15January

Consultancy Opportunity

PCAsia is seeking an active and motivated candidate for a technical consultancy work with a high profile and dynamic organization.

PARLIAMENTARY CENTRE OF ASIA

The Parliamentary Centre of Asia (PCAsia), established in early 2021 in Phnom Penh, is the successor of the Parliamentary Institute of Cambodia (PIC) founded in 2011, a transition that reflects an expansion of activities with Parliaments across Southeast Asia. The mandate of PCAsia is therefore to contribute to the strengthening of Southeast Asian Parliaments through capacity building of their staff, based on the demands or requests of each Parliament within a framework of south-south and north-south cooperation. It draws on the expertise of national, regional, and international partners (Parliaments and research centres).

ROLE OF DEPARTMENT

The training of Parliamentary staff is at the core of PCAsia’s mission, and the Capacity Development (CD) department is responsible for carrying out the majority of this work. CD handles curriculum and syllabus design for many training programmes, and its staff provides practical training according to their respective expertise for most of the training programmes. With the transition to blended learning and learning by distance, CD staff increasingly plays a facilitation role, working with external experts to design and deliver content suitable for digital platforms, then working with trainees to complete the related assignments.

Other responsibilities include researching, mentoring and quality control of research products produced by the trained parliamentary researchers, and providing quality control and technical advice with regard to newly-trained parliamentary staff members when back working in their institutions in applying their newly-acquired skills.

THE PROGRAMME ON Fiscal Analysis Capacity Training (FACT)

PCAsia-Fiscal Analysis Capacity Training (FACT) programme contributes to strengthening the capacity of the parliamentary staff in AIPA member parliaments to perform fiscal analysis tasks relevant to national budgeting process and monitoring used in the parliamentary context. FACT was initiated in 2016 and has completed three phases of training programmes. In collaboration with the Center of Analysis State Financial Budget and Accountability (PA3KN) of the General Secretariat of the House Representatives of Indonesia, the FACT programme is currently organizing a regional training on “applied budget analysis using a macroeconomic and budget modelling” tailored for parliamentary budget offices (PBOs). The participants will be equipped with practical skills to apply budget forecasting using a model framework, featuring impact evaluation of different fiscal policy changes to assist parliamentarians in reviewing the nation’s finance and appropriations bills and making responsive budget legislation and policies.  This increased capacity is also intended to enhance parliamentary functions in representation, monitoring and oversight, leading to increased efficiency, transparency and accountability of the state budget.

The training programme consists of two main components:

1) developing a macroeconomic and budget model, which will be undertaken collaboratively by PCAsia-FACT, PA3KN, and technical consultant to be recruited based on this Terms of Reference. The completion of model development is expected by early May 2024, preceding the commencement of component 2.

2) Delivering training on the model framework for budget forecasting and impact analysis. The training will be organized by PCAsia-FACT in the collaboration with PA3KN, with technical support from the consultant available as needed.  The training is scheduled for five days in Phnom Penh during May 2024 with participants from PA3KN and other AIPA member parliaments.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

To undertake this task with high quality and efficacy, the PCAsia-FACT programme requires technical consulting services from an individual/legally registered organization possessing extensive expertise in fiscal analysis and forecasting, particularly through the application of macroeconomic-budget modelling. The consultant is expected to provide technical guidance and mentorship to PCAsia-FACT programme team and PA3KN in developing the macroeconomic-budget model tailored for PBOs. This model, can be referred to as a shadow budget model, will enable fiscal forecasting and evaluate the impact of different fiscal policy changes on the economy and the overall budget, thereby facilitate the creation of alternative budget proposals.

The consultant will be responsible for mentoring on model development, its application for fiscal analysis and forecasting, and updating procedures based on available economic and budget data.

SOME Features of the macroeconomic and budget model

  • A disaggregation of the economy and fiscal structure at a detailed level to provide independent analysis of the government budget proposal, including costs and benefits of different policies
  • Can be used to estimate fiscal forecasting and impacts of fiscal policy changes, including tax reforms and spending programs, on the economy and fiscal balance
  • Reflects the Indonesian economic and fiscal framework as a case study but shall be adjustable for the frameworks of other countries in the region
  • Able to provide comparative analysis and an alternative vision of the country’s fiscal policy, outlining alternative scenarios with different macroeconomic or fiscal assumptions to ensure budget efficiency and accountability
  • Able to develop alternative proposals to compensate for the budget losses or to mobilize the budget gains as an effect of an existing government proposal
  • A transparent model that can be publicly available and presented to the parliament, the government and the general public
  • Can be updated regularly with available information/data.

