National Costing Expert - MDGs Needs Assessment, Abuja, Nigeria

Closing Date: Tuesday, 09 August 2011

Background
Following the Millennium Declaration in the year 2000, many countries have been encouraged by the UNDP to imbibe the innovative idea of MDGs-based planning in the implementation of their development strategies...
. That MDGs-based planning is taking root in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) in the fight against poverty is evidenced in a number of SSA countries, including Nigeria, that have recently undertaken MDGs Needs Assessment (or costing) as a basis for scaling up public investments in social and physical infrastructure.
The National Costing Expert will be mandated with the duty of not only training relevant staff of MDAs in selected UNDP/UNDAF states and Federal Government selected LGs for CGS scale up but to also produce high quality needs assessment/costing of specific policies, projects and programs to achieve the MDGs. The needs assessment/costing will be used as a basis for preparing the States and Local Government's development plans, while also informing the annual budgets and Medium Term Sector Strategies at the sub-national level.
Duties and Responsibilities
The incumbent will assist the specific Ministries of education, health, infrastructure, food security, gender equality and environment at the State/LG level to develop MDG based needs assessments, including costing based on the states' version of the NV 20:2020 framework, the States version of the 1st National Implementation Plan (2010-2013) and other state planning documents. The specific functions include the following;

• Identify the most relevant methodologies globally available to help the States/LGs line ministries identify the set of interventions necessary, and the requisite resources needed to achieve the MDGs by 2015.
• Consolidate existing costing efforts in the above sectors in in the states/LGs and identify the most relevant needs assessment approach.
• Build on existing costing efforts, and/or develop new tools for needs assessments to ensure alignment with the MDGs, while working with the relevant ministries to ensure that the costing is harmonized with the priorities identified in the states' version of the NV 20:2020 framework, the States version of the 1st National Implementation Plan (2010-2013) and other state planning documents.
• Estimate the financial costs, human resources, infrastructure facilities needed (on an annual and per capita basis, and cumulatively) till 2015 to achieve the MDGs.
• Working with the staff members of States and LGs to prepare MDGs consistent local plans and budgets.
• Train relevant State/LG line ministry staff to ensure that MDGs based needs assessments can continue on a regular basis within states'/LGs' line ministries in subsequent years
• Develop and build on existing training tools to assist states and local government officials in undertaking MDGs needs assessment.
• Reviewing the capacity of MDAs in the states/LGs to undertake needs assessment necessary to achieve the Millennium Development Goals in the Short and Medium Term.
• Train relevant staff in the Ministries of Finance and Planning at the state and local government to make sure that the priorities identified in the states'/LGs line ministries and Departments are reflected in state/LG budgetary and planning processes.
• Adapt the existing, or programme new, Excel based models to estimate the costings to achieve the MDGs and train civil servants in MDAs on the use of these models. User manuals should also be drafted for each of these Excel Models.
• Testing civil servants on their ability to use the Excel based costing models and awarding certificates to those civil servants that have completed this test/exam at the state and LG level.
• Undertake regular training sessions for civil society to enable them to participate effectively in MDGs needs assessment, costing, and budget tracking discussions and reviews.
• Train and assist States/LG staff to prepare MDGs-consistent local development plans.
• Assist and facilitate States/LG level CSOs and Community Based Organisations (CBOs) staff to be involved in preparation of MDGs-consistent local development plans.
• Update the needs assessment tools as fresh information and analysis becomes necessary
• Perform any other activities as directed by the National Costing Team and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on the MDGs

Key Results

• Detailed needs assessment for education, gender equality, health, infrastructure, food security and environment that clearly outlines the financial, human resources and infrastructure requirements for achieving the MDGs by 2015 in the 36 States/FCT and 774 LGs in Nigeria.
• Scheduled reports to the Senior Special Assistant to the President on MDGs
• Training materials for government colleagues
• Guidance notes on how to maintain and update the needs assessment tools at the State/LG level
• A data base of trained civil society organizations in needs assessment/costing for effective budget tracking and reviews.
• A technical costing report for each of the MDAs .
• A single report summarising the costing exercise for all state/LG MDAs.
• Excel based costing models for each MDA or Millennium Development Goal.
• Manuals for each of the Excel based costing models.
• Evidence that civil servants and civil society organisations have received training on, and fully understand, the Excel based costing models and the costing methodology, with test results/certificates of achievement.

Competencies
The candidate is also expected to have a good understanding of economic and social settings in Nigeria, with reasonable knowledge of the dynamics of the social sectors, Education and Health, Infrastructure related sectors, namely, Energy, Roads, Water and Sanitation, Environment and Agriculture, and cross cutting issues-gender and youth empowerment. One consultant will be needed for this assignment
Required Skills and Experience

• The candidate for the job will be required to have at least a Masters University Degree or its equivalent in Economics, Engineering, Applied Sciences, Social Sciences or a related discipline.
• Practical experience in needs assessment/costing, poverty programming and development management.
• Given the policy, programming and technical orientation of the key deliverables, the candidate should have not less than 15 years in costing, policy formulation, and project/programme management and implementation.
• Proficiency in English Language is required.

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.