Budget Finance and Audit Technical Expert for Somalia Public Resource Management Project

A 2025 capacity assessment conducted by Grant Thornton Advisory East Africa Limited, supported by the World Bank under the Somalia Enhancing Public Resource Management Project (SERP), identified significant structural and institutional constraints limiting the committees’ effectiveness Political economy factors - such as frequent turnover of political and technical leadership, competing priorities, and limited enforcement powers - continue to affect the implementation of audit recommendations.

Without structured support, these challenges risk undermining the sustainability and effectiveness of parliamentary oversight reforms. The engagement of a senior technical expert will provide immediate and sustained support to strengthen parliamentary oversight functions, ensuring alignment with the Public Financial Management Act of 2019 and broader PFM reform priorities.

By embedding best practices in legislative governance and building institutional capacity, the expert will enable the committees to fulfill their constitutional and statutory responsibilities more effectively, with greater authority and credibility.

2.Overall Objectives of the Assignment The objective of this assignment is to provide high-level technical assistance to the Budget and Finance Committee of the Federal Parliament and the Public Accounts Committees (PACs) of the Federal Member States to strengthen parliamentary financial oversight as a core accountability function.

It will also provide targeted, hands-on support to the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO), strengthening its analytical capacity, internal processes, and effectiveness in budget scrutiny and fiscal oversight.

Furthermore, the assignment will enhance the quality, consistency, and independence of parliamentary scrutiny by supporting the development and application of practical guidelines, standardized tools, and structured capacity-building for budget review, audit scrutiny, and systematic follow-up of audit recommendations, in line with the Public Financial Management Act and ongoing national PFM reforms. 3.

Selection Criteria Selection shall be based on the qualification and experience of the candidate and followed by an interview. The qualifications, experience and skills should include: a)Academic Qualifications Master’s degree in public financial management, economics, accounting, public administration, or a related discipline.

b)Professional Experience At least eight years of progressively responsible experience in public financial management, with a minimum of five years focused on assignments related to budget analysis, audit processes, and financial oversight. Demonstrated experience working with parliamentary committees or equivalent legislative oversight bodies, in fragile or conflict-affected contexts.

Strong record of technical advisory roles in government financial reform programmes, including collaboration with Ministries of Finance, Offices of Auditor General, and other accountability institutions. Practical experience in institutional strengthening, development of operational guidelines, and establishment of reporting and monitoring frameworks.

Proven ability to design and deliver training, sensitization seminars, and peer-learning initiatives tailored to government and parliamentary stakeholders. c)Technical Knowledge Sound understanding of Somalia’s public financial management framework, fiscal cycle, and audit systems. Familiarity with governance reforms, legislative processes, and institutional accountability mechanisms.

Knowledge of regional and international practices in parliamentary financial oversight and public sector audit follow-up. d) Skills and Competencies Strong analytical and drafting skills, with the capacity to produce technical guidelines, policy recommendations, and oversight tools. Excellent facilitation and communication skills to engage with parliamentarians, technical staff, and external stakeholders.

Ability to operate effectively in politically sensitive and multi-stakeholder environments. Fluency in Somali and English, both written and spoken. 4. Duration: The assignment will be undertaken over a period of twelve months.

The timeframe is designed to provide both immediate technical assistance and sufficient opportunity to institutionalize practices and transfer knowledge to committee members and their supporting secretariats 5.

Reporting Obligations The Expert will report to the Chairperson of the Budget and Finance Committee of the Federal Parliament of Somalia, who will provide overall guidance and validate parliamentary deliverables. Payments will be based on the deliverables and formally cleared by the Chairperson, with a copy to the SERP Coordinator and PFM Reform Advisor.

The Expert’s role is strictly advisory, providing technical and coordination support without exercising any decision-making authority. Additionally, the Expert will maintain a functional coordination line with the Ministry of Finance through the SERP Coordinator and PFM Reform Adviser to ensure alignment of the assignment with national public financial management reforms.

The Ministry of Finance 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 references; (ii) copies of certificates of academic qualifications; and (iii) cover letter indicating that they are qualified to perform the services. 6.

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 applicants may refer further information including a detailed Terms of Reference in Annex I. 7.

