks, academic institutions, development partners and others to expand UNDP’s work on local level taxation and fiscal policy.
- Support the UNDP CO to learn from the experience in designing and implementing a Country Engagement Plan (CEP) and in their broader engagement on taxation and fiscal policies within the overall project.
- Provide a secretariat and/or technical support function any Development Partner fora on Tax or Public Finance Management.
Programme Coordination:
- Analyse local context and identify potential synergies with national and UNDP policies and development work at national/sub national level, and map out emerging trends and opportunities for provinces/ districts.
- Provide technical advice to support the implementation of the Tax for SDGs Initiative and backstop tax & policy experts working under the project.
- Identify potential synergies between the Zimbabwe Tax for SDGs Initiative and the work of the UNDP Regional Hub and other UNDP Country Offices implementing the same initiative.
Policy:
- Engage with policymakers on tax and fiscal policy matters and further develop the role of UNDP in taxation in Zimbabwe.
- Coordinate the development of policy papers to promote understanding and integration of local level taxation, fiscal policies and SDG issues.
- Support relevant analytical and policy-oriented work on tax policy and administration, and on technical tax topics.
- Draft internal UNDP briefing notes and talking points for Senior Management on the Tax for SDGs Initiative.
Knowledge Management:
- Facilitate the setting up and monitoring of interventions under the project and coordinate their implementation as per standard operating procedures, including knowledge capture from past programmes.
- Collaborate on evidence collection and lessons-learned from other countries, including promoting best practice sharing and peer learning through case-studies.
- Collaborate on knowledge management between various stakeholders, including UNDP CO and both national and external tax experts.
- Develop concept notes for technical workshops/webinars/side-events for the Tax for SDGs Initiative.
Outreach Engagement:
- Collaborate on project communications, including Annual Reports and Newsletters.
- Coordinate the organization of events, including high-level launches of the initiative.
- Collaborate on lessons-learned from the project activities, including through case-studies.
- Develop resources to enhance capacities within UNDP on tax and fiscal policy issues.
- Follow technical discussions in other fora and represent UNDP in relevant meetings and Communities of Practice.
- Perform other duties, as may be required by the Supervisor.
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
Partnerships
- SDG Finance
- Public Sector Finance (Tax and domestic resource mobilization, public financial management and public expenditure)
- Public Private Partnership
- Prosperity
- Inclusive Growth:
- Fiscal and SDG financing policy support in view of the socio-economic impact of COVID 19
- Fiscal and SDG financing policy support in view of the socio-economic impact of COVID 19
- SDGs/National Development Strategy, Planning and Budgeting
- Engagement and effectiveness
- Strategic Policy Engagement
- Strategic policy advice in the context of Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development (FfD)
- Financing for Development
- Strategic Policy Engagement
- Inclusive Growth:
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Master’s degree or equivalent in taxation, law, economics, finance, public policy or a closely related field.
- Bachelor’s degree in relevant field with additional 2 years of qualifying work experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Experience:
- Minimum of five years (Master’s degree) or seven years (Bachelor’s degree) of proven record in advising and engaging with international institutions and/ or governments on taxation, public finance management or domestic resource mobilization with involvement in technical work such as producing tax policy proposals, conducting tax audits, or drafting tax regulations.
Required skills
- Experience working in taxation, public finance management or domestic resource mobilization for a government or international organization;
- Thorough understanding of tax/fiscal policy, and local tax administration processes;
- Demonstrable strong record in advising and engaging with international institutions and/ or governments on taxation, public finance management or domestic resource mobilization with involvement in technical work such as producing tax policy proposals, conducting tax audits, or drafting tax regulations;
- Excellent writing and analytical skills, including the ability to write concept notes, outcome reporting, and other written communication;
- Experience in results-oriented based project management.
Desired skills
- Experience working in and with developing countries in Africa, especially Zimbabwe;
- Excellent knowledge of current debates regarding local level taxation and fiscal policy in Zimbabwe;
- Experience working with UNDP or the UN Development System on matters related to taxation and fiscal policies is an advantage.
Required Language: Fluency in English – Spoken and Written.
Disclaimer
Applicant information about UNDP rosters
Note: 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.