South West State of Somalia

Ministry of Interior, Local Government and Reconciliation.

BULSHO PROJECT – Strengthening Community Institutions for Social Cohesion, Inclusion and Resilience.

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (REOI)

Individual Selection of Consultant

Country: Federal Government of Somalia

Project ID No. P508408

Name of the Project: Bulsho Project – Strengthening Community Institutions for Social Cohesion, Inclusion and Resilience

Consulting Service: PIU Bulsho PFM Specialist

Individual/Firm: Individual

Ref No: SO-MOIFAR-498764-CS-INDV

Duty Station: Baidoa, South West, Somalia (with potential travel to the target Districts and Cities of Bulsho Project)

Deadline: 2^nd, December, 2025

BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT

The Bulsho Project – Strengthening Community Institutions for Social Cohesion, Inclusion and Resilience (P508408) is under the lead of the Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs and Reconciliation – MoIFAR of the Federal Government of Somalia and responsible for the national program called Bulsho, the Somali word for society. The Bulsho Program puts citizens and communities at the center of the government’s action.  The Bulsho Program is a Somali government-led initiative designed to strengthen community and local institutions, fostering social cohesion, inclusion, and resilience. As Somalia continues its recovery from two decades of civil war, the program places a strong emphasis on enhancing service delivery, rebuilding the social contract, and promoting community-centered governance. This uniquely Somali-owned and -driven initiative underscores government ownership and leadership at federal, member state, and district levels, ensuring institutional sustainability and the realization of key policy outcomes.

The Ministry of Interior, Local Government and Reconciliation of South West State of Somalia have established Project Implementation Units – PIUs, headed a State Project Managers, which have the responsibility for the activities that take place in South West State.

The PIUs are responsible for managing project activities at state-level and to liaise with districts. Specifically, the PIUs are responsible for: (i) Verifying eligibility of districts, appraising districts’ request to participate – this includes allocation of Bulsho packages and conducting lottery for each package and verifying the fulfilment of district commitments. (ii) Preparing state-level procurement plans. (iii) Preparing annual project work plans and budgets for state-level activities. (iv) Carrying out procurement for state-level activities. (v) Managing the contract with the logistic firm. (vi) Delivering capacity building activities and providing quality assurance and technical backstopping to districts – this includes trainings of district officials and staff. as well as community entities that play a role in the project. (vii) Preparing requisitions for funds to be transferred to districts, as per the project workplan, and in accordance with the grant agreement/sub-agreements and this POM and its annexes. (viii) Preparing quarterly narrative and financial reports for project activities taking place in their states. (ix) Verifying technical and E&S appraisal of local investments (Component 3) as well as other E&S actions as per the Environment and Social Management Plan. (x) Verifying the soundness of sustainability plans for the local investment prepared by the districts, including Operations & Maintenance (O&M) plans and the Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) for the management of local infrastructures; and (xi) Preparing security management plans and applying security protocols in partnership with the security firm.

The Ministry of Interior of South West State of Somalia is seeking to use a portion of the Bulsho Project to finance the recruitment of a Public Financial Management – PFM Specialist to support the South West Project Implementation Unit – PIU.

Responsibilities: For the Bulsho Project activities, the PFM Specialist will work in closely with the PCU Financial Management and Procurement Specialists for oversight, guidance, quality assurance and also to ensure harmonization of procedures, and compliance with fiduciary requirements. The role will also provide technical support and capacity building to cities and district counterparts. The PFM Specialist in collaboration with the South West State External Assistance Fiduciary Section (EAFS), prepare Unaudited Quarterly Financial Reports (IFRs) and Annual Financial Statements, ensuring adherence to international reporting standards.

The PFM Specialist is to ensure that Bulsho Financial Management and Procurement are done in line with the applicable Somalia Government and World Bank procedures and second is to support build Public Financial Management (PFM) capacity at the FMS, Districts and Community levels. The PIU Public Financial Management (PFM) Specialist will be required to be an all-around PFM professional combining both financial management and procurement responsibilities.

The State PIU Project Manager will perform the following key areas: –

A. Financial Management

1. Financial Reporting and Oversight: Prepare and submit periodic financial reports (monthly, quarterly, annually) in approved formats, ensuring compliance with the financing agreement and also ensure timely identification and reporting of material variances for financial oversight and strategic decision-making and also ensure internal audit is carried out by Ministry of Finance (MoF) on project activities.
2. Budgeting and Financial Planning: Develop and review annual work plans for the PIU and consolidated Bulsho budget in collaboration with PIU and the District Focal Points (DFPs), ensuring alignment with the standard chart of accounts. The budget to be consolidated by the MoIFAR and approved by Parliament by December 31and also prepare, monitor, and interpret cash flow forecasts to support financial planning and ensure disbursements align with approved budgets, work plans, and financial agreements.
3. Fund Disbursement and Payment Processing: Verify payments adhere to accounting practices and financing agreements, obtaining No Objection letters through PCU where applicable and also facilitate the district disbursement requests through the South West State EAFS and the South West MoF and disburses the funds to the District Approved Accounts (DAAs).
4. Subledger Reconciliation and Documentation: Conduct monthly bank reconciliations for the project accounts and also prepare Statements of Expenditure (SoEs) to ensure accurate financial tracking and timely documentation in client connection and ensure timely and regular updates to the Fixed Assets Register, conducting physical verification of assets at least twice a year and ensure regular update the Contracts Disbursement Register, ensuring proper reconciliation of new contracts and supplier payments.
5. Audit Coordination and Risk Management: Work with auditors to facilitate timely annual financial audit and address queries and ensure compliance with internal control systems, EAFS manual, POM, COAPM, and other regulatory procedures and identify emerging fiduciary risks that inform revisions of the EAFS manual and POM, including Matching Grants Manual (MGM).
6. Regulatory Compliance and Updates: Keep abreast of changes in financial regulations and ensure accounting staff remain updated and ensure no project category or component is overspent without proper World Bank authorization.

