This activity will support hiring of a Financial Management specialist to support the Project Delivery Team (PDT).

Scope as published

The Government of Botswana is undertaking the Promoting Participation and Enhancing Learning (PROPEL) (P513800) project supported by the World Bank. The Project Development Objective (PDO) is to increase participation in preprimary and senior secondary education and improve learning conditions in supported schools, particularly at the junior secondary level. The Project consists of the following four components: Component 1: Increasing participation in education Component 2: Enhancing the learning environment Component 3: Strengthening system capacity for quality education service delivery Component 4: Project management and implementation support The Ministry of Child Welfare and Basic Education (MCWBE) is the implementing entity for the Project. A Project Delivery Unit (PDU) (or Program Coordinating Unit) is being established within MCWBE to support the effective implementation of project activities, including procurement and contract administration; monitoring, evaluation and reporting of progress under the project; fiduciary management; and environmental and social risk management. Specifically, the PDU will be responsible for ensuring that financial management aspects under the Project are conducted in an efficient, transparent, and compliant manner. To strengthen implementation capacity and support timely delivery, the Client seeks to engage an Individual Financial Management Consultant as a core member of the PDU. The objective of this assignment is to provide financial oversight, maintain a financial management system and prepare financial statements in accordance with consistently applied accounting standards acceptable to the Bank and the Government of Botswana. Specifically, the consultant is expected to handle and provide support for all the financial and accounting components of the Project including the timely processing of payments, submitting disbursement requests and documentation of expenditures, monitoring expenditures re-imbursement from the Bank, submitting financial reports and audits (external/internal), and following up on audit findings. The Financial Management Consultant will perform duties that include, but are not limited to, the following: Budgeting and Planning Provide oversight to the overall Project's financial management functions including recording, reporting, budgeting, accounting and banking and treasury activities ensuring full compliance with the LA and the Project Operations Manual (POM). Support the project team in preparing annual work plans for the Project. Prepare project's annual cash plan on the basis of the work plan and related procurement plan. In accordance with the Government of Botswana's budgeting rules and regulations, prepare annual budget estimates and revise estimates based on work plan/cash plan. Submit the estimates to MCWBE for inclusion in the annual budget in accordance with the annual Ministry of Finance budget call circular for the relevant year. Follow-up and periodically report on the release of funds for the approved budget. Prepare timely annual and quarterly disbursement forecasts for all components of the Project in line with the Project's procurement plan. Ensure adequate funds are allocated in the MCWBE budget for Project activities supported through Performance Based Conditions (PBCs) and timely releases to associated parastatals. Funds Management Ensure compliance with the internal control framework (Operations Manual and the Bank's fiduciary guidelines, etc.) and Government of Botswana's rules and procedures when processing payments. Analyze, plan, design, implement and monitor GABS to augment internal controls in line with best practices in the process of payment and expenditure management. Ensure compliance with accounting policies and practices as stipulated in the accounting regulations and procedures agreed for the Project. Manage financial aspects of the contracts under implementation, including payment terms, purchase orders and variation orders…

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