UNDP Jobs - 13726- Consultant: Financial Expert

Consultant: Financial Expert - Reform of Water and Sanitation in Mauritius (Readvertised)

Location :

Ministry of Renewable Energy and Public Utilities, MAURITIUS

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

05-Jan-2010

Application Deadline :

14-Dec-09 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

25 work days spread over 8 months, may be increased if required

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

8 months

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

The GoM represented by the Ministry of Renewable Energy and Public Utilities (MREPU) has embarked on a process of restructuring the operation of the water supply and sanitation sectors and intends to enter into a Management Services Contract with a Private Sector Operator (PSO). The selected PSO shall be entrusted the improvement of the operation, management and maintenance of both the CWA and the WMA through two separate contracts, each one being assigned by CWA and WMA respectively. The two Management Services Contracts (MSC’s) will be allocated to a single PSO following a” two- stage bidding” process. The duration of the contract will be 5 years.

The procurement process is carried out in accordance with Public Procurement Act 2006 and the Public Procurement Regulations 2008. MREPU acting as Procurement Coordination Agency (PCA) issued a request for Prequalification in 2008. The CPB has already prequalified five international firms. MREPU has set up a team of Experts headed by a Legal Expert to assist the PCA to conduct the whole procurement process. The team will also comprise a Technical Expert and a Financial Expert to conduct the MSC’s procurement and to monitor the performance of the PSO for a period of one year.

MREPU now intends to appoint 1) a Technical Expert and 2) a Financial Expert who shall be assigned the elaboration of the RFP document and provide the required assistance to the team of Experts and the Bid Evaluation Committee. (BEC) to be set-up by the Central Procurement Board.

Objective of the assignment

The main objective of the reform is to improve the overall performance of the water supply sector and the wastewater infrastructure and to maximize operational synergies linking water and sanitation.

Under the Management Services Contract, the GoM intends to appoint a single PSO to manage both CWA and WMA for a period of five years. The PSO is expected to:

1. In respect of water supply

Improve the operation, management and maintenance of water distribution systems
Reduce non-revenue water level through number of specified activities
Manage and improve customer services
Maximize the revenue collection through improved metering, billing, cash collection and debt recovery system
Provide for transfer of new technology and know-how to CWA’s personnel

2. In respect of sanitation

Improve the operation, management and maintenance of the installations of wastewater treatment, conveyance and collection and improve WMA’s customer services
Provide sewerage facility to customer’s properties in already skewered areas
Control and monitor the pollution load discharged into public wastewater systems
Maximize revenue collection of WMA
Develop improved procurement procedure and procurement documents
Provide transfer of new technology and know-how to WMA including training personnel

Team of Experts

A team of Experts will assist government headed by the Team Leader who is a renowned Legal Expert in the field of Private Sector Participation including utilities. The Team leader is already in function and works in collaboration with the Government. The other Experts comprising the Team will be the Technical Expert and the Financial Expert.

A team of Experts is expected to assist PCA to manage the procurement process including the preparation of the bidding documents, evaluation of bids, negotiation and award of the Contract to the best evaluated PSO. The team of Experts will also be required to meet on an ad-hoc basis, subject to approval of the Client, during the first year of the contract to monitor the performance based. The frequency of meetings would be determined by the Client in consultation with the Team Leader.

The team of Experts will comprise the following:

Team Leader, Legal Expert with wide experience in Utility Private Sector Participation Contracts
Financial Expert with experience in the assessment of utilities financial performance and business plan
Technical Expert with experience in the operation of water/sanitation utilities under performance based contracts.

The Ministry of Renewable Energy and Public Utilities may co-opt any other expert/public officer to form part of the team.

The detailed TOR can be downloaded from the UNDP Mauritius website, jobs section http://un.intnet.mu/undp/html/mauritius/jobs.htm

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Financial Expert shall assess the viability and the sustainability of the proposed improvement action plan, calculate effective incentives related Key Performance Indicators in consultation with the other Experts. He shall recommend appropriate project finance strategies for the project. He shall draft relevant sections of the report and develop the Business Plans of the two utilities with focus on the terms of the Management Services Contract

The Financial Expert will be expected to carry out, inter-alia, the following detailed assignments under the bidding process:

Carry out a review of the financial status of the CWA and WMA and identify the strengths and weaknesses of the present state, including an assessment of the relevance of the IFC reports and qualifications which may need to be brought thereto
Draft the relevant sections of the bidding documents of the RFP. All issues identified at review stage should be taken on board while drafting the bid documents for stage two
Set financial targets, after consultation with the Team Leader and the Client, for the monitoring of the performance of the PSO.
Assist the Team in the pre-award procurement process which would involve replying to queries raised at pre-bid meetings/conferences, attending to pre-bid meetings and preparation of financial evaluation criteria.
Assist in evaluation of bids including the drafting of evaluation reports.
Carry out amendments to the bidding documents prior to issuing the documents for the second stage bidding
Assist the CWA, WMA and Project Management Unit in monitoring of contractual performance of PSO during the first year of operation of the contract; and
Carry out any other duties related to the financial aspects of such types of procurement contracts

The selection of experts is scheduled to be completed towards the end of October. Stage 1 of the Bidding procedure is expected to be completed at end February 2010 and Stage 2/Contract award towards May 2010. For a detailed schedule of tasks, please download the TOR from the UNDP Mauritius jobs website

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Knowledge Management and Learning

Shares knowledge and experience
Ability to provide top quality policy advice services on economic issues
In-depth practical knowledge of inter-disciplinary development issues

Development and Operational Effectiveness

Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting
Abililty to go beyond established procedures and models, propose new approaches which expand the range of programmes
Ability to work with minimal supervision
Ability to lead formulation and evaluation of development programmes and projects
Ability to apply economic theory to the specific country context, carry out high-quality economic research

Management and Leadership

Focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to critical feedback
Works in teams effectively and shows conflict resolution skills
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills
Builds strong relationships with clients and external factors

Required Skills and Experience

Postgraduate degree in Economics and/or Financial Management
Experience in Small Islands Developing States and the Mauritian context will be an advantage
12 years experience in the water and sanitation sector
Operational experience in financial management of the water/wastewater including performance based management services contract Extensive knowledge of utility sector contracts
Extensive knowledge of Institutional set up of water and sanitation utilities
Preparation of similar management contracts