Republic of the Union of Myanmar

Ministry of Planning and Finance

Modernization of Public Finance Management Project (MPFMp)

Request for Expressions of Interest for

Individual Consultants – National Public Finance Management & Budget Advisor for Budget Department

Country:                                                Republic of the Union of Myanmar

Name of the Project:          Modernization of Public Finance Management Project (MPFMp)

Consulting Services:          National Public Finance Management & Budget Advisor for Budget Department (Individual Consultant)

Duty Station:                      Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar  

Project ID No.:                    P144952                                               

Credit/Grant No.:                 Credit No 54020-MM, Grant No TF017910                 

REOI No.:                             MPFMp-B1-C501

Procurement Plan Ref.:      C501

Advertising Date:                 02 July 2019                                        

Closing Date:                        22 July 2019

The Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar has received financing in the amount of US$ 30 million equivalent from the World Bank, and US$25 million grant from the UK and Australian governments toward the cost of the Modernization of Public Finance Management Project, and it intends to apply part of the proceeds to payments for goods and consulting services to be procured under this project. 

The project has five components:

• Improving revenue mobilization through bringing more revenues from natural resources on budget and strengthening tax administration
• Responsive Planning and Budget Preparations
• Supporting Effective Budget Execution and Financial Reporting
• Fostering External Oversight and Accountability
• Establishing a Sustainable Institutional Platform and Skills-base for PFM

For a more detailed understanding of the scope of the Project and its Governance and organizational structure, kindly consult the project appraisal document (PAD) (see link) http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2014/04/16/000442464_20140416102035/Rendered/PDF/PAD9250P1449520C0disclosed040140140.pdf

• Component B: Responsive Planning and Budget Preparations

This component is aimed at supporting the new mandates of the budget and planning departments and the evolving decentralization process in Myanmar. In this regard the project will support development of budgetary and planning capacities that link policies with budget appropriations within a simple medium-term perspective that considers all revenue sources (tax, revenues from natural resources, dividends from state economic enterprises, and development assistance). Such a budgeting and planning system would support the decentralization process which is currently underway and provide timely guidance to states and regions to develop responsive bottom-up plans within a realistic availabilities informed framework. This will involve making changes to current planning and budget preparation processes in order to facilitate prioritization and will be done through (i) working with both

the Planning Department and Budget Department to prepare a realistic medium-term fiscal framework (with macroeconomic fundamentals, and anchored within sustainable debt management strategy); (ii)issuance of expenditure ceilings to spending agencies at the Union, state, and regional levels consistent with their assigned functional expenditure assignments; and (iii) reviewing financial rules and regulations, guidance and forms provided by the planning department to certain priority sectors at the national and sub-national level on how to prepare responsive plans that guide budgetary allocations. In this regard the project will provide computing equipment and connectivity, software, training, as well as for the technical assistance, capacity building, and business process reengineering needed to the Budget Department and the Planning Departments to build the capacities and systems to achieve these objectives.

• Objective of Services

The Budget Department of the Ministry of Planning and Finance is now seeking to recruit a national Advisor to provide advice and guidance, and build capacity in the area of Budget Reform, Macroeconomic Management, PFM Act formulation, and related areas.

• The Scope of the consulting assignment

The scope of this assignment covers:

• Advising on PFM Academy implementation
• Advising on Public Finance Management issues
• Advising on Macroeconomic and Fiscal Management issues
• Advising on Macroeconomic Management Sector Coordination Groups
• Advising on formulating MTFF
• Advising on Budget Reforms
• Advising on Budget Formulation for the Union
• Advising on Supplementary Appropriation Affairs
• Advising on non-Budget and Other financial accounts of the Union
• Supporting for the formulation of the PFM Act
• Attend the meetings/hearings on the Ministries budget implementation, and contribute to the discussions and provide advice; and similarly, for other meetings as required
• Review, conduct discussions, and build capacity in: budget documents and budget reports to Pyidaungsu Hluttaw.
• Review and explain: changes in Financial Rules and Regulations, recommendations on policy, and suggestions of international organizations
• Plan and conduct training sessions on a monthly basis for the staff
• Supporting the States and Regions offices (with onsite visits) for knowledge sharing and discussion about Public Financial Management and Budget Preparation.

• The consultant is required to prepare and submit quarterly analytical reports on the Finance affairs of the Union to the Budget Department-covering Budget Reforms, Macroeconomic Management, Budget Formulation, Public finance management and formulation of the PFM Act
• The consultant is required to prepare and submit special reports on Budget Reforms, Macroeconomic Management, Budget formulation and Public Finance management issues-as requested by the Budget Department
• Submit the Discussion papers on: Budget documents, National Planning and Budget Reports, Audit Reports to Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, and Macroeconomic Management
• Submit recommendations on policy and reform suggestions of international organizations and incorporate the same in other policy issues
• Supporting for the formulation of the PFM Act
• Supporting the electronic submission of budget requests form line departments, as part of the scope “Advising on budget formulation for the Union”,
• Review of Results indicators for the Budget department as part of “Advising on PFM affairs”,
• Specific areas of trainings on Budget Formulations and Execution.
• A monthly progress report covering the activities undertaken related to the assignment

F.            QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

The Consultant should have the following minimum qualifications and work experience requirements:

• A Master’s degree or Post Graduate Diploma in Public Finance/Public Policy/Economics from a recognized university.
• At least 20 (twenty) years of experience working in one or more of the following areas of Public Finance Management at a middle and senior management level - Budget planning and formulation, Planning and Public Investment Management, Treasury operations and Cash Management, Accounting and Financial Reporting, Internal Audit and Oversight and Macroeconomics and Fiscal Management, Fiscal Policy Formulation;
• Experience in managing Public Finance Management reform with demonstrated results is desirable.
• Experience and familiarity with the institutions and key stakeholders in the Public Finance Management Sector in Myanmar is desirable.
• Experience in capacity building and conducting training sessions in various areas of PFM as described above required.
• Excellent communication skills (verbal and written) in Myanmar and English.
• Ability to draft clear and concise financial reports and guidelines.

G.            REPORTING

The Consultant will report and be accountable to the Director General of the Budget Department and/or designated supervisor on the quality and timeliness of the deliverable/output specified in previous paragraph.

H.            DURATION OF ASSIGNMENT

The assignment is for an estimated duration of 3 months period (full time input). The location of the assignment is in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar.

The Ministry of Planning and Finance now invites expressions of interest from qualified and experienced individual consultants to undertake the abovementioned services. A consultant will be selected in accordance with the procedures set out in section V of the World Bank’s Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants by World Bank Borrowers (January 2011, revised in July 2014).

Expressions of interest must be submitted in duplicate copies to the postal address below or sent to the email addresses no later than 22 July, 2019 (before 16:00 hours).  Only short-listed candidates will be notified on next follow-on steps.

Please mention the following in the subject line of the email:

Modernization of Public Financial Management Project

Reference: MPFMp-B1-C501

To the Attention of:

Daw Thida Tun, Director General, Budget Department, Office No 26, Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar

Email ids: [email protected]

AND copy to:

Email ids: [email protected], [email protected] and [email protected]