REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
Individual Consultant
Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation
Department of Rural Development (DRD)
Myanmar: National Electrification Project (NEP) (IDA Project No. 152936)
International Financial Management Advisor Ref. C2-TA 44
1. This Request for Expressions of Interest follows the general procurement notice for this project that appeared in Development Business online on November 3, 2015.
- The Republic of the Union of Myanmar has received financing from the International Development Association (IDA) and applied part of the proceeds of this financing to payments under the contract for a short term International Financial Management Advisor for National Electrification Project (NEP) under ref. no C2-TA44
- The National Electrification Project includes an off-grid electrification component with $80 million in IDA credits. IDA support in off-grid areas will target communities located far beyond the existing national grid and, thus, unlikely to receive grid-based access in the next 10 or more years. More importantly, the IDA support will be directed to the peripheral States/ Regions with social and ethnic cohesion and peace building. Off-grid electrification will be technology neutral, depending on technology assessment for target communities, including solar photovoltaic (PV), mini-hydropower, wind, diesel, and hybrid (eg. diesel/solar). Deployment of household solar PV systems in target communities includes households, public institutions (schools, health clinics and other community building) as well as public street light. Moreover, funds are provided for technical assistance and management of the off-grid component. The budget for technical assistance is $10 million from IDA. This component will support: (a) strengthening of institutional capacity to implement the National Electrification Plan, including capacity building and training of the DRD Project Management Office (PMO), capacity building at the Union, State/Region, district, township and village levels and for the private sector; (b) improving policy and regulatory framework related to electrification; (c) securing technical advice and consulting services on standards, technology assessment and technical design, economic and financial analysis, environmental and social impact management, procurement and financial management; and (d) strengthening project management. In addition, the Project attracts additional financing from various multilateral and bilateral donor agencies, including but not limited to, € 30 million soft-loan from Italian government through Italian Agency for Development Cooperation and $ 45 million grant for Result Based Financing from the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP) of the World Bank Group. This grant is explicitly designed to bridge public and private service provision, the Project complements IFC activities as part of the overall, integrated World Bank Group’s Joint Implementation Plan. The objective of the Project is to help increase access to electricity in Myanmar. The Project is expected to benefit around 6 million people with new electricity connections by 2021.
The Advisor will assist the Project in setting up the appropriate and reliable financial management system, including but not limited
to (i) review the existing financial management system and take appropriate actions for use of fund by the project including all activities financed by Result based Financing (IFC), communities and Italian loan and all other donors financed activities under this project ; (ii) to ensure proper internal controls are put in place to achieve accountability with appropriate documentation for eligible expenses; (iii) to assist in preparing Annual Work Plan and Budget and quarterly projections of funds; (iv) to conduct training to finance staff of DRD on the procedures for budgeting, disbursement, payment request, financial reporting and use of accounting software; (v) to assist in preparation of project progress report to be submitted to the World Bank.
The NEP ends in September 2021 and DRD expects to meet or exceed off-grid electrification targets in the first phase of the National Electrification Plan. To meet the universal access to electricity goal by 2030 requires continuation of the electrification program for off-grid electrification under responsibility of the Department of Rural Development (DRD) in the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation. The Government is, therefore, seeking the World Bank support towards future phases of the NEP. Thus, the World Bank is preparing to support and finance the National Energy Access Program (NEP 2), initiating end of year 2020.
4. The Department of Rural Development now invites eligible short term individual consultants to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested individual consultants must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the Services as per criteria below ( CV with academic background, experience in similar assignment, knowledge of local conditions (if any) etc. including expected remuneration on a working day basis together with evidence of latest payroll slip or contract). Consultants may be invited for interviewing through video conference, if necessary. The assignment will be for 100 working days during the six (6) months period starting from early April 2021 until September 30, 2021. The number of working days can be extended, if more requirement. The Consultant will be working from his/her home/residence.
The evaluation criteria are:
- Must have an IFAC recognized accounting professional qualification;
- At least 10 years of professional experience in accounting and/or others relevant field;
- Previous experience in similar assignments within the region or other region;
- Experience in Financial Management Capacity Development and training;
- Experience working with the World Bank financed projects or other major donors and having experience in preparing financial management report/documents for preparation of the World Bank’s funded project is required;
- Good PC/ accounting systems literacy, including strong Excel skill and using computerized accounting software.
5. . A consultant will be selected in accordance with the procedures set out in the World Bank’s Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits & Grants by World Bank Borrows dated January 2011 (revised July 2014) ("Consultant Guidelines"). The attention of interested consultants is drawn to paragraph 1.9 of the Consultant Guidelines, setting forth the World Bank's policy on conflict of interest.
- Interested individual consultants may obtain the Terms of Reference at the address given below from 09.30 to 16.00 hours or direct request trough e-mail address – [email protected], [email protected]. DRD will provide prompt responses to all interested individual consultants, should there be any questions.
- Expressions of interest must be delivered by registered mail or by e-mail to the address below no later than, 5 February, 2021.
Attention
Dr. Soe Soe Ohn , Project Manager
National Electrification Project (NEP)
Department of Rural Development, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation
Office No. 36, Pandita Road, Oattara Thiri Township, Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar.
Tel/FAX : +95 0673 418636, E-mail [email protected],, [email protected], [email protected]