Terms of Reference for the Individual Consultants

LEVERAGINGINFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGIES (ICT) FOR GROWTH, EMPLOYMENT AND GOVERNANCE PROJECT

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Terms of Reference for the Individual Consultants

Contents ToR for Accounts Associate ....................................................................................................... 3 ToR for Component Team Leader- IT/ITES Industry Development / Deputy Project Director 4 ToR for Financial Management Specialist (FMS) ...................................................................... 6

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ToR for Accounts Associate

Contract Type: Individual Consultancy (time based) Duration Of Assignment: 5 years Duty Station: Dhaka, Bangladesh Responsibility: The Accounts Specialist is responsible to work under the direction of Financial Management Specialist (FMS) of the project for tracking the projects financial transactions through IDA funds and maintaining the relevant accounts and financial records and producing the required reports accurately and on timely basis. The Accountant will prepare financial reports and statements for management and day to day works following the guideline of the Government and the Bank will report to the FMS on all financial management aspects of the project. The duties and responsibilities of the Accountant along with the key requirements for the position are defined below: Key functions: 1. Maintain register, books and other records in appropriate order to meet statutory and reporting requirements of IDA and GOB and to facilitate classification and analysis of financial information including file maintenance in orderly and easily retrievable manners. 2. Timely and accurately record transactions in a computerized environment to fulfill accurate and efficient reporting requirement consistently. 3. Check and verify bills, for procurement of goods, works and services for the project as per applicable rules and forwarding to the PD for payment approval. 4. Write and verify cheques and present those to the signatories and arrange delivery of the signed cheques to the beneficiaries , ensure timely recording of all payments, timely prepare Bank Reconciliation Statement and initiates all correspondences in connection with CONTASA. 5. Prepare document for timely replenishment of donors fund and submission of withdrawal request. 6. Draft quarterly Interim Unaudited Financial Report (IUFR) and ensuring their timely submission to IDA. 7. Prepare annual and quarterly disbursement forecast for all component of the project in line with the procurement and implementation plan. 8. Liaise with Accounts Section of BCC for the reporting as per the need of the Ministry. 9. Ensure deduction and payment of local Taxes (Income Tax & VAT) and CD VAT on invoices as per the Income Tax Ordinance and VAT Act. 10. Assist both external and internal auditors in carrying out audit by providing necessary financial information and respond to the audit queries. 3|Page

11. Perform any other duty, as and when, delegated by the PD. Key qualifications: Masters Degree in accounting/MBA from any recognized university or CA course complete from a chartered accounting firm. Minimum 3 years of relevant experience in the field of accounting and financial management. Experience in accounts and fund management of donor-assisted projects will be given preference. Exposure to computerized accounting system. Capacity to work in a multi- disciplinary team environment. Ability to work under pressure and time bound condition. Proficiency in report writing. Good command over oral and written English.

ToR for Component Team Leader- IT/ITES Industry Development / Deputy Project Director
Contract Type: Individual Consultancy (time based) Duration of Assignment: 5 years Duty Station: Dhaka, Bangladesh The Ministry of ICT, Government of Bangladesh has applied for financing from the World Bank towards the cost of the Leveraging ICT for Growth, Employment and Governance Project The implementing agency, Bangladesh Computer Council intends to apply part of the proceeds to hire a qualified Individual Consultant to provide Consultancy Support as a Team Leader. Task: The services, among others, include the following: Management: a. Responsible for effective implementation of Component 1 of the project: IT/ITES Industry Development and its two key areas of concentration: (a) Skill Development and (b) Institutional Capacity Building. b. Assumes operational management of the project for IT/ITES Industry Development and mobilize necessary resources to implement the activities under component 1. c. Maintain working relationship with the World Bank and the industry associations and other stakeholders. Technical: 4|Page

