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MINISTRY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, DECENTRALISATION AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (MLGDRD)
GULF OF GUINEA NORTHERN REGIONS SOCIAL COHESION (SOCO) PROJECT
(PROJECT ID: P175043, IDA CREDIT NO.: 70700-GH)
REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (EOI)
CONSULTING SERVICES TO CONDUCT FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT REVIEW OF SELECTED BENEFICIARY MMDAs
GH-MLGDRD-430105-CS-CQS
(SELECTION OF FIRMS)
The Government of Ghana has received a US$150 million credit facility from the World Bank to implement the Gulf of Guinea Northern Regions Social (SOCO) Cohesion Project over five years (2022 to 2027) in forty-eight (48) Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies across six (6) regions, namely Northern, North East, Savannah, Upper East, Upper West and Oti regions. The Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development being the lead implementing Ministry intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.
The consulting services (“the Services”) is for the MLGDRD/SOCO PIU and the World Bank, as well as all other key stakeholders, to obtain an understanding of the financial management capacity and levels of compliance with internal control policies and procedures at selected beneficiary districts implementing the Project. In addition, the assignment seeks to obtain reasonable assurance that the funds provided under the SOCO Project are being utilized for the intended purposes in line with the relevant World Bank (WB) Regulations, Public Financial Management (PFM) Act, 2016 (Act 921) and PFM Regulations 2019. The essence is to perform an In-depth Financial Management Review focusing on economy, efficiency, and effectiveness in the use of public resources as provided through WB funding with estimated period of eight (8) weeks from August 2024.
The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment are attached to this request for expressions of interest.
The Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development (MLGDRD) 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 shortlisting criteria are: (i) the firm must be registered in Ghana and be in good standing with a recognised professional body in Ghana. (ii) the firm must have previous experiences, including audits of donor-funded projects, undertaking in-depth financial management reviews, technical audits, fiduciary assurance assignments or similar financial management supervision consultancies in either the public or private sector. (iii) the firm must be fully independent and must demonstrate in its technical proposal that it has no conflict of interest with the MLGDRD (no CVs at this stage). Key Experts will not be evaluated at the shortlisting stage.
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” Sept. 2023 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest and the procedures set out in the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663) as amended, In addition, please refer to the following specific information on conflict of interest related to this assignment: [Consultants shall not be hired for any assignment that would be in conflict with their prior or current obligations to other clients, or that may place them in a position of being unable to carry out the assignment in the best interests of the Borrower as per paragraph 3.17 of the Procurement Regulations].
A Consulting firm would be selected in accordance with the procedures set out in the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663) as amended, using the Consultant’s Qualification Based Selection
Interested firms may obtain further information and clarifications from 9am to 4pm, Mondays through Fridays (except on public holidays); by e-mail to Procurement Specialist-SOCO Project at both: info@soco.gov.gh & procurement@mlgrd.gov.gh. The Terms of Reference can be obtained on request through the above email addresses.
The Expression of Interest shall be in English and must bear the title “The Expression of Interest – CONSULTING SERVICES TO CONDUCT FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT REVIEW OF SELECTED BENEFICIARY MMDAs” addressed and delivered to the following addresses no later than 4pm, on Monday, 15th July, 2024.
Addressed to:
The Chief Director
Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development
Box MB 50, Ministries Post Office
Accra, Ghana.
Attention: The Ag. Project Coordinator, SOCO
Delivered to:
The Director of Procurement
Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development
Room 23 Ministries Area, Accra
E-mall address: procurement@mlgrd.gov.gh