Position Title: Public Private Dialogue Advisor (short-term)

Business Line and Group: International Development, Economic Policy and Governance (EP&G)

Position Location: Remote/Worldwide

Background:
Nathan is a leading provider of analytic and economic consultancy services worldwide. In the past decade, we have implemented more than 120 projects in more than 50 countries leveraging our global presence in Washington DC, London, and India. From improved transparency and deeper stakeholder engagement to more effective policies and more resilient businesses, we deliver results that impact economic growth, human development, and poverty reduction. We are passionate about applying our deep analytical expertise and advanced proprietary tools to generate economic solutions tailored to our clients’ unique challenges.  Nathan focuses on a range of economic development subject matter areas including Trade & Logistics; Economic Policy & Governance; Private Sector Development; Women’s Economic Empowerment; and Financial Solutions.

Nathan is a leading provider of analytic and economic consultancy services worldwide. In the past decade, we have implemented more than 120 projects in more than 50 countries leveraging our global presence in Washington DC, London, and India. From improved transparency and deeper stakeholder engagement to more effective policies and more resilient businesses, we deliver results that impact economic growth, human development, and poverty reduction.

Nathan is implementing the USAID Zambia Revenue for Growth Project (R4G). R4G supports the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) in its efforts to improve domestic revenue mobilization and expand the fiscal space for public spending and investments in service delivery and poverty reduction. R4G engages both government and non-government stakeholders to build capacity in tax policy analysis, improve tax compliance and administration, and strengthen the tax culture in a manner that facilitates private sector growth and accountability relationships between taxpayers and the GRZ.

R4G is comprised of the following four Objectives:

• Objective 1: Improve Tax and Non-Tax Revenue Administration and Compliance;
• Objective 2: Strengthen Tax Policy;
• Objective 3: Enhance Public-Private Dialogue; and
• Objective 4: Enhance the GRZ’s capacity to address other emerging strategic issues.

Key Responsibilities:
Nathan is seeking a short-term Public-Private Dialogue (PPD) Advisor to support R4G’s PPD activities under Objective 3 that are intended to build private sector and civil society capacity to contribute to an informed dialogue on taxation and ensure that public input informs decision-making on the mobilization and use of public resources.

To accomplish this objective, R4G is seeking a short-term PPD Advisor to conduct tasks 1 through 3 described below. If time and resources permit, the PPD Advisor will work on one or more of the remaining tasks as directed by R4G’s Chief of Party (COP). R4G is currently recruiting a staff PPD Lead. If R4G onboards a staff PPD Lead before or during the PPD Advisor’s assignment, the PPD Advisor will work with the PPD Lead on the tasks described below.

• Design and operationalize R4G’s PPD Strategy in consultation with R4G staff and USAID.
• Design and implement activities that strengthen and enhance interaction among the GRZ, the private sector, civil society, donor organizations and other stakeholders.
• Design and implement activities that increase the capacity of organizations to conduct economic analyses of fiscal issues and develop proposals.
• Conduct workshops to solicit input on tax priorities and build the capacity of the private sector to address fiscal issues and develop policy recommendations.
• Develop or support a platform that provides the private sector with an opportunity to discuss common tax issues, interact with GRZ officials (including the Ministry of Finance and Planning and the Zambia Revenue Authority), develop proposals, and advocate for the adoption of the proposals.
• In coordination with R4G’s Communications Specialist, engage with media organizations to design and implement activities that increase tax information and awareness and enhance the capacity of media organizations to report on fiscal issues.
• Design and evaluate grants dedicated to capacity-building, advocacy, tax awareness, and other areas in order to enhance public-private dialogue on taxation.
• Engage with R4G technical staff and advisors to incorporate PPD activities into other R4G Objectives.
• Engage with R4G’s Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Specialist to ensure that R4G’s PPD indicators and targets are appropriate and that PPD activities are accurately recorded.
• Draft reports describing PPD activities conducted by R4G and their impact on targeted stakeholders.
• If requested, contribute to fiscal policy and political economy analysis.
• Provide input to weekly, monthly, quarterly, annual and final R4G progress reports.
• If requested, perform other tasks that support R4G’s PPD activities.

All tasks will be conducted remotely unless otherwise agreed. This activity is projected to start in mid- to late August 2022 and run for an initial period of up to 30 work days. The timing and payment of the deliverables will be agreed with the candidate selected for this position. The PPD Advisor will report to the R4G COP or his designee. This position is open to Zambian and non-Zambian residents.

Qualifications & Skills:
The PPD Advisor is expected to possess the following qualifications and skills:

• Bachelor’s Degree (Master’s preferred) in international affairs/development, communications, public policy, economics or a related discipline.
• 5+ years’ work experience conducting PPD activities, preferably in tax or related areas.
• Demonstrated ability to develop PPD strategies, preferably in tax or related areas.
• Demonstrated ability to interact with senior government officials and representatives of donor organizations, CSOs, businesses and other entities to enhance public private dialogue.
• Experience in planning and conducting workshops attended by government officials and representatives of the private sector, CSOs, media and academia, preferably in tax and related areas.
• Experience in organizing and/or providing training and capacity-building for both government and non-government institutions, preferably in tax or related areas.
• Experience in engaging media and developing communications strategies to promote PPD activities.
• Experience supporting PPD activities of donor-funded development projects, preferably in tax or related areas.
• Knowledge of grant mechanisms and experience in designing and managing grants preferred.
• Excellent oral and written English communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to work in a demanding environment under tight deadlines.
• Knowledge of the Zambian economy would be beneficial.