A. BACKGROUND 

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 strengthen fiscal responsibility and implementing relevant policy measures; improve fiscal discipline; strengthen the resiliency of the banking system; improve public expenditure quality in social protection, and provide 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 overall objective of Component A of the Project is to strengthen fiscal responsibility and support the implementation of relevant policy measures toward (a) improving the quality of expenditure management, (b) strengthening macroeconomic and budget policy-making capacity, and (c) improving regulatory processes. Within this component there are also specific activities planned for furthering tax reform including by introducing the latest international taxation rules and regulations.

The Government of Mongolia (GOM) has been undertaking customs reforms to increase trade turnover and support international trade facilitation as it is important for the economic development of Mongolia. The revenue from international trade is significant and accounts for 27.7% of total government revenue and grants. The GOM has taken a number of steps to encourage international trade, including development of key infrastructures, such as building laboratories to check the quality of goods and mineral commodities, expanding capacity of ports at borders, replacing and upgrading equipment used for scanning the goods and commodities, and revamping of the electronic declaration systems to cut time and cost of trade and reduce human contacts for the purpose of eliminating red tape and corruption. In 2022 fiscal year the GOM is planning to take further measures to facilitate international trade to reduce border clearance time and documentation cost through amending relevant regulations and integrating regulatory functions by various inspecting agencies.             

The GOM joined the WTO Agreement on Trade Facilitation and the Asia Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA) to increase trade turnover and expand trade cooperation with its regional trading partners. Going forward, the Government and the MOF are planning to review and revise the existing Customs Law and the Law on Customs Duty and Tariff, both approved in 2008, and related resolutions and regulations in coordination with the aforementioned international agreements and the ongoing customs reform objectives.    

Considering the economic and fiscal challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and favorable commodity market development, the GOM will be planning to expedite the customs reform and improve the legislative environment regarding the trade to support short term revenue mobilization measures toward ensuring and accelerating post pandemic recovery and supporting further fiscal consolidation. 

Within the context above, the MOF is seeking a local consultant to develop and improve domestic legislations for undertaking further customs reform.

B. OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The objective of the assignment is to assist the MOF in developing, improving and revising domestic legislations related to customs reforms in cooperation with officers and local consultants of the Fiscal Policy and Planning Department (FPPD) at the MOF.

C. SCOPE OF WORK

The scope of work that the Consultant will carry out is to develop and improve domestic legislations related to undertaking the envisioned further customs reforms in compliance with international trade agreements to which Mongolia is a party. Key tasks under the assignment will include, but not be limited to, the following:

1. Carry out research on international experiences in relation to digitizing customs services and other relevant considerations to the ongoing customs reform;

2. Identify and recommend the international experience that could be used in Mongolia to digitize the services provided by customs administration to reduce the time and cost of trade;

3. Provide implementation and monitoring support on ongoing customs reform objectives;

4. Improve international trade and customs database at the MOF in close cooperation with the customs officials;

5. Review existing customs laws and legislations and provide recommendations for revision and improvement;

6. Propose revision of regulations and procedures to reduce existing border clearance time and cost in line with the existing legislations;

7. Revise regulations concerning the integrations of inspection functions by respective government agencies;

8. Define key features in international trade and customs related conventions to which Mongolia is a party to that can be introduced in domestics customs laws and legislation;

9. Draft legislation, note, presentation and other policy documents needed for revising the existing customs legislations in convergence with the international agreements and ongoing customs reforms undertaken by the MOF; and   

10. Such other tasks related to activities above as reasonably requested by the Client. 

D. DELIVERABLES

The following deliverables shall be submitted to the Client:

1. A report on international experiences in relation to digitizing customs services and other relevant considerations to the ongoing customs reform;

2. A recommendation on possible digitization of services to be provided by customs administration to reduce the time and cost of trade, including  international experiences that can be relevant in the context of the ongoing customs reforms in Mongolia; 

3. Technical assistance support provided to the Division on ongoing customs reform objectives’ implementation and monitoring;

4. A summary note outlining the existing customs laws and legislations revisions along with the initial recommendation draft on the legal improvement;

5. International trade statistics database which will be used for estimating revenue from international trade;

6. Recommendation paper for improving the existing customs legislations upon incorporating inputs and recommendations from the Division, in line with the above-mentioned Conventions and ongoing customs reforms;

7. Draft documents including the customs related legislations, note, presentation and other necessary policy documents; and

8. Summary report outlining completion of assignment.

E. CONSULTANT’S QUALIFICATIONS/ SELECTION CRITERIA

• Education: The suitable candidate should have bachelor’s degree in relevant field: economics, finance, international trade, law, customs or public administration;

• Experience: The incumbent should have at least four (4) years of relevant professional experience including the area of international trade, drafting legal documents, economics, customs and public policy or administration. Knowledge of technical terms of tax, budget, customs and related work experience would be an advantage. 

• Language skills:  Fluent written and spoken skills in both Mongolian and English;

• Other skills: 

a. Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to function effectively and collaboratively in a team environment; 

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

c. Familiarity with the IT system particularly, with fiscal management information system is essential; and

d. Be able to work overtime if required.

F. SUPERVISION AND REPORTING 

The Consultant will report directly to the Head of the Budget Revenue Division (BRD) and the Director-General of the FPPD, MOF and will work on a day-to-day basis with officers, international and local consultants of the FPPD on all matters related to the assignment. The Head of the BRD and the Director-General of the FPPD will meet regularly with the Consultant to review progress with the work program and to resolve any outstanding issues. The consultant is expected to provide monthly reports to the Client with the relevant detailed deliverables and documents enclosed as per Section D above.

G. CONTRACT DURATION AND PAYMENT CONDITION 

The assignment is expected to commence in January 2022. The total duration of the consultancy service rendered is estimated to be twelve (12) months.

The consultant will be required to carry out his/her tasks in line with the approved Work plan, which will serve as a basis for measuring progress on desired outcomes and goals. The monthly reports against the approved work plan will then be the basis for the monthly payments for the consultancy service. 

H. INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS

The Client will provide office space and will work with the Consultant on a day-to-day basis. The consultant shall be provided with all the necessary data and information to perform the tasks specified in Section C. All information provided to the Consultant will be regarded as confidential and information shall not be shared with any outside individuals or organizations without the Client’s prior consent.

If you possess the above qualifications, please submit the following documents in English via email to procurement@sffs.mn no later than 15:00 PM, January 07, 2022:

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. Two reference letters from the previous last two employers.

The consultant will be selected in accordance with the Selection of Individual Consultants (INDV) method of the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers. 

https://thedocs.worldbank.org/en/doc/178331533065871195-0290022020/original/ProcurementRegulations.pdf. 

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

70120582