| Ministry/Division |
: |
Ministry of Women and Children Affairs |
| Agency |
: |
Ministry of Women and Children Affairs |
| Procuring Entity Name |
: |
Project Director (Joint Secretary) Inclusive Services and Opportunities for Human Capital Development and Livelihood Project |
| Procuring Entity Code |
: |
|
| Procuring Entity District |
: |
Dhaka |
| Expression of Interest for Selection of |
: |
Individual Consultant (National) (Time-Based) |
| Title Of Service |
: |
Consulting Services: Individual Consultant-Financial Management Specialist (National)-Contract Package No. MoWCA/ICS-01 |
| EOI Ref. No. |
: |
Memo: MoWCA/ISO/Recruitment/04/2025.07 |
| Date |
: |
20/01/2025 |
KEY INFORMATION
|
| Procurement Sub-Method |
: |
Selection of Individual Consultants (SIC) |
FUNDING INFORMATION
|
| Budget and Source of Funds |
: |
Development Budget Grant/Credit |
| Development Partners |
: |
International Development Association (IDA) |
PARTICULAR INFORMATION
|
| Project/Programme Name |
: |
Inclusive Services and Opportunities for Human Capital Development and Livelihood Project |
| EOI Closing Date and Time |
: |
10/02/2025 12:00 PM
|
| Publication Date |
: |
21/01/2025
|
INFORMATION FOR APPLICANT
|
| Brief Description of Assignment |
: |
The Financial Management Specialist (FMS) will carry out the following main activities:
• Financial Management Manual: Prepare a financial management manual for the program. The FM manual would include authorities and responsibilities of program staffs in respect of various segments of FM functions, recording and processing procedures for payments, fund flow arrangements, budgeting and forecasting requirements, IDA Special Account operation procedures including details regarding replenishment and documentation requests, accounting and reporting requirements of various GOB agencies and IDA, formats of vouchers, registers and reports, a comprehensive chart of accounts to capture all requisite information, outline of a computerized accounting system to generate timely and accurate financial statements and reports, accounting policies, fund flow and book keeping and reporting procedures, internal audit and internal control arrangements, external audit interface and compliance arrangements.
• Budgeting: Assist the Project Director (PD) in preparation of annual budget estimates conforming with the DPP/RDPP allocations and adjustments/revised allocation/budget and prepare financial plan complying with the approved budget line. The FMS will assist PD in preparation of the program budget in consultation with the other sections of the PIU under a structured budget preparation process, based on approved procurement plan and implementation plan and will undertake the due diligence in preparing realistic budget. The FMS will assist Project Director in submitting the original and revised budget to the planning wing of the MoYS for obtaining Planning Commission’s approval under Annual Development Plan (ADP) and revised ADP. The FMS will see to the integration of the budgeting system with iBAS++ system to enable comparison of actual performance with budgets.
• The FMS will assist the PD in ensuring that expenditures are made within the budget and any variance has a valid justification and duly authorized including tracking of variances and will provide a variance analysis as part of the quarterly Interim Un-audited Financial Reports (IUFRs).
• Development of a Chart of Accounts: The FMS will develop a comprehensive Chart of Accounts with due cognizance to the DPP/RDPP for the program to capture financial data under (i) GOB code of accounts (ii) Program components and sub-components (iii) World-Bank disbursement categories for the program so as to enable the computerized system to classify and group financial data for the various financial reports as required by IDA and various GOB agencies.
• Computerized Accounting System: The FMS would be required to acquire wisdom and demonstrate expertise in the use of Computerized Accounting System (CAS) and Unified Financial Management System (UFMS) and their reporting, data backup and safe on site/off site data filing system. FMS would also train up other program accounting staff in the UFMS operation and be responsible for keeping it ongoing. The FMS will take initiative for adopting and upgrading the Uniform Financial Management System (UFMS) of the MoWCA along with IT Consultants. The FMS will arrange to maintain the books and meet the financial reporting requirements using an MS Excel based system until a computerized system is functional.
• Disbursement Plan: FMS will assist the PD in preparation of annual and quarterly disbursement forecasts for all components of the program in line with program’s procurement and implementation plan and analyze the reasons for variances between actual and forecast disbursements. The FMS would review the disbursement plan each quarter and adjust it on the basis of ground reality. The FMS will analyze the relationship between financial and physical progress and identify the reason for any abnormalities.
• Fund Management : FMS would assist the PD and the PIU in obtaining quarterly fund release for GOB allocated fund and requisite government authorization for use of IDA fund and ensure timely availability of IDA funds for all program transactions including approved bills of program districts, managing IDA fund including operation of a Designated Account (DA) including preparing two quarters’ of forecasts on fund requirements, arrange timely replenishment and documentation through submission of SOEs/ Reports and process special commitments and direct payments , monitor timely preparation of Bank Reconciliation Statements and initiate and respond to all fund and bank related correspondence with GOB and IDA.
• FMS will ensure submission of quarterly reports to the PD on the mobilization of advances, project financial status and performance, bank guarantees and their respective date of extensions, etc., and increase/revision in the value of packages awarded, if any, during program implementations.
• The FMS will exercise due diligence of payments made from the field offices, if any. FMS will visit implementing offices, as needed, to verify the supporting vouchers and field reports against packages payments.
• Processing Payments: Ensure appropriate continuous arrangement in place for smooth processing, approval, and payments of bills for procurement of goods, works and services for the PIU from all sources of funds complying with relevant GOB/IDA rules, maintaining requisites files, records, and books, following internal control and safeguard measures. The FMS will ensure that due diligence was applied in processing each bill/ invoice before one is forwarded for PD’s approval and actual disbursements.
