UNDP Jobs - 78002- Consultant for cantonal finance management

Consultant for cantonal finance management

Location :

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

10-Apr-18 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

National Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

April - June 2018

Languages Required :

Expected Duration of Assignment :

Up to 17 working days

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

Purpose

The main objective of this consultancy is to provide a detailed government budget review of Posavina Canton, to include in-depth analysis with focus on the revenue and expenditure sides, providing a series of recommendations and optimisation measures.

Background Information

The consultancy is planned within the Local Integrated Development (LID) Project primarily funded by the European Union and co-funded and implemented by UNDP and the Integrated Local Development Project (ILDP), a joint project of the Government of Switzerland and UNDP. Both projects aim at raising the standard of living and improving social cohesion in Bosnia and Herzegovina through inclusive sustainable socio-economic development. More specifically, both projects work towards improving good governance at local and cantonal level, including through service delivery, strategic planning and development management.

Duties and Responsibilities

As part of this exercise that aims at strengthening service delivery through improved financial management, the Consultant will administer a review of the budget documentation for the Posavina Canton, based on the methodology [1] recently developed for the cantonal level of government; in the first phase, 21 local governments have already been subjected to the review based on a separate set of protocols and procedures.

The objective of this exercise is thus to contribute to an improved understanding of the structure of the cantonal government budget and identify measures that need to be put into place to help better manage public funding. Ultimately, it is hoped that this activity will be replicated across 10 cantons in the Federation, instigating a sustainable reduction of cantonal governments’ operating budgets, so as to free up financial resources for investment and development.

The results of the review will also contribute to increasing transparency and accountability of cantonal governments, improving revenue collection, optimizing budget allocation procedures, and strengthening cantonal government role and position in intergovernmental fiscal considerations. Recommendations will also support the overall Reform Agenda and Economic Reforms Programme for Bosnia and Herzegovina, providing additional support to faster approximation to the European Union and boosting local economic development.

As part of this process, the Consultant will perform the following tasks:

In-depth budget analysis, based on pre-existing methodology;
Producing and presenting a financial review report.

Administer in-depth budget analysis for the Posavina Canton

As part of the assessment process foreseen through the methodology, the Consultant will:

Analyse the way the canton raises, allocates, and manages financial resources for a minimum period of three years;
Analyse the composition/structure of cantonal revenues;
Perform a desk review of budgets and other relevant documents, as well as documents and legal acts related to the disbursement of budgetary funds allocated for local development;
Administer a detailed questionnaire, with relevant officials, covering the structure of current budget expenditures;
Analyse the composition of expenditures by function (general public services, housing, public order, environment, economic affairs, recreation culture and religion, health, education, social protection and other);
Administer a thorough review of budget expenditures (economic categories), including, but not limited to: (1) operational costs (printing, IT services, procurement approach, etc.); (2) utilities’ expenditures (electricity, heating, water costs, etc., in city-owned buildings), (3) infrastructure / assets management improvement and reduction of related costs; (4) selected service-delivery related systems (street lighting, water supply, etc.);
Conduct in-person interviews within the Posavina Canton administration;
Explore prospective priority cost-reduction measures;
On the basis of the desk review, questionnaire, and interview recommend tailor-made, concrete and precise recommendations for Posavina Canton geared towards cost-optimisation and revenue maximisation measures;
Collect cantonal government feedback and identify on-site technical assistance needed to implement the recommendations.

All relevant documents subject to the review will be provided to the Consultant by officials of Posavina Canton. The time foreseen for this task is 12 days.

Producing and presenting the financial Report review report

On the basis of the findings obtained through Task 1, the Consultant will:

Draft a comprehensive report (in official languages of BiH) outlining findings, recommendations and relevant comments for the cantonal government. The report will focus heavily on appropriate cost-efficiency measures, for consideration by cantonal government, and will entail the following sections:
- Cantonal financial background;
- Composition and structure of cantonal revenues;
- Detailed composition and structure of cantonal expenditures (functional and economic classification), including in-depth elaboration for expenditures where cost-optimising potential is identified;
- Set of recommendations with a focus on cost-optimisation measures (time-bound);
- Technical assistance measures needed to aid implementation of recommendations.
Present the findings of the analysis to the Project Team, along with the submission of the draft document;
Following approval of draft report by UNDP, present findings and recommendations to Posavina Canton government officials and facilitate relevant discussion;
Update final draft report as a result of discussions with local stakeholders, as needed.

