Debt Management Expert USAID Revenue for Growth Project (R4G) at The Cadmus Group LLC

Job Description

Project Background:

Nathan Associates is implementing the USAID Zambia Revenue for Growth Project (USAID R4G), a five-year project awarded in June
2021, which supports the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) in its efforts to improve domestic revenue mobilization and expand the fiscal space for public spending and investments in service delivery and poverty reduction. USAID R4G engages both government and non-government stakeholders to build capacity in tax policy analysis, improve tax compliance and administration, and
strengthen the tax culture in a manner that facilitates private sector growth and accountability relationships between taxpayers and the GRZ.

USAID R4G is organized around four Objectives: 1) Improve Tax and Non-Tax Administration and Compliance; 2) Strengthen Tax Policy; 3) Enhance Public-Private Dialogue; and 4) Enhance Capacity to Address Emerging Fiscal Policy and Management Issues. Gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) is a cross-cutting Objective.

Position Description:

Tax arrears continue to be a significant problem for the ZRA. On December 31, 2023, the total debt amounted
to K68.5 billion (K99.9 billion on December 31, 2022), with the ratio of total debt to net revenue collected being 69%, significantly above global benchmarks (South Africa – 12.5%, Kenya – 29.7%, USA – 8.3%, Singapore – 1.6%, United Kingdom – 2.5%, Australia – 10.8%). The improvement of the ZRA’s debt
collection performance is part of R4G’s work plan. R4G, together with representatives from the ZRA, has conducted and concluded a detailed diagnostic of ZRA’s debt collection processes, procedures and operating model to fully identify and document enhancement opportunities and key challenges. Pursuant to the detailed diagnostic, a prioritized strategy to address the key challenges identified in the detailed diagnostic was developed and documented (“Debt Management Strategy”). R4G is currently focused on supporting the ZRA with
implementing the priority initiatives identified in the Debt Management Strategy. The possible outsourcing of some of the ZRA’s debt management processes is one of the priority initiatives identified in the Debt Management Strategy.

R4G requires an advisor to lead the technical support to the ZRA regarding outsourcing some of its debt
collection processes and/or activities. The engagement will include the development and implementation of a governance framework (e.g., standard operating procedures and decision rights).

The Debt Management Expert will report to the R4G Objective
1 (Tax Administration) Component Lead. This is a short-term position to be
conducted both remotely and/or in Lusaka, Zambia. To apply, please send a CV
via email with the subject line “R4G – Debt Management Expert” to [email protected] before January 1, 2025.

Responsibilities and
Deliverables:

The primary objective of this assignment is to enhance revenue performance, reduce the cost of collection,
and to support business delivery and efficiency, through the outsourcing of some of ZRA’s debt management processes. The assignment includes reviewing all the debt management processes/activities in the ZRA for possible outsourcing opportunities.

Specific activities include:

· Review the ZRA’s debt management processes /
activities and recommend those to be outsourced.

· Develop standard operating procedures (including governance process and decision rights) for the debt collection processes /activities to be outsourced.

· Pilot some of the selected debt collection processes / activities to be outsourced (exact details to be determined
following the Advisor’s recommendations).

· Train the ZRA on the debt collection processes /activities to be outsourced (on a train-the-trainer basis).

· Develop IT user requirements for any IT system changes required to automate the debt collection processes / activities to be outsourced.

The deliverables include:

· Document (in MS Word) outlining the debt collection processes and / or activities to be outsourced and the
implementation plan thereof.

· Document (in MS Word) containing the standard operating procedures (including governance process and decision rights) for the debt collection processes / activities to be outsourced.

· Development and documentation (in MS Word) of user requirements for any IT system changes required to automate the debt collection processes / activities to be outsourced (to include management
information system reports required, if any).

· Training materials (in MS Word or PowerPoint) for the debt collection processes and / or activities to be outsourced.

· Training to the ZRA on the debt collection processes and / or activities to be outsourced (up to 40 participants).

· Implementation report (in MS Word) to be produced containing inter alia, the results of a pilot of selected debt
collection processes / activities to be outsourced.

Qualifications:

· Over 10 years of experience in revenue administration, including senior management-level experience.

· A bachelor’s degree in accounting, economics, business administration or other relevant areas. A relevant master’s degree is an advantage.

· Experience developing and implementing revenue administration debt management solutions.

· Experience consulting in Africa (or other emerging markets) to governments and/or regional bodies.

· Professional proficiency in written and spoken English.

· Excellent team player and strong interpersonal skills.

· Ability to deliver high-quality work within deadlines.