Deadline : Expressions of interest and CV must be delivered to this email serprecruitment@mof.gov.so on or before 16:00 hours January 31, 2026, with email subject marked clearly as “ Budget, Finance and Audit Technical Expert -REF:SO-MOF-528657-CS-INDV Female candidates are encouraged to apply.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Annex I: Terms of Reference Budget, Finance and Audit Technical Expert Federal Parliament of Somalia - Budget and Finance Committee Duration : Twelve Months Duty Station : Mogadishu, with travel to Federal Member States Reporting To : Chairperson of the Budget and Finance Committee and coordination with the Ministry of Finance SERP Project Coordinator and PFM Reform Advisor Background and Rationale The Budget and Finance Committee of the Federal Parliament of Somalia, together with the Public Accounts Committees in the Federal Member States (FMS), plays a central role in promoting fiscal discipline, transparency, and accountability in the management of public resources.

These committees are mandated to review national and subnational budget proposals, monitor public expenditure, assess financial policies, and scrutinize audit reports issued by the Office of the Auditor General.

By performing these functions effectively, the committees provide legislative oversight of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), ensure implementation of audit recommendations, and strengthen the integrity of Somalia’s Public Financial Management (PFM) system.

A 2025 capacity assessment conducted by Grant Thornton Advisory East Africa Limited, supported by the World Bank under the Somalia Enhancing Public Resource Management Project (SERP), identified significant structural and institutional constraints limiting the committees’ effectiveness. Key gaps include: Absence of standardized operational guidelines and procedures for committee work.

Weak mechanisms for follow-up on audit recommendations. Limited technical capacity among committee members in budget analysis, audit scrutiny, and legislative oversight. Lack of a dedicated technical Secretariat to support committee operations; and Insufficient infrastructure and ICT systems to support efficient functioning.

Training and capacity-building initiatives have been sporadic, leaving critical knowledge gaps unaddressed. Consequently, these constraints hinder the committees’ ability to provide timely and rigorous oversight, undermining accountability in public financial management.

To address these challenges, targeted technical assistance is required to: Develop structured operational guidelines and standard operating procedures aligned with Somalia’s PFM cycle. Strengthen mechanisms for audit scrutiny and follow-up to ensure implementation of recommendations. Build members’ technical capacity through targeted training and peer-learning exchange.

Support the establishment and operationalization of a dedicated technical Secretariat with specialized expertise. Prepare and implement annual operational plans for effective committee work. Enhance stakeholder engagement and coordination between federal and state-level committees.

Political economy factors - such as frequent turnover of political and technical leadership, competing priorities, and limited enforcement powers - continue to affect the implementation of audit recommendations. Without structured support, these challenges risk undermining the sustainability and effectiveness of parliamentary oversight reforms.

The engagement of a senior technical expert will provide immediate and sustained support to strengthen parliamentary oversight functions, ensuring alignment with the Public Financial Management Act of 2019 and broader PFM reform priorities.

By embedding best practices in legislative governance and building institutional capacity, the expert will enable the committees to fulfill their constitutional and statutory responsibilities more effectively, with greater authority and credibility.

Objectives of the Assignment The objective of this assignment is to provide high-level technical assistance to the Budget and Finance Committee of the Federal Parliament and the Public Accounts Committees (PACs) of the Federal Member States to strengthen parliamentary financial oversight as a core accountability function.

It will also provide targeted, hands-on support to the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO), strengthening its analytical capacity, internal processes, and effectiveness in budget scrutiny and fiscal oversight.

Furthermore, the assignment will enhance the quality, consistency, and independence of parliamentary scrutiny by supporting the development and application of practical guidelines, standardized tools, and structured capacity-building for budget review, audit scrutiny, and systematic follow-up of audit recommendations, in line with the Public Financial Management Act and ongoing national PFM reforms.

The assignment will further institutionalize audit follow-up mechanisms, strengthen the technical and functional capacity of committee secretariats including the PBO, and reinforce parliamentary oversight autonomy through evidence-based analysis, transparent procedures, and results-oriented reporting.

It will also promote coordination, peer exchange, and harmonization of oversight practices between the Federal Parliament and Federal Member States, enhance transparency and stakeholder engagement, and address institutional and political-economy constraints to ensure sustainability, ownership, and credible parliamentary oversight of public financial management.

