Investing in Early Years (IEYP)
The Investing In Early Years Project (Ieyp)
1. Background
In view of efforts to address challenges related to early child development and the effects of poor nutrition in the country, the Government of Malawi is implementing a 5 year project called Investing in Early Years (IEYP) with financial support from the World Bank and the Global Financing Facility (GFF).
The IEYP intends to expand the scope, scale, coverage and quality of on-going nutrition interventions, incorporate early stimulation interventions, and improve coverage and quality of early learning interventions within the 13 districts that are being supported by the World Bank and other donors. The Project will also strengthen health and nutrition activities within CBCCs and Primary Health Centers (PHCs).
2. Project Development Objective (PDO)
The Project Development Objective (PDO) is to improve coverage and utilization of early child development services with focus on nutrition, stimulation and early learning from conception to 59 months in selected districts of Malawi.
The project has three components, namely, (a) Community-based nutrition and early stimulation interventions, (b) Center-based early learning, nutrition, and health interventions, and, (c) Multi-sectoral coordination, capacity and systems strengthening.
In order to facilitate effective implementation of the project, Malawi Government through the Ministries of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare; Local Government and Rural
Development and Health (Department of Nutrition HIV and AIDS) intend to apply part of the project proceeds for the provision of consulting services for the following vacant position:
A. Assistant Financial Management Specialist (1 position, Tenable in Lilongwe)
The successful candidates will be based in Lilongwe at Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare, Building, Headquarters, Capital Hill, Investing in Early Years Project (IEYP).
Working in close consultation and collaboration with the Financial Management Specialist, the Assistant Financial Management Specialist will be responsible for supporting the Financial Management Specialist in maintaining financial records, providing timely financial information to the Project Facilitation Team Coordinator and to ensure compliance with GoM Financial Rules and the Bank’s fiduciary requirements as referred to in the Project Agreement.
The Assistant Financial Management Specialist (AFMS) will have the following responsibilities:
Specific Tasks and Responsibilities
a. Prepare project’s annual cash plan on the basis of the work plan and related procurement plan;
b. Prepare monthly monitoring reports and comparing actual expenditure against budget for submission to the Financial Management Specialist;
c. Process expenditure/payment in accordance with the Bank’s Disbursement Guidelines/Preparing and processing withdrawal applications in accordance with the Bank’s Disbursement Guidelines.
d. Apply pre-audit checks on all payments before payment from designated accounts including budget availability, sanction of competent authority and compliance with applicable financial rules and regulations.
e. Record all transactions timely and accurately in the books of accounts in the local currency, and ensure that no expenditure remains unaccounted for.
f. Prepare monthly bank reconciliation statements of designated accounts in local currency and United States Dollars (USD).
g. Process monthly payroll of project employees. Ensure proper payroll controls are applied and the payments are made directly in the bank accounts, where applicable.
h. Maintain the fixed assets records for the project, identify the location and the user of each asset and arrange for the annual and periodical inventory of the assets and updating of the records.
i. Prepare quarterly Interim Unaudited Financial Statements (specified in the Legal Agreement) and submit to the Project Coordinator and the Bank in time for review and approval.
j. Make arrangements for timely initiation and completion of audits of the project and ensure that the report produced is in compliance with the audit requirements of the Bank.
k. Attend entry and exit meetings with external auditors, facilitate timely completion of audits by arranging timely submission of annual financial statements in the appropriate format, supply information and documents in response to queries, initiate actions for holding tripartite meetings and coordinate with various units in meeting audit objectives.
l. Prepare working papers on audit observations raised by external auditors and arrange departmental accounts meetings to settle the audit observations.
m. Prepare timely formal response to auditor’s findings.
Reporting Obligations
The Assistant Financial Management Specialist (AFMS) will be reporting to the Financial Management Specialist (FMS).
Qualifications and Experience
The Assistant Financial Management Specialist shall have:
a. A Bachelor‘s Degree in accounting from a nationally/internationally recognized institution, ICAM and ACCA qualification will be an asset.
b. At least six (6) years’ experience after acquiring the stipulated qualification in financial management, or accounting. Prior experience with Bank and/or donor funded and public sector projects will be an advantage.
c. Excellent writing and communication skills.
d. Proficiency in using accounting software and computer business desktop applications (MS Word, Excel). Experience with Sage 50 (Peachtree) accounting software will be an asset.
Contract Duration
The Assistant Financial Management Specialist (FMS) shall be recruited for a period of approximately two (2) years, but renewable annually subject to satisfactory performance appraisals at the end of each year.
The detailed Terms of Reference (ToRs) for the assignments are attached above in this email.
The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section III, paragraphs, 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” July 2016 Revised November 2017 and August 2018 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.
The Consultants will be selected in accordance with the Individual Consultant (INDV) selection method set out in the Procurement Regulations.
Further information can be obtained at the address 3 (a) below during office hours [from 08.00 to 12.00; 13.00 to 16.30 hours].
Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address 3 (b) below (in person, or by mail, or by e-mail) by Tuesday 8th November, 2022 at 16:30 Hours. Please indicate the position being applied for on the envelope or email subject line.
3. Addresses referred to above are:
a) For information and clarifications:
Internal Procurement and Disposal Committee Secretary
Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare
Procurement and Disposal Unit, Fourth Floor, Room Number 199
P/Bag 330
Capital Hill Circle
LILONGWE 3.
Email address: dalirenikachinjika@gmail.com cc. andrewngwendu@gmail.com,muhiwapeter@yahoo.com
b) The Expression of Interests should be addressed to:
Att.: The Chairperson
Internal Procurement and Disposal Committee
Ministry of Gender, Community Developments and Social Welfare
Tender Box IEYP, Third Floor, Landing near Conference Room Entrance
or
Procurement and Disposal Unit, Fourth Floor, Room Number 199
P/Bag 330
Capital Hill Circle,
LILONGWE 3.
Email address: dalirenikachinjika@gmail.com
cc. andrewngwendu@gmail.com, muhiwapeter@yahoo.com