Technical Advisor on Fiscal Decentralisation and Workforce Planning

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is the implementing agency of the Federal Republic of Germany for technical and international cooperation. It offers flexible, sustainable and effective solutions in political, economic and social change processes. Most of the work of GIZ is commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). GIZ also operates on behalf of other German ministries as well as public and private bodies in Germany and abroad. These include the European Commission, the United Nations, the World Bank and governments of other countries.

The Good Financial Governance (GFG) Programme 2019-2022 phase is foreseen to focus on increasing transparency, efficiency, and accountability of public financial governance in Zambia. Its main partner institutions are envisioned to be the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of National Development Planning, selected line ministries, the Zambia Revenue Authority and the Zambia Public Procurement Authority. The GFG Programme is set to provide advisory services and capacity development measures in the areas of enhancing revenue mobilisation and supporting the reforms in budget planning, management and execution, as well as the revision of intergovernmental fiscal relations, to its partner institutions.

In this context, GIZ is seeking a suitable candidate for the following position:

Technical Advisor on Fiscal Decentralisation and Workforce Planning (Lusaka based)

REF: GIZ_GFG_FDWP                                

Main tasks and responsibilities:

• Supporting programme management  in reaching programme objectives and team objectives, especially in the area of fiscal decentralisation including local government financial reporting and workforce planning
• Providing technical advice, individually and in close collaboration with other team members/short term experts, on questions of public financial management with a focus on fiscal decentralisation including local government financial reporting and workforce planning to the programme partners, as for example,  Ministry of Finance, Ministry of National Development Planning, selected line ministries and the Zambia Public Procurement Authority
• Conducting  research activities and studies related to political issues and framework conditions for enhancing local government financial management in Zambia, the scope and pace of fiscal decentralisation processes as well as the budgeting and personnel planning and deployment and payroll management prior to, and after, devolution to councils
• Supporting  programme management in preparing Terms of Reference for short-term experts to support advisory in the area of activity
• Designing, preparing and implementing workshops, seminars or other events on issues connected with the area of activity, both individually and with other team members
• Assisting the programme management in monitoring the development and implementation of operational plans and activities in close consultation with the partners
• Supporting the programme management in maintaining regular contact and dialogue with partners for programme steering purposes
• Preparing appropriate input for various programme reports including annual reports and other reports required by  programme management
• Performing tasks on an ad hoc basis at the request of programme management

Qualifications and requirements:

• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as Economics, Public/Local Government Finance, Investment Planning and Finance, Public Policy or Development Studies; an advanced degree is an added advantage
• Membership of the Zambia Institute of Chartered Accountants (ZICA) and/or other relevant professional bodies or specific qualifications relating to public administration and/or public financial management particularly as it relates to local government; decentralisation and/or economics, is an added advantage
• At least 5-10 years’ professional experience in areas such as enhancing local government planning, personnel management, budgeting and financial management practices in Zambia and/or other regional countries and engagement in the design and implementation of practical steps to execute fiscal decentralisation in Zambia and/or another regional country
• Experience in enhancing revenue generation performance of local governments in Zambia and/or other regional country, especially from property tax bases is an additional asset
• Professional experience in a technical assistance advisory role, in organisational development and change management, including leadership buy-in and stakeholder identification and involvement is an added advantage
• Previous experience in risk identification, assessment and management including the implementation of formal risk management frameworks is an additional asset

Other knowledge, additional competences

• Excellent analytical skills, particularly when reviewing and interpreting local government financial reports and data
• Fluency in English, both written and oral
• Excellent report writing skills
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to build trust, consensus and respect required for good working relationships with internal and external contacts
• Knowledge in the design of training programmes, curricula, training courses and materials, as well as training delivery and evaluation is desirable
• Ability to manage the development of competences, skills and abilities (mentoring)
• Must be proactive and be able to manage and prioritise workload and be accustomed to working under pressure with high resilience and self-motivation
• Ability to work in a multicultural and multidisciplinary team
• Strong IT skills, i.e. very good working knowledge of MS Office and the ability to use financial information systems with a high degree of proficiency; experience with SAP software is an additional asset
• Willingness to upskill; corresponding measures to be agreed with management

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