The time foreseen for this task is 5 days.

DELIVERABLES AND TIMELINES

The Project Team will closely oversee service provision, working in continuous coordination with the Consultant.

The service deliverables, including documents and all relevant materials, will be available for future use within the LID and ILDP and by the relevant stakeholders, as well as by UNDP and other projects in the field of local governance.

The entire service will be delivered in official languages of BiH.

The Consultant is responsible for the following deliverables:

Task 1: Administer in-depth budget analysis:

Detailed analysis of revenues and expenditures conducted; Cantonal government feedback collected; ost-optimisation and revenue maximisation measures drafted -12 days, (April - May 2018);

Task 2: Draft and present the financial review report:

Report finalized and presented to the Project Team for approval; Findings and recommendations presented to Posavina Canton government officials and relevant discussion facilitated - 5 days, (May – June 2018).

[1] The methodology was prepared within the LID Project in line with the existing cantonal finance functions that include revenue and expenditure management, cash and debt management, budgeting and accounting, cantonal asset management and capital investment planning.

Competencies

Core values:

Demonstrates commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Shares knowledge and experience.

Core competencies:

Demonstrates professional competence to meet responsibilities and post requirements and is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results;
Results-Orientation: Plans and produces quality results to meet established goals, generates innovative, practical solutions to challenging situations;
Communication: Excellent communication skills, including the ability to convey complex concepts and recommendations, both orally and in writing, in a clear and persuasive style tailored to match different audiences;
Team work: Ability to interact, establish and maintain effective working relations with a culturally diverse team;
Client orientation: Ability to establish and maintain productive partnerships with national partners and stakeholders and pro-activeness in identifying of beneficiaries and partners’ needs, and matching them to appropriate solutions.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

University degree in economics, public finances or public administration;
Master’s degree will be considered an asset.

Experience:

10 years of relevant experience in the field of financial policy planning, public finance management, strategic development or sustainability management;
Proven ability to undertake professional research using both quantitative and qualitative methods;
Proven analytical skills and ability to conceptualise and write concisely and clearly;
Proven skills and expertise in participatory and inclusive policy development, planning, project design;
Proven communication, facilitation and advocacy skills, and ability to work in an environment requiring liaison and collaboration with multiple actors including government representatives, donors and other stakeholders.

Language requirements:

Fluency in official languages in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Other:

Excellent computer skills (MS Office applications) and ability to use information technologies as a tool and resource.

EVALUATION

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology:

Cumulative analysis

When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:
a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, and
b) Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

* Technical Criteria weight-70%
* Financial Criteria weight- 30%

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points for technical criteria assessment would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Applicants are required to submit an application including:

Completed and signed UNDP Personal History Form (downloadable from http://www.ba.undp.org/content/bosnia_and_herzegovina/en/home/operations/jobs.html);
Financial proposal which will separately specify professional fee, indicating number of anticipated working days, travel costs (air-ticket or use of private vehicle), living allowance, and all other applicable costs.

Please scan all above mentioned documents and upload as one attachment only online through this website.

Note:

For an assignment requiring travel, consultants of 62 years or more require full medical examination and statement of fitness to work to engage in the consultancy.
Due to large number of potential applicants, only competitively selected candidates will be contacted for remaining steps of the service procurement process.

Technical criteria:

10 years of relevant experience in the field of financial policy planning, public finance management, strategic development or sustainability management - Maximum points: 30;
Proven ability to undertake professional research using both quantitative and qualitative methods - Maximum points: 20;
Proven skills and expertise in participatory and inclusive policy development, planning, project design - Maximum points: 20;

Financial criteria: - Maximum points: 30'