A. BACKGROUND

Mongolia has received a credit from the International Development Association (IDA) for the Strengthening Fiscal and Financial Stability Project (“SFFSP”). The development objective of Strengthening Fiscal and Financial Stability Project for Mongolia is to contribute to the Government of Mongolia’s efforts to strengthen fiscal and financial stability and improve the quality of expenditure. The project is designed into five components: (I) Strengthening Macroeconomic and Fiscal Management; (II) Improving the Efficiency of Public Financial Management; (III) Enhancing Financial Sector Stability; (IV) Strengthening the Social Protection System; (V) Project Management and Monitoring. The objectives are to: Strengthening fiscal responsibility and implementing relevant policy measures, improving fiscal discipline, strengthening the resiliency of the banking system, improving public expenditure quality in social protection, providing support for Project implementation, coordination, monitoring and evaluation, including, inter alia, audit arrangements, reporting requirements, procurement and financial management activities respectively. For more details, please refer to the Project Appraisal Document Report No. PAD2269.

The private sector typically plays a limited role in development areas such as poverty, health, and education, in part because the returns on investment may be lower or highly uncertain or may take a long time. It is the public intervention that makes a critical role for redistribution, through taxes and income-related transfers, and equalising opportunity, through in-kind spending on infrastructure, education, and health for the well-being of the general public. Budget policy therefore has a crucial role for development. The budget is the most important expression of the government’s policy priorities – yet the the country's social sector development goals are not as yet fully incorporated into short- and medium-term public financial plans. The United Nations (2018) asserts that the country’s main challenge is not in setting goals and programmes, but in coordinating, funding and monitoring them. Thus, coherent policy-making and strong institutional coordination across sectors are crucial to maximise value for public money. 

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global Goals, were adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030. The 17 SDGs are integrated—that is, they recognise that action in one area will affect outcomes in others, and that development must balance social, economic and environmental sustainability. The total number of indicators listed in the global indicator framework of SDG indicators is 244, in which 233 of them is subject to Mongolia. Mongolia was an was an early adopter by creating “Mongolia Sustainable Development Vision-2030”, its own Sustainable Development Vision for 2030, where Global SDGs are aligned with 4 priorities, 44 targets of such document. Despite continual progress towards the SDGs, longer-term commitment and coordination through budget policy from the government is essential to build strong, stable institutional systems and the evidence base for coordinated SDG-led policies. 

B. OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSIGNMENT 

The objective of this consultancy service is to make assessments on a) the country's social sector development goals and budge policy coordination; and b) their alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) and write policy recommendations in the field of securing better results. 

C. SCOPE OF THE WORK

The scope of work has the tasks as follows: 

   1) Task 1: Inception report

      • Write an inception report after an initial review of relevant documentation. It sets out the conceptual framework to be used in an evaluation, the key evaluation questions and methodology, including information on data sources and collection, sampling and key indicators. The inception report also includes a timeline for the evaluation project and drafts of data collection instruments. The consultant will seek an approval from the component coordination consultant. 

   2) Task 2: Assessment report

      • Write an assessment report on a) the country's social sector development goals and fiscal policy coordination; and b) their alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). The report is expected to:

        - Be well written, clearly structured and expressed in a way that suits the ministry staff; 

        - Be accurate, clear and objective on results and analysis;

        - Contain conclusions and recommendations based on findings;

An assessment report should contain: 

        - Title page;

        - Executive summary/abstract;

        - Table of contents;

        - Introduction;

        - Body. The body of a science report contains the bulk of the information and writing. It typically contains the following:

        - Methods: a precise and concise explanation of what the consultant did. It is important that this is written in such a way that it could be replicated by other researchers;

        - Results: present assessment findings with appropriately and clearly presented graphs, tables, charts, and explanations;

        - Conclusion;

        - References;

        - Appendices;

   3) Task 3: SDG-consistent fiscal responsibility framework design

      • Develop a basic structure underlying an SDG-consistent fiscal responsibility framework. The framework design is expected to effectively utilise the applications for automating processes for fiscal management in the field of enhancing coordination across social sectors;

   4) Task 4: Workshop

      • Organise 2 workshops on a) Assessment findings; and b) SDG-consistent fiscal responsibility framework design;

   5) Task 5: Other assigned tasks

      • Undertake such other tasks as reasonably requested and/or assigned by the beneficiary; 

D. DELIVERABLES

The key deliverables include but not limited to the reports for all tasks as specified under “Scope of Work” as follows: 

   1) Inception report;

   2) Assessment report; 

   3) SDG-consistent fiscal responsibility framework design; 

   4) 2 workshops on a) Assessment findings; and b) SDG-consistent fiscal responsibility framework design;

E. REQUIRED QUALIFICATION

   Education: A suitable candidate should have a master degree from an accredited academic institution in the field economics, public policy and other relevant areas;

   Experience: A suitable candidate should have at least 5 years relevant experience. Satisfactory prior experiences with the public authorities are advantages;

   Language skills: Excellent command of written English and Mongolian;

   Other skills: a) Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; b) Strong research and problem-solving skills; c) Demonstrated ability to use relevant methods and instruments to conduct economic analysis; d) Ability to interact effectively with ministry staff, 

F. SUPERVISION AND REPORTING

The Consultant will report to the beneficiary institution (Economic Policy Department, the Ministry of Finance, Mongolia) on activities set in the Scope of Work. In addition to the reports required, it is the Consultant’s obligation to report all significant project events to the SGMP Project Implementation Unit via the Coordinating consultant at the beneficiary institution. 

G. CONTRACT DURATION

The assignment is expected to commence in December, 2019. The duration of the assignment is for 06 months. If consultant’s performance in accordance with tasks in the TOR is inadequate, the beneficiary shall be entitled to terminate the contract of the assignment.

The consultant will be selected in accordance with the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers (July 2016).

If you possess the above qualifications, please submit following documents via email to procurement@sffs.mn:

    1. Cover letter indicating why she/he considers her/himself suitable for the position,

    2. Detailed CV highlighting relevant skills/experience,

    3. Copy of diplomas or certificates and,

    4. 2 reference letters from previous last two employers no later than 17:00, December 26, 2019.

The submitted documents will not be returned to the applicants. Please note that incomplete applications would not be considered for evaluation. Only selected candidates will be contacted. Candidates can be interviewed. Detailed terms of reference can be requested from procurement@sffs.mn Contact address: Attn: Ms.Bayarmaa, Procurement Specialist, Strengthening Fiscal and Financial Stability Project

Room #204, Negdsen undestnii 8/2, 4th khoroo, Chingeltei District, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia; Tel: 70120582

70120582