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.

With increasing resource constraints faced by governments, public sector institutions have to be more effective in program planning and delivery so that the best ‘value for money’ can be realized. This coupled with the increasing demands from the public for better quality and more responsive services puts greater demands on them. In some economies where those donor organizations play an important role, the international financial institutions are demanding accountability in the use of their funds and often demand that recipient countries subscribe to the systems that they are advocating. A wide number of initiatives including the Millennium Development Goals are also pushing and prodding governments to adopt results-oriented management systems. 

Against the backdrop of multi-faceted demands that are being placed on the public sector it is indeed critical that public sector program planning and implementation is clear and well defined. The Integrated RBM system, using a Program and Activity structure, incorporates a longer-term macro planning framework through better and more effective horizontal and vertical integration for national development and capacity-building in physical and human infrastructure to meet national needs and challenges of globalization. Efforts in improving the public sector efficiency and effectiveness, with an integrated RBM system, can subsequently lead to improved public service delivery by maximizing value for money through integrated strategic planning, systematic implementation and resource usage, performance monitoring, measurement and reporting.

B.OBJECTIVE OF THE CONSULTANCY SERVICE ASSIGNMENT

The objective of this consultancy service is to a) create and develop a mobile and tabled application with Microsoft PowerApps that enables the ministry staff to access to the macroeconomic information for increasing their efficiency and productivity; and b) conceptualize and design technical features and operations of the Integrated RBM system; 

C.SCOPE OF WORK

The scope of work has the tasks as follows: 

1) Task 1: Create and develop a mobile and tabled application with Microsoft PowerApps

    1.1: Preliminary analysis

    • Carry out a preliminary analysis on a) problems which can be resolved by the application; b) the application features and c) platforms & devices to support;

    1.2: Application design

    • Conceptualize and visualize the functionality of the application and its user interface. Application design process should:

          - Visualize the exact layout of every screen in the application and place every element, including banners, buttons, and icons, in the right place;

          - Detail a unique user interface (UI) which ensures that the user’s experience is not compromised;

          - Align primary objectives with the application’s screens;

          - Experiment on the layout of your screen to identify if changes on the size of a button, or the placement of an icon makes it better aesthetically and functionally;

          - Check whether the application is living up to its functionalities with a high-fidelity prototype;

    1.3: Application development

    • Establish the development environment, develop various parts of the code, conduct preliminary testing and create the application that can be installed and tested;

    1.4: Application testing and integration

    • Test the application. Types of tests include: a) Functional Testing, where into verify if the features are working exactly the way they are required to; b) Usability Testing on ease of use and navigation; c)     Performance Testing is done to ensure the least response time for every task that your app performs; d) Fit and Finish Testing is for testing every features and screen of the app to make sure that the     consultant has done justice to what they had envisioned while designing the app; and e) User Acceptance Testing is to has an application tested by the target users and obtain feedback from them about     every features;

    1.5: Workshop on PowerApps application

    • Organize a workshop on PowerApps application that enables the ministry staff to access to the macroeconomic information for increasing their efficiency and productivity; 

    1.6: Maintenance

    • Undergo a maintenance process wherein it will be maintained and upgraded from time to time to adapt the changes. The 180-day application maintenance period will commence from the last date of the     month in which the application testing and integration report is accepted by the beneficiary:

2) Task 2: Conceptualize and design technical features and operations of the Integrated RBM system

    Task 2.1: Preliminary analysis

    • Conduct the preliminary analysis to find out the ministry's objectives and see how the problem being studied fits in with them. 

    • Ensure that alternate proposals which may still come from interviewing employees, clients, suppliers, and/or consultants are investigated and the best alternative is selected;

    • Analyse and describe the costs and benefits of implementing the proposed changes. In the end, the ultimate decision on whether to develop a new system will be guided by this and the rest of the     preliminary analysis information;

    Task 2.2: Systems analysis, requirements definition

    • Define project goals associated with the ministry’s objectives into defined functions and operations of the intended application. This involves the process of gathering and interpreting facts, diagnosing     problems, and recommending improvements to the system. Those goals may be further aided by analysis of end-user information needs and the removal of any inconsistencies and incompleteness in     these requirements; 

    Task 2.3: System design

    • Describe and illustrate the desired features and operations in detail, including screen layouts, operational rules, process diagrams, pseudocode (if necessary), and other documentations

D. DELIVERABLES

    With the detailed work plan to be approved by the client for fulfillment of the contract-based assignments, the consultant’s deliverables will include: 

       i. Preliminary analysis report for the mobile and tabled application;

      ii. Application design report;

     iii. Application development report;

      iv. Application testing and integration report;

       v. Maintenance report;

      vi. End user workshop for application users;

     vii. Preliminary analysis report on conception, technical features and operations of the to-be developed Integrated RBM system;

    viii. Systems analysis, requirements definition on the to-be developed Integrated RBM system;

      ix. System design on the to-be developed Integrated RBM system;  

E. CONSULTANT’S QUALIFICATIONS / SELECTION CRITERIA

    Education: A suitable candidate should have the graduate degree from an accredited academic institution preferably in the field of computer programming and financial mathematics;

    Experience: At least 10 years relevant experience. Satisfactory prior experiences with the similar assignments 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 deliverables and documents to the SFFS Project Implementation Unit via the Coordinating consultant at the beneficiary institution. 

    During the assignment, the consultant must effectively cooperate at the professional level with the national consultant to conceptualize and design non-technical features of the Integrated RBM System;

G. CONTRACT DURATION

    The assignment is expected to commence in April, 2020. The duration of the assignment is for 12 months. Please be advised that the consultant’s assignment duration may be subject to extension upon     request by the beneficiary for further system development activities. 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.

H. INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS

    The relevant counter specialist at the beneficiary shall assist the consultant for performing the assignment. The MOF will provide office space with furniture, internet access, computer and printers.

 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, May 14, 2020.

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 Project.

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