Request For Expressions Of Interest (REOI) for Independent Verification Agent Services for RCRF Eligible Expenditure Program for FY 2024/26

Job Description

Job Description

The Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) has entered into agreements for grants and financing with the World Bank for the Recurrent Cost and Reform Financing, Phase III (RCRF III) and Additional Financing (“Projects”). The Project is a central instrument in the World Bank Somalia Project portfolio and are an important source of financing and support to the FGS and FMS, for 2024-2026 under RCRF 111 up to USD $41 million of Project financing .

II.The Ministry of Finance intends to apply part of the proceeds of the Grant to engage a registered and practicing audit firm with competency to provide support through technical assistance to the Office of the Auditor General of Somalia (OAGS) and the FMS-level OAGs to carry out the independent verification of the RCRF Eligible Expenditure Program, achievements of the PBCs and undertake verification of local government activities under sub component 2.4 of the Project.

III. The consulting services (“Services”) is to be carried out with the objective of enabling the OAGS to effectively take responsibility for verification activities and deliver reports to the World Bank on: a) verification of FGS actions and performance on DLIs, and the sufficiency of the EEP, under RCRF II and; b) verification of FGS and FMS actions and performance on Performance Based Conditions (PBCs) and eligible expenditures under RCRF III and (c)undertake verification of local government activities under sub component 2.4 of the project.

IV. For the scope of work, the Auditor General, as the head of the OAGS, will be responsible for approving and issuing reports. It is expected that the OAGS will take

increasing responsibility for the DLIs/PBCs verification with support of the independent Technical Assistance (TA). In the interim, substantive DLI/PBC verification work will be performed by ‘the appointed TA in collaboration with and supervision of the OAGS. The verification of the eligible expenditures, DLIs , PBCs including verification of local government activities will be undertaken in strict adherence to the verification protocol as outlined in the Project Operations Manuals (POMs) for RCRF II and RCRF III.

The applicable standards, responsibilities, interfaces with the Auditor General, the FMS-level OAGs, methodology and approach are defined in the terms of reference (TOR). The TOR for the assignment can be found at the following website: https://oag.gov.so or it can be provided upon submission of application in person or by e-mail. The e-mail address is provided below.

The estimated level of effort for the assignment is 180 work days and would be conducted in 4 cycles: as follows; Jan.-March. 2025, July-September, 2025, Jan – March 2026, and July -September 2026. and requisite reports delivered from the commencement date.

Skills and Qualifications
The Ministry of Finance now invites eligible consulting firms (“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. The short-listing criteria are as follows:

a) Core business of the firm and years in business (not less than 10 years’ experience in accounting and auditing in the public and/or private sector).

b) Experience of similar assignments on public sector financial audits; independent verification of expenditure programs; and familiarity with the requirements of the International Standards of Supreme Audit Institutions (ISSAIs).

c) Experience of having worked in an environment similar to that of Somalia; and

d) Technical and managerial capability of the firm. (Provide only the structure of the organization, general qualifications and number of key staff. Do not provide CV of staff). Key experts will not be evaluated at the shortlisting stage.

How to apply
The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to section III, para 3.14,3.16 & 3.17 of the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers: Procurement in Investment Projects Financing Goods, Works, Non -Consulting and Consulting Services, July 2016, revised November 2017, August 2018 , November 2020 and September 2023 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest. A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Cost Quality Selection (CQS) method set out in the Procurement Regulations. Interested Consultants may obtain further information at the address below during office hours from 8:30am to 3.30pm Mogadishu time (excluding public holidays).

VII. The Expressions of interest (EOI) should be delivered (in person or by e-mail) in a written form to the address below by 8th May 2024 at 12:00 Hours (Mogadishu Time).

RCRF Project Implementation Unit,

Ministry of Finance, Mogadishu

Federal Republic of Somalia

Email: procurement@oag.gov.so ; copy rcrfrecruitment@mof.gov.so and oag@oag.gov.so