Hiring a consulting firm to prepare a comprehensive report with an implementation plan on the unbundling of devolved functions in accordance with the guiding principles and relevant legal frameworks of Sierra Leone.

Project Fiduciary Management Unit –PFMU

13 Howe Street

Freetown

Sierra Leone

Tel: (+232-76-672-186)

Email: [email protected]

GOVERNMENT OF SIERRA LEONE

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES)

Country: Sierra Leone

Name of Project: Accountable Governance for Basic Service Delivery Project

Grant No.: D8380-SL

Project ID: P172492

Issue date: 3rd October 2025

Assignment Title: Hiring a consulting firm to support devolution function (unbundling of devolved functions) with an implementation plan.

Reference No: SL-MOF-511383-CS-CQS

0.1 Background

The Government of Sierra Leone has received US$ 40 million grant financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Accountable Governance for Basic Service Delivery Project (AGBSDP) and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.

In May 2004, the Local Government Act was enacted into law by Parliament as we ushered in local governance and decentralization into government’s service delivery system. Specifically, the Act aims to consolidate and streamline the law on local governance to give effect to decentralization and devolution of powers, functions and services to the established 19 local councils. It also provides for decentralization at all levels of local government to ensure good governance, democratic participation and control of decision making by the people as well as for the political and administrative set-up of local governments, finance and local elections.

0.2 Objective of the Assignment

The main objective of the consultancy services is to prepare a report on comprehensive unbundling of devolved functions (unbundling of devolved functions) with an implementation plan ensuring clearly the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders. The assignment seeks to provide a comprehensive unbundling of devolved functions in accordance with the guiding principles and relevant legal frameworks. This involves identifying, analyzing, and delineating the specific roles, responsibilities, resources, and institutional arrangements necessary for the full and effective transfer of devolved functions to local councils. It seeks to promote clarity, accountability, efficiency, and service delivery by ensuring that local councils are empowered and fully equipped to perform their mandated functions efficiently and effectively in a transparent and accountable manner.

Specific objectives include:

• Determining which functions or responsibilities are suitable for devolution based on the subsidiarity principle.

• Ensuring a clear framework is in place for implementing the devolution of identified functions.

• Outline the responsibilities and expectations of the various levels of governance involved in the devolution process.

0.3 Scope of Assignment/Specific Task of the Assignment

To achieve the above, the consulting firm is expected to undertake the following tasks amongst others:

• Review the existing legal framework that relates to fiscal decentralization e.g LGA 2022, Chieftaincy Act 1973, Chiefdom Governance Act 2012, Chiefdom and Tribal Administration Policy (2011), PFM Act 2016, Drafts LED and Rural Development Policies etc. and recommend necessary legal amendments to support the unbundling.

• Identify and review all current central government and devolved functions as per the Constitution and relevant schedules

• Facilitate a study tour of a technical committee to one of the countries where the firm has undertaken similar assignment in sub-Sahara Africa to build capacity of the team to support the preparation and implementation of the assignment.

• Conduct stakeholder consultation with relevant stakeholders including MDAs, civil society, development partners and build consensus

• Identify every function of government and unbundle into smaller and manageable activities. The unbundling should further recognize that public services (function and activities) within each functional areas or sector have different types of economic inputs (e.g., human resource inputs, non-wage recurrent inputs, sectoral supplies, capital inputs, and management and coordination), the responsibility for which may be assigned to the same, or different, government levels.

• Identify and map out LC exclusive, central government exclusive and concurrent or residual functions

• Unbundle every function into discrete and actionable sub-functions with clarity in terms of responsibility “responsibility” for each function, including (i) responsibility for policy and standard-setting; (ii) responsibility for funding (whether directly or through intergovernmental transfers); and (iii) responsibility for monitoring and evaluation.

• Analyze current frameworks, institutions, and resources linked to those functions.

• Propose detailed implementation strategies for full unbundling. Create a road map for unbundling.

