Special Skills Expert (SSE) for Ministry of Finance and Planning (MoFP) Public Finance Management (PFM) Specialist (Service Cluster

Consultant Elections & Governance

Contract

This is a National Consultant contract. More about National Consultant contracts.

Background

South Sudan is on a path of systems and institutional reform and transformation processes in socio-economic, civil and political sectors during the transitional period in line with the spirit and letter of the Revitalized Agreement on Resolution of Conflict in Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) 2018. Chapter IV (4.1.7) of the R-ARCSS stipulates that “the RTGONU shall undertake immediate and medium term Economic and Financial Management reform programme”.

Over the past two years, the government has made progress on key reforms to stabilize the macroeconomic environment. These include formulating a National Development Strategy (NDS), abolishing the fuel subsidy and liberalizing the fuel market and abolishing deficit financing from the central bank. These reforms helped to stabilize the economy, resulting in an optimistic economic outlook for FY 2020/2021. Unfortunately, COVID 19 pandemic has had a significantly negative socioeconomic impact on South Sudan resulting in a depressed fiscal space to finance implementation of the R-ARCSS. An analysis of the potential socio-economic impact of COVID 19 pandemic, conducted with the UNDP, recommended that government increase efficiencies as a response to the pandemic.

Consistent with these recommendations, requirements of Chapter IV of the R-ARCSS and recommendations from the IMF, the Minister of Finance & Planning issued a Ministerial Order establishing a governance structure to guide PFM Reform Strategy (PFMRS) in South Sudan.

The governance structure consists of three committees namely:

• PFM Oversight Committee
• PFM Technical Committee
• PFM Reform Secretariat

As per the approved Terms of Reference for the PFM governance structure, the PFM Secretariat will be established under the Ministry of Finance and Planning’s organizational structure to support the functional departments to deliver on the PFMRS. The PFM-Reform Secretariat (PFM-RS) will initially comprise of a small core of full-time staff and part-time staff from key economic institutions. The PFM-RS will have six full time staff on fixed term appointment of six months. These positions are for qualified South Sudanese nationals.

The composition of the PFM Secretariat is as follows:

• Coordinator (full-time) assisted by 5 full-time technical staff
• DG of Accounts, MoFP (part-time)
• DG of Macro - Planning, MoFP (part-time)
• DG of OEPA – MoP, (part-time)
• DG, Research and Statistics – BoSS, (part-time)
• Director for Economic Statistics – NBS, (part-time)
• DG of Budget, MoFP - (part-time)
• Director, Aid Coordination Unit - (part-time)

Against this backdrop the UNDP is recruiting a PFM Specialist to support the PFM Reform Secretariat on for 130 days. The technical specialist will report to the Coordinator of the Secretariat on a day to day basis. S/he will focus on the Service Cluster, which is chaired by a Vice President of the Republic of South Sudan

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision and guidance of the Coordinator of the PFM Secretariat/ Project Manager-GEMS (Matrixed with MoFP and UNDP), the PFM Specialist will:

Work planning, project management and coordination with working groups

• provide logistical support and guidance to the working groups in the Service Cluster implementing the various reform activities and projects under the PFMRS.
• organize the monitoring of reform project implementation and collect and collate progress reports from the working groups for the Oversight Committee through the Technical Committee.
• collect and submit consolidated annual work programs, budget and procurement plans for review and endorsement by the Oversight Committee through the Technical Committee.
• develop a system to collect and collate data to produce performance reports for the Technical Committee.
• coordinate the design of new project proposals and financing, ensuring alignment with program objectives, priorities and agreed financing rules.

Public Financial Management Capacity development within the Security Cluster

• disseminate needs assessment reports, guidelines on capacity development programs to ensure that it is relevant, appropriate and effective, and that technology and skills are efficiently customized and transferred.
• collect regular reports on progress with capacity building efforts and skills transfer in each reform area and institution.
• liaise with ministries and agencies to ensure timely implementation of capacity building plans.
• follow up on funding pledges to ensure the timely flow of resources to training and capacity building activities.
• draft guidelines for project managers on the timely procurement of training in accordance with government procedures, and the identification of services providers.
• develop and operate a database of all training materials and for tracking the implementation of training activities.
• collect from the executing agencies and collate quarterly reports on the implementation of capacity building activities to the Technical Committee.

