Maestral Public Finance for Children (PF4C) Expert Cohort

Maestral is inviting applications for the Maestral Public Finance for Children (PF4C) Expert Cohort—a small group of experienced Public Finance for Children professionals who will be among the first trained to use Maestral developed public finance and investment case tools. We are looking for experts who combine strong technical knowledge with the ability to communicate complex public finance concepts clearly and engage effectively with governments and partners.

Selected participants will receive direct training from Maestral President Philip Goldman and Senior Associates, preparing them to become PF4C Experts who can introduce the tools and support their application with governments, development agencies, and other partners.

What Maestral provides:

• Direct training on all Maestral public finance and investment case tools
• Recognition as a Maestral PF4C Expert, part of a small group trained to introduce and apply the tools
• Paid opportunities to introduce the tools through short webinars for governments, development partners, and other organizations
• The potential for paid technical assistance assignments through Maestral when governments or partners seek deeper support to adapt, learn, or apply the tools

What we ask of PF4C Experts:

• Participate fully in Maestral training on the tools
• Support the introduction of the tools through short webinars and presentations
• Be available for potential short-term technical assistance assignments through Maestral to help governments and organizations adapt and apply the tools

Maestral’s Public Finance for Children Work

Maestral works with governments and partners to strengthen the financing of systems and services for children. Our Public Finance for Children expertise spans macroeconomic modelling, national and subnational costing, service costing, investment cases and economic evaluation, public financial management, and coordinated financial planning. Our work combines rigorous analysis with practical tools that help governments understand what quality systems and services cost, identify financing needs and priorities, and make evidence-based decisions about investing in children.

Qualifications

We are seeking experienced professionals with:

• An advanced degree in economics, public finance, public policy, development economics, or a closely related field. Equivalent depth of professional experience will also be considered.
• At least five years of professional experience in public finance, costing, or applied economic analysis.
• Knowledge of Public Finance for Children approaches, investment case methodologies, costing, and/or economic evaluation.
• Advanced spreadsheet modelling skills, including the ability to develop transparent, auditable models with clearly documented assumptions and data sources.
• Experience working with national public finance data and relevant international economic, demographic, and social sector data sources.
• Strong analytical discipline, including the ability to distinguish evidence from assumptions, clearly communicate limitations, and defend analysis under external review.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to make complex public finance concepts and findings accessible to non-technical audiences and engage effectively with government and development partners.
• Professional working proficiency in English is required. Proficiency in an additional language (such as: Arabic, Chinese, French, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish) is a strong advantage.
• Experience working in child protection, social welfare, social protection, the social service workforce, health, or education.
• Experience working directly with ministries of finance or planning, co-developing tools with government teams, delivering capacity strengthening, or reviewing economic and costing models.

Participation in the Maestral PF4C Expert Cohort does not guarantee future assignments. It provides specialized training in Maestral’s tools and positions PF4C Experts for consideration as opportunities arise to introduce and apply them in different country contexts.