Background

The project “SDG-Aligned Budgeting to Transform Employment in Mongolia” aims to support increased employment and promotion of decent work in Mongolia. The Project plans to achieve its goal by conjoining two main streams of activities: i) enabling and promoting employability in Mongolia via direct interventions and policy improvements, and ii) improving the public finance management systems to absorb results-oriented, effective, and evidence-based policies and budget initiatives in employment and labor sectors.

This technical assistance project is funded by the European Union (EU) and complements the EU Direct Budget Support to Mongolia. The Project is managed by UNDP in partnership with FAO and ILO and has the following four components:

• Component A. Bridging Policies with Budgets
• Component B. Budget Oversight and Transparency
• Component C. Employment Promotion: Boosting Employability
• Component D. Effective Application of International Labor Standards by Strengthening Institutions of Work

Bridging policies with budget require results-based planning and policy prioritization. Following the Law on Development Policy and Planning and its Governance, the process of developing 10-year targeted programmes has been initiative by the Government.

Under the framework of the Vision 2050, the long-term development policy of Mongolia, these medium-term development programmes are expected to be essential in shaping Mongolia’s development trajectory towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, and in translating medium-term policy outcomes into actionable plans.

With the drafting of the 7 target programmes and related capacity building, the project also aims to support the development of a Medium-term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), under the leadership of the Ministry of Finance. Mongolia has been gradually developing a MTFF since 2003. It now plans to expand the MTFF process by developing MTEF as part of a shift in planning and budget processes towards a medium-term budget perspective within a macro-fiscal framework. It also implies the adoption of a planning mechanism which comprises the allocation of budget ceilings to each sector in medium-term, the formulation of sound sector strategic and investment plans, a process to monitor budget program effectiveness, and a shift to result-based budgeting in its most comprehensive form. It is important that the MTEF exercise is fully integrated into the budget process.

Duties and Responsibilities

The objective of this assignment is to support the development of a system which provides closer linkage of policies with budgets by i) advising on the design and development of target programmes and results-based budgeting methodology and their implications for budgeting processes, and ii) supporting the preparation for introducing MTEF formulation and institutionalization of MTEF into budget process. 

Scope of work

Support to design and development of target programmes and results-based budgeting (RBB) methodology

• Support the design and development of a results-based national results framework complete with an integrated results-based M&E framework;
• Provide support in the design and development of reciprocal integrated sectoral and sub-sectoral results frameworks that are linked to the national results frameworks;
• Support the design and development of reciprocal results-based strategic results framework for all key ministries and other government entities in compliance with the IRBM principles and tools;
  1. Support the national planning teams to develop IRBM compliant monitoring and evaluation frameworks complete with results-based KPI sets;
  2. Support relevant capacity building programs for all entities involved with the implementation of the 7 target programmes;
  3. Provide support in designing and developing strategies for engaging external non-public sector development partners.

• Provide support to national counterparts and consultants on results-based budgeting methodologies, including performance monitoring and reporting framework, which are compatible with integrated results-based management system and 7 target programmes. This should include training and consultations.

Preparation for MTEF formulation and institutionalization

• Conduct a review of the current situation of MTFF processes and provide recommendations for introducing international good practices of results-based budgeting and MTEF;
• Develop a concept paper on transition from MTFF to MTEF/MTPF based on the above review and international comparative study on MTEF;
• Develop a methodology/approach to develop MTEF at sector and national levels and a set of templates for producing MTEF at sectoral and national levels on an annual rolling basis.  
• Conduct training and consultations on MTEF development and its integration into budgeting process for national counterparts and consultants.

DELIVERABLES:

1. Design and framework of 7 target programmes and their horizonal and vertical interlinkages, and relevant training materials on results-based planning and management
2. Concept papers on linking results-based planning with results-based budgeting
3. Assessment report on the current MTFF process in Mongolia
4. Draft concept paper on transition to MTEF/MTPF from MTFF
5. Proposed MTEF methodology and templates
6. Set of training modules and consultation papers/materials on result-based budgeting and MTEF development.
7. Final report.

PAYMENT SCHEDULE

The consultant shall be paid in installments, based on the satisfactory acceptance of deliverables by the MOF, Cabinet Secretariat, and UNDP.

Institutional arrangement

The consultant shall report to the Project Coordinator and work closely with the focal point at the MOF and Cabinet Secretariat, and other consultants working in related assignments through online meetings.  

Competencies

Educational Qualifications:

Education:

• Postgraduate degree in Economics, Public Finance, and other related fields

Experience:

• At least ten years of professional experience in Public Finance, Budgeting, particularly, hands-on experiences in results-based planning or MTEF.  
• 3 prior assignments of similar nature, complexity, and scope (attach sample documents).
• Experience working with government, including MOF, and international organizations in the field of budgeting and public finance management is an advantage.

Language requirements:

Fluent English 

Required Skills and Experience

Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments

Consultant must send a financial proposal based on lump sum amount.

The total amount quoted shall be all-inclusive and include all costs components required to perform the deliverables identified in the TOR, including professional fee and any other applicable cost to be incurred by the IC in completing the assignment. The contract price will be fixed output-based price regardless of extension of the herein specified duration.

In the event of unforeseeable travel not anticipated in this TOR, payment of travel costs will be reimbursed based on UN ad hoc rates.

Evaluation Method and Criteria

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology of Cumulative analysis.

The award of the contract shall 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 set of weighted technical criteria (70%). and financial criteria (30%). Financial score shall be computed as a ratio of the proposal being evaluated and the lowest priced proposal received by UNDP for the assignment.

Technical Criteria for Evaluation (Maximum 70 points)

See attached table – Technical evaluation scoring guide.

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% of the total technical points would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Shortlisted candidates shall be called for an interview which will be used to confirm and/or adjust the technical scores awarded based on documentation submitted.

Documentation required.

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

• Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided in Annex II.
• Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least two (2) professional references.
• Technical proposal, including a) a brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment; and b) a methodology, on how they will approach and complete the assignment.
• Financial proposal, as per template provided in Annex III.

Incomplete proposals may not be considered. Only the successful candidate will be notified of contract award.