Background

NOTE: Signed Offeror’s Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability - https://www.ba.undp.org/content/dam/bosnia_and_herzegovina/docs/Operations/Jobs/Offerors%20Letter%20to%20UNDP%20Confirming%20Interest%20and%20Availability.docx - Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability.docx - to be sent to e-mail ba.shared.hr@undp.org with Subject: Job ID 94955.

The consultancy will take place within the third phase of the Integrated Local Development Project (ILDP), a joint project of the Government of Switzerland and UNDP in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BIH).

In the past 10 years, the ILDP has been working on harmonising development planning at sub-national levels. In the entity of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBIH), the ILDP paved the way for a coherent strategic planning system, regulated by the FBIH Law on Development Planning and Management and a set of by-laws for its operationalisation.

In order to equip all the government levels in the FBIH with the “know-how” for the effective application of the FBIH Law on Development Planning and Management and the related by-laws, the ILDP supports the institutional partners in the FBIH with designing a Manual for mid-term and annual institutional work planning. Importantly, the Manual should also provide guidance on how to set up targeted, transparent and well-designed financing of sustainable development priorities, thus contributing the implementation of the Agenda 2030 in the country. To provide the necessary inputs to this segment of the Manual, it is necessary to review the existing public finance mechanisms (e.g. types, regulatory and methodological requirements / frameworks, scope / volume, etc.) and their contribution to development priorities in the FBIH.

For this purpose, the ILDP will engage an Expert for Public Finance Mechanisms in FBIH (herewith the Consultant).

Duties and Responsibilities

The Consultant is expected to conduct a rapid review of major public finance mechanisms in the FBIH and prepare a brief assessment report with recommendations that should be observed during the institutional work planning in the FBIH. Furthermore, the Consultant will provide the peer review of the draft Training of Trainers (ToT) programme and Manual on mid-term and annual institutional work planning from the viewpoint of budget planning and relying on  other financial sources.

More specifically, the Consultant will be expected to perform the following tasks:

Task 1 – Rapid review of the public finance mechanisms that are used for targeted financing of sustainable development in FBIH.

Conduct a rapid review of the major public finance mechanisms in the FBIH (e.g. public grant/subsides schemes, credit-guarantee schemes, specific financing instruments, etc.) that are utilised for targeted financing of development priorities. The review will be done through the use of publicly available regulatory and methodological frameworks, literature, and reports that are relevant for the specific public finance mechanisms. As such, the review will focus on the following key questions:

• What is the key regulatory and methodological framework for public finance mechanisms' preparation, implementation, monitoring and reporting in the FBIH that should be observed during defining financial resources for development priorities within institutional work plans (e.g. the FBIH Guidelines on Minimal Standards for Allocation of Budget Funds through transfers and subsides in the FBIH; the Manual for Public Sector Practitioners on the preparation of Public Grant Schemes, etc.)?; What are critical findings and recommendations in terms of compliance of institutions with the regulatory and methodological frameworks in institutional planning processes?
• What are main types of public finance mechanisms in FBIH that are used for the targeted financing of development policies and priorities (e.g. within the last three years)? Which are critical findings and recommendations that should be observed during the elaboration of the financing sections within institutional work plans in FBIH (e.g. public grant/subsides schemes, credit-guarantee schemes, specific financing instruments, etc.)?
• What is the average amount of financial resources yearly allocated for public finance mechanisms in the FBIH (in total, and per type of public grant mechanisms, with a breakdown of financing sources from government budgets and other financing sources)? What are critical findings and recommendations in terms of defining the financial scope/size of public finance mechanisms that should be observed during the elaboration of the institutional work plans?
• How are public finance mechanisms aligned to development strategies and government policies (to be assessed through the quick check: (i) if public finance mechanisms elaborate measurable objectives/indicators in line with development strategies and public policies/indicators; (ii) if evaluation and impact assessment reports on achievement of outcomes/results of public finance mechanisms are prepared and publicly available, and use lessons learned for the new finance planning cycle? What are critical findings and recommendations in this regard?

Based on the finding from the conducted review, the Consultant will prepare a brief assessment report with recommendations that should be observed during institutional work planning in the FBIH (maximum 15 pages, without annexes). The report structure will be firstly agreed with the ILDP. The final report will be submitted to ILDP for approval, presented to the FBIH Development Programming Institute and further utilised during preparation of the Manual on mid-term and annual institutional work planning.

Task 1 is expected to be completed by mid-November 2020 with the estimated level of effort of 6 days.

Task 2 – Review the draft ToT programme and Manual on Mid-Term and Annual Institutional Work Planning from the perspective of its alignment to financing planning processes

Within this task, the Consultant will review the draft ToT programme and the draft Manual on Mid-Term and Annual Institutional Work Planning in terms of aligment of institutional planning and financial planning processes. The review will be conducted through the following steps:

• The Consultant will participate in at least two e-meetings with the ILDP team and the engaged consultants that work on the designing the ToT programme and the Manual that will be organised to discuss specific thematic issues and solutions related to the above that will be reflected in the ToT and the Manual.
• During the peer review of the draft ToT programme and the Manual, the Consultant will identify sections or aspects in these materials that should be further enhanced and will propose relevant improvements recommending specific changes and adjustments as required (direct written inputs into the text of the ToT programme and the Manual).

Task 2 is expected to be completed by end-December 2020 with the estimated level of effort of 6 days.

The entire service will be delivered in the languages of peoples of BIH.  

Deliverables/outputs

Competencies

Corporate competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
• Treats all people fairly without favouritism;
• Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment

Functional competencies:

• Strong interpersonal skills, communication and diplomatic skills, ability to work in a team
• Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback
• Ability to work under pressure and stressful situations
• Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities
• Excellent public speaking and presentation skills

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications/Education:

• University degree in economics, public finance, or other relevant field;
• Advanced degree will be considered as an asset.

Experience:

• Minimum 7 years of experience in public government budget/finance in BIH;
• Previous direct experience in preparation of mid-term/annual budget programs, institutional workplans and public finance mechanisms/instruments in FBIH;
• Previous experience in design and/or delivery of training and preparation of practical manuals in the area of public finance mechanisms and instruments;
• Specific experience in aplying development planning methodologies in BIH is considered an asset.

Languages Requirements:

• Fluency in English language and in the languages of peoples of BIH.

Longlisting/Shortlisting Criteria

Qualifications as stated in the ToR

Technical Evaluation Criteria

Evaluation

Individual  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 candidate 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%

Interested candidated must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

• Signed Offeror’s Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability;
•  Personal CV.

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

Note:

• For an assignment requiring travel, consultants of 65 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.