International Consultant – Sustainable Budgeting Approach (SBA)

About the role

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is seeking an International Consultant to support the Sustainable Budgeting Approach (SBA) in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. The five‑month remote assignment will help calibrate the SBA methodology to the country’s fiscal and policy context and deliver early tools for implementation.

Key responsibilities

• Adapt the SBA taxonomy and assessment criteria to the Lao PDR fiscal, economic and policy environment, using the 10th National Socio‑Economic Development Plan and the national budget execution framework.
• Design and facilitate a capacity‑strengthening workshop for Ministry of Finance officials in Vientiane, capturing engagement and feedback.
• Develop an early version of the AI‑assisted SBA application tool and prepare it for validation testing.
• Document methodological refinements and country‑specific evidence generated during Phase 1, contributing to the broader SBA programme and informing future applications in other partner countries.
• Provide clear documentation and recommendations to support the UN Joint Programme on Green and Climate Finance in Lao PDR.

Required profile

• Proven experience in public finance, fiscal policy analysis, or sustainable budgeting.
• Familiarity with environmental and social dimensions of budgeting, preferably in an Asian context.
• Ability to work remotely and collaborate with government counterparts and UN partners.
• Strong analytical and report‑writing skills.

Required skills