A. BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT AND THE ASSIGNMENT

Mongolia received a credit from the International Development Association (IDA) for the Strengthening Fiscal and Financial Stability (SFFS) Project. The Objective of the SFFS Project 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 . 

Subcomponent B2 of the SFFS project aims to increase budget comprehensiveness and transparency through better control, reporting and expansion of the government’s integrated financial management information capabilities. Under the subcomponent, the Accounting Policy Department (APD) and the Treasury Department of the Ministry of Finance (MOF) have been undertaking an ambitious agenda towards improving public sector accounting and reporting.

Good accounting and financial reporting practices, which meet international standards, can serve as the basis for good governance and the provision of high-quality financial information to users of financial statements (government, citizens, development partners, international investors, etc.). Mongolia has been working for the last 20 years with the support from international donor organizations to achieve compliance with the international accounting and auditing standards since the requirements were legalized in 1993. The most recent amendments to the Accounting Law in 2015, as well as the approval of the Integrated Budget Law in 2011, reinforced the requirement to comply with the international standards.

Even though efforts to improve accounting and reporting for public sector entities have been successful in certain areas, the following issues still remain: (i) the government’s accounting basis is not yet full accrual, (ii) IPSASs are not fully implemented, and (iii) the quality and importance of the Government’s consolidated financial statements are undermined because SOEs with less than 90% ownership, but are material to the financial statements, are not consolidated into the Government’s consolidated financial statements. 

Furthermore, among the issues faced in improving public sector accounting and reporting, training and professionalization of accounting professionals play an important role. In an attempt to address these issues related with education, training and professionalization of accounting professionals, within the scope of its functions under the provision 17.1 of the Law on Accounting, APD of MOF has been taking actions aimed at strengthening the capacity of the professional accountants in the public sector focused on improving their accounting knowledge and skills as well as professional ethics and attitude. Furthermore, the APD, with support of the SFFS project, has organized development of the relevant regulation as well as the test banks to be used for assessing students’ knowledge and skills in accounting subjects and public sector accountants’ knowledge in the IPSASs. 

As a next step towards addressing the education-related challenges, the APD plans to conduct pilot independent assessments of students’ knowledge and skills in accounting subjects as well as public sector accountants’ knowledge of the IPSASs. The independent assessments would contribute to the following i) universities in evaluating their training quality for further improvements and ii) public sector accountants in gauging their knowledge of the IPSASs to identify areas of further improvements as well as public entities in determining their accounting staffs’ level of professional qualifications as a factor for their performance evaluation and incentives.

B. OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSIGNMENT 

The objective of this assignment is to provide support to the MOF in conducting pilot independent assessments of i) students’ knowledge and skills in accounting subjects in the scope of the accounting curricula of universities; and ii) the public sector accountants’ knowledge of the IPSASs towards providing recommendations for improvement to the relevant central administrative bodies.   

C. SCOPE OF THE WORK

The consultant will undertake tasks including, but not limited to, the following in close cooperation with the other national consultants (team members):

Task # 1:  Conduct pilot independent assessments of students’ knowledge and skills in accounting subjects within the scope of the accounting curricula of universities towards providing recommendations to the relevant state central administrative bodies for improvements.

• Lead the technical aspects of the assignment and provide backstopping technical support and advice to the team member assigned to the activity, monitor the performance, and help resolve any issues as they arise; 

• Review and provide substantive inputs and suggestions toward finalization of a draft blueprint of the examination materials to be developed by the team member that are to be used for the pilot assessments;

• Review and provide substantive inputs and suggestions towards finalization of a draft examination materials to be developed by the team member;

• Review and finalize a detailed plan for carrying out the pilot independent assessments drafted by the team member and provide backstopping support as needed in organizing the pilot assessments;

• Provide inputs to a report on the pilot independent assessments prepared by the team member and finalize the report; 

• Develop policy recommendations to the MOF and the Ministry of Education and Science (MES) on improving the accounting curricula of universities based on the analysis for the pilot independent assessment results as well as the previously prepared research reports and recommendations developed by the Mongolian Accounting Institute; 

• Organize a final meeting with representatives of relevant governmental organizations and universities to introduce the findings on the pilot independent assessments and the related policy recommendations for further improvements in the accounting curricula; and 

• Review and provide approval on the final deliverables of the team member prior to submission to the APD.

Task # 2: Conduct pilot independent assessments of public sector accountants’ knowledge of the IPSASs towards providing recommendations to the relevant state central administrative bodies.  

