Financial Management Specialist – Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare
Job Description
MINISTRY OF GENDER COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT 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 Financial Management Specialist
Reference No.: MW-MGCDSW-FMS003-CS-INDV
Date of Issue: 31st July 2024
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 earty 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, Community
Development and Social Welfare; Local Government and Rural Development and Health (Department of Nutrition HIV and AIDS) intend to apply part of the project proceeds for the provision of consulting services for the following vacant position:
A. Financial Management Specialist (1 position, Tenable In Lilongwe)
The successful candidates will be based in Lilongwe at Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare, Building, Headquarters, Capital Hill, Investing in Early Years Project (IEYP).
The Financial Management Specialist shall be reporting to the Project Coordinator, and will have the following responsibilities:
- Preparation and submission of project budgets and annual cash flows on the basis of the approved work plan;
- Support in preparing an annual work plan and budget for the project;
- Following up and quarterly reporting on the release of funds for the approved budget;
- Timely preparation and submission of quarterly and annual disbursement forecasts for all components of the project in line with the project’s procurement plan;
- Preparation and submission to World Bank (WB), no later than 45 days after the end of each calendar quarter, interim unaudited financial reports (IFRs) for the project covering the quarter in form and substance acceptable to WB. The IRs will include quarterly cash forecasts, prepared in coordination with the Project Facilitation Team (PFT) and submit to WB for review, advance and replenishments of advances;
- Tracking funds and following up with the Reserve Bank and WB to ensure timely credit of funds into the project’s designated account;
- Ensure timely expenditure/payment processing in accordance with the guidelines in the Financial Management Manual;
- Apply pre-audit checks on all payments before payment from designated accounts including funds availability, sanction of competent authority and compliance with applicable financial rules and regulations;
- Managing financial aspects of the contracts under implementation, including payment terms, purchase orders and variation orders;
- Preparation of monthly bank reconciliation statements of designated accounts in local cumency and United States Dollars (USD);
- Preparation and submission of monthly payroll to the Project Facilitation Team Coordinator for approval, prior to making any payment under consultancy fees for PFT members;
- Ensure timely processing of monthly consultancy fees of project’s individual consultants and ensure that proper payroll controls are applied and the payments are made directly in the bank accounts where applicable;
- Ensure that fixed assets records are maintained for the project, identifying the location and the user of each asset and arrange for the annual and periodical inventory of the assets and updating of the records;
- Ensure safe custody of all financial records for review by Bank Missions, Third-party Monitoring; and external and internal auditors;
- Ensure that all government financial reporting requirements are complied with, specifically: schedule of cheques prepared and submitted to the Project facilitation Team Coordinator for onward submission to the Ministry of Finance.
The Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare now invite eligible individuals (‘Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the services. The shortlisting criteria are:
- A relevant Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from a nationally/internationally recognized institution, and professionally qualified with ACCA or equivalent and must be a member of ICAM. A Master’s Degree in the field above will be an added advantage.
- At least six (6) years’ experience after acquiring the stipulated qualification in financial management, or accounting. Prior experience with WB and /Or donor-funded and public sector projects will be a plus.
- Excellent writing and communication skills. iv. Proficiency in using accounting software and computer business desktop (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
- Experience with Sage 50 (Peachtree) accounting software will be an asset.
The Financial Management Specialist (FMS) shall be recruited for a period of approximately two (2) years, but renewable annually subject to satisfactory performance appraisals at the end of each year.
The detailed Terms of Reference (ToRs) for the assignments are attached above in this email.
The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section IlI, 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 address 3 (b) below (in person, or by mail, or by e-mail) by Tuesday 13th August, 2024 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, Community Development and Social Welfare
Procurement and Disposal Unit, Fourth Floor, Room Number 199
P/Bag 330
Capital Hill Circle
Lilongwe 3.
Email address: dalirenikachinjika@gmail.com
cc. muhiwapeter@yahoo.com
b) The Expression of Interests should be addressed to:
Att.: The Chairperson
Internal Procurement and Disposal Committee
Ministry of Gender, Community Developments and Social Welfare
Tender Box IEYP, Third Floor, Landing near Conference Room Entrance or
Procurement and Disposal Unit, Fourth Floor, Room Number 199
P/Bag 330
Capital Hill Circle, Lilongwe 3.
Email address: dalirenikachinjlka@gmail.com
cc. muhiwapeter@yahoo.com