Gender Responsive Budgeting Specialist (Indonesian National)

Job Description

Background

The Gender Gap in Indonesia remains huge despite its strong legal and regulatory framework that broadly supports gender equality. This is evidently seen in a huge gap between women and men in terms of access, benefit and participation in development and control over resources. As per government statistics published in 2018, the Human Development Index for women is 68.83 in comparison to 75.43 for men. Open unemployment for women is 6.7 % compared with 5.7 % for men. Average time spent by women in school is 7.7 years in comparison to 8.6 years for men. The rate of women’s participation in key decision-making positions at national level and local level is still low. The ratio of women holding manager’s position is only 29 % in comparison to 71 % for men and women’s representation in parliament is only 17.3 % in comparison to 82.8 % for men. Although the overall illiteracy rate has declined annually, the literacy rate among females (89.6%) is lower than that for males (95.6%). The maternal mortality rate is very high at 126 per 100,000 live births. While the participation of women in wage employment has increased along with their wage levels, the average wage of women is only 78% of the wage of men.

A National Strategy[1] to Accelerate Gender Mainstreaming through Gender Responsive Planning and Budgeting (GRPB) was launched in 2012. The Strategy was jointly issued by four ministries which are recognized as the four drivers of gender mainstreaming: Ministry of Finance (MOF), the Ministry of Women Empowerment and Child Protection (MOWECP), Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA), and the Ministry of National Development (Bappenas).

The institutionalization of GRPB in Indonesia was started with the issuance of the Minister of Finance Regulations[2] regarding the procedure of Annual Work Plans and budget submission for the ministries and government agencies in 2009 and updated every year. It was stipulated in these regulations that the designated ministries and government agencies must implement GRPB by conducting gender analysis of their work plan and budget, and subsequently provide a Gender Budget Statement (GBS). In the center of the National Strategy for GRPB is the requirement for the ministries and agencies to do a gender gap analysis and tag the allocation of funds in their work plan and budget that would address those gaps and contribute to gender equality. Government ministries and agencies are required to produce a Gender Budget Statement (GBS), specifying specific activities and measures to address gender gaps defined in their analysis.

In addition to the legislative and institutional framework described above, the work towards gender equality in Indonesia is supported by development partners and donor organizations. For instance, UN Women, the World Bank, and other development partners such as the Government of Canada have all provided support to Indonesian government and non-governmental sector in addressing persistent gender gaps. Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy recognizes that promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls is the most effective way to eradicate extreme poverty and build a more peaceful, inclusive and prosperous world.

Canada has recently joined the PFM Multi-Donor Trust Fund (PFM MDTF) program implemented by the World Bank. The program aims to support the Government of Indonesia in improving the quality of revenue and expenditure policy and management at national and subnational level by enhancing their performance orientation including through digital technology in a gender responsive manner. This program will support the government to strengthen gender mainstreaming in PFM by increasing the volume and effective use of aid and domestic resources to implement national commitments to gender equality and women’s empowerment. The focus of Canada’s participation is to ensure all aspects of the program (i.e.: revenue, expenditures, sub-national PFM, and digitalization of PFM) are implemented in a gender responsive manner.

Objective

GAC requires the services of a Gender Responsive Budgeting Specialist (the Consultant) to effectively engage with relevant government ministries (MOWECP, MOF, Bappenas, MOHA) and development partners, particularly the World Bank, in the process of mainstreaming gender into national (and subnational) planning and budgeting processes.

The role of the Consultant is to provide technical advice and policy advisory on gender budgeting issues and actively collaborate with GAC in monitoring progress of activities and indicators related to gender budgeting. Specifically, the Consultant will work closely with the Project Team Leader of the PFM program, GAC PFM Specialist and Gender Specialist, and the PFM Team and Gender Team of the World Bank to provide advice on public finance management, particularly gender planning and budgeting; monitor progress of program’s activities, work plans and indicators; and represent GAC in meetings and events, as requested.

The Consultant will report to GAC Sector Lead on PFM, Jakarta.

Description of Services

The expected services of the Gender Responsive Budgeting Specialist will include, but not be limited to:

a. Provide advice and support to GAC management, programs and projects as listed below:

• Undertake a desk review of the GRPB model frameworks with specific reference to policies and legal framework, programs and other material relevant to implementing GRPB in Indonesia
• Provision of analysis and substantive inputs to GAC on project and programming and strategic documents related to PFM and GRPB program;
• Provide desk review and analysis of existing PFM diagnostics in the country/region and provide recommendations on possible impact related to PFM policies on GAC’s operational and future programs;
• Advice on possible areas for GAC project support and adjustment of on-going projects and programs to ensure that GAC programs are in line with national/regional policies and priorities;
• Contribution to national, regional and inter-agency initiatives related to PFM and GRB in particularly; and
• Produce a mapping of actors/who is doing what on GRB, including a power analysis, through initial conversations with key people and desk review.

b. Facilitate knowledge building in PFM and GRB through the following:

• Develop capacity needs assessment methodology and needs assessment strategy to identify needs and priorities in relation to Gender Responsive Planning and Budgeting (GRPB), in cooperation with GAC’s development partner and in line with the Government’s plan and needs.
• Facilitate the development of knowledge and the advancement of PFM within GAC projects and programs in the country/region as well as participate actively in corporate GAC knowledge creation; and
• As necessary, provide training and capacity development support on PFM to GAC implementing partners, government, and other development stakeholders.