Communications and information management within the Service Cluster

• develop an appropriate communication plan to keep stakeholders, including the South Sudanese public, informed and to promote greater ownership of PFM reforms by the government and development partners.
• maintain a database of all reports and other documentation relating to the PFMRS and its implementation.
• publish relevant information related to the Strategy and its implementation on the website of the Ministry of Finance & Planning (http://grss-mof.org/), ensuring its regular update to reflect plans and progress and the timely posting of reports approved for dissemination.
• monitor disbursements by development partners related to the implementation of the PFMRS and prepare quarterly reports to the Technical Committee summarizing these data.

Deliverables:

• Inception Report and initial workplan (10 days after contract commencement).
• Bi-monthly workplan and report of previous period (2 months after contract commencement and every two months following).
• Draft Final Report on the results/finding and recommendations (one month prior to end of contract).
• Final Report on the results/finding of the assessment and recommendations for future interventions (Revised draft incorporating the feedback from stakeholders) (one week prior to end of contract). This is to be presented to stakeholders for validation.

All reports are subject to review and endorsement by the MoFP/PFM Secretariat and UNDP and the final report to a validation workshop by stakeholders

Competencies

Identifying and Building Strategic Consensus with Collegial Partnerships:

• Establish effective networking with PMDAs and partners, seizing opportunities to build strategic alliances relevant to mandate of RTGoNU as provided in article 1.2 of R-ARCSS and with special focus on service cluster governance reform agenda during transitional period.
• Contextualize assistance of hierarchical bureaucracy of the MoFP for fast-tracking a coordinated decision-making and directives for delivery of finance services, using efficient tools necessary for supporting capacity building of the public sector with domestic partnerships in accordance with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Innovating and Developing Good Governance Strategies, Plans and Regulations:

• Coordinate the harmonization of legislative framework, institutional policies, strategic plans, and work plans with well-studied knowledge sharing flatforms on e-governance and service cluster.
• Adopt new approaches of public administration with broader range of perspectives in developing innovative proposals for meeting the contemporary standards of management of service cluster.
• Create conducive work environment and team spirit, which fosters innovative collective thinking through the reformed service cluster institution of the public sector.

Creating Impact through Sustainable Peace and Holistic Development Dividends:

• Develop leadership and administrative skills of developmental analyses of service cluster issues with information on potential bilateral and multilateral cooperation with counterparts to recommend strategic approach for mutual benefits and accountability.
• Compile comparative lessons learnt on human capacity development and public administration strategy of managing the public sector in accordance with inculcated fundamentals of service cluster with links to local government.

Promoting Institutional Training, Technical Expertise and Knowledge Sharing:

• Prioritize continuous training, coaching and mentoring of senior public servants with efficient use of contemporary computerized tools and standardized mechanisms of service cluster.
• Enhance efficient drafting, effective planning, presentation and report-writing skills with strong analytical and strategic resilience in advanced professional specialization in service cluster services.
• Demonstrate comprehensive skilful knowledge and competence in information technology and strategic communication on service cluster matters with efficiency and accountability.

Organizational Awareness:

• Promotes the mission, vision and strategic goals of MoFP;
• Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment understands the structure and hierarchy of MoFP, process flows throughout the ministry.

Working in Teams:

• Acting as a team player and facilitating teamwork;
• Works collaboratively with colleagues inside MoFP as well as its partners and other stakeholders to pursue common goals.

Communicating Information and Ideas:

• Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively;
• Delivers verbal/written information in a timely, clear, organized and easily understood manner;
• Strong communication skills and the ability to listen and take direction and leadership from others.

Self-Management & Emotional Intelligence:

Creating synergies through self-control, tolerates conditions of stress, uncertainty or ambiguity and continues to maintain a positive outlook and to work productively

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in economics, development economics, political science, law, public administration or first-level university degree combined with relevant specialized professional experience.

Experience:

• A minimum of 10 years of professional working experience in relevant fields related to public finance management is required;
• A minimum of 5 years working in public sector with particular focus on public finance management is required;
• A minimum of 2 years working in knowledge management within an international organization is required;
• Proven experience organizing and managing events and workshops is desirable;
• Knowledge of the UN system is desirable;
• Proven ability to work under pressure with tight deadlines, and to deliver in a timely manner within cost and quality standards;
• Proficiency and proven experience in the use of Microsoft Office suite (e.g. Word, Excel, Power Point) is required. Proven experience in the development infographics, online surveys, presentations, organization of webinars would be an asset;
• Ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate information collection and monitor own work plan;
• Ability to work, establish and maintain strategic partnerships with government institutions, donors, civil society partners and other UN agencies.