MAIN TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES / SCOPE OF WORK

The consultancy period spans from April to June 2024, encompassing the following tasks and responsibilities:

  1. Instructing and mentoring the PCAsia-FACT programme team and PA3KN in development of the macroeconomic-budget (MacBud) model. This part involves creating economic and fiscal frameworks at the national and local levels, constructing the model (for both revenue and expenditure), applying the model to practical tasks of PBOs, analysing the results, and updating the model for regular use.
  2. Validating the model after its development to ensure accuracy and reliability, and ensuring that the model will function properly
  3. Providing a comprehensive user manual with detailed guidelines on model usage, data requirements, and application procedures. 
  4. Contributing input to the training curriculum for the five-day training (component 2 of the programme), including training materials and practical exercises/assignments
  5. Participating as a resource person in specific session(s) of the five-day training, as requested by the PCAsia-FACT programme, and providing technical review/input on assignment results produced by training participants.
  6. Offering ongoing technical support to the PCAsia-FACT programme and PA3KN upon request during subsequent stages of model utilization.

EXPECTED DELIVERABLES/OUTPUTS

  1. Instruction and mentoring delivery, along with the validated MacBud model
  2. A comprehensive user manual for the model
  3. Input on the training curriculum, materials and practical exercises for the five-day training
  4. Feedback and recommendation regarding the assignment results produced by training participants
  5. A final report consolidating the project’s results, achievements, challenges, lessons learnt, and recommendations for enhancing the model in the future.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE 

Essential

  • A master’s degree or higher in economics, public finance, public policy, international development, or other related fields,
  • At least 15 years of professional experience in fiscal policy or macroeconomic policy analysis, fiscal forecasting, public financial management, budget transparency or public sector policy and legislation,
  • Professional experience in developing macroeconomic/fiscal modelling and forecasting modelling, impact evaluation, cost/benefit analysis, including an analysis of the tax reforms and government expenditure programs, using a calculation model
  • Proven experience in the formation/establishment and/or implementation of a Parliamentary Budget Office and its support services.
  • Experience in designing and administering training courses, and in providing analysis, consultation, coaching and mentoring on national budgets and PBO related topics,
  • Professional experience in research writing using quantitative data analysis and statistical modelling and programs such as STATA, SPSS or others
  • Strong understanding of the fiscal policy formulation process and national budgeting proposal and monitoring in the context of ASEAN member states, particularly Cambodia, Lao PDR, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand
  • Strong spoken and written English.

Desirable

  • Previous experience working with a Ministry of Finance or international organizations in the areas of national budgeting or macroeconomic/fiscal policy
  • Understanding of economic, social issues, and the parliamentary context in AIPA member countries, particularly Cambodia, Lao PDR, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand
  • Academic or professional membership in regional or international PBO networks would be an advantage.

APPLICATION INFORMATION

Interested applicants should send a cover letter and CV to [email protected]  and indicates a salary expectation in the email. The application deadline is 16 February 2024. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

PCAsia is seeking an active and motivated candidate for a technical consultancy work with a high profile and dynamic organization.

PARLIAMENTARY CENTRE OF ASIA

The Parliamentary Centre of Asia (PCAsia), established in early 2021 in Phnom Penh, is the successor of the Parliamentary Institute of Cambodia (PIC) founded in 2011, a transition that reflects an expansion of activities with Parliaments across Southeast Asia. The mandate of PCAsia is therefore to contribute to the strengthening of Southeast Asian Parliaments through capacity building of their staff, based on the demands or requests of each Parliament within a framework of south-south and north-south cooperation. It draws on the expertise of national, regional, and international partners (Parliaments and research centres).

ROLE OF DEPARTMENT

The training of Parliamentary staff is at the core of PCAsia’s mission, and the Capacity Development (CD) department is responsible for carrying out the majority of this work. CD handles curriculum and syllabus design for many training programmes, and its staff provides practical training according to their respective expertise for most of the training programmes. With the transition to blended learning and learning by distance, CD staff increasingly plays a facilitation role, working with external experts to design and deliver content suitable for digital platforms, then working with trainees to complete the related assignments.

Other responsibilities include researching, mentoring and quality control of research products produced by the trained parliamentary researchers, and providing quality control and technical advice with regard to newly-trained parliamentary staff members when back working in their institutions in applying their newly-acquired skills.

THE PROGRAMME ON Fiscal Analysis Capacity Training (FACT)

PCAsia-Fiscal Analysis Capacity Training (FACT) programme contributes to strengthening the capacity of the parliamentary staff in AIPA member parliaments to perform fiscal analysis tasks relevant to national budgeting process and monitoring used in the parliamentary context. FACT was initiated in 2016 and has completed three phases of training programmes. In collaboration with the Center of Analysis State Financial Budget and Accountability (PA3KN) of the General Secretariat of the House Representatives of Indonesia, the FACT programme is currently organizing a regional training on “applied budget analysis using a macroeconomic and budget modelling” tailored for parliamentary budget offices (PBOs). The participants will be equipped with practical skills to apply budget forecasting using a model framework, featuring impact evaluation of different fiscal policy changes to assist parliamentarians in reviewing the nation’s finance and appropriations bills and making responsive budget legislation and policies.  This increased capacity is also intended to enhance parliamentary functions in representation, monitoring and oversight, leading to increased efficiency, transparency and accountability of the state budget.