• Lead the technical aspects of the assignment and provide backstopping technical support and advice to the team member assigned to the activity, monitor the performance, and help resolve any issues as they arise; 

• Review and provide substantive inputs and suggestions on a draft blueprint of the examination materials to be developed by the team member that are to be used for the pilot assessments;

• Review and provide substantive inputs and suggestions on the draft examination materials to be developed by the team member;

• Review and finalize a detailed plan for carrying out the pilot independent assessments drafted by the team member and provide backstopping support as needed in organizing the pilot assessments;

• Provide inputs to report on the pilot independent assessments prepared by the team member and finalize the report; 

• Develop policy recommendations for improving the accountants’ knowledge of the IPSASs and for organizing regular independent assessments, going forward, of the public sector accountants’ knowledge of the IPSASs in compliance with the resolutions of the Cabinet no. 382 (of December 19, 2018) and 151 (dated April 29, 2020).

• Review and provide approval on the final deliverables of the team member prior to submission to the APD.

D. DELIVERABLES 

Based on the contracted assignment and detailed contract implementation plan approved by the client, the consultant’s deliverables will be as follows:

1. Under task # 1:

Deliverable 1: A brief report on the inputs and suggestions provided to the documents below along with their final copies:

- A blueprint of the examination materials to be used for assessing students’ knowledge and skills in accounting subjects within the scope of the accounting curricula of universities;

- Examination materials developed in accordance with the blueprint;

- Detailed plan on conducting the pilot independent assessment;

- Report on the pilot independent assessments conducted; and

Deliverable 2: Policy recommendations to the MOF and the MES for improving the accounting curricula of universities.

2. Under task # 2:

Deliverable 3: A brief report on the inputs and suggestions provided to the below documents along with their final copies:

- A blueprint of the examination materials to be used to assess the public sector accountants’ knowledge of the IPSASs;

- Examination materials developed in accordance with the blueprint;

- Detailed plan on conducting the pilot independent assessment;

- Report on the pilot independent assessments conducted; and

Deliverable 4: Policy recommendations for improving the accountants’ knowledge of the IPSASs and for organizing regular independent assessments, going forward, of the public sector accountants’ knowledge of the IPSASs in compliance with the resolutions of the Cabinet no. 382 (of December 19, 2018) and 151 (dated April 29, 2020)

The Consultant will receive formal feedback and comments on each deliverable within 2 weeks after submission from the APD.

E. CONSULTANT’S QUALIFICATIONS/SELECTION CRITERIA

Education and Knowledge:

• A suitable candidate must have a master’s degree in education, accounting or related fields; and

• Proven knowledge of the accounting curricula of universities and IPSASs.

Experience: 

• Incumbent should have at least 6 years of relevant experience in the areas of programme evaluation, especially in higher education, as well as analytical and research work;

• Proven experience in conducting similar assignment of assessing students’ knowledge;

• Excellent report writing and communication skills; and 

• Previous experience of providing consultancy services to government entities and international organizations will be an advantage.

Other skills: 

• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to function effectively and collaboratively in a team environment and high integrity and accountability; and

• Be proficient in PC-based applications such as Word, Excel and data management, and have excellent web research and navigation skills.

F. INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS

The MOF will provide office space or equipment for the consultant as deemed necessary. The Consultant will have access to all the necessary data/information that the MOF could provide for this assignment. The Consultant will work in close cooperation and coordination with the APD, MOF and supervise tasks and outputs of the national consultants (team members) on the assignment.  

G. SUPERVISION AND REPORTING 

The Consultant will report to the Director-General of the APD of MOF and will work on a daily basis with officials appointed by the APD on technical matters relevant to the assignment. The Client will also appoint officials to monitor the contract implementation. Appointed MOF officials will be responsible for the coordination of activities under the Contract, for reviewing and accepting Deliverables to be submitted by the Consultant. 

H. CONTRACT DURATION AND PAYMENT SCHEDULE 

The consultant’s assignment is expected to commence in August 2021 and expected to be completed within a period of 4 months. 

Payments will be released upon satisfactory submission and acceptance by the APD of the following deliverables sequentially as per the schedule below: 

Deliverable 1 specified in Section D: 25% of the total contract amount; 

Deliverable 2 specified in Section D: 25% of the total contract amount; 

Deliverable 3 specified in Section D: 25% of the total contract amount; and 

Deliverable 4 specified in Section D: 25% of the total contract amount. 

If you possess the above qualifications, please submit the 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 15:00 PM, July 30, 2021.

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

The submitted documents will not be returned to the applicants. Please be noted that incomplete applications would not be considered for evaluation. Only selected candidate will be contacted.

Address for submission of Expression of Interest: Attention to Ms.Ariunaa.G, Procurement Specialist, Strengthening Fiscal and Financial Stability Project, Address: Room #205, Negdsen undestnii 8/2, 4th khoroo, Chingeltei District, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Tel: 70120582 or via email to: procurement@sffs.mn