REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST.

Mongolia has received a credit from the International Development Association (IDA) for the Strengthening Fiscal and Financial Stability Project (“SFFSP”). The Objective of the SFFSP 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 .
Due to the unpaired structure and excessively dependent on a few industries and external factors, Mongolian economy is very sensitive to the commodity price changes and foreign direct investment. As a result, unemployment rate and people’s living standard are fluctuating due to commodity price cycles. Particularly, world commodity price drop during the 2012-2016 driven the economic growth slowdown, decreased number of jobs opening, and exchange rate depreciated sharply. Furthermore, real wages dropped by 6 percent from 2012 levels and the purchasing power worsened. The unemployment rate rose to 10 percent in 2016 and poverty rate rose to 29.6 percent. "Mongolia's sustainable development vision 2030" targets the poverty rate to reach 18 percent and the unemployment rate to 6 percent in 2020. In order to achieve this goal, detailed social sector calculations and surveys need to be done and clearly defined policy measures need to be implemented intensively.
The unemployment and poverty indicators depend on many factors and complex issues. Therefore, it is necessary to collect the initial data used to determine the above indicators and to do the research based on various factors, such as age, gender, location, education, and family size. In addition, we need to investigate the linkage between social sector indicators and macroeconomics and other indicators; and identify factors that could reduce the poverty and unemployment rate.
Although the economy is recovering relatively well, it is necessary to improve and optimize the effectiveness and efficiency of projects and policies implemented by the Government to make economic growth more accessible and sustainable for the livelihoods of the population. In order to do this, government need to review and analyze the implementation and outcome of public programs aimed to protect the livelihood of the population, creation of job positions and poverty alleviation, including social welfare program, agriculture, small and medium enterprises and local development funds, and draw recommendation on improving efficiency and effectiveness of these policy and program and identifying the target groups and managing the resources.
Therefore, the MOF is seeking to hire national consultant to conduct CBA on government programs and project and make policy recommendations.

SCOPE OF THE ASSIGNMENT
Following assignments will be conducted by the national consultant, but not limited to:

1.Design guideline and methodology for spending review;
2.Spending reviews on selected agriculture programs, local development fund; health cares and social care policies according to the guideline and methodology;
3.Conduct CBA on proposed government programs and make policy recommendations;
4.Suggest proposed designs of public-private-partnership on selected public sectors;
5.Review the energy price setting, breakdown of electricity price;
6.Make policy recommendations on improving effectivities and efficiencies of government programs and public sectors; 
7.Effectively coordinate his/her work with other consultants working on other tasks in the component;
8.Undertake such other tasks as reasonably requested and/or assigned by the Director General of Economic Policy Department (EPD) and the Director of the Macroeconomic Policy Division (MEPD).

SHORTLISTING CRITERIA/CONSULTANT’S QUALIFICATIONS:
Education: A suitable candidate should have at least master’s degree in relevant field of economics, development economics and public policy.
Experience: Incumbent should have at least 5 years relevant experience including strong economic analysis and public policy making;
Language skills: Academic written and spoken skills in English and Mongolian;
Other skills:
a.Ethical approaches to research and practice;
b.Strong analytical and research capabilities and problem-solving skills;
c.Demonstrated ability to use relevant methods and instruments to conduct economic analysis;
d.Ability to interact effectively with officials and staff of MOF;
e.Research skill including the retrieval of information from a variety of sources;
f.Time management skill;
g.Skilled in working effectively with computer software (STATA and MS Excel) for the analysis of data;


CONTRACT DURATION:
The assignment is expected to commence on September, 2018. The duration of the assignment is for 12 months. If consultant’s performance in accordance with tasks in the TOR is inadequate, the Director General of the EPD shall be entitled to terminate the contract of the assignment. The consultant will be selected in accordance with the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers (July 2016).

If you possess the above qualifications, please submit following documents:
    Cover letter indicating why she/he considers her/himself suitable for the position,
    Detailed CV highlighting relevant skills/experience,
    Copy of diplomas or certificates and,
    2 reference letters from previous last two employers no later than 10:00, September 13, 2018.

The submitted documents will not be returned to the applicants. Please be noted 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 Stability Project
Room #204, Negdsen undestnii 8/2, 4th khoroo, Chingeltei District, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia; Tel: 70120582

70120582