National Economist: costing, budget and co-financing support for the Viluntheri Schools GCF Funding Proposal (TOR/2026/25), Male, Maldives, 10 months, remote

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built. We offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

• Provide the national cost evidence for the project: a unit cost database and costing assumptions based on Maldivian prices and atoll logistics.

• Prepare and maintain the line-by-line budget and support notes for the detailed budget (Annex 14), under the direction of the international finance specialist.

• Prepare the evidence package for the Government co-financing and the national tax information, for validation by the international finance specialist.

• Assess the legal and institutional feasibility of ring-fencing savings and transferring funds under national public-finance rules, as the basis for the Maintenance Fund options.

• Compile and validate the national datasets for the economic and financial analysis (Annex 11) and the procurement data for the procurement plan (Annex 6), as specified by the international finance specialist.

• Facilitate the collection and validation of national financial, fiscal and procurement information from government agencies and service providers.

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here:  National economist External ToR.pdf

•    Minimum requirements:

Education: Masters in A university advanced degree in finance, accounting, economics, public administration or a related field. A professional accounting qualification is an asset.

Fluency in English and Dhivehi.

At least 4 years of experience in budgeting, financial management or public finance.

Experience preparing budgets for projects funded by the GCF, a multilateral development bank, the UN or bilateral donors.

Sound knowledge of Maldivian public finance, budget processes and taxation.

Precision and consistency in budgeting.

Advanced spreadsheet skills.

Ability to meet tight deadlines while working with several teams.

Clear documentation of assumptions.

GCF budget experience is a strong asset.

Experience costing infrastructure or education projects in the Maldives is an asset.

Experience in undertaking economic and financial analysis is desirable.

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

• An up-to-date TMS profile and curriculum vitae (CV)
• Cover letter
• A separate financial proposal (only acceptable in the format of the linked template)  Financial proposal template.xlsx
• A detailed technical proposal: CV, two samples of budgeting or costing work, and a short note (maximum two pages) on the proposed approach and workplan. Shortlisted candidates may be invited to a competency-based interview, which will inform the technical score.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

Advertised: 28 Oct 2026 West Asia Standard Time
Applications close: 11 Nov 2026 West Asia Standard Time

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