Public Financial Management Expert
SoCha LLC
Location: Nairobi, Kenya.
Reporting &
period of performance: The
consultant in PFM Expert will report to MSP Strategy and Programs Advisor. The
anticipated period of performance is from April 15th, 2022, to July 30, 2022,
for a level of effort of 60 days.
Closing On: 15 May 2022.
JOB DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND:
SoCha
(a name created by combining the terms Social and Change) is an independent MEL
firm that provides bespoke solutions to social challenges. Since its inception
in 2010, SoCha—a small, veteran-owned business—has grown into a full-service
MEL and analytical firm that works with USAID Missions and implementing
partners around the world. SoCha is USAID/Kenya East Africa’s Implementing
Partner for the Mission Support for the Journey to Self-Reliance Pivot (MSP)
Activity. The MSP Activity supports USAID/Kenya and East Africa (KEA) staff and
stakeholders to be more efficient, effective, transparent, and skilled in
achieving development outcomes using evidence, performance management
techniques, and Collaborating, Learning and Adapting (CLA) practices that
enable KEA’s journey to self-reliance.
SoCha
LLC is recruiting for a candidate with a strong background in public financial
management (PFM) in Kenya.
USAID
Kenya and East Africa (KEA) seeks support in drafting a foundational public
financial management concept note. USAID seeks to understand the nature of
public financial management challenges in Kenya at all levels and the ways in
which programmatic risk can be mitigated and reduced. In partnering with Kenyan
people, institutions, and organizations, USAID/KEA expects that public
resources will be utilized transparently, in line with the country’s PFM legal
framework. USAID/KEA seeks to work with Kenyans to improve the utilization of
PFM systems and to help prevent/mitigate corruption and diminish public apathy.
Scope
of Work:
The
PFM expert will draft a concept note which addresses key actors in Kenya’s PFM
ecosystem, their interests, challenges, their effectiveness in relation to PFM
in Kenya, and opportunities for partnership for USAID/KEA.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
·
Hold
a kickoff, exploratory conversation with the USAID team to develop a better
understanding of knows and unknowns, as well as refine research questions,
propose methodological approaches, and discuss overall timeline, outputs,
deliverables, and expectations.
·
Develop
and share an inception report including an understanding of the assignment,
research work plan, methodological approach, and outline.
·
Conduct
a review of published research, policy and legal documents, and gray
literature.
·
Develop
an understanding of Agency policy and practice regarding PFM. Identity lessons
and best practices from the Agency’s PFM initiatives.
·
Develop
an understanding of the current PFM environment in Kenya.
·
Highlight
main policy bottlenecks for successful PFM in Kenya.
·
Examine
measures that have been attempted and implemented to improve PFM in Kenya, and
specifically, identify what has worked and what has failed. Give specific
rationale for why policy measures to address PFM challenges have not worked
previously. Highlight political economy issues related to failures of PFM in
the past.
·
Explore
additional questions, for example why the economy has grown without related
increases in government revenue.
·
Conduct
key informant interviews with Kenyan stakeholders, USAID staff, implementing
partners, and other experts and development actors. Develop an understanding of
Agency policy and practice regarding PFM. Identity lessons and best practices
from the Agency’s PFM initiatives.
·
Develop
a map or matrix of key institutional stakeholders and key actors. Develop an
understanding of the interests of key actors and groups.
·
Scope
out the establishment of a PFM Working Group within USAID/KEA incorporating all
technical offices. Develop a PFM Working Group Action Plan that includes: a
framework for engagement with the above-mentioned Kenyan PFM actors; an
approach for local capacity development; and strategic goals for a Mission PFM
portfolio that cuts across different sectors.
·
Share
early findings and information on these topics with USAID and select partners
during an activity co-creation event.
·
Prepare
the first full complete draft of the paper.
·
Revise
draft based on USAID feedback and composed a final foundational Public
Financial Management concept note for USAID/KEA.
Qualifications:
·
A
minimum of 5 years of experience working in roles providing a purview and
understanding of Kenya’s public financial management systems.
·
Some
experience with USAID operations and programming portfolio.
·
Independent
researcher with the ability to uncover and present new ideas.
·
Ability
to engage and gather information from key informants and stakeholders, and
experience with some key networks with key actors i.e., national and county
governments as well as NSAs.
·
Experience
working with a key stakeholder institution in the PFM space in Kenya preferred.
·
Understanding
of civil society approaches to strengthen demand side of PFM in Kenya.
·
Excellent
English writing and analytical skills.
·
Master’s
degree or Ph.D. preferred.
·
A
minimum of 10 years of experience working in Kenya.
ABOUT THE
ORGANIZATION
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