CONSULTANT SPECIALIST IN PUBLIC FINANCE

Department/Office : United Nations Environment Programme The ultimate result of the consultant is to develop national adaptation public expenditures estimates and to that end develop a Climate Change Adaptation Budget Coding Protocol for Panama's national public accounts. The Specialist in Public finance will contribute to the effective implementation of the project by conducting the following deliverables: Deliverables Output 3.4.1. NAP priorities mainstreamed into public sector budgets. Deliverable 1: Inception report: Including detailed methodology, workplan, stakeholder engagement approach, and data collection strategy for the CPEIR. Deliverable 2: CPEIR Diagnostic Report and Budget Coding Protocol (Activity 3.4.1.1). Comprehensive climate public expenditure and institutional review, including expenditure analysis, institutional assessment, and proposed climate adaptation budget coding protocol and action plan. Deliverable 3: Training Programme and Capacity Building Package (Activity 3.4.1.3). Development of training materials, delivery of training workshops, and documentation of capacity‑building activities to facilitate the operationalization of the CPEIR. Deliverable 4: CPEIR Validation and Institutional Arrangements Report (Activity 3.4.1.2). Delivery of validation workshop and institutional review, including stakeholder feedback, recommendations, and proposed coordination mechanisms for climate finance governance. Deliverable 5: Final consolidated report and a policy Brief incorporating stakeholder feedback, including strategic recommendations to strengthen climate‑responsive public financial management and mainstream adaptation into national budgets. Specific tasks and responsibilities The main objective of the position of the Specialist in Public finance is to contribute with the Ministry of the Environment and UNEP in the coordination and implementation of the Green Climate Fund funded project as set in the funding proposal document. Task 1: Develop coding protocol Carry out interviews with key individuals from the Ministry of Finance to ascertain current public account coding protocols and opportunity and willingness to introduce specific climate change adaptation coding. Undertake desk review of existing budget coding protocols used by Ministry of Finance and sector finance officers, and review what budget coding systems have been put in place for other cross‑cutting programme areas. Conduct a comprehensive Climate Public Expenditure and Institutional Review (CPEIR). Identify and classify climate‑relevant expenditures. Assess alignment between public expenditures and national climate policies (Nature Pledge, NAP, NDCs, and sectoral plans). Evaluate budget planning, execution, and tracking systems, including existing climate budget tagging practices. Identify financing gaps, priority sectors, and opportunities for scaling investments. Map and analyze the institutional architecture for climate finance in Panama. Evaluate budget planning, execution and tracking systems, including climate budget tagging practices. In close coordination with the Ministry of Finance and building on current national account systems, update and/or elaborate a budget coding protocol for assigning climate change adaptation in public accounts to enable for budgeting and expenditure reporting, and an action plan for its application across sectors. In close coordination with the Ministry of Finance and the NAP Technical Working group, and drawing on the Rio Markers, propose definition for climate change adaptation expenditure and criteria for identifying and classifying climate change adaptation expenditure, in both the recurrent (staffing) and development (capital) components of the national public budget. Task 2: Develop national adaptation public expenditures estimates Review sector policies, plans and budgets to identify climate change related programmes and activities and use criteria under Rio Markers to classify climate change adaptation expenditure. Analyze trends in climate‑related public expenditures across sectors and over recent years. In close coordination with the Ministry of Finance, review current mechanisms for tracking external climate finance budgeting and expenditure – both funds that are “on” budget and “off” budget. Prepare a report on proposed budget coding protocol for assigning climate change adaptation in public accounts for budgeting and expenditure reporting, an action plan for its application across sectors. Task 3: Design and develop materials for training programme on climate public expenditure analysis Design the content structure, modules, and delivery approach for the online training programme, ensuring accessibility and scalability. Develop training materials, including presentations, technical notes, practical examples, and case studies. Integrate Panama‑specific findings from the CPEIR to ensure relevance and applicability of the training content. Provide guidance for the operationalization of the training programme, including session structure, sequencing, and suggested delivery approach. Facilitate the upload and dissemination of training materials on the NAP website, if required. Task 4: Organise and facilitate the CPEIR validation workshop and institutional arrangements review Design the workshop methodology, agenda, and supporting materials. Present and validate key findings and recommendations of the CPEIR with relevant public institutions and key stakeholders. Facilitate discussions on institutional arrangements and coordination mechanisms to strengthen the integration of climate change into national budgeting processes. Document inputs, feedback, and agreements from stakeholders to inform the finalisation of the CPEIR. Develop recommendations to strengthen institutional coordination and governance for climate finance. Deliver two training workshops with finance staff of local authorities and relevant centralised and decentralised jurisdictions of sector ministries, including representatives of the Association of Municipalities of Panama (AMUPA). Document each workshop, including objectives, agenda, content covered, and training materials used. Compile gender‑disaggregated participant lists and summarise key discussions, lessons learned, and participant feedback. Identify capacity‑building needs and propose follow‑up actions to support the mainstreaming of adaptation priorities into national, local, and sectoral budget allocation processes. Task 5: Prepare the final CPEIR recommendations report and policy brief for stakeholders Consolidate and finalise CPEIR report, incorporating all stakeholder feedback, strategic recommendations to mainstream adaptation priorities into public sector budgets and strengthen climate‑responsive public financial management. Prepare a policy brief highlighting key results, priority actions, and strategic recommendations for decision‑makers. #J-18808-Ljbffr