Consultantancy firm to conduct Consultancy Services and Trainings Under sub-component 1.1: Strengthening Poverty Reducing Policy Based Budgeting at four Piloted States ( NK ,RN,RS,SIN)

Government of Sudan (GOS)

Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MoFEP)

Strengthening Sub-National Fiscal Policy Management Project (SSFPMP)

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES – FIRMS SELECTION)

Sudan

Strengthening Sub-National Fiscal Policy Management Project (SSNFPM)

Project ID No. P156750 / Grant No (SMPF) / TF 0A3296 /(SPF)/TF 0A4717

Assignment Title: Consultancy Firm to Conduct Consultancy Services and Training Under sub-component 1.1: Strengthening Poverty Reducing Policy Based Budgeting at four Piloted States ( NK ,RN,RS,SIN)

Reference No: CQS/13/SMPF/SPF/MOFEP/SSFPMP

The Government of Sudan has received funds from the World Bank acting as administrator of the Sudan Multi-Partner Fund and State Peace Building Fund in the amount of USD 4.999 million to the Sudan towards the cost of financing various activities for the Sudan Strengthening Sub-National Fiscal Policy Management Project .The implementing agency of the project intends to apply part of the proceeds for the payment for the services of a qualified and experienced Consultancy Firm to Conduct Consultancy Services and Training Under sub-component 1.1: Strengthening Poverty Reducing Policy Based Budgeting at four Piloted States ( NK ,RN,RS,SIN) as per this term of reference.

The Consultancy is basically part of the SSFPMP component 1.1 : Strengthening poverty-reducing policy-based budgeting

Objective of the assignment:

The objective of the assignment is to build the capacities of state-level government towards Strengthening the planning and analytical underpinning functions and to improve overall poverty-reducing policy-based budgeting systems for budget formulation; enhance poverty-reducing budget credibility through Providing technical and advisory support in planning and implementing the shift to the medium term budget framework, and assisting state-level Ministry of Finance to sensitize stakeholders to the change. The activities under this sub-component include consultancy services and training programs on :

• Strengthening budget framework and formulation to ensure stronger poverty-motivation in the budget (Workshop)

• Improving upstream strategic planning and budgeting, the Medium-term Expenditure Framework and revenue forecasting (Training)

• Training for Sector working groups in preparing sector report to Ensure that Resource allocation are in conformity with States government poverty-reducing policies and objectives. Expenditure programming should be based on states priorities and on effectiveness of public programs serving the poor.

• building the capacity of Ministry of Finance and budget units in line ministries and localities by helping line ministries and localities prepare expenditure plans, and training staff in program costing, and strengthening budget submissions (Training)

• Financial Macro Policies and their implications on States Budget (Training)

• Training on preparation of revenues need to the budget process to ensure a comprehensive budget. (Training)

• Training on strengthening budget framework and formulation. (Training)

Duties and responsibilities of the Training provider:

The Consulting Firm will perform the following duties and responsibilities in close cooperation with the SSFPMP PIU & relevant State beneficiaries:

• Develop an inception report to cover their detailed proposed work plan and budget, to include areas of training, no of targeted participants per each state, experts and resource persons assigned to deliver the training programs and time frame for each training in close coordination with PIU and states coordinators.

• Ensure the day to day management of the trainings, according to the WP and TOR for each activity.

• Ensure that the training programmes were implemented in an orderly, efficient and timely manner

• Maintain adequate records of attendance of trainees.

• Work closely with the SSFPMP coordinators at state level for better execution of training activities. Prepare a final Programme, agenda, and List of Participants in close cooperation with the SSFPMP Coordinators and heads of states coordination committees. Each expert in his different disciplines should conduct training through power point presentations addressing specific issues.

• The consultants should present a final report covering the evaluation, conclusions and recommendations of each workshop in the agreed format.

Training Contents:

• The group of experts has to conduct the following complex, multi-disciplinary tasks:

• Analyze states government efforts to reduce poverty thorough allocating funds in its annual budget to pro-poor sectors.( 2016-2017-2018) and projection of fiscal year 2019,2020 The analysis will be based on the pro-poor expenditures definition developed in the IPRSP Status Report.