Scope of Work and Expected Deliverables The expert will provide focused, results-oriented support to strengthen the capacity of the Budget and Finance Committee of the Federal Parliament and the Public Accounts Committees of the Federal Member States, and the Parliamentary Budget Office.

The assignment will address the institutional and technical gaps identified in the 2025 capacity assessment, while equipping committees with the tools, processes, and knowledge required to perform rigorous legislative oversight of public resources.

The scope of work will include, but is not limited to, the following key deliverables: Deliverable 1: Comprehensive Operational, Oversight, and Audit Follow-up Framework Develop comprehensive operational guidelines covering budget scrutiny, audit examination, hearings, recommendations, and follow-up processes.

Prepare a detailed audit follow-up framework defining roles, timelines, escalation mechanisms, and reporting responsibilities of FRS BFC, FMS PACs, Secretariat, MDAs, OAG, and MoF. Integrate standardized procedures for communication with stakeholders, including MDAs, oversight institutions, civil society, and media.

Support the phased implementation of the guidelines, incorporate lessons learned, and facilitate its rollout to the PACs at the FMS level. Deliverable 2: Integrated Audit Compliance Tracking and Reporting System Develop and implement standardized audit tracking templates and reporting dashboards to monitor recommendations, responsible entities, deadlines, and implementation status.

Establish a structured audit follow-up mechanism linking FRS BFC, MDAs, OAG, and MoF. Define data-sharing protocols and reporting cycles to ensure timely access to audit information. Deliverable 3: Structured Capacity Development and Coaching Program Conduct a baseline assessment of skills and capacity gaps among members and Secretariat staff.

Develop a competency framework aligned with FRS BFC and FMS PAC oversight functions. Design and deliver structured training materials on PFM, audit analysis, budget scrutiny, report writing, and the application of oversight tools for the FRS BFC Secretariat, the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO), and the Federal Member States Public Accounts Committees (FMS PACs).

Develop training evaluation tools to measure learning outcomes and performance improvement. Institutionalize peer-learning, mentoring, and on-the-job coaching arrangements. Deliverable 4: Strengthening of a Functional FRS BFC Secretariat and the Parliamentary Budget Office Review the mandate, structure, and core functions of the BFC Secretariat and develop/review job descriptions and staffing plans.

Prepare SOPs covering analytical support, documentation, reporting, coordination, and knowledge management. Build Secretariat and PBO analytical capacity in budget analysis, audit review, and data management to ensure knowledge transfer and sustainability of institutional arrangements.

Conduct a political economy and institutional risk analysis of parliamentary oversight, identify legislative, procedural, and political bottlenecks and suggest mitigation measures to strengthen political buy-in and institutional ownership. Deliverable 5: Strengthened FRS BFC–FMS PAC Coordination and Harmonization Develop options for formal coordination mechanisms, including standing committees or working groups.

Facilitate regular coordination forums and joint review sessions and support peer-learning visits and documentation of best practices. Facilitate regular stakeholder consultations to review and validate deliverables developed under the assignment. Support the harmonization of approaches to budget scrutiny, audit follow-up, and financial oversight and reporting formats across both Federal and FMS levels.

Deliverable 6: Communication, Public Engagement, and Knowledge Management Develop FRS BFC/ PAC communication and stakeholder engagement strategy for the FRS BFC, FMS PACs and the PBO. Support and institutionalize the development of public-friendly summaries of audit findings and oversight outcomes. Establish a centralized knowledge repository for FRS BFC/ FMS PACs and the PBO documents and outputs.

The consultant work under direct supervision of the Chairperson of the Budget and Finance Committee and is expected to produce the following reports: • An initial inception report and work plan within four weeks of commencement highlighting the key strategies, approach, methodologies and plans/budgets for the achievement of the assignment outputs/deliverables.

• Monthly progress reports highlighting major activities undertaken, major assignment milestones achieved, key risks and challenges identified, recommendations to mitigate the risks and challenges as well as an outline of the major activities to be undertaken in the ensuing periods.

