Marshall Islands: Development of Program Management Procedures for the World Bank Funded Projects in the Marshall Islands:2022/283
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Please find Pacific Vacancies Announcement No. 2022/283 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Development of Program Management Procedures for the World Bank Funded Projects in the Marshall Islands
REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (INDIVIDUAL CONSULTING SERVICES)
Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) Ministry of Finance - World Bank Projects Portfolio Grant No.: IDA-D4520
Assignment Title: Development of Program Management Procedures for the World Bank Funded Projects in the Marshall Islands Reference No.: MH-DIDA-294227-CS-INDV
The Government of the Republic of Marshall Islands has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of various development projects and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.
The consulting services (“the Services”) involves mainly the preparation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) Manual that will prescribe the specific procedures to be followed in the implementation of the projects, primarily by the Central Implementation Unit (CIU), which is tasked to provide technical and advisory support to all projects more particularly in the cross-cutting areas (financial management, procurement, environmental and social safeguards and monitoring & evaluation) and the Project Implementation Units (PIUs), which is responsible for overall project management, coordination, planning, implementation, and results monitoring of the various projects.
This consulting assignment has an expected contract duration of 6 months with an estimated total input of 120 working days over this period. It is expected that the inputs will be provided remotely with short-term visit/s to Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands, if current travel ban is lifted.
The detailed scope of services is indicated in the Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment, herewith attached.
The Division of International Development Assistance (DIDA) of the Ministry of Finance now invites eligible individuals (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services.
Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services (attach curriculum vitae with description of experience in similar assignments, similar conditions, etc. including a Cover Letter of no more than four (4) pages addressing individually the mandatory and desirable experience and qualification requirements below). Firms’ staff may express interest through the employing firm for the assignment and, under such situation, only the experience and qualifications of individuals shall be considered in the selection process. The criteria for selecting the Consultant are: Mandatory:- At least a Master’s degree in Project Management, Engineering or other relevant discipline from a recognized university; - At least 10 years of management level experience in project/program management; - At least 2 years work experience as Team Leader or Project Manager in projects funded by multilateral funding agencies such as the World Bank or ADB; - Excellent communication skills, including good oral and written English, report writing and presentation skills to a variety of stakeholders. Desirable:- PMP certified (Project Management Institute) or equivalent certification from recognized body/organization - Demonstrated experience in establishing or managing a Project Management Unit (PMU) or Project Implementation Unit (PIU) or Central Implementation Unit (CIU) of projects funded by multilateral funding agencies such as the World Bank or ADB; - Demonstrated ability to work in a challenging environment e.g. Small Island Developing States (SIDS) countries, preferably in the Pacific.
The attention of interested Consultants (including firms) is drawn to paragraph 3.14, 3.16 and 3.17 of the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers, dated July 2016, revised November 2017 and August 2018 (“the Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.
Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours; 0900 to 1700 hours local time.
Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by e-mail) by July 20, 2022.
Jerry Nathan Program Manager Central Implementation Unit jerrynathan09@... copy to: filipesefeti@... and rillorolito@...
The Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (GoRMI)
Terms of Reference: Individual Consultant
I. BACKGROUND The Government of the Republic of Marshall Islands (GoRMI) has partnered with the World Bank (WB) to implement development projects within the RMI. The current and pipeline projects portfolio is approximately US$200 million. There are currently ten (10) ongoing projects under the portfolio: a) Sustainable Energy Development Project (SEDP), b) Pacific Resilience Program Phase II (PREP Phase II), c) Pacific Islands Regional Oceanscape Program (PROP), d) Budget Execution and Financial Reporting Project (BEFR), e) Maritime Investment Project (MIMIP), f) Multi-Sectoral Early Childhood Development Project, g) Digital RMI Project, h) COVID 19 Emergency Response Project, i) Education and Skills Strengthening Project, and j) Urban Resilience Project. The World Bank portfolio in RMI has grown quickly and is anticipated to expand even further over the next few years. To support the preparation and implementation of WB financed projects the GoRMI has established a Central Implementation Unit (CIU) located within the Division of International Development Assistance (DIDA) of the Ministry of Finance, Banking and Postal Services (MoFBPS). The CIU is tasked to provide technical and advisory support to all projects with regards to implementation and management of the projects, more particularly in the cross-cutting areas of financial management, procurement, environmental and social safeguards and monitoring & evaluation. The CIU primarily coordinates with a Project Implementation Unit (PIU) established for each individual project. The PIU is responsible for overall project management, coordination, planning, implementation, results monitoring, and communicating with the Government, Implementing Agencies, relevant stakeholders and World Bank on Program implementation. The Government has engaged a Program Manager to lead the CIU. The Program Manager reports to the Assistant Secretary, DIDA within the MoFBPS and oversees the cross-cutting support provided by the CIU to the PIUs. The Program Manager is responsible for coordinating the team of specialists housed in the CIU, working collaboratively with the Project Implementation Units (PIU) - which includes Project Managers (PM) and other technical personnel, and the Implementing Agencies (IAs). In order to ensure effective coordination between the CIU and the PIU and the other stakeholders including the World Bank, it is deemed necessary that Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) Manual must be developed in order to clearly define the specific roles, procedures and rules which are to be followed by Executing Agencies (EA), Implementing Agencies (IAs), Project Implementing Unit (PIUs) and the CIU. The manual is to promote consistency and transparency in the management and implementation of project activities, particularly in the areas of coordination, procurement, disbursement, financial management, monitoring and evaluation and will contribute to a more effective implementation of the projects. The Ministry of Finance of the Republic of the Marshall Islands now seeks a short-term consultant to prepare the above-mentioned Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) Manual and provide capacity building / training of the key personnel involved in project implementation.
