Strategic Development Consulting (SDC) in the frameworks of the USAID’s Strengthening Resource Mobilization Activity is publishing a

Call for

selection of senior expert to provide technical assistance to selected 40 local self-government units for municipal budget planning

1. Project Background

North Macedonia aspires to be prosperous, self-reliant, and inclusive democratic society, whereas USAID Strengthening Resource Mobilization Activity (2021 – 2026) will assist Macedonia’s government institutions to raise and independently manage the necessary administrative, fiscal and policy changes foreseen in the Activity Plan of the Project. USAID Strengthening Resource Mobilization Activity will work on improving financial disciplines of local administration by strengthening capacity in budget planning, execution, and reporting.

The experts’ technical assistance will be based on the results from the conducted Municipal Scorecard results and identified gaps by the project team and will offer support to local self- government units (LSGUs) in both adhering to the existing budgeting legislation and utilizing practical planning and execution tools. The consultant will provide direct technical assistance (TA) support to the cohort of 40 LSGUs in order to improve planning and budget execution.

2. Objective and Scope of Engagement

In order to provide quality and expert assistance, the consultant must undertake the following steps and perform the following tasks, as listed below:

• Review the results from the Municipal Scorecard for the selected LSGUs and identified gaps as well as proposed interventions.
• Conduct regional workshops with representatives of all partner LSGUs regarding aspects of budget planning based on the Guideline for Budget Planning and Execution of LSGUs developed within the framework of the Project.
• Provide mentoring and on-the-job training to all 40 LSGUs upon request within the allocated LOE. This may include online advice, regional meetings and direct meetings with individual or group representatives of LSGUs as well as review of documents focused on issues relating to budget calendar, budget circular, citizens budget development, budget rules, procedures for controls of arrears, capital expenses budgeting etc.
• Provide support to the international expert for Conducting of Needs Assessment for Development and Implementation of Public Finance Management Curriculum. The support includes collecting and providing information on the current situation with the PFM curricula in the country available in Macedonian language (types of providers, number of existing courses/curricula, content and goals of the existing courses etc.) to share with the international expert and identifying, scheduling and accompanying the international expert to meetings with key stakeholders (training providers, ministries, local governments, donors, universities, other relevant actors). Also, support will be provided to the international expert in developing the final needs assessment document with recommendations.
• Provide regular monthly reports to Component Lead on progress of activities with each LSGU. The consultant should propose recommendations for modification of actions if necessary and timely inform on any bottlenecks. Also, consultant needs to coordinate with SRMA team members providing other types of TA in order to ensure a coordinated SRMA approach to each LSGU.

3. Deliverables

The Consultant will have an intermediate reporting obligation to SRMA Objective 3 Lead, and will provide regular monthly time-sheets and reports as basis for payment. More detailed deliverables will be specified in the contract.

The Consultant engagement will be assessed by fulfilling the following indicators:

• Number of new municipalities trained in budget planning, preparation, monitoring and execution per year,
• Number of LGUs receiving USG assistance with improved ratio of actual-to-planned budget expenditures.

4. Period of execution of activities

The engagement will be executed in the period of one year (May 2022 – May 2023) with an overall consultancy engagement of up to 40 days.

5. Criteria and qualifications

• Academic qualifications:
  • University degree in Economics. PhD would be considered an advantage.
• Professional experience:
  • At least ten (10) years of professional experience in the field public finances, budget process and issues concerning budget transparency and accountability on national and local level;
  • Extensive knowledge of overall municipal financial management experience.
• Language:
  • Excellent knowledge (oral and written) of Macedonian and English language.
• Other criteria
  • Proven ability to work with tight schedule and delivering the services within the given time frame;
  • Public servants are not eligible.
• Related previous experienced:
  • At least five (5) assignments as a consultant on international projects on the topic of municipal finances.

Intellectual property – the beneficiary of the engagement will own all rights and to any work created in connection with this agreement, including data, information, documents, government secrets or other proprietary rights in and related to the work. The consultant is not allowed to publish any part of the deliverables.

6. Application procedure

In order to be considered the interested applicant needs to submit the following documents:

• Cover letter,
• CV
• Comparable reference list with three similar assignments with contact details of 2 references,
• Proposed gross daily rate in USD inclusive of all costs.

The requested documents should be submitted on the following e-mail address: [најави се за да го видиш е-маилот] , no later than 23th May 2022 by 13:00 PM.

Incomplete applications will not be considered for evaluation.