Provision of economic advisory services to the Ministry of Finance & Planning, South Sudan has been closed on 14 Dec 2020. It no longer accepts any bids. For further information, you can contact the
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Location: South Sudan
Not available
Government
Finance & Insurance
Closed
03 Dec 2020
14 Dec 2020
Not available
Procurement Unit
Project Title: Governance and Economic Management Support (GEMS) Project
A. Provision of economic advisory services to the Ministry of Finance & Planning
B. Background Information and Rationale, Project Description
After several years of conflict, the government of South Sudan is currently implementing a peace agreement labelled the R-ARCSS. The objective of the RARCSS is to ensure an end to conflict and enable sustainable peace for the people of South Sudan. Despite initial delays, implementation of the RARCSS received much needed impetus with formation of the RTGONU in February 2020. The RTGONU was to ensure that specific provisions of the RARCSS are implemented.
Chapter IV of the RARCSS (resource, economic and financial management) is of critical importance for successful implementation of the Agreement. The Ministry of Finance & Planning is a key institution responsible for coordinating implementation of Chapter IV of the RARCSS. Chapter IV stipulates (Articles 4.3.1.1 – 4.3.1.8) that the Ministry of Finance and Planning shall:
The COVID 19 pandemic has negatively impacted the economy of South Sudan and the government’s ability to implement the RARCSS. With oil accounting for over 95 percent of exports, the sharp decline in global demand and prices of crude oil has severely affected government revenues. The FY 2019/2020 budget experienced a shortfall of approximately 60 percent in oil revenue targets. Similarly, non-oil revenue mobilization experienced significant shortfalls due to trade restrictions imposed to address the COVID 19 pandemic, including border closures, curfews and restriction in movements. The economy has weakened further in FY 2020/2021. GDP growth for FY 2020/2021 is projected to be negative 3.6 percent and government revenues are expected to decline by more than 30 percent relative to FY 2019/2020[1]. Macroeconomic instability characterized by high fiscal deficits (e.g. there is a huge financing gap of 8.2 percent of GDP in the FY2019/2020 budget), triple-digit inflation (170 percent as it stood in October 2019), current account deficit of 6.4 percent of GDP, soaring exchange rate premium (85.2 percent in April 2020, i.e. difference between the official and parallel market rates, is widening), etc.;
The weakened economy, balance of payment problems and other macroeconomic challenges occasioned by the COVID 19 pandemic is, further complicating the crises of governance and leadership that is already facing South Sudan (Deng et al, 2014). The delays in the formation of the RTGoNU, including appointment of State Governors & 3 Administrative Areas as well as Commissioners of 79 Counties due to political wrangling undermined the capacity to respond swiftly to the COVID 19 pandemic.
Notably, policymakers took containment measures, with implications on the broader economy. The MoFP is called upon to formulate a realistic response program, which is anchored on the three pillars of consolidating peace, combating COVID-19 pandemic, and stabilizing the economy.
The MoFP requested and UNDP has committed funds through the Governance & Economic Management Support (GEMS) project for international firm to assist the Ministry to perform the following:
C. Objective
To provide technical backstopping (policy advice and policy engagement) to the Ministry of Finance & Planning to engage key stakeholders (IFIs) in developing strategies for three transitions:
A.Consolidating Peace
Little else is requisite to carry a state to the highest degree of opulence from the lowest barbarism but peace, easy taxes, and tolerable administration of justice: all the rest being brought about by the natural course of things
a)Within nine (9) months of the signing of this Agreement, review and implement the Strategic Economic Development Roadmap (national development plan) to accelerate progress in achieving a sustainable and resilient national economy in collaboration and coordination with an inter-ministerial departments and, where appropriate, with development partners;
b)Ensure that all public financial and budgetary commitments entered into by the RTGoNU are transparent, competitive and in accordance with the laws of the country and internationally accepted norms and practices for the management of public finances;
c)Ensure sustainability of public finances across all levels of Government through rigorous adherence to national laws and international standards (including PFMA Act, 2011);
d)Ensure that the National Budget and the budget at each level of Government addresses national priorities, and the realities on the ground without negatively affecting the macroeconomic stability;
e)Within nine (9) months of the Transition, review the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) programme in accordance with this Agreement;
f)Increase partnership, coordination and mutual accountability with development and humanitarian partners to ensure policies, strategies, programmes and projects, and action plans are developed through participatory and transparent mutual consent and accountability;
g)Monitor and evaluate issues of importance, including review of the New Deal Compact in coordination with development and humanitarian partners; and
h)Ensure that development partners and recipients of any development assistance provide timely and comprehensive data on aid flows to the States, sectors and institutions of South Sudan.
