1.Introduction

The Macroeconomic and Financial Management Institute of Eastern and Southern Africa (MEFMI) is a regionally owned capacity building organisation, with 14 member countries, namely: Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Eswatini, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

MEFMI’s mandate is to build sustainable capacity in identified key areas in the central banks and ministries of finance, planning or equivalent technical institutions. The Institute strives to improve human and institutional capacity in the critical areas of macroeconomic and financial management to foster best practices in client institutions and to bring emerging risks and opportunities to the fore among executive level officials. It also seeks to achieve, within its member countries, prudent macroeconomic management, competent and efficient management of public finances, sound, efficient and stable financial sectors and economies with sustained and inclusive growth. The long-term objective is to ultimately contribute to poverty reduction among people in MEFMI’s operational zone of Eastern and Southern Africa.

To support the Institute’s mandate, MEFMI is inviting consultants (firms or individuals) to submit their curriculum vitae (CVs) to provide Short Term Technical Assistance to develop a Forecasting and Policy Analysis System (FPAS) for a selected member client institution in the region. Additional expertise necessary in this technical assistance is capacity to build a more sophisticated analysis and forecasting platform with supplementary blocks onto the core model, such as fiscal and foreign blocks. The mode of delivery for this activity will be phased technical assistance missions to the client institution.

2. Output

A comprehensive operational FPAS that will be used by policymakers to support evidence-based policy decision-making in the client institution.

3. Required Skills and Experience (Individual Consultant/Firm Team Leader)

• Experience

1. Minimum of 5 years in proven capacity building experience in macroeconomic modelling and forecasting, particularly in developing Forecasting and Policy Analysis Systems;
2. Relevant experience in developing capacity building materials and conducting training activities;

• Should possess extensive knowledge on economic development in general, as well as macroeconomic and financial sector management among developing countries, in particular the Eastern and Southern Africa region

1. Relevant field experience, including in the MEFMI region; and
2. Minimum of 3 years of demonstrated experience in working with Central Banks, National Statistics Offices and Ministries of Finance/Planning officials, inclusive of senior officials.
3. Conversant with participatory, qualitative and quantitative evaluation methods.

• Qualifications (Individual Consultant/Firm Team Leader)
• A Doctorate/Master’s degree in Economics or other relevant qualifications (such as social science and statistics) related to the above listed area of focus at regional and/or international levels.

Finally, it is a requirement that all individuals involved in this assignment are completely independent of the evaluated activities, including, but not limited to, programme design and management, and that they have no stake whatsoever in the outcome of the evaluation.

4. Competencies (Individual Consultant/Firm Team Leader):

• Functional Competencies:

1. Strong interpersonal, teamwork and communication skills;
2. Proven ability to work in a multi-cultural setting and teams, with diversity of background and skills;

• Demonstrated organizational and planning skills and ability to meet deadlines;

1. Ability to manage multiple tasks effectively and efficiently;
2. Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities;
3. Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback;

• Ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines;
• Positive and constructive attitude towards work;

1. Excellent public speaking, presentation and facilitation skills; and
2. Demonstrated integrity and ethical standards.

• Corporate competencies (Individual Consultant/Firm Team Leader):

1. Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
2. Demonstrates integrity by modelling the MEFMI’s values and ethical standards; and

• Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of MEFMI.

5. Language skills:

Excellent writing, editing and oral communication skills in English.  Working knowledge of Portuguese will be an added advantage.

6. Evaluation of Applicants

The purpose of the evaluation is to determine the technically compliant and competent submission.  The evaluation shall be carried out in two (2) stages as follows:

First Stage – Submission of relevant documents in line with Section 7 of this documents.

Second Stage – Submission of Financial proposal.

An internal Evaluation Committee shall be formed solely for the purpose of this exercise. The Committee will evaluate the submitted documents based on the following criteria and respective weights.

Applications will be evaluated, taking into consideration the combination of their qualifications and experience in developing FPAS.

The minimum qualifying mark on the evaluated documents shall be 70% to proceed to the next stage of Financial Proposal evaluation.  Applicants that meet the qualifying mark on the technical proposal will have their financial proposal opened and those that do not meet the minimum criteria will be sent back unopened at the end of the evaluation process.

The award of contract shall be communicated to all applicants through an advertisement on the MEFMI Website.

7. Submission

Technical and Financial Proposals should be submitted in two (2) separately marked and sealed envelopes or by email, including a cover letter to the address below. The Financial Proposals should be expressed in United States Dollars (USD). In case of email submissions, the Financial Proposals should be secured by a password, which will be requested for by a designated official at MEFMI at the time of financial proposal opening. Interested applicants shall submit the following additional documents:

• Individual consultants

1. Detailed CV, including past experience in similar projects and at least three (3) contactable references.
2. Certificates of completion of previous work, where available

• Payment and Billing Terms, including the cancellation clauses.
• Firms

1. Copies of certificate of registration/incorporation;
2. Names and contact details of Directors;

• Company profile;

1. Curriculum Vitae (CVs) of key personnel. CVs of the key personnel must be accurate, complete, and signed by an authorised official of the firm;
2. Tax registration certificates (Income Tax and VAT);
3. Full contact details (physical address, telephone and fax numbers and e-mail addresses);

• Contact person and contact details of the Lead Consultant and support staff;
• Certificates of completion of previous work, where available; and

1. Payment and Billing Terms, including the cancellation clauses.

All documents should be submitted to the address below on or before, 30 June, 2019 at 16.30 hours, Local Harare time: No amendments to the documents shall be accepted after the deadline.

The Executive Director

The Macroeconomic and Financial Management Institute (MEFMI)

9 Earls Road, Alexandra Park
PO. Box A1419 Avondale
Harare

ZIMBABWE

OR by email to: capacity@mefmi.org

8.Queries/Request for Clarifications

If any, should be directed in writing to:   capacity@mefmi.org