• Recommend the capacity building initiatives, institutional arrangement for the devolution process including timelines, responsible entities, and resource needs for effective transfer.

• Develop monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to assess progress of the implementation, including the transparent inclusion of devolved and deconcentrated staffing and funding flows to each LC as a part of the regular central budget process and central budget documentation.

• Provide advice on an appropriate framework for costing devolved functions to local councils (expenditure assignment) and develop a term of reference for costing the implementation of devolved functions

• Prepare a devolution plan for every devolving MDA

• Provide advice on a structure of implementation and reporting for both devolved and reconcentration functions, clearly defining roles and responsibilities of stakeholders such as MDAs, LCs and Deconcentrated Offices

• Review sectoral policies of Government institutions with specific reference to the sectors that devolved functions to local councils as per the Assumptions of Functions Regulation No. 13 of November 2004 (the Statutory Instrument).

• Facilitate a validation workshop with all relevant stakeholders

Guiding Principles for the assignment

The following shall be the driving principles for executing the assignment including other best international practices:

• Subsidiarity: Functions should be managed at the lowest level of government or administrative body capable of effectively carrying them out.

• Efficiency: Devolution should result in enhanced service delivery and responsiveness to local needs.

• Accountability: Clear lines of responsibility and accountability must be established to ensure transparency.

• Capacity: Devolved functions should only be transferred to levels of government with the capacity to manage them effectively.

• Affordability: The assignment of functions will consider the fiscal space available at the central government and local council levels and will not assign unfunded mandates.

0.4 Deliverables

• Incept report

• Functional mapping; And legal and policy review report

• Capacity assessment and functional assignment framework report

• TOR for costing of devolved functions

• Sector devolution plans

• Final unbundling report

0.5 Final report

A report on Devolution of functions (unbundling of devolved functions) with an Implementation Plan and a term of reference for a comprehensive costing of devolved functions:

• Detailed unbundling framework

• Implementation roadmap

• Resource allocation plan

• Policy and legislative recommendations

• Terms of reference for costing of devolved functions

• Support and maintenance plan.

0.6 Duration and Institutional Arrangement for the Assignment

A firm will be required to undertake this assignment. The FDD-MoF will provide designated staff and serve as secretariat for the assignment. A task force to be comprised of technical staff from MDAs including FDD-MoF, PFMRD-MoF and the Decentralization Secretariat of the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs will be constituted to work closely with the firm. Among other tasks, the task force will facilitate consultations with local stakeholders and MDAs. The consultancy will last for a period of 4 months.

0.6 Qualification and Experience of the Firm and Key Experts

The Firm

The consulting firm must demonstrate the following qualifications and experience:

• Legal and Policy Expertise

• Proven experience in public policy, and legal frameworks relating to devolution and intergovernmental relations.

• Demonstrated ability to interpret and analyze statutory mandates, especially those under devolution-related laws.

• Experience in Devolution and Governance

• At least 10 years of relevant experience supporting or implementing devolution programs, especially in function assignment, capacity assessment, and institutional strengthening.

• Evidence of previous work with central and local governments on governance, public administration, or intergovernmental processes in sub-Sahara Africa

• Technical Capacity

• Multidisciplinary team of experts including:

• Public policy specialists

• Governance and devolution experts

• Legal analysts

• Public finance experts

• Institutional development and capacity assessment professionals

• Stakeholder Engagement

• Demonstrated experience conducting participatory stakeholder consultations, especially in government or multi-sectoral environments.

• Ability to facilitate workshops, interviews, and field visits across multiple counties.

• Project Management and Reporting

• Strong track record in managing complex assignments within tight deadlines.

• Capacity to deliver high-quality analytical reports, policy recommendations, and implementation frameworks.

• Familiarity with the Local Context

• Proven understanding of the local governance environment, county operations, and intergovernmental dynamics.

• Preference will be given to firms with a presence or experience in working across