a. Assumes overall responsibility for the successful execution and implementation of the project Component 1 of the project: IT/ITES Industry Development towards achieving the outputs. b. Prepares annual and detailed quarterly work plans and discusses draft with the Project Director and the implementing agency. c. Regularly (quarterly) reports to the Project Director in writing about the implementation progress and status of the results and project performance indicators. d. Implements quarter work plan and monitors activities. d. Ensures proper resources and level of effort provided to insure timely delivery of activities in the two areas: (a) Skill Development and (b) Institutional Capacity Building. Financial a. Processes the authorization of commitments of resources and expenditures for inputs including staff, consultants, goods, works and services and training under Component 1. b. Manages the project resources dedicated to IT/ITES Industry Development c. Ensures that appropriate accounting records are kept and organized for Component 1. d. Facilitates and cooperate with audit requirements at all times, as required. Reporting a. Prepares draft technical and other documents as required including the reporting on the following requirements: b. Monthly and quarterly technical reports of progress on project activities and financial statements of expenditure for the project c. Quarterly report on the relevant key performance indicators and intermediate outcome indicators M&E. d. Technical, policy and briefing papers as requested by the World Bank and the implementing agency. e. Any documents needed for the Project Steering Committee, Project Implementation Committee and other meetings. Facilitation a. Serves as the focal point of the project for IT/ITES Industry Development for coordination of the project activities with the World Bank, the Government and other partners. b. Ensures that the Government in kind inputs for the project are available; c. Leads efforts to build partnerships for the support of outputs indicated in the project document; d. Any other business as required. Qualification and Experience: Qualification: Graduate (at least Bachelors in Engineering) preferably majored in IT/ICT/Electrical Engineering. Practical experience in academia, private and public sector from an IT/ITES industry perspective is a must. Experience: Over 15 years of relevant experience at the national or international level in managing ICT sector projects/programs, demonstrated experience of working in

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academia and public sector, thorough knowledge on the IT/ITES Industry development and private sector issues, hands-on experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of projects. Demonstrated experience of managing donor funded projects. Experience in the advanced usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.). Strong communication skills in presenting, discussing and resolving difficult issues. Ability to work efficiently and effectively in a multidisciplinary team Language Requirements: Fluency in spoken and written English and Bangla.

ToR for Financial Management Specialist (FMS)

Contract Type: Individual Consultancy (time based) Duration Of Assignment: 5 years Duty Station: Dhaka, Bangladesh The Ministry of ICT, Government of Bangladesh has applied for financing from the World Bank towards the cost of the Leveraging ICT for Growth, Employment and Governance Project. The implementing agency, Bangladesh Computer Council intends to apply part of the proceeds to hire a qualified Individual Consultant to provide Consultancy Support as a Financial Management Specialist. Objective and Scope of Services The Financial Management Specialist (FMS) Consultant will be a member of project management and implementation team. The main objective of the FM service is to provide financial management support, directly reporting to the Project Director (PD).His/her duties will include but not be limited to the following:
Provide support to PD on all aspects of finance, internal control and accountability. Design reporting format in conformity with the reporting requirements of the government and the World Bank. Supervise all budget preparation and implementation, finance and accounts activities of the project and provide guidance to the project. Ensure timely and efficient administration of allocated funds in accordance with the approved work plans and the applicable financial regulations, rules and resolutions. Also Monitor flows of funds from Bank to the project and ensure that appropriate procedures are followed. Prepare annual and quarterly disbursement forecasts. Prepare and consolidate financial reports for inclusion in the periodical Financial Statements and Reports to be submitted to Steering Committee, PD and the World Bank as per the condition of Financing Agreement.

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 Assist PD to develop and implement the operational manual (OM) incorporating all financial control and segregation duties for the project activities related to financial transactions and reporting. Guide PD to implement accounting software after designing the chart of accounts and the reporting formats for the accounting software. Ensure control and management of proper records of project assets and purchases, including inventory records and take necessary steps to carry out at least annual physical verification of inventory and fixed assets. Prepare Terms of Reference (TOR) for outsourcing of internal audit as per the financial management arrangement with the Bank. Carry out assessment and provide necessary advice and guideline to PD on financial management capacity of the other institutes for any fund flow from the project to these institutions under non consulting services for the purpose of the project. Assess the need for additional financial monitoring reports under the project, and track project progress in relation to overall budget allocations and spend under each components/subcomponents. Continually assess fiduciary risks and report any concerns to the PD. Ensure all compliance of the laws, rules and regulations of the concerned Ministries, Governments and the Financing Agreement with the World Bank. Manage the work of other personnel to be engaged for dealing with financial matters of the project.

Qualifications and Skills The FMS should be a Master in Finance/Accounting or Chartered Accountant or Cost Management Accountant or ACCA experienced in a supervisory position on financial management in any government/semi government organization or development projects. The FMS should have IT knowledge including thorough understanding on government accounting, budgeting and auditing system. Knowledgeable in Government of Bangladesh (GOB) budgeting, fund release and reporting formalities, World Banks financial management and disbursement procedures. Have had hands on experience in MS office and economic accounting software available in the market. Proven track record of ability to design accounts hierarchy table and develop accounts chart on both cash basis and accrual basis accounting conforming to DPP/TPP. Strong organizational and planning skills with ability to work independently as a team player and under stretch.

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Strong and proactive interpersonal communicative skills, experience in team leadership and participatory management. Ability to develop simple accounting, bank reconciliation and store and fixed assets management guidelines and impart training to the project staff on financial management system.

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