Call for Experts: Federal Reforms for Growth Programme, Pakistan

Call for Experts: Anticipated FCDO Federal Reforms for Growth (FRG) Programme, Pakistan

Anticipated long- and short-term opportunities

DAI is seeking expressions of interest from Pakistani and international experts for the anticipated Federal Reforms for Growth (FRG) programme, funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

About the Anticipated Programme

FRG is expected to use agile technical assistance, policy-driven research and economic diplomacy to support federal ministries, regulatory bodies and autonomous bodies in Pakistan to deliver reforms that promote growth. It would focus on two areas: fiscal foundations for growth, through tax, expenditure and wider public financial management policy; and business environment reform, through sectoral approaches and cross-cutting trade and investment policy.

Experts and Technical Skillsets Sought

We welcome senior and mid-level economists, fiscal and public financial management specialists, trade and private sector development specialists, and programme managers with expertise in one or more of the following areas:

• Team Leadership and Programme Management: leading large economic reform programmes, including as Team Leader or Deputy Team Leader; senior government engagement; demand-led technical assistance; and operations and compliance, ideally on FCDO-funded contracts.
• Tax Policy and Domestic Revenue Mobilisation: tax policy design, tax expenditure review, base broadening, revenue forecasting and tax administration reform.
• Public Financial Management (PFM): budget preparation and execution, medium-term expenditure frameworks, public expenditure reviews, treasury management, financial management information systems and federal-provincial fiscal relations.
• Fiscal Policy, Debt Management and Fiscal Risk: fiscal policy advice, public debt management, fiscal risks from state-owned enterprises and the energy sector, and macro-fiscal modelling.
• State-Owned Enterprise Reform and Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs): SOE governance, restructuring and privatisation; PPP frameworks and transaction advisory; and public investment management.
• Business Environment and Regulatory Reform: investment climate reform, regulatory simplification and impact assessment, business licensing, competition policy and intellectual property.
• Trade and Investment Policy: tariff reform, trade facilitation and customs modernisation, export competitiveness, investment promotion and facilitation, and sector policy reform in areas such as IT, energy and financial services.
• Economic Research and Policy Analysis: applied economic research, macroeconomic and econometric modelling, and practical policy options for senior decision makers.
• Political Economy and Strategic Communications: political economy analysis, reform sequencing, public-private dialogue and strategic communications.
• Gender Equality and Social Inclusion: gender-responsive budgeting, distributional analysis of fiscal policy, and women's economic empowerment.
• Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL): results frameworks for policy reform, value for money and adaptive management.

Preferred qualifications: A master's degree or PhD in economics, public policy, finance or a related field; experience with ministries of finance, revenue authorities, trade and investment agencies or regulators in Pakistan or comparable emerging economies; and a track record of reforms adopted by government, including alongside IMF and World Bank programmes. Urdu and knowledge of Pakistan's fiscal and economic policy landscape are valued. Pakistani nationals are strongly encouraged to apply.

Location and Travel

The main place of assignment shall be indicatively Islamabad, Pakistan. Travel within Pakistan will be required and will be subject to relevant project and FCDO rules and regulations, including security protocols and the outcome of contemporary security assessments.

Expression of Interest

Interested experts are invited to submit a CV indicating technical areas of specialisation, Pakistan and regional experience, availability, and preferred role (long-term, short-term, or both).

Deadline for submission of 1st round of CVs: 30th November 2026

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. This call is for an anticipated opportunity and is not a guarantee of employment or engagement.

About DAI

DAI works on the frontlines of global development, transforming ideas into action and action into impact. We are committed to shaping a more liveable world. DAI is an employee-owned global development company with corporate offices in the USA, the UK, the EU, Nigeria, Pakistan and Palestine, and project operations worldwide.

DAI is an equal opportunity employer. We uphold the highest ethical standards and are committed to preventing sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment. All positions are subject to stringent vetting and reference checks. DAI never charges fees at any stage of recruitment.