Antecedentes

The consultancy is planned within the Local Integrated Development (LID) Project (2016 – 2018), primarily funded by the European Union and co-funded and implemented by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). As part of the UNDP BiH’s Rural and Regional Development Sector’s portfolio, the LID Project has an overall objective to raise the standards of living and improve social cohesion in BiH through inclusive sustainable socio-economic development. LID interventions are streamlined along two main pillars: governance, and economic development and job creation. LID works with 21 selected local governments, grouped together in 4 geographic clusters in the areas primarily affected by floods and areas with a large percentage of returnees/internally displaced persons. The main beneficiaries of the project are 21 local governments, 30 MSMEs and 300 rural households, 50 civil society organizations and grass-root citizens’ groups in target communities, 5,000 members of socially excluded and vulnerable groups, and 3 relevant higher government level institutions. The main partners are the BiH Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees and the two entity governments.
The purpose of the consultancy is to contribute to improved programmatic delivery as well as public finance management by cantonal governments through the administration of a comprehensive spending review that will result in recommendations for better utilization of budgetary resources. In this regard, a local Cantonal Spending Review Consultants (hereinafter the Consultant) will be engaged. The Consultant will be part of a project team that will include another two spending review consultants and a lead consultant who will serve as team leader.
The main objective of the consultancy is to help deliver a detailed spending review report for selected cantonal ministries, including an in-depth revenue and expenditure analysis as well as a set of recommendations aimed at maximising the impact of available financial resources per sector.
 

Deberes y responsabilidades

As part of this exercise, aimed at strengthening service delivery through improved financial targeting and budget management, the Consultant will conduct a review of planning and budgetary documents relevant for the line ministry under review in line with previously developed methodology.
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 the 10 cantons in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, instigating a sustainable reduction of cantonal governments’ operating budgets, so as to free up financial resources for local 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 the cantonal government role and position in intergovernmental fiscal considerations.
As part of this process, the Consultant will perform the following tasks:

1. Identify a vision and mission for sectoral public service delivery, as well as key priorities for the line ministry under review;
2. Administer a comprehensive review of budget documents for a three-year period (current budget included);
3. Produce and present spending review report.

Task 1: Identify vision and mission for sectoral public service delivery, as well as key priorities for the line ministry under review
Through a desk review process, the Consultant will:

• Get acquainted with the methodology for cantonal spending review developed by the lead consultant and quality assurance expert;
• Prepare and submit for review workplan for the assignment;
• Review cantonal strategy document, as well as any other documents/instruments that provide a strategic framework for the delivery of services under the auspices of ministry under review;
• Conduct interviews with senior ministry personnel to ascertain their vision for the ministry, as well as expectations for the process;
• Conduct meetings with an adequate sample of budget users affiliated with the ministry (to be defined), where practical;
• Help convene working group that will spearhead the spending review process, to include senior civil service representation from ministry under review, Office of the Prime Minister and a representative of the Ministry of Finance.

The time foreseen for this task is up to five days and will be delivered by mid-April.
Task 2: Administer a comprehensive review of budget documents for a three-year period (present budget included)
As part of the assessment process foreseen through the methodology, the Consultant will:

• Analyse composition/structure of critical ministry expenditures to include asking the following questions:

? Is the service essential in meeting assigned ministry priorities and is it in line with cantonal strategic priorities;
? Is anyone else also funding this service?
? Does the service provide adequate return on investment for the citizens?
? Is the service targeting those most in need?
? Can the service be provided at a lower cost?
? Can the service be provided more effectively?
? Can the service be outsourced to a non-state provider?
? Can the service be decentralized to other bodies/lower level of government to perform it better?
The expenditure review will include but not be limited to: (1) operational costs (printing, IT services, procurement approach, etc.); (2) utilities’ expenditures (electricity, heating, water costs, etc.), (3) infrastructure / assets management improvement and reduction of related costs; (4) selected service-delivery related incentive/grant schemes. This is an illustrative list and will be expanded further as the methodology is tailored and fine-tuned.

• Analyse the composition/structure of cantonal revenues to establish whether there is space for additional income to be generated;
• Conduct in-person interviews within the ministry and with other institutions, as needed;
• Explore and investigate prospective priority cost-reduction measures, in cooperation with the working group and the lead consultant;
• On the basis of the desk review and interviews, and following review by the quality assurance expert, deliver tailor-made, concrete and precise recommendations for the ministry geared towards enhancing its performance and cost-effectiveness.
• Identify on-site technical assistance needed to implement the recommendations.

