Key Expert 3: Domestic revenue mobilization and tax system & administration reform expert

Job Description

Project title: Strengthening Public Finance Management in Timor Leste

Reference number: INTPA/DIL/2023/EA-RP/0095

Duty station: Dili, Timor Leste

Indicative start date of the project: Q1 2024

Project duration: 36 months

Deadline for submission of the 1st round of applications: 27th July 2023

Project description:

The purpose of the project is to support the government in strengthening its Public Finance Management system to ensure efficient, effective and accountable use of public resources as a basis for improved public service delivery. The project seeks to support the implementation of the Public Finance Reform Action Plan, particularly during the critical initial phases of the reform.

The specific objective (outcome) of this action is to strengthen domestic and other revenue mobilisation, public expenditure management and increased transparency, efficiency and effectiveness of public expenditure for the benefit of all.

The expected outputs to be delivered by this action contributing to the specific objective are:

1. PFM Reform Action Plan initially implemented with a special attention on gender, environment, climate change and digital transformation.

2. Tax Authority reinforced, through the development of a people-centered tax system and administration.

3. System of gender-responsive planning, programming and budgeting harmonized, articulated and streamlined in line with the new budget framework law.

4. Fiscal decentralization strategy elaborated and approved.

Key Expert 3: Domestic revenue mobilization and tax system & administration reform expert

S/he will support the Team Leader in the planning, implementation, leadership, coordination and monitoring of all technical activities related to Output 2:

• To support the Tax Authority to draft a Medium-Term Strategy Plan for tax and non-tax revenue collection.
• To advise the Tax Authority in the identification of priorities and sequencing of the people-centred tax reform, to diversify the types of taxes
• To support the authorities in the final revision of the Taxation Law (building on the work made since 2017) before its submission to approval (in case it has not yet been approved).
• To advise on the decentralization of the tax administration to the municipalities, namely to promote tax compliance and improve communication with the taxpayers
• To assist the government in the drafting of the final version of draft law that revises Law 8/2008 (in case it has not yet been approved)
• To assist the Tax Authority in the development of the tax system and administration, in the context of the preparation and implementation of tax reform
• To assist the Ministry to diversify the non-tax revenue by exploring other possible sources. In this context, elaborate a concept note on the sources of revenue as a basis for the elaboration of the legal and regulatory framework by a legal expert.
• To assist the ministry in preparing the Tax Procedure Code (or implementing it in case it has been approved in the meantime)
• To assist in the full implementation of SIGTAS v3, namely in its installation in the regional offices, the direct access of tax payers to the e-filling and e-payment functions, and to optimize its use with the processing of information to support decision making and to conduct analytical work.

Qualifications and skills:

• Preferably a Master’s degree in the field of economics, public finance, law, social sciences or other relevant discipline. In the absence of such University degree, the candidate should have at least 15 years related to public finance management or tax administration reform.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English
• Very good working knowledge of Portuguese language, both oral and written, will be considered as a strong advantage
• Knowledge of Tetum will be considered an advantage

General professional experience:

• Preferably at least 12 years of experience in public finance management (PFM), with emphasis on domestic revenue mobilisation, tax administration, tax legislation and tax systems and related areas.

Specific professional experience:

• Preferably 8 years of experience in the areas of tax and non-tax revenue collection, tax compliance, revenue diversification, revenue administration, etc. and related systemic improvements and reforms;
• Proven experience in supporting the development/revision of strategic documents / laws governing tax and non-tax revenue management;
• Proven experience in development and/or delivery of training programmes on tax and non-tax revenue related issues for Government / officials staff;
• Experience in assisting relevant Government authorities in the implementation of SIGTAS will be considered as an advantage
• Experience in Timor Leste and/or other countries in Southeast Asia will be considered as an asset

About the Organization

DAI is the largest single provider of development services to the European Commission.

From corporate locations in Ankara (Turkey), Belgrade (Serbia), Brussels (Belgium), Cologne (Germany), London (United Kingdom), Sofia (Bulgaria), and Vienna (Austria), our team of 100+ employees oversees a portfolio of more than 95 EU projects in more than 80 countries.

Our EU Business Unit covers the whole spectrum of DAI operations, from project delivery, framework contract implementation, and global facilities management to business development, communications, and knowledge management. The EU team is seamlessly integrated into DAI’s global organisation, tapping the full range of technical specialists and support staff from our United States, United Kingdom, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, and other locations.

This team orchestrates a network of some 800 in-house and external experts currently engaged on short- and long-term assignments encompassing all EU technical areas, including governance and public administration reforms, sustainable economic growth and agriculture, resilience, conflict and security, gender and social inclusion, climate change and green growth, digitalisation, global health, education, and social protection.

DAI has extensive experience working with the Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA), Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR), the EU’s External Action Service (EEAS), and European development financial institutions such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Investment Bank (EIB).

We partner with these and other clients to support the European Consensus on Development and achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. As a signatory of the UN Global Compact, we report on our contributions to achieving the SDGs in our annual Communication on Progress. In 2021, we signed up to the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTI) for greenhouse gas emission reductions. As an employee-owned and mission-oriented enterprise, we are wholly committed to upholding the highest standard of responsible and sustainable business.”

As an employee-owned and mission-oriented enterprise, we are wholly committed to upholding the highest standard of responsible and sustainable business.