Tax Lead - REMIT Programme

About the Programme

The Revenue Mobilisation, Investment and Trade (REMIT) programme funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. The programme provides technical assistance (TA) to Pakistan to implement reforms for strengthening macroeconomic stability and improving conditions for high and sustained growth, mutual prosperity, job creation and poverty reduction. The Programme works towards supporting Government of Pakistan, its relevant ministries, institutions, and departments to strengthen revenue mobilisation reforms/initiatives; address investment environment challenges; facilitate trade and drive competitiveness by reducing the barriers to trade; and improve the macroeconomic policy and its management. ASI is one of the implementing partners on REMIT and is responsible for delivering technical assistance to output 1 “revenue mobilisation”; and output 2 “investment climate” with cross-cutting elements such as advocacy, communication, behavioural insights, gender, and climate change.

Key Responsibilities and Tasks

One of REMIT’s outputs is help Pakistan enhance tax revenue. The workstream has encompassed several strategic areas, prominently featuring Compliance Risk Management (CRM), Automation, Data Use and Integration, enhancement of Human Resource capabilities within tax authorities, comprehensive Ta1xpayer Facilitation measures, and the development of Tax Policy Formulation capabilities on both national and provincial fronts.

In the above context, REMIT’s Revenue Mobilisation Advisor will be responsible for the following scope of work.

• Update our detailed situational analysis and stakeholder mapping for a holistic political economy analysis, guiding proposed interventions with FBR, MoF etc.
• Drive the exploration of new areas of intervention in revenue mobilisation, fostering innovation and impactful collaborations with the government of Pakistan.
• Identify interventions through developing a comprehensive demand and need analysis, refining the scope of interventions and liaising with the World Bank component to avoid overlap. These interventions should focus on sustainability, institutional strengthening and continuing beyond the life of the REMIT programme.
• Develop detailed scopes and terms of references (ToRs), collaborating with stakeholders and relevant government officials, outlining objectives, specifications, standards, and timelines for tax and revenue mobilisation-related TA that can be provided to the government through the REMIT programme.
• Lead the procurement of TA, drafting Requests for Proposals (RFPs), evaluating bids/CVs, and supporting contracting for optimal value and quality.
• Initiate Responsive Policy Function (RPF) concept notes for revenue mobilisation related TA as well as coordinating Pakistan Single Window specialised TA, for activities falling under the Revenue Mobilisation workstream (e.g. customs/tax integration).
• Lead and assure quality of TA delivery, monitoring progress, providing feedback, ensuring compliance, and verifying output quality.
• Ensure robust reporting mechanisms, including developing progress reports, documenting lessons learned, best practices, and working with the M&E and communications team to ensure dissemination of results.
• Lead the advocacy and planning for intervention sustainability, collaborating with REMIT and government of Pakistan stakeholders.

The key responsibilities and tasks include:

• Lead the Conceptualisation and Implementation of Tax/Revenue Mobilisation Initiatives

o Spearhead the conceptualisation and successful implementation of the agreed tax/revenue mobilisation work plan, providing expert guidance and technical support and focusing on sustainability and continuity.

o Lead seamless coordination between REMIT, FBR, MoF, and the private sector, fostering effective collaboration for intervention delivery.

o Establish and maintain adherence to established good practices, quality standards, and contextual requirements within the tax portfolio.

• 
  Drive Strategic Planning and Implementation

o Define the scope of key activities, outlining deliverables, milestones, and timelines.

o Develop comprehensive ToR for interventions, clarifying roles, responsibilities, and expectations for all stakeholders.

o Lead consultative dialogues with FBR, MOF, gathering insights for strategic design and implementation of tax/revenue mobilisation initiatives.

o Provide coordination and implementation follow-up inputs for HMRC/PAG missions.

o Engage in the Programme Steering Committee, as well as with independent evaluation panels as required.

• 
  Lead Strategic Partnership and Technical Assistance

o Identify specific technical expertise required for key initiatives and lead in their procurement.

o Lead, in collaboration with the project management unit, the process of procuring external TA, ensuring alignment with project objectives and outcomes.

• 
  Ensure Quality Delivery and Progress Monitoring

o Ensure quality and timely delivery of project milestones.

o Lead regular reviews, identifying issues and deviations, and collaborating with the REMIT Advisors for effective resolution.

o Presenting progress and outcomes sequentially to FCDO for evaluation and feedback.

o Ensure revenue mobilisation workstream adheres to all compliance procedures such as audits, required UK Aid branding, Duty of Care policies, expected VfM analysis, and GDPR/IATI protocols.

• 
  Develop and Lead on Robust Reporting Mechanisms

o Establish effective reporting mechanisms, capturing outputs, milestones, and challenges.

o Provide regular updates to stakeholders, including progress reports, assessments, and recommendations.

• 
  Foster Sustainability and Institutionalisation

o Lead collaboration with key stakeholders in devising comprehensive plans and policies, ensuring sustainability and scalability of REMIT's interventions.

o Lead the resource allocation, capacity building, and ongoing institutional efforts at FBR, MoF.

• 
  Drive Future Growth and Collaboration

o Lead the process of exploration and identifing opportunities for extended collaboration between REMIT and FBR, MOF, etc.

o Innovate and initiate partnerships, ensuring alignment with REMIT, FCDO, and Government goals.

Qualifications

• Master’s or advanced degree in Economics, Business Administration, Public Policy, or a related field. A Ph.D. in a relevant discipline is highly desirable.
• Minimum of 15 years of hands-on experience in tax policy, revenue mobilisation, or related fields, preferably in a governmental or international development organisation setting.
• Proven track record of successfully conceptualising, planning, and implementing revenue mobilisation-related initiatives, including tax policy analysis, tax-revenue facilitation schemes
• Demonstrated experience in collaborating with diverse stakeholders, including government stakeholders in Pakistan, private sector entities, international organisations, and tax bodies.
• Strong background in political economy analysis and understanding of the socio-economic and political context of Pakistan’s tax landscape.
• Extensive experience in providing technical assistance, guidance, and capacity building to government institutions and private sector partners in the field of revenue mobilisation and tax
• Proven ability to develop and maintain effective partnerships and collaborations to drive impactful revenue mobilisation initiatives.
• Exceptional knowledge of tax policies, tax agreements, and regulatory frameworks, with a deep understanding of tax-related challenges and opportunities in Pakistan.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to articulate tax and revenue mobilisation concepts clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences.
• Leadership qualities, with the ability to inspire and guide teams, fostering a collaborative and innovative work environment.
• Knowledge of international best practices, quality standards, and compliance requirements related to tax policies and export facilitation.

Reporting

The Tax Output Lead is a full-time position based in Islamabad and will report directly to the REMIT Team Lead and Project Director.

Application deadline - Monday 5th January at 11.59pm PKT.