The time foreseen for this task is up to 15 days and will be delivered by end of May.

Task 3: Produce and present spending review report
On the basis of findings obtained through Tasks 1 and 2, the Consultant will:

• Draft a comprehensive report (in official languages of BiH) outlining findings, recommendations and relevant comments for the ministry. The report will focus heavily on measures to enhance effectiveness and cost-efficiency and will entail the following sections:

- Strategic framework;
- Budgetary trends;
- 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 to enhance effectiveness of ministry performance in line with its mandate, cost-optimisation measures (time-bound) and revenue generation activities;
- Technical assistance measures needed to aid implementation of recommendations. 

• Present the findings of the analysis to the UNDP Project Team, following review by the Team Leader and the Quality Assurance Expert, along with the submission of the draft document;
• Following approval of draft report by UNDP, present findings and recommendations to canton and ministry 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 up to 5 days.

Deliverables/outputs
The Consultant is responsible for the following deliverables:
# Deliverables / outputs # of days per task Due date Percentage

Task 1: Identify vision and mission for sectoral public service delivery, as well as key priorities for the line ministry under review

• Workplan approved.
• Review of ministry programmatic priorities completed.
• Working group convened, 5 expert days, by mid-April 2019, 20%.

Task 2: Administer comprehensive review of budget documents for a three-year period (present budget included)

• Spending review administered. 15 expert days, by end of May 2019, 60%

Task 3. Produce and present spending review report

• Submit draft report for review and approval.
• Deliver presentation of report.
• Finetune and complete the final report.  5 expert days, by end of June 2019, 20%.
   

Competencias

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:

• 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: Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities, including the ability to convey complex concepts and recommendations, both orally and in writing, in a clear and persuasive style tailored to match target 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.
• Proven analytical skills and ability to conceptualise and write concisely and clearly;
• 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.

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

Academic Qualifications/Education

• Advanced university degree in economics, public finance, public administration or other related field;

Experience

• 10 years of relevant experience in the field of financial policy planning, financial management, local development, strategic development or sustainability management;
• Previous experience in performing similar tasks;
• Proven ability to undertake professional research using both quantitative and qualitative methods;

Languages Requirements

• Excellent writing and oral communication skills in in the official languages in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in English.

Other Requirements

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

Award Criteria:

• The consultancy will be awarded to the highest qualified applicant through the combination of technical qualifications and financial offer.

Documents to Be Included When Submitting the Proposals

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

1. Financial proposal;
2. Personal CV including past experience in similar projects and at least 3 references;
3. Completed and signed the Offeror’s template Confirming Interest and Availability (please follow the link: https://popp.undp.org/_layouts/15/WopiFrame.aspx?sourcedoc=/UNDP_POPP_DOCUMENT_LIBRARY/Public/PSU_%20Individual%20Contract_Offerors%20Letter%20to%20UNDP%20Confirming%20Interest%20and%20Availability.docx&action=default);
4. Financial Proposal

Lump sum contracts
The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e. whether payments fall in instalments or upon completion of the entire contract). Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR.  In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (including travel, per diem, and number of anticipated working days).
Travel; All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. This includes all travel to join duty station/repatriation travel.  In general, UNDP does not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources.

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 90 points would be considered for Technical Evaluation.

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%

Qualification Requirements
Criteria Weight  Max. Point

• Advanced university degree in economics, public finances or public administration 50% 50
• Previous experience in conducting similar tasks;  50% 50

Total 100% 100
Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 90 points would be considered for Technical Evaluation

Technical Evaluation:

• Qualification Score 10% 10;
• 10 years of relevant experience in the field of financial policy planning, financial management, local development, strategic development or sustainability management;  40% 40;
• Proven ability to undertake professional research using both quantitative and qualitative methods and proven analytical skills and ability to conceptualise and write concisely and clearly; 40% 40;
• Proven communication, facilitation and advocacy skills; 10% 10

Total 100% 100
Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70 points would be considered for the Final Evaluation.
 

Final Evaluation:

The final evaluation score will be based on Combined Scoring Method where technical evaluation will be weighted a maximum of 70% and combined with the financial offer which will be weighted a maximum of 30%.

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.