MINISTRY OF GENDER, CHILDREN, DISABILITY AND SOCIAL WELFARE

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

CONSULTING SERVICES – INDIVIDUAL SELECTION

Country : Malawi

Name of Project : Investing in Early Years

Grant No : IDA – D4000

Assignment Title : Provision of Consultancy Services for the District Financial Management Officer

Reference No. : MW-MGCDSW-340052-CS-INDV

Date of Issue : 10th February, 2023

THE INVESTING IN EARLY YEARS PROJECT (IEYP)

1. Background

In view of efforts to address challenges related to early child development and the effects of poor nutrition in the country, the Government of Malawi is implementing a 5 year project called Investing in Early Years (IEYP) with financial support from the World Bank and the Global Financing Facility (GFF).

The IEYP intends to expand the scope, scale, coverage and quality of on-going nutrition interventions, incorporate early stimulation interventions, and improve coverage and quality of early learning interventions within the 13 districts that are being supported by the World Bank and other donors. The Project will also strengthen health and nutrition activities within CBCCs and Primary Health Centers (PHCs).

2. Project Development Objective (PDO)

The Project Development Objective (PDO) is to improve coverage and utilization of early child development services with focus on nutrition, stimulation and early learning from conception to 59 months in selected districts of Malawi.

The project has three components, namely, (a) Community-based nutrition and early stimulation interventions, (b) Center-based early learning, nutrition, and health interventions, and, (c) Multi-sectoral coordination, capacity and systems strengthening.

In order to facilitate effective implementation of the project, Malawi Government through the Ministries of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare and, Local Government and Rural Development and the Department of Nutrition HIV and AIDS intend to apply part of the project proceeds for the provision of consulting services for the following vacant positions:

A. District Financial Management Officers (3 positions)

The successful candidates will be based in one of the following districts: Mchinji, Ntcheu and Thyolo.

The DFMOs will be reporting to the Director of Finance at the District Council with dotted reporting lines to the Financial Management Specialist (FMS).

Duties and Accountabilities

Working in designated District Councils in close consultation and collaboration with the FMS, the DFMOs will be responsible for supporting the FMS and the District Project Team in maintaining District financial records, training and assisting the CBCCs to properly account for Project funds, providing timely financial information to the PFT Coordinator and to ensure compliance with GoM Financial Rules and the World Bank’s fiduciary requirements as referred to in the Project Financing Agreement.

Specific Tasks and Responsibilities

• Prepare project’s annual cash plan on the basis of the work plan and related procurement plan and monitor the availability of funds to cover the requirements of the project;
• Prepare monthly monitoring reports and comparing actual expenditure against budget for submission to the FMS;
• Process expenditure/payment in accordance with the Bank’s Disbursement Guidelines and ensure that the accounting system provides the basis for an efficient financial management and information system;
• Apply pre-audit checks on all payments before payment is done which includes; budget availability, sanction of competent authority and compliance with applicable financial rules and statutory requirements of Malawi.
• Review all accounting related transactions (payment vouchers, receipt vouchers, debit and credit notes, invoices, correcting journal entries etc) prior to entry into the accounting system.
• Record all transactions timely and accurately in the books of accounts, and ensure that no expenditure remains unaccounted for.
• Prepare monthly bank reconciliation statements of all project bank accounts.
• Maintain the fixed assets records for the project; ensuring the identification of the location, user and condition of each asset and arrange for the annual and periodical inventory of the assets and updating of the records.
• Attend entry and exit meetings with external auditors, facilitate timely completion of audits by arranging information and documents required for the audit, responding to queries, initiate and coordinate meetings with the district team in meeting audit objectives.
• Coordinate audit responses with other project facilitation team members at the district level.
• Prepare timely formal response to auditor’s findings.
• Supporting the PFT with any other duties as reasonably requested.

Qualifications and Experience

Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services. The criteria is as follows:

The DFMOs shall have:

• A Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from a nationally/internationally recognized institution.
• At least six (6) years post qualification experience in financial management, or accounting. Prior experience with World Bank and/or donor funded and public sector projects will be an added advantage.
• Proven ability to conceptualize, plan, budget and implement programme finance related issues.
• Excellent writing and communication skills.
• Proficiency in using accounting software and computer business desktop applications (MS Word, Excel). Experience with Sage 50 (Peachtree) accounting software will be an asset.
• Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team with diverse professional backgrounds.

The DFMOs shall be recruited for a period of approximately one (1) year, renewable annually subject to satisfactory performance appraisals at the end of each year should there be an extension of the project period.

The detailed Terms of Reference (ToRs) for the assignments are attached above.

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section III, paragraphs, 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” July 2016 Revised November 2017 and August 2018 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

The Consultants will be selected in accordance with the Individual Consultant (INDV) selection method set out in the Procurement Regulations.

Further information can be obtained at the address 3 (a) below during office hours [from 08.00 to 12.00; 13.00 to 16.30 hours

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address3(b) below (in person, or by mail, or by e-mail) by Thursday, 23rd February, 2023 at 16:30 Hours. Please indicate the position being applied for on the envelope or email subject line.

3. Addresses referred to above are:

a) For information and clarifications:

Internal Procurement and Disposal Committee Secretary

Ministry of Gender, Children, Community Development and Social Welfare

Procurement and Disposal Unit, Forth Floor, Room Number 199

P/Bag 330

Capital Hill Circle

Lilongwe 3.

Email address: [email protected], [email protected] cc: [email protected]

b) The Expression of Interests should be addressed to:

Att.: The Chairperson

Internal Procurement and Disposal Committee

Ministry of Gender, Children, Community Developments and Social Welfare

Tender Box IEYP, Third Floor, Landing near Conference Room Entrance or

Procurement and Disposal Unit, Forth Floor, Room Number 199

P/Bag 330

Capital Hill Circle,

Lilongwe 3.

Email address: [email protected], [email protected] cc: [email protected]

The Chairperson,

Internal Procurement and Disposal Committee (IPDC)

Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare

Capital Hill Circle,

Lilongwe.

Malawi.