The training programme consists of two main components:

1) developing a macroeconomic and budget model, which will be undertaken collaboratively by PCAsia-FACT, PA3KN, and technical consultant to be recruited based on this Terms of Reference. The completion of model development is expected by early May 2024, preceding the commencement of component 2.

2) Delivering training on the model framework for budget forecasting and impact analysis. The training will be organized by PCAsia-FACT in the collaboration with PA3KN, with technical support from the consultant available as needed.  The training is scheduled for five days in Phnom Penh during May 2024 with participants from PA3KN and other AIPA member parliaments.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

To undertake this task with high quality and efficacy, the PCAsia-FACT programme requires technical consulting services from an individual/legally registered organization possessing extensive expertise in fiscal analysis and forecasting, particularly through the application of macroeconomic-budget modelling. The consultant is expected to provide technical guidance and mentorship to PCAsia-FACT programme team and PA3KN in developing the macroeconomic-budget model tailored for PBOs. This model, can be referred to as a shadow budget model, will enable fiscal forecasting and evaluate the impact of different fiscal policy changes on the economy and the overall budget, thereby facilitate the creation of alternative budget proposals.

The consultant will be responsible for mentoring on model development, its application for fiscal analysis and forecasting, and updating procedures based on available economic and budget data.

SOME Features of the macroeconomic and budget model

  • A disaggregation of the economy and fiscal structure at a detailed level to provide independent analysis of the government budget proposal, including costs and benefits of different policies
  • Can be used to estimate fiscal forecasting and impacts of fiscal policy changes, including tax reforms and spending programs, on the economy and fiscal balance
  • Reflects the Indonesian economic and fiscal framework as a case study but shall be adjustable for the frameworks of other countries in the region
  • Able to provide comparative analysis and an alternative vision of the country’s fiscal policy, outlining alternative scenarios with different macroeconomic or fiscal assumptions to ensure budget efficiency and accountability
  • Able to develop alternative proposals to compensate for the budget losses or to mobilize the budget gains as an effect of an existing government proposal
  • A transparent model that can be publicly available and presented to the parliament, the government and the general public
  • Can be updated regularly with available information/data.

MAIN TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES / SCOPE OF WORK

The consultancy period spans from April to June 2024, encompassing the following tasks and responsibilities:

  1. Instructing and mentoring the PCAsia-FACT programme team and PA3KN in development of the macroeconomic-budget (MacBud) model. This part involves creating economic and fiscal frameworks at the national and local levels, constructing the model (for both revenue and expenditure), applying the model to practical tasks of PBOs, analysing the results, and updating the model for regular use.
  2. Validating the model after its development to ensure accuracy and reliability, and ensuring that the model will function properly
  3. Providing a comprehensive user manual with detailed guidelines on model usage, data requirements, and application procedures. 
  4. Contributing input to the training curriculum for the five-day training (component 2 of the programme), including training materials and practical exercises/assignments
  5. Participating as a resource person in specific session(s) of the five-day training, as requested by the PCAsia-FACT programme, and providing technical review/input on assignment results produced by training participants.
  6. Offering ongoing technical support to the PCAsia-FACT programme and PA3KN upon request during subsequent stages of model utilization.

EXPECTED DELIVERABLES/OUTPUTS

  1. Instruction and mentoring delivery, along with the validated MacBud model
  2. A comprehensive user manual for the model
  3. Input on the training curriculum, materials and practical exercises for the five-day training
  4. Feedback and recommendation regarding the assignment results produced by training participants
  5. A final report consolidating the project’s results, achievements, challenges, lessons learnt, and recommendations for enhancing the model in the future.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE 

Essential

  • A master’s degree or higher in economics, public finance, public policy, international development, or other related fields,
  • At least 15 years of professional experience in fiscal policy or macroeconomic policy analysis, fiscal forecasting, public financial management, budget transparency or public sector policy and legislation,
  • Professional experience in developing macroeconomic/fiscal modelling and forecasting modelling, impact evaluation, cost/benefit analysis, including an analysis of the tax reforms and government expenditure programs, using a calculation model
  • Proven experience in the formation/establishment and/or implementation of a Parliamentary Budget Office and its support services.
  • Experience in designing and administering training courses, and in providing analysis, consultation, coaching and mentoring on national budgets and PBO related topics,
  • Professional experience in research writing using quantitative data analysis and statistical modelling and programs such as STATA, SPSS or others
  • Strong understanding of the fiscal policy formulation process and national budgeting proposal and monitoring in the context of ASEAN member states, particularly Cambodia, Lao PDR, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand
  • Strong spoken and written English.

Desirable

  • Previous experience working with a Ministry of Finance or international organizations in the areas of national budgeting or macroeconomic/fiscal policy
  • Understanding of economic, social issues, and the parliamentary context in AIPA member countries, particularly Cambodia, Lao PDR, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand
  • Academic or professional membership in regional or international PBO networks would be an advantage.

APPLICATION INFORMATION

Interested applicants should send a cover letter and CV to [email protected]  and indicates a salary expectation in the email. The application deadline is 16 February 2024. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

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