Egypt MESR Capital Investment Specialist

SCOPE OF WORK

Macro-Economic Stabilization and Reform (MESR) Activity

Capital Investment Specialist

DAI works at the cutting edge of international development, combining technical excellence, professional project management, and exceptional customer service to solve our clients’ most complex problems. Since 1970, DAI has worked in 150 developing and transition countries, providing comprehensive development solutions in areas including crisis mitigation and stability operations, democratic governance and public sector management, agriculture and agribusiness, private sector development and financial services, economics and trade, HIV/AIDS, avian influenza control, water and natural resources management, and energy and climate change. Clients include international development agencies, international lending institutions, private corporations and philanthropies, and host-country governments.

Project Background

The USAID Macro-Economic Stabilization and Reform (MESR) project will address Egypt’s macroeconomic challenges, assist with implementing critical public financial management reforms, and set the stage for economic growth and achievement of Egypt’s Sustainable Development Strategy 2030. The MESR project will focus on capacity building and institutional development to promote sustainability of reforms and empower government staff to improve capital investment processes and public finance systems. Stakeholders and counterparts include the Ministry of Finance (MOF), the Ministry of Planning (MOP), Egyptian tax authorities, economic think tanks, universities, the private sector, and international organizations working in public financial management.

The project is organized around two objectives: 1) Improved public investment planning, implementation, and monitoring and 2) upgraded effectiveness of public financial management. For component 1, key project activities will include improving the process of capital investment planning and appraisal, developing alternative financing schemes, implementing a continuous improvement system, upgrading the monitoring and evaluation of capital investments, and enhancing coordination between the MOP and MOF in budget planning and formulation. For component 2, key project activities will include improving government’s cash management, reforming budgeting processes to achieve program results, enhancing tax administration forecasting, and developing improved capacity to address fiscal risks.

Assistance from the project will enhance government capacity and support better-functioning institutions, thus encouraging a virtuous cycle of economic growth in Egypt that supports private sector development, increases international competitiveness, decreases public debt, and reduces poverty.

Responsibilities and Key Tasks:

The Capital Investment Specialist will be responsible for improving the capital appraisal and decision support mechanisms within the Ministry of Planning as part of Objective 1; specific tasks include:

• Lead strategy for overall improved effectiveness and efficiency of public capital investment in the Institute of National Planning within MOP to support improved selection of capital investment projects, according to strategic priorities and in line with fiscal objectives.
• Conduct initial capital investment benchmark study and assessment to plan strategic reforms, identifying opportunities for improved efficiencies and looking at short-, medium-, and long-term goals.
• Lead effort across government entities to establish and implement standardized cost and benefit valuation methods.
• Lead capacity building within the Ministry of Planning in the area of investment appraisal, designing and implementing a training program and rolling this out to other GOE entities, in accordance with SDS 2030.
• Review outstanding capital investment projects and develop a standardized appraisal methodology, focusing on project benefits, funding strategies, standardized evaluation criteria, legal framework, and operational costs.
• In addition to capacity building training, provide on-the-job training to ministry counterparts to identify areas of weakness and recommend improvements.
• Develop and implement training courses on cost-benefit analysis, establishing working groups among the MOP and other GEO entities to develop customized training courses.
• Develop a project appraisal approach that considers the economic impact of projects across various sectors, localities, and gender issues.

Qualifications:

• Minimum requirement is a B.A. in economics, finance, accounting or related field. A relevant master’s degree is preferred.
• At least 5 years of experience in capital investments, experience working in government capital investment or assisting government capital investment preferred.
• Knowledge of and previous work with Egypt’s Ministry of Planning preferred.
• Experience in providing international technical assistance with USAID or other donor organizations is preferred.
• Good communication and writing skills, fluency in English required.

Location and Reporting:

The Capital Investment Specialist will be based in Cairo, Egypt and will report to the Ministry of Planning Objective Lead.

Please send your CV to Apply to send email to the employer with the subject line “Capital Investment Specialist” by September 17, 2018. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Location: Egypt

Job Code: 3937