Consultant – Public Debt in Developing Countries

About

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) is an award-winning independent think tank working to accelerate solutions for a stable climate, sustainable resource management, and fair economies. Our work inspires better decisions and sparks meaningful action to help people and the planet thrive. We shine a light on what can be achieved when governments, businesses, non-profits, and communities come together. IISD’s staff of more than 200 experts come from across the globe and from many disciplines. With offices in Winnipeg, Geneva, Ottawa, and Toronto, our work affects lives in nearly 100 countries.

Scope

In 2024, IISD aims to expand its Tax Program to include other aspects of public finance, with a particular focus on public debt. Tax and public debt are inextricably linked. We plan to bring the two areas together to provide developing countries with comprehensive guidance on how to increase tax revenues to fund public spending while reducing the existing debt burden at the same time. This burden is a major issue globally and a constraint on the ability of developing countries to pursue development and climate objectives. There are real concerns, for example, that Just Transition Energy Partnerships (JTEPs) could lead to further indebtedness of developing countries. IISD will work with countries to help limit further public debt, including in relation to climate commitments. This work will be done in connection with IISD’s program on Sustainable Finance, which focuses on strengthening the role of private finance in achieving the SDGs, as well as with sectoral programs such as Energy, Climate, Nature, and Infrastructure.

Objectives

We are looking for a Consultant to support IISD’s Tax Program to develop its approach and strategy on public debt in developing countries. The Consultant is expected to work with the Tax Program from January to February 2024. The Consultant is expected to

• Support IISD to further develop its knowledge and understanding of the public debt landscape as it relates to developing countries, including a gap analysis of the market;
• Support IISD to better understand what other organizations are doing on public debt in developing countries, as well as who the major funders and funding priorities are;
• Support IISD to develop an ambitious, progressive strategy on public debt that leverages its comparative advantage and complements the efforts of other organizations;
• Support IISD to develop a relevant network of contacts, stakeholders, and partners for the work on public debt.

Profile

We are seeking an expert in public debt in developing countries. The expert should have several years of experience working in the field—analyzing data and developing research and knowledge products for governments, as well as providing policy advice and technical assistance. They should have detailed knowledge of the public debt landscape, including the organizations working in this space, as well as relevant donors and their funding priorities. Finally, they should have a demonstrable understanding of strategic planning for and in developing countries.

Contractual Arrangement

We expect the Consultant to carry out the work during January and February 2024. The Consultant will be contracted and paid according to IISD’s consultancy policies.

The Consultant will work remotely during this period, reporting to Alexandra Readhead, Lead, Tax at IISD. They can be located anywhere with a suitable Internet connection.

Tasks

Deliverables

1. Prepare an expert briefing on the major global challenges and opportunities related to public debt in developing countries, as well as emerging issues and trends at the intersection of (1) public debt and climate finance and (2) public debt and biodiversity protection. The briefing should have a clear executive summary and not exceed 10 pages.
   Deadline: January 27

2. Prepare a stakeholder mapping of the main international and regional organizations, non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, and think tanks working on public debt in developing countries. The mapping should contain information on what each organization is doing and its relevance to IISD’s current and future work on public debt. It should also map the main donors on public debt and their funding priorities.
   Deadline: January 27

3. Participate in the Tax Program retreat on February 6 and 7 in Geneva. During the retreat, the Consultant will be invited to present key insights from the expert briefing and stakeholder mapping, as well as and any initial thinking on IISD’s potential areas of focus and work on public debt.
   Deadline: February 6 & 7

4. Prepare a short report with specific recommendations for IISD on its public debt strategy. The recommendations should be grounded in an understanding of what IISD does (on public debt, tax, and more broadly) and what it could contribute that would be unique and complementary to other organizations. The recommendations should also link back to the expert briefing—outlining how this approach will enable IISD to respond to the major challenges and opportunities related to public debt. Finally, it should include specific recommendations on what IISD could do at the intersections of (1) public debt and climate finance and (2) public debt and biodiversity, recognizing that these are key issues for achieving climate, biodiversity, and development commitments, but also considering IISD’s expertise in this field. The Consultant should respond to any follow-up questions from IISD and incorporate feedback.
   Deadline: February 23

Ideal Candidate Profile

Essential

• Master’s or PhD degree in economics, public or social policy, or other relevant subject

• 10-plus years of experience working on public debt issues in developing countries

• Demonstrated excellent writing and communication skills (in English)

• Commitment to IISD’s vision for sustainable development

• Knowledge of the role of public debt in climate finance

• Willingness and ability to travel internationally for work

• Ability to work effectively in a remote team

• Strong commitment to the ideals, values, and mission of IISD

Ideal

• Knowledge of global biodiversity frameworks and the relevant public finance commitments
• Demonstrable knowledge of strategy design and implementation

For more details on what we are looking for in our candidates, please refer to the IISD competencies on our website.

Location: Global

Remuneration: Remuneration commensurate with experience

Start Date:  January 3, 2024

Closing Date:  The candidates will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and the position will be closed once filled.

Candidates must submit a cover note (one-page maximum) outlining their interest in the consultancy and why they are suitable. They will be required to provide references and a piece of written work on request. This written work should be on a topic relating to tax and investment, e.g., a research report or policy brief.

Selected candidates will be interviewed by IISD and may be required to submit a written test.

Application Procedure

All submissions must be in English.

Applications will only be accepted through Bamboo HR.

• A CV (no longer than two pages)
• A cover letter (one page)

We thank all candidates for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

IISD is committed to fostering a more equitable and sustainable world and welcomes candidates who uphold our values of diversity, equity, and inclusion. In addition, to correct the conditions of social injustice and disadvantage in employment around the world, we encourage candidates from historically marginalized groups, including women, Indigenous Peoples, people with disabilities, people from different racial and ethnic backgrounds, and those who identify themselves as 2SLGBTQIA+, to apply for this position. We offer reasonable accommodations in our recruitment process and seek applicants’ advice on how best to accommodate their needs.

IISD does not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, caste, ethnicity, religion, colour, disability, marital status, pregnancy, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status.

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