B.Combating COVID-19 pandemic
The coronavirus has revealed that the healthcare sector in South Sudan is underfunded(only 1.1 percent of FY2019/2020 budgetisallocatedtothiscritical sector), understaffed, and under equipped. South Sudan will have to build a strong health sector in order to respond effectively and efficiently to future disease outbreaks. The Government is thinking of reactivating the primary healthcare system that was established by the High Executive Council (HEC), which was the government of southern Sudan after the Addis Ababa Agreement of 1972. This idea of Community Health Centers (CHCs) will be revisited, at the Boma levels as critical elements of a Primary Healthcare Unit (PHU) at the Payam levels to be served by rural hospitals to provide secondary healthcare at the Countylevels.
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines community health as: “…environmental, social, and economic resources to sustain emotional and physical wellbeing among people in ways that advance their aspirations and satisfy their needs in their unique environment. This definition would guide in the design of a post-COVID-19 healthcare system, which is guided by the theme of protecting lives. But, the cost of containment, prevention, and mitigation of the impact of the pandemic will have to be carried out as soon as it is feasible. The cost of protecting lives will focus on healthcare spending, e.g. on acquisition of emergency medical supplies and hospital equipment, including test kits, PPEs for staff, laboratory equipment, ICU beds, and ventilators.
C.Stabilizing the Economy
The point of departure for stabilizing the economy in the light COVID-19 is to protect livelihoods and the future. Calculating the cost of protecting livelihoods starts with containment measures (i.e. crisis-response measures). As the number cases of the COVID-19 increases, preventive measures in the form of confinement and other physical/social-distancing measures will mostly affect South Sudanese in the followingcategories:
D. Assignment: Scope of services
The UNDP GEMS project aims to contribute towards setting South Sudan on a path to sustainable peace, development and improved wellbeing for citizens through:
The project focus is at the national level and compliments ongoing capacity building initiatives implemented at the subnational level within the Partnership for Recovery and Resilience framework with support from various development partners.
The firm are required to engage with relevant stakeholders including government institutions, development partners, international financial institutions, private sector and civil society to support the MoFP to formulate a strategy on consolidating peace, combating COVID-19 pandemic, and stabilizing the economy within the overall framework of the NDS. Robust technical backstopping, including policy advisory services to the MoFP will form a key component of the engagement.
The firm will be accountable to the Undersecretary of Planning (MoFP) and will maintain an ongoing relationship with UNDP to undertake quarterly review of the contract activities. Based on the expectations, the UNDP is recruiting five consultants in below areas of expertise:
The firm will provide the overall coordination of the work of the VEST team. The Ministry will require a minimum five (5) days to maximum ten (10) working days per month for a period of 12 months. The number of days for each month will be confirmed He will specifically undertake the following tasks:
Macroeconomic framework: (One consultant)
The consultant will lead the Virtual Economic & Social Transformation (VEST) support in the design of macroeconomic framework for South Sudan. The Ministry will require minimum five (5) days to maximum ten (10) days per month for a period of 12 months. He will specifically perform the following:
Implementation of the PFM (One consultant)
The firm will take the lead in the design and implementation of the Public Financial Management (PFM). The Ministry will require minimum five (5) days to maximum ten (10) days per month for a period of 12 months. Specifically, the consultant will do the following:
Institutional reforms and strengthening (One consultant)
The firm will take the lead in supporting the MoFP to undertake institutional reforms and strengthening of associated capacities to implement the NDS. The Ministry will require minimum five (5) days to maximum ten (10) days per month for a period of 12 months. He will specifically undertake the following tasks:
Monetary policy and institutional strengthening (One consultant)
The firm will support the team in the area of monetary policy and institutional strengthening of BoSS as stipulated in R-ARCSS (Article 4.2.1.1). The Ministry will require minimum five (5) days to maximum ten (10) days per month for a period of 12 months. He will specifically undertake the following tasks:
F. Expected Results:
Duration:
The contract is planned to be awarded in December 2020 and for a 12 months period. A maximum of 10 days per month shall be required for the consultancy. It is expected that each expert will be required to work an average of 5 days per month.
72 hours issuance Notice to Proceed will be given and will provide the number of days required for each expert in consultation with the Government of South Sudan. It is expected that the required number of days for each expert for each month will be provided on a monthly basis. UNDP will pay based on the agreed number of days provided to the consultancy.
Duty Station
The consultancy is virtual. However, UNDP/GEMS may request for in country work support, related cost including travel (round trip economic class airfares to and from duty station), in-country transportation and living allowances. Any other travel related costs will be borne by the firm.
F. Qualification of the Organization
The organization should have the status of a legally registered entity:
- The organization should have the status of a legal entity, with at least 5 years of proven experience in economic policy development, development management, monetary and fiscal policy formulation and implementation, national planning and advisory services with major international financial institutions;
- Organization profile/portfolio with description of proven records and experience in the area of required specific expertise;
- Experience in assistance to the state institutions,
Key Personnel Qualifications:
Payment Mode
The firm will be paid upon acceptance and approval of the deliverables, per the timescale presented in the table below:
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