c. Program/project planning and monitoring. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Reviewing, analysing and providing technical comments and recommendations on work plan, activity proposals, and outputs developed under country’s/region’s GAC-funded PFM initiatives, particularly PFM MDTF program phase III;
• Participating and preparing report from meetings/seminars/webinars/workshops organised by GAC-funded related projects;
• Updating database on all of GAC-funded related projects (other bilateral programs, multi, partnership);

d. Providing oral and written briefings on any of the above services through ad-hoc and regular meetings/conference calls with GAC’s Indonesian Program sector lead on PFM in Jakarta, GAC HQ specialists, and team.

e. Supporting for External Coordination and Engagement

• Strengthening capacities of government partners and donor organizations on development and aid effectiveness and incorporation gender priorities in sectoral plans and budgets;
• Representation of GAC in different working groups and interagency working groups, as needed.
• Developing relevant contacts meetings and building network among Government of Indonesia’s line ministries (MOWECP, MOF, Bappenas, MOHA), and development partners (e.g.: World Bank, UN Women, other donors);
• Participating in and providing technical support for joint initiatives with other development partners and stakeholders;
• Strengthening capacities of CSOs, women’s organizations, and donor organizations to participate in planning and monitoring of sectoral budgets, and to demand accountability for gender equality;
• Supporting Canada’s advocacy, outreach activities, as well as ensuring Canada’s visibility.
• Any other relevant tasks as assigned by the GAC.

Description of the Consultant’s Profile

GAC requires the services of a national expert in public finance management with solid knowledge of gender responsive budgeting and public finance, strong relationship with Government partners, and experience working with international development partners.

Competencies

• Excellent knowledge of Gender Responsive Budgeting in Indonesia and other countries;
• Strong knowledge of program development, implementation, results-based management and reporting;
• Experience in providing technical assistance and advisory support to development partners and/or government agencies;
• Demonstrate strong analytical skills;
• Demonstrate skills on preparing quality reports and other knowledge products;
• Promote sharing of knowledge and experience, and actively works towards continued learning and development; and
• Excellent English communication skills, both written and oral.

Required skills and experience
The Consultant is expected to possess skills and experience in the following areas:

• A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience at national and international levels, dealing with gender equality, public administration and social policies with specific expertise on gender responsive budgeting and public finance;
• Experience in providing policy advice and technical assistance on the subject;
• Demonstrated experience delivering institutional strengthening assistance to national and/or sub-national entities in public financial management;
• Demonstrate ability to liaise and develop successful working relationships with key stakeholders including development partners, government agencies and CSOs;
• Demonstrate knowledge on latest gender budgeting implementation and issues in Indonesia and other countries

Educational background
Master’s degree or equivalent in Public Finance, Public Administration, Public Policy, International Development, Business Administration, Economics, or any other related fields.

Language Requirements
The Consultant must possess the following levels in English:
Oral = 4 – Advanced Professional Proficiency
Reading = 4 – Advanced Professional Proficiency
Writing = 4 – Advanced Professional Proficiency

Working Arrangements
The Consultant will work from his/her home base with virtual meetings/interviews with GAC colleagues and relevant partners. As necessary, in producing analysis/report/briefs, the Consultant may need to do his/her own literature review and perform triangulation by interviewing experts. When the situation is permissible, the Consultant may attend face-to-face meetings and events.
The Consultant will submit deliverables to GAC Sector Lead on PFM in Jakarta. A consultant evaluation will be completed in order for regular payment to be released upon satisfactory delivery of the assignments. In the event that travel to other regions or cities is necessary, all necessary costs will be borne by GAC, through the Indonesia/ASEAN Field Support Services Project (FSSP).

Duration of the Contract
The total expected duration of the assignment is up to 90 days per year and the contract ends on March 31, 2023. All reports must be finalized and submitted within this period. The Consultant is expected to start on or around June 2021.

Payments will be processed against the reports (deliverables) therefore a financial report is requested versus each deliverable, giving the opportunity for the Consultant to manage the number of days to spend on each deliverable within the defined timeframe.

How to apply
Interested individual consultants must include the following documents when submitting the applications to admin@fssproject.com latest by 11 June 2021:

1. CV indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references.
2. Brief statement as to why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment.
3. Financial Proposal shall be submitted in the following format:

• The financial proposal should specify an all-inclusive daily rate for up to 90 working days;
• The financial proposal must be all-inclusive and take into account various expenses that will be incurred during the contract, including: the daily professional fee and when applicable any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services under the contract, not including travel.

Qualified women are encouraged to apply.

Due to the large number of applications we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidate(s) about the outcome or status of the selection process.

For more details about this posting including the Deliverables/Outputs and how to apply, please refer to the attached document.

About the Organization

With more than 35 years’ experience, Cowater International is Canada’s global leader in management consulting services specializing in international development and has managed the implementation of over 800 projects in more than 80 countries around the globe. We work with governments, partner organizations, communities and civil society to design and implement sustainable solutions that generate lasting social, financial and environmental impacts. Our adaptive approach to management has led to our award-winning work and recognition as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies in 2017, 2018 and 2019. Headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, Cowater International also has corporate offices in Montreal, Quebec; London, United Kingdom; Nairobi, Kenya; and Brussels, Belgium, in addition to project offices in a wide variety of other locations across Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia.

We thank you for your interest in building a better tomorrow with Cowater International.

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