B. Procurement

1. Procurement Planning: Under the guidance of the PIU Project Manager, in consultation with the other PIU specialists, and in and close collaboration with the PCU Procurement Specialist, prepare the annual procurement plans for South West State Bulsho activities and update the overall procurement plan for the state, in line with the consolidated national procurement plan and budget for Bulsho and track the implementation of the South West State Procurement Plan, by updating progress against the Procurement Plan’s milestones, providing details on challenges and remaining actions, and indicating when procurement activities have been completed.
2. Tender Processing: Prepare inputs such as Terms of Reference, Schedules of Requirements, Specifications, Prequalification Documents (PQDs), Bidding Documents (BDs), and Requests for Proposals (RFPs), in line with World Bank regulations, the Bulsho POM and the project procurement plan and manage all procurement processes, including preparation and issuance of invitations, receipt of proposals and bids, opening of EOIs, proposals, and bids, evaluation of submissions, and preparation of evaluation reports in line with World Bank regulations and the Bulsho POM.
3. Contract Management: Under the direct guidance of the Project Manager, manage all contracts awarded under the project, including monitoring execution, tracking deliverables, and ensuring timely delivery of goods, services, and consultant reports in full compliance with contractual provisions and under the direct guidance of the Project Manager, address procurement-related queries, disputes, and complaints, and ensure issues are resolved in accordance with World Bank regulations, the Bulsho POM and applicable procedures.
4. Compliance and Reporting: Ensure that all procurement activities comply with applicable World Bank regulations, the Bulsho POM and Government procedures, and submit reports to the PIU Project Manager and PCU Procurement Specialist for oversight and also together with the technical specialists, carry out direct verification of all purchased goods, services and works, by verifying that purchased goods, services and works are timely delivered and meet the specifications indicated in the purchase orders or contracts.

C. Capacity Building

1. Conduct financial management and procurement training needs assessments and prepare structured capacity-building plans for the PIU, district finance officers and community committees implementing Bulsho-funded local investments, in coordination with the Local Government Institute (LGI).
2. Provide tailored, hands-on mentoring and on-the-job support to district governments and community committees in procurement and contract management, focusing on the practical application of Bulsho project rules and procedures.

• Support districts and community committees in carrying out their procurement functions, including preparation of tender documents, evaluation of bids, contract award and management, and oversight of the procurement cycle, in compliance with the Bulsho POM and World Bank regulations.

1. Participate in joint reviews, training sessions, and learning events organized by the PCU, and cascade knowledge to PIU and district staff.

D. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting:

• The PFM Specialist shall collaborate with the PIU M&E Specialist to ensure that financial and procurement data are integrated into the project’s results framework.
• Track progress against fiduciary indicators (e.g., disbursement rate, audit completion, compliance score) and also contribute to quarterly performance reviews and fiduciary compliance summaries shared with MoIFAR, FGS and the World Bank.

Selection Criteria: The selection shall be based on qualification, experience and skills of the candidate and followed by an interview. The qualifications, experience and competencies include:

1. Educational Background

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance or business administration.
• Professional qualification in financial management, registered by and attained final qualification of any financial management related recognized professional body e.g. CIPFA IPFM, ACCA, CPA etc.
• Procurement training will be an advantage.

1. Professional Experience

• Minimum of 7 years of relevant experience in financial management including broad expertise in the public or private sector.
• At least 5 years’ experience implementing financial management and procurement actions under international development partner guidelines (e.g., World Bank, African Development Bank, United Nations).
• Experience in project financial management in developing countries; experience in fragile or conflict-affected environments is highly desirable.

1. Skills and competencies

• Familiarity with computerized accounting systems (e.g., ERP systems such as PASTEL, QuickBooks) and proficiency in accounting/procurement software.
• Demonstrated knowledge of World Bank financial management and procurement procedures.

1. Knowledge

• In-depth knowledge of Somalia’s public financial management laws and regulations.
• Knowledge of Somalia’s Government Procurement policies and regulations or knowledge of WB and/or development partner procurement related standards and requirements

1. Language skills/requirement.

• Excellent command of both English and Somali (reading, writing, and presenting) is essential.

REPORTING

The PFM Specialist will report to the South West Bulsho PIU Project Manager. For technical oversight and quality assurance, the Specialist will maintain direct reporting lines to the PCU Financial Management Specialist and the Procurement Specialist.

TIMING Duration of Assignment:

The PFM Specialist shall be contracted for up to 12 months with 3 months of probationary period) and renewable upon satisfactory performance.

The Ministry of Interior, Local Government and Reconciliation of South West State of Somalia now invites eligible Individual Consultants to indicate their interest in providing the above-mentioned services. Interested consultants must provide the following (i) Curriculum Vitae (CV) with 3 reference persons; (ii) copies of certificates of academic qualifications; and (iii) cover letter indicating that they are qualified to perform the services.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

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 Individual Consultant method set out in the World Bank Procurement Regulations. 

Interested candidates should submit their applications, including a detailed updated CV and cover letter, outlining their experience and qualifications in relation to the role marked with the subject title of the position by the following email address: hr@moilgr.sw.so and copy to Abdirahman.ahmed@moifar.gov.so latest by 2^nd, December, 2025 at 04:00 PM Mogadishu time.

Attention:

Bulsho PIU PFM Specialist

Ministry of Interior, Local Government and Reconciliation

South West State of Somalia

Baidoa, South West, Somalia