II. SCOPE OF SERVICES The main task of the assignment is to prepare the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) Manual that will prescribe the specific procedures to be followed primarily by the CIU and the PIUs in the implementation of the projects, in close collaboration with the CIU Program Manager and the individual Project Managers. The specific tasks to be undertaken are as follows: a) Provide an inception report outlining the objectives of the assignment, the specific activities to be undertaken with clear timelines for the completion of the required deliverables; b) Obtain all available information / documents pertaining to the implementation of the World Bank funded projects and undertake a review of these information / documents in close consultations with the CIU Program Manager and the individual Project Managers, in order to have a clear understanding of the existing program and project Management procedures being used by the CIU and the PIUs; c) In close coordination with the Program Manager, undertake an audit of the existing CIU / PIU procedures and identify and address any systemic bottlenecks within the portfolio and recommend process improvements to the urgent issues identified, if any. d) Based on the findings of the audit as per item (c) above, develop a Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) Manual defining the standard operating procedures and internal processes and guidelines for the operations of the CIU and the individual PIUs, which may include: defining roles, responsibilities and accountabilities for the CIU and the PIU and ensure these are understood by the CIU/PIUs/IAs and other relevant stakeholders. As part of the SOP Manual, the Consultant shall develop standard templates applicable for the following: - Project Operations Manual (POM) in order to ensure that the POMs are aligned with the SOP Manual; - Guidance notes for Finance Management, Procurement and Safeguards and all other necessary Operational Process Assets (OPAs) including establishment of service standards for each area of the CIU. These OPAs shall be created in close collaboration with CIU area leads (Fiduciary and Safeguards) and with inputs from the Project PIUs. It is expected that the procedures to be developed will be tailored to fit the specific requirements of RMI; not cut and paste of documents created for a Project Management Office elsewhere that does not fit the context and needs of RMI. e) Develop a Capacity Building Plan and deliver training to relevant local and international consultants of the CIU and the PIUs including other government personnel engaged in implementation of World Bank financed projects, in order to ensure that the SOPs will be clearly understood and will be properly implemented. At least three (3) training sessions will be provided, which can either be face-to-face or by video conferencing, depending on applicable travel restrictions at that time.
III. DELIVERABLES
The total assignment duration is expected to be around 6 months with total time input of 120 working days over this period. A total of two (2) missions to the Marshall Islands (Majuro), the 1st at commencement of the contract and the 2nd during the capacity building / training sessions is ideally required however, unless the existing travel ban due to the COVID pandemic is lifted, it is likely that this assignment will be undertaken remotely with local support provided by the CIU.
IV. INSTITUTIONAL AND ORGANIZATION ARRANGEMENTSThe consultant will be hired by the Ministry of Finance and will be accountable to the Assistant Secretary of its Division of International Development Assistance (DIDA). The Consultant shall coordinate its work primarily with the CIU Program Managers but will be required to also work with the individual Project Managers. V. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREDThe Consultant selection criteria are as follows: Mandatory:- At least a Master’s degree in Project Management, Engineering or other relevant discipline from a recognized university; - At least 10 years of management level experience in project/program management; - At least 2 years work experience as Team Leader or Project Manager in projects funded by multilateral funding agencies such as the World Bank or ADB; - Excellent communication skills, including good oral and written English, report writing and presentation skills to a variety of stakeholders. Desirable:- PMP certified (Project Management Institute) or equivalent certification from recognized body/organization - Demonstrated experience in establishing or managing a Project Management Unit (PMU) or Project Implementation Unit (PIU) or Central Implementation Unit (CIU) of projects funded by multilateral funding agencies such as the World Bank or ADB; - Demonstrated ability to work in a challenging environment e.g. Small Island Developing States (SIDS) countries, preferably in the Pacific.
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