• Internal Control: Ensure that all policies and procedures follow funding source policies, procedures and requirements and will review the efficacy of internal controls in place to suggest the adoption of best practices to improve internal governance and to reduce opportunities for corruption.
• Books and Records: The FMS will ensure maintenance of the adequate registers, books, and records in appropriate order to meet the statutory requirements of stakeholders and to facilitate classification and analyzing the financial information for monitoring the program progress and generating interim and annual financial reports.
• Fixed Assets Record: Ensure that the computerized fixed assets records are maintained in the PIU, identifying the locations and appropriate users of each asset and arrange for the annual and periodical inventory of the assets and updating of the records.
• Preparation of Financial Statements and Reports: The FMS will ensure that the annual financial statements and other monthly and quarterly reports as specified under the GOB Program Accounting Manual and Interim Un-audited Financial Reports (IUFRs) required under the Financing Agreement are accurately prepared and timely submitted. The FMS will make sure that the IFRs prepared includes complete information on the district offices under a centralized payment system for IDA financed expenditures and payments through District Accounts Offices for GOB expenditures.
• Financial Disclosure: The FMS will assist the PD in ensuring that necessary financial information is included in the Project’s web site.
• Interface with External Auditors: The FMS will prepare the Statement of Audit Needs (SAN) to be agreed with the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) extending the audit focuses on testing controls, preventing corruption, and detecting transactions with corrupt practice. The FMS will attend entry and exit meetings with FAPAD auditors, facilitate timely completion of audits by arranging timely submission of annual financial statements in appropriate format, supply of information and documents responding to queries, initiate actions for holding tripartite meetings and coordinating with various units of PIU in meeting audit objections. The FMS will assist the PD in publishing the program audit reports in the program website.
• Internal Audit: The FMS will take initiatives in consultation with IDA to finalize the TOR for internal audit which would be conducted throughout the program by internal Audit Unit. The FMS will provide recommendations to the PD on corrective actions to the issues that would be raised in the Internal Audit Report.
• Cooperation in follow-up action by Audit Committee: The FMS will provide necessary cooperation to the Audit Committee (AC) who will review the audit reports and will assist the AC in carrying out its proceedings and will recommend to the PD the actions required to address directives of the AC.
• Monitoring and Training the Program Accounting Staff: The FMS will monitor Accounts Officer(s) and other accounting staff of the program and will provide hands on training to the accounting staff on various aspects of financial management tasks under a structured training plan.
• Special Assignments: Participate in meetings and activities, assist/advise the PD in all financial matters as and when required and advise all concerned in complying with the latest income tax and VAT deduction rules and tax certification.
• Any other Financial Management related task assigned by the Project Director. |
| Experience, Resources and Delivery Capacity Required |
: |
a. Academic:
• Minimum M. Com/ MBA in Accounting/ Finance.
• Member of a Professional Accountancy Organization (PAO) (CA/ACCA/CMA etc.) recognized by the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) will be an added advantage.
• Membership by mutual certification or reciprocation (without appearing examination) shall not be considered educational qualification.
b. Experience and Skills:
• At least 10 (Ten) year experience in financial management out of which at least 6 (Six) years in the Financial Management Specialist/Consultant in the IDA project, being actively involved and fully conversant with large contract payments, GOB budget and planning procedures, Development Program Proposal fundamentals, rules, and regulations of the Government for budgeting, fund release, accounting, financial reporting and auditing and authorization for use of donors funds.
• Is fully conversant with and have had hands on experience in application software and in Computerized Accounting System with ability to assist in implementation and customization. Skills in software installation and troubleshooting will be an added advantage.
• Proven track record of ability to develop a Chart of Accounts with relevance to DPP, Disbursement Categories and Program Components befitting the relevant computerized accounting system and reporting.
• Experience in the effective supervision of personnel.
• Self-guided, strong organizational and planning skills with the ability to work independently and as a team player, under pressure. |
| Other Details (if applicable) |
: |
The Project Director now invites eligible applicants to indicate their interest in providing the services. Applicants are invited to provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services (Comprehensive curriculum vitae including desired remuneration and attached verifiable credentials demonstrating qualifications and professional experience).
5. Detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) is available in the MoWCA official website: www.mowca.gov.bd.
6. The consultants will be selected using the selection of Individual Consultant in accordance with the current World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers, September 2023, and Public Procurement Rules, 2008.
7. The services will be commenced immediately after selection at Project Implementation Unit (PIU), Dhaka, Bangladesh. Consultants contract duration will be 36 (Thirty six) months (project tenure) with possible extension of service subject to satisfactory performance to be evaluated yearly. |
| Association with foreign firms is |
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| Eoi Detail Information |
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| Ref No |
Phasing Of Services |
Location |
Start Date |
Completion Date |
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NA |
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PROCURING ENTITY DETAILS
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| Name of Official Inviting EOI |
: |
Md. Firoz Uddin Khalifa |
| Designation of Official Inviting EOI |
: |
Project Director (Joint Secretary) |
| Address of Official Inviting EOI |
: |
Inclusive Services and Opportunities for Human Capital Development and Livelihood Project
Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, Room no. 811, 7th Floor, Paribahan Pool Bhaban, Secretariat Link Road, Dhaka-1000. |
| Contact details of Official Inviting EOI |
: |
Phone : 880-02-55101121, Fax : , Email : pdisomowca24@gmail.com |
| The procuring entity reserves the right to accept or reject all tenders |
