Call for Data Expert to Support the Uganda Revenue Authority – Public Finance Resource Centre

Location: Uganda 

Duration: 6 months 
 
BACKGROUND 
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)-funded Public Finance Resource Centre (PFRC) is a key element of the UK Centre of Expertise for Public Finance. The PFRC helps countries access technical expertise as part of HMG’s broader offer of assistance to developing countries. It provides access to world class expertise enabling the FCDO to respond quickly and flexibly to deliver high quality technical advice on tax, public financial management and broader macro-fiscal and debt management support in response to demands identified by FCDO Posts. 
 
The desired outcomes of the PFRC are:  

• More effective and equitable tax policy and administration 

• More effective public financial management 

• Transparent and open procurement processes 

• Improved transparency and accountability in public expenditure.  

Recipients of support are: 

• Partner country governments (e.g. Ministries of Finance and their agents, Public Procurement Agencies, Revenue Authorities and Supreme Audit Institutions) including subnational government entities 

• FCDO Posts (e.g. for political economy analysis and scoping studies)  

• Regional organisations working on tax and public financial management. 

Adam Smith International (ASI) is the Managing Supplier for PFRC and implements all short-duration interventions (those lasting less than six months). The PFRC programme budget is likely to fall within the range of £24 million to £65 million over a period of seven years (2024-30) depending on demand and funding availability.  

Learn more about the PFRC programme here: https://pfrc.uk/  
 
About the Role 
We are looking for a Data Expert to provide high-quality technical assistance to the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) for a six-month long intervention. The intervention will support the URA’s efforts to strengthen the use of tax data to improve evidence-based policy and administration decisions as part of Uganda’s broader domestic revenue mobilisation (DRM) strategy. 

 
This may include: 

• Strategically supporting the Uganda Revenue Authority’s Data Lab to develop a framework for systematic cleaning, sharing, and analysis of data 

• Advising on data governance frameworks and improving internal data systems and protocols 

• Conducting a rapid needs assessment 

• Building the internal technical capacity of URA staff in areas such as applied econometrics, forecasting, causal inference (RCTs, natural experiments), and machine learning, to reduce dependency on external consultants for modelling and analysis 

• Building the capacity of URA staff on data analysis and application 

• Contributing to the development of the new URA Tax Academy including integrating data skills training into the core curriculum 

• Helping the URA maximise the use of data collected through the EFRIS system 

• Coordinating closely with key counterparts and stakeholders such as HMRC, UNU-WIDER, and ICTD to ensure alignment with wider DRM and PFM reform objectives 

Required Expertise 

Please apply if you have the following expertise -  

• Strong written and spoken communication skills in English 

• A minimum of five years’ relevant professional experience on FCDO funded projects 

• Extensive experience in tax data management, digital transformation or related fields 

• Demonstrated use of statistical and econometric tools (Stata, R, Excel, Power BI, etc.) 

• A strong track record of successfully delivering technical assistance and capacity building in developing countries with the Government agencies listed in recipients' section above is essential and in particular, assignments with Ministries of Finance and Revenue Authorities 

• Ability to conduct institutional assessments, develop training programs, and deliver high-quality technical reports 

• Excellent stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to work effectively with government counterparts, multilateral organizations, and other relevant institutions 

• Pre-existing familiarity with the URA’s tax data systems and capabilities is a plus, but not essential. 

 
ASI encourages applications from candidates of all social backgrounds, ethnicities, genders, abilities, and orientations. Qualified female applicants and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. We offer flexible working arrangements, please write to us to discuss further.  

Ways of Working 
Experts are expected to adhere to the following values and obligations: 

• At all times work collaboratively and openly with other members of the programme team, proactively providing guidance, advice and sharing experiences to solve problems, overcome challenges and manage risks together.  

• Free and open sharing of information gained from the client, beneficiaries, or other international projects with other members of the team.  

• Respect for the confidentiality of the team’s discussions, assessments, decisions and plans or agreements with the Client.  

• Adhere to decisions taken by the programme’s leadership and taking collective responsibility for implementing those decisions and communicating them to counterparts or other external parties.  

• Ensure they have an accurate understanding of policies and decisions made by the Contracting Authority that relate to the programme and respecting and adhering to those policies.  

• Careful coordination with other team members of communications and meetings with the Contracting Authority to ensure coherence of technical advice and an efficient use of the client’s time.  

• Constant monitoring of risks to programme delivery and achievement of deliverables/objectives, as well as the reputation of ASI and the Client, and swift referral of those risks to the Senior Programme Manager.  

• Comply with ASI’s operational and logistical procedures.  

• Comply with ASI’s Duty of Care and security procedures designed to ensure safety of personnel and notify the Senior Programme Manager of any incidence that threatens the security of personnel or assets of the project.  

• Understand and strictly adhere to ASI’s Code of Conduct.  
   

Heard Enough? Ready to Apply? 
We are keen to hear from you. Please submit a CV with detailed information on past experiences. Due to the high volume of applications, only shortlisted applicants will be contacted and provided with further details. 
 
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.