1. About CSBAG

The Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group (CSBAG) is a coalition formed in 2004 to bring together CSOs at national and district levels to influence Government decisions on resource mobilization, allocation and utilization for equitable and sustainable development. CSBAG participates in the national and local government budget process through a number of thematic areas including but not limited to education, health and agriculture. The major aim of CSBAG participation in the local and national budgeting processes is to ensure that the respective budgets are people centered and subsequently contribute towards; poverty reduction, socio economic transformation and reduction in social inequality. 

2.Background

Education, health and agriculture sectors are central to the socio-economic transformation of a nation.[1] Uganda’s Vision 2040 as launched in 2010 aims to transform the country’s economy from a peasant to a modern and prosperous economy by 2040 (within 30 years). Inadequate education and healthcare partly account for Uganda’s poorly educated and inadequately skilled youthful labourforce. A Good healthy and adequately educated populace is a critical ingredient for socio-economic transformation as health and education constitute primary components of the Human Capital Development Program. Specifically, education and increase an individual’s efficiency and enables an economy to move up in the value chain beyond simple production processes (WEF, 2016).

For agriculture, as stated in its Vision 2040, Uganda aspires to transform the agriculture sector from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture. The agriculture sector provides both forward and backward linkages placing it at the central position of stimulating multi-sectoral transformation for instance, agriculture supports the agro-based industries and increasing foreign exchange through exports. Lin (2018)[2] notes that modernizing agriculture can improve human capital by better nourishing the population and avoiding far-reaching debilitative outcomes of malnutrition such as child stunting.

Over the years, Government of Uganda allocates resources among the different programs and sub-programs among which include the education, health and agriculture subprograms. Uganda’s share of budget allocation to the social sectors as a share of the total national budget continues to stall. It has averaged below 10%. For instance, Education sector was allocated 8% (UGX 3,700 Billion), Agriculture 3% (UGX 1,333 Billion) and Health 6% (UGX 2,788 Billion) in FY2020/21 budget. Much as we recognize the low share of budgetary share allocations to the social sectors – specifically education, health and agriculture, it is prudent that the meagre allocated resources are put to their intended purposes.

The Third National Development Plan (NDP III) is currently in its third year of implementation (FY 2022/23). Education, Health and Agriculture are central to the NDP III’s goal of is “Increased Household Incomes and Improved Quality of Life of Ugandans.”  For instance, health and education Key Result Area (KAR) indicators are critical to realization of the NDP III objective of Enhancing the productivity and social wellbeing of the population. Relatedly, agriculture is pointed out as critical area for increased labor productivity.  Annual budget allocations to the different programs and sub-programs over the NDP III.

Prudent Public Finance Management (PFM) practices within the three poverty reducing sectors of health, education and agriculture are central to realization of the respective subprogram NDP III set targets. Budget credibility is required to ensure that government remains on track to achieve its commitments as set out in the medium to long term planning frameworks. As Uganda enters in the last half of NDP III implementation, it is necessary to undertake a midterm review of the different   subprogram budget performance over the past two years of NDP III implementation (FY 2020/21 – FY 2021/22). This is intended to establish the budget performance inadequacies in the different subprograms and take the necessary corrective actions and policy reforms to drive the respective subprograms toward the realization of the NDP III set targets and objectives.

It is against the above background that CSBAG is looking for services of a consultants – individuals or firms to undertake an analysis of the midterm budget performance analysis for education, health and agriculture subprograms.

3. Objective of the assignment

The major objective of the consultancy is to undertake an analysis of the midterm budget performance analysis for audit guides for the education, health and agriculture subprograms over the NDP III. The specific objectives of the consultancy are to;

1. Show the current status of the health, education and agriculture indicators as specified in the NDP III.
2. Show the actual annual budget allocations toward health, education and agriculture against the respective budget allocations as specified in the NDP III.
3. Highlight the key infrastructural projects for health, education and agriculture as indicated in the NDP III.
4. Make practical recommendations to address any budget performance gaps identified in health, education and agriculture over the period FY 2020/21 – FY 2024/25.

3. Scope

The proposed audit guides shall incorporate three poverty reducing sectors of education, health and agriculture. The time scope shall include the initial two fiscal years on NDP III implementation namely; FY 2020/21 – FY 2024/25.

4.0 Time frame and deliverables

It is expected that within 25 working days from the date of contracting. The major deliverables include;

1. Inception report and an approach memo clearly stating the methodology to be used in undertaking the assignment.
2. First draft of NDP III midterm budget performance report for education, health and agriculture subprograms for review by the CSBAG team.
3. Final NDP III midterm budget performance report audit guides for education, health and agriculture subprograms

4. Expertise Required

The consultant will possess the following qualifications:

1. Advanced degree in economics, development studies or any other relevant qualification.
2. At least three years’ experience in conducting similar assignments
3. Clear understating of Uganda’s Planning Frameworks especially the NDP III.
4. Excellent analytical skills and experience in both qualitative and quantitative analysis

5. Submission of Proposals for the assignment

CSBAG is inviting Proposals for delivery of all outputs and activities as specified in this Terms of Reference. Interested consultants/firms are requested to submit Technical and financial proposals:

1. Only financial proposals quoted in UGX are acceptable
2. The technical proposal should contain: 
3. Description of the understanding of the assignments, including comments on the TORs;
4. A brief critique or advice on, what the TOR ought to have included or considered, from your understanding of the assignment;
5. A description of the methodology to be followed, to achieve the desired objectives; 
6. Work plan and Time scheduling of information gathering and other activities; and
7. CVs of the consultants/firms

6. Application Process.

Interested candidates should submit their application letter, updated CVs, technical and financial proposals and references for similar work conducted previously, addressed to the Executive Director: Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group (CSBAG), email: hr@csbag.org cc: jmukunda@csbag.org  P.O. Box 660, Ntinda Kampala, Uganda, Plot 11 Vubyabirengye Close Ntinda-stretcher road by 5:00pm 30^th, September 2022.

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[1] https://www.fao.org/3/I8684EN/i8684en.pdf

[2] https://www.ifpri.org/blog/agriculture-key-economic-transformation-food-security-and-nutrition