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[1].

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 job 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, economic structural changes are needed to Mongolia.

The government needs to improve public sector efficiency and reduce budget burden. Mongolian government wage bill accounts for 20 percent of the budget and the 16 percent of total employees work in public sector, causing the budget to be vulnerable to increase in wage bill. Increasing wage bill consistently with inflation requires budget expenditure to rise significantly. The reason of high wage bill is that the government plays noticeable role in public service. In addition, the government provides number of subsidies to private sector, including energy, agriculture and transportation subsidy. The efficiency and effectiveness of these subsidies are arguable among the public.

Due to this issue, the government is needed to undertake economic structural changes in ways of public interventions. The structural changes might be privatization and public-private partnership in infrastructure, public service and social service.

Also, since the number of activities is planned for Economic Policy Department within Component A1 for Improving macroeconomic policy tools and enhancing research capacity, the coordinating consultants is needed to undertake the activities on schedule.   

The MOF is seeking to hire a National consultant on economic structural changes and enhancing inclusive growth as well sub-component coordination.

OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The main objective of this assignment is to strengthen the MOFs capacity to undertake economic structural changes and assist the Economic Policy Department under sub-component# A1 in the implementation of the SFFS Project’s activities in an efficient and timely manner.

SCOPE OF THE WORK

Following assignments will be conducted by the national consultant, but not limited to:

Technical consultant tasks

1. Conduct evaluation of government interventions in economy;
2. Determine ineffective and inefficient government interventions in economy;
3. Make policy recommendations on correcting market failure of government interventions;
4. Evaluate effectiveness and efficiency of public social service;
5. Proposal restructuring in public social service in order to increase effectiveness and efficiency of public social service;
6. Suggest proposed designs of public-private-partnership on privatization and public-private partnership in infrastructure, public service and social service;
7. Undertake such other tasks as reasonably requested and/or assigned by the Director General of Economic Policy Department (EPD).

Coordination Related Tasks

1. The Coordinating Consultant shall be a liaison between the PIU and the EPD and will act to relay information between the parties efficiently and effectively in order to achieve synergy and strong relations;
2. The Coordinating Consultant will coordinate the work to be performed of all consultants hired under the sub-components A.1. The consultant will perform these tasks under the guidance of the relevant beneficiary department and in close coordination with the PIU;
3. Provide translation and interpretation support as necessary and as requested;
4. Assist the Economic Policy Department to initiate and implement activities planned under the procurement plan under Sub-Component# A1 with a clearly defined timeframe and outcomes;
5. Prepare draft Terms of Reference according to the approved procurement plan that falls in line with the Sub-Components objectives. As part of this task the consultant will:
   • Ensure that draft TORs are reviewed by the EPD and/ or the PIU  before finalizing them and to facilitate the procurement process;
   • Finalize the Terms of Reference taking into consideration inputs, comments and suggestions  provided by the EPD, PIU and the World Bank task team;
6. Prepare Technical Specifications for procurement of various goods, if any, that fall under the subcomponent as per the procurement plan. The Technical Specifications are subject to revision  and comments to be provided by the PIU, which need to be properly addressed into a revised version of the Technical Specifications;

• Assist the PIU in facilitating various meetings or committees relevant to the EPD and Sub-Component#A1;
• The activities to be coordinated  may include, meetings of the  Evaluation Committee and Steering Committee among others, where the consultant will be in charge of taking note of the the discussions help  and will  prepare minutes of of such meetings.

1. The Coordinating  Consultant will prepare request forms of disbursement, implementation action plans and develop detailed training plans for fulfilling Sub-Component objectives and prepare training requests in accordance with the standard forms;
2. The Coordinating Consultant will assist the PIU in developing proposals  for international, local training and capacity building events  to be carried-out under the Sub-Component;
3. The Coordinating consultant will support and provide the FM specialist a fully translated description of the training courses and results of training undergone overseas and locally;
4. Assist the PIU in preparing, on a timely manner,  monthly, semi-annually ,annually reports as well as any other  necessary information that might be requested  by the M&E specialist at the PIU;

CONSULTANT’S QUALIFICATIONS/ SELECTION CRITERIA

1. Education: A suitable candidate should have at least master’s degree in relevant field of economics, development economics and public policy;
2. Experience: Incumbent should have at least 8 years relevant experience including strong economic analytical, public policy making and  project coordination skills;
3. Language skills: fluent written and spoken skills in English and written and spoken skills in Mongolian;
4. Other skills:
5. Ethical approaches to research and practice;
6. Strong analytical and research capabilities and problem-solving skills;
7. Demonstrated ability to use relevant methods and instruments to conduct economic analysis;
8. Ability to interact effectively with officials and staff of MOF;
9. Research skill including the retrieval of information from a variety of sources;
10. Time management skill;
11. Skilled in working effectively with computer software (STATA and MS Excel) for the analysis of data;

SUPERVISION AND REPORTING

1. The consultant will work on a day-to-day basis with staff of the Economic Policy Department of the MOF under the direct supervision of the Director General of the EPD. The Director General or an official assigned by the Director General will meet regularly with the consultant to review progress with the work program and to resolve any outstanding issues.
2. Prepare a detailed work plan incorporating comments of the Director General of the EPD and suggestions upon the contract is signed by both parties. The work plan shall be accepted by the Director General of the EPD including specific tasks, schedule, and other details.
3. The Consultant must prepare and submit monthly, quarterly and annual summary reports detailing achievements and when appropriate also include details of the impediments in the execution of the entire assignment as requested and on time.
4. The client shall provide its comments on reports and other project related documents within 5 days acceptance of these documents from the consultant.
5. All information provided to the consultant will be regarded as confidential and information will not be shared with any outside individuals or organizations.
6. All reports shall be prepared in both English and Mongolian, in electronic and hard format, which shall be submitted to the EPD and the PIU (SFFSP).

CONTRACT DURATION  

The assignment is expected to commence in March 2019. 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).

INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS

The relevant counter specialist of MEPD shall provide necessary data and information to the consultant for performing the assignment. The MOF will provide office space with furniture, internet access, computer and printers.

If you possess the above qualifications, please submit following documents:
    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 17:00, March 21, 2019.

The submitted documents will not be returned to the applicants. Please note 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