Language:

• Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Arabic Language is desired

APPLICATION PROCEDURE:

The application package containing the following (to be uploaded as one file):

• A cover letter with a brief description of why the Offer considers her/himself the most suitable for the assignment;
• Personal CV, indicating all past experience from similar projects and specifying the relevant assignment period (from/to), as well as the email and telephone contacts of at least three (3) professional references;
• Two pages to describe the methodology to respond to the TOR (understanding of the project requirements.

Note: The above documents need to be scanned in one file and uploaded to the online application as one document.

Shortlisted candidates (ONLY) will be requested to submit a Financial Proposal.

• The financial proposal should specify an all-inclusive daily fee (based on a 7-hours working day - lunch time is not included - and estimated 21.75 days per month).
• The financial proposal must be all-inclusive and take into account various expenses that will be incurred during the contract.
• In the case of unforeseeable travel requested by UNDP, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between UNDP and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed.
• If the Offeror is employed by an organization/company/institution, and he/she expects his/her employer to charge a management fee in the process of releasing him/her to UNDP under a Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA), the Offeror must indicate at this point, and ensure that all such costs are duly incorporated in the financial proposal submitted to UNDP.

The Financial Proposal is to be emailed as per the instruction in the separate email that will be sent to shortlisted candidates.

Evaluation Process:

Applicants are reviewed based on Required Skills and Experience stated above and based on the technical evaluation criteria outlined below. Applicants will be evaluated based on cumulative scoring. When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract will be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

• Being responsive/compliant/acceptable; and
• Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation where technical criteria weighs 70% and Financial criteria/ Proposal weighs 30%.

Technical Evaluation - Total 70% (70 points):

• Criteria 1:
• Education
• Master’s degree in economics, development economics, political science, law, public administration public security, political science, law, public administration: Weight = 10%; Maximum Points: 10;
• Criteria 2:
• A minimum of 10 years of professional working experience in public security sector;
• Proven ability to work under pressure with tight deadlines, and to deliver in a timely manner within cost and quality standards. Proficiency and proven experience in the use of Microsoft Office suite (e.g. Word, Excel, Power Point) experience in the development infographics, online surveys, presentations, organization of webinars would be an asset. Ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate information, collection and monitor own work plan;
• Ability to work, establish and maintain strategic partnerships with government institutions, donors, civil society partners and other UN agencies**: Weight = 40%; Maximum Points: 40;**
• Criteria 3:
• Competence and Skills
• Demonstrate integrity by modelling UN values and ethical standards
• Respect the vision, mission, and strategic goals of the UNDP
• Demonstrated team-building capacity
• Ability to cope with a difficult environment where formal institutions of government are at nascent stage
• Deal diplomatically with challenging bureaucratic processes and pressure to meet strict deadlines: Weight = 20%; Maximum Points: 20.

Having reviewed applications received, UNDP will award the top candidates with highest scores. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% (49 points) of the maximum obtainable points for the technical criteria (70 points) shall be considered for the financial evaluation.

Financial Evaluation - Total 30% (30 points)

The following formula will be used to evaluate financial proposal:

p = y (µ/z), where

p = points for the financial proposal being evaluated

y = maximum number of points for the financial proposal

µ = price of the lowest priced proposal

z = price of the proposal being evaluated

Contract Award:

Candidate obtaining the highest combined scores in the combined score of Technical and Financial evaluation will be considered technically qualified and will be offered to enter into contract with UNDP.

Institutional Arrangement:

The consultant shall work under the guidance and direct supervision of the Coordinator of the PFM Secretariat/Undersecretary of MoFP and the UNDP GEMS Project Manager and will be responsible for the fulfilment of the deliverables as specified above.

Payment Modality:

• Payment to the Individual Contractor will be made based on the actual number of days worked, deliverables accepted and upon certification of satisfactory completion by the manager.
• The work week will be based on 35 hours, i.e. on a 7-hours working day, with core hours being between 9h00 and 18h00 daily.

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Added 3 years ago - Updated 3 years ago - Source: jobs.undp.org