Public Financial Management/Procurement Specialist for Education and Health

Public Financial Management Strengthening Project (PFMSP)

Terms of Reference for

Public Financial Management/Procurement Specialist for Education and Health

Project Background

As part of its efforts to promote good governance in Nepal, USAID is funding the Public Financial Management Strengthening Project (PFMSP), implemented by Louis Berger Inc. The project commenced in August 2016 and will run for a five-year period through August 2021.

The goal of the PFMSP program is to enhance the capacity of targeted GON ministries and agencies to improve transparency and accountability of PFM systems. At the macro level, such improvements should result in:

1. More timely budgets and timely financial reporting;
2. Improved financial planning;
3. Reduction in bloated last-quarter spending;
4. Reduced variance between budget and actual spending;
5. Reduced audit irregularities; and
6. Improved allocative efficiency.

These goals are being tracked through a set of key PFM performance indicators, which are discussed on an annual basis between the GON and development partners as part of the annual review process.

The PFMSP program has three components, which align almost directly with the Intermediate Results areas, and thereby to USAID’s Country Development Cooperation Strategy:

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. The Specialist will work under the direction of the Component B Team Leader. S/he will undertake the following overarching tasks:
2. Close liaison and coordination with MOH and MOE on the planning and delivery of Component B technical assistance activities.
3. Help organize capacity building planning meetings and workshops with MOE and MOH that will set the basis for structured arrangements with thoseMinistries, as well as State or Local Government offices involved in PFM matters related to education or health services.
4. Contribute to the development of policy and procedure manuals and operational guidelines.
5. Contribute to the enhancement, development and implementation of automated financial management systems, including undertaking functional and technical requirements, documenting system specifications, undertaking or oversight of system design/configuration/construction, undertaking technical system documentation, including user guides, testing of software, establishing system platform, including communications, installation of software, loading of historical data, and migration to production.
6. Support the analysis and development of the CGAS, TABUCS, SuTRA, and the School AccountingSystem (SAS) for financial management and upgrade if necessary.  Develop and deliver related training materials.
7. Contribute to the planning, design and delivery of training workshops and continuous training programs.
8. Assist with selection, placement, monitoring and backstopping of short term Specialists placed in MOE or MOH.
9. Assist in the specification and related procurement of servers, computers and other equipment and peripherals set out in the year two workplan.
10. Assist in planning and management of pilots and full-scale rollouts of trainings/workshops for the MOE or MOH as per the workplan.
11. Assist in the organization of lessons-learnt workshops following the completion of pilots and prior to the launch of the rollout of training to a larger number of schools.
12. Support the Component B team in its work with the MOE and MOH to define a scale-up strategy based on lessons learnt from pilot projects.
13. Assist in supporting the MOE or MOH in the roll-out of an integrated financial management training packages to States or Local Governments, including supporting the finalization of the various manuals to support PFM strengthening initiatives.
14. Review existing training modules as well as assist in the development of additional/revised training modules that covera range of PFM issues including internal control and procurement issues.
15. Provide inputs to PFMSP activities for improving internal control environment and procurement capacity of targeted ministries/agencies. Lead in providing tailor-made extensive technical assistance to the selected ministries in the area of procurement and other aspects of PFM.The Specialist must also have at least five years’ experience on procurement fiduciary activities and the ability to identify and deploy knowledge to solve specific problems and/or to enhance procurement functions.
16. Assist in planning, rollout and management of training workshops and training programs for all PFMSP components.
17. Assist in coordinating with the ministry and/or other agencies for effective implementation of PFMSP activities.
18. Must be willing to travel to project field sites as assigned.

Required Education, Skills and Experience:

• Masters level degree in accountancy, finance, economics or management.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in government PFM systems including budgeting, accounting, internal control and financial reporting.
• Deep understanding of government procurement functions in different sectors with a considerable knowledge of budget execution issues.

• Good experience in management of long-term government reform projects and programs.
• Preference will be given to the candidate having experience working in the education and health sectors.
• Good communication skills in Nepali and English languages.
• Good knowledge of MS Office software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.).
• Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment and good inter-personal skills.

Candidates are required to provide at least three references (with phone number and e-mail) which can be contacted to ascertain the above-mentioned experiences and skills.

Remuneration and contract duration

The contract will be issued on an annual basis and contain a probationary period. Extensions contingent upon satisfactory performance, continued need for the services and availability of funds.Remuneration will be competitive and as per LBG policy.

Interested candidates are required to submit their Application along with the CV by close of business Friday, March 30, 2018 by e-mail to the PFMSP HR & Administration

(srajbhandari@louisberger.com).