• Tracking of Actual and budgeted pro-poor expenditures at state levels covering the period 2016-2018.

• Strengthen of budget framework and formulation process at the state level.

• Focusing on the revenue needs to the budget process, and the assurance of comprehensive program and performance budget.

• Identifying Challenges facing state government effort to achieve its pro-poor expenditures targets and related outcomes will be examined.

• The impact of fiscal decentralization on poverty based budgeting and the commitment of local governments to allocating budgets to activities that directly touch the needs of the poor.

• Recommend establishment of Gate-keeper roundtables to present the ‘business case’ for pro-poor expenditures to decision-makers .

• Awareness raising , priority setting exercise to reflect the importance of tracking pro-poor expenditure at state- locality level focusing in needed areas \ groups.

• Mentorship and technical training to increase the capacity of the States Ministries of Finance to understand and analyze pro-poor expenditures, toward maximizing uptake and ‘ownership’ of tracking poverty reduction efforts among ministry staff.

• Orientation sessions on PRSP guidelines and linking Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) process to the National Sustainable Development Goals.

• Building capacities of Sector Working Groups ( Health , Education , Agriculture , Social protection , Infrastructure) to enable them preparing sector reports with emphasis on progress within poverty reducing indicators .

• Training on macro-economic skills and providing: (a) technical support to ensure development of stable long and medium term fiscal and budgetary policy framework.

• Orientation sessions on intergovernmental Formula based allocation system to ensure more transparent intergovernmental revenue sharing system .

• Training on how to Prepare and analyze states pro-poor expenditures .

• Train staff of states Ministries of Finance to enhance their ability to comprehend the concept of pro-poor expenditures at state level analysis. This could be undertaken through targeted capacity development, database and knowledge product development.

• Deepened understanding of M&E to have sound systems and tools for monitoring pro-poor budgeting and financing allocations.

• The consultancy report will be subject to further amendments , incorporation of recommendation based on stakeholders inputs .

Location and duration of the assignment

The training workshop would be conducted in targeted states (Red Sea, North Kordofan, Sinnar and River Nile) (seven training in each state) and for (3-5) working days.

• Training will be conducted mainly through power point presentations and group work ,that will address specific issues as presented in the Terms of Reference and programme contents .

• Build on lessons learned from Sudan and National worldwide.

Participants of the training:

• SMOF Staff Development, Planning, Budget and Poverty unit’s staff.

• Staff from localities.

Participants are expected to be available full time for the whole duration of the training , attend all sessions and participate in discussions.

Reporting

• The consultants will provide a training report after completion of each training in the agreed format.

• Final Report has to be submitted to the PIU by completion of training programs in the four targeted states

• A Letter of endorsement has to be sent from SMOF (Project coordination Committee).

Experience of the Consultancy firm to conduct the Training :

It is expected that the selected (Training Consultancy Firm ) for conducting these training programs will conform to the following qualifications and experience profile:

• The Training Consultancy Firm shall have at least 10 Years related experience in economics/ and economic development Statistics, Development planning or public policy

• Strong Training Team with at least A Master’s degree with 15-20 years’ experience (or equivalent combination of education and experience) as an expert and practitioner in the field. Further doctoral degree (s) a bonus, with Excellent command of written and spoken Arabic and English

• Demonstrated expertise (and recognized authority) in the field of economics/development

• Understanding of the socioeconomic development in the country, its priorities and how the economy and the government units operate at the national and sub-national levels

• Experience with data-driven analysis, as evidenced by authorship or co-authorship of working papers, publications, or other technical content which utilize quantitative datasets.

• Demonstrated ability to work independently on very complex problems.

• Demonstrated ability to apply creativity and independent judgment.

• Excellent leadership and interpersonal skills, including ability to work under pressure and in large and small teams on multiple complex tasks simultaneously.

• Proven experience in organizing/conducting at least 8-10 training programmes successfully preferably in the area of poverty reduction.

• Proven organizational capacity to deliver required training and facilitation