The above reports shall be shared with the Chairperson of the Budget and Finance Committee and the SERP Project Coordinator and PFM Reform Advisor. • End of Assignment Report [EAR] addressed to the Chairperson of the Budget and Finance Committee and copied to the SERP Project Coordinator and PFM Reform Advisor. Summary of Deliverables and Key Activities Deliverable Key Activities 1.

Operational, Oversight, and Audit Follow-up Framework Develop operational guidelines Prepare audit follow-up framework Integrate stakeholder communication procedures Support phased implementation Ensure stakeholder validation of these deliverables 2.

Integrated Audit Compliance Tracking & Reporting System Design tracking templates and monitoring dashboards Establish structured audit follow-up mechanism Define data-sharing protocols Ensure stakeholder validation of these deliverables 3. Capacity Development & Coaching Program Conduct baseline skills assessment Develop competency framework Design & deliver training modules Peer-learning & mentoring 4.

Establishment & Strengthening of FRS BFC Secretariat Review/define mandate, structure, core functions Review job descriptions, staffing plan Build analytical capacity Conduct political economy & risk analysis Identify legislative/procedural bottlenecks and develop mitigation measures 5.

Strengthened FGS BFC–FMS PAC Coordination & Harmonization Develop coordination mechanisms Facilitate joint review forums & peer learning Harmonize approaches & reporting formats Facilitate regular stakeholder consultations to review and validate deliverables 6. Communication, Public Engagement & Knowledge Management Develop communication & stakeholder strategy for FRS BFC and FMS PACs.

Provide technical support for the FRS BFC Secretariat to prepare public-friendly summaries Establish centralized repository Develop archiving & handover protocols Qualifications and Experience The assignment requires a senior professional with advanced technical expertise in public financial management and demonstrated capacity to support high-level parliamentary oversight functions.

The ideal candidate will meet the following requirements. Academic Qualifications Master’s degree in public financial management, economics, accounting, public administration, or a related discipline.

Professional Experience At least eight years of progressively responsible experience in public financial management, with a minimum of five years focused on assignments related to budget analysis, audit processes, and financial oversight. Demonstrated experience working with parliamentary committees or equivalent legislative oversight bodies, in fragile or conflict-affected contexts.

Strong record of technical advisory roles in government financial reform programmes, including collaboration with Ministries of Finance, Offices of Auditor General, and other accountability institutions. Practical experience in institutional strengthening, development of operational guidelines, and establishment of reporting and monitoring frameworks.

Proven ability to design and deliver training, sensitization seminars, and peer-learning initiatives tailored to government and parliamentary stakeholders. Technical Knowledge Sound understanding of Somalia’s public financial management framework, fiscal cycle, and audit systems. Familiarity with governance reforms, legislative processes, and institutional accountability mechanisms.

Knowledge of regional and international practices in parliamentary financial oversight and public sector audit follow-up. Skills and Competencies Strong analytical and drafting skills, with the capacity to produce technical guidelines, policy recommendations, and oversight tools. Excellent facilitation and communication skills to engage with parliamentarians, technical staff, and external stakeholders.

Ability to operate effectively in politically sensitive and multi-stakeholder environments. Fluency in Somali and English, both written and spoken. Duration and Duty Station The assignment will be undertaken over a period of twelve months.

The timeframe is designed to provide both immediate technical assistance and sufficient opportunity to institutionalize practices and transfer knowledge to committee members and their supporting secretariats. The duty station for the assignment will be Mogadishu, where the Federal Parliament and its Budget and Finance Committee are located.

The Expert will be expected to work in close coordination with parliamentary leadership, committee members, and support staff. Periodic travel to Federal Member States will be required, to facilitate peer exchanges, and to promote harmonization of approaches across jurisdictions.

The Expert will be embedded within the parliamentary framework and will operate on a full-time basis, ensuring regular availability for consultations, real-time technical support, and participation in committee sessions.

Reporting Arrangements The Expert will report to the Chairperson of the Budget and Finance Committee of the Federal Parliament of Somalia, who will provide overall guidance and validate parliamentary deliverables. Payments will be based on the deliverables and formally cleared by the Chairperson, with a copy to the SERP Coordinator and PFM Reform Advisor.

The Expert’s role is strictly advisory, providing technical and coordination support without exercising any decision-making authority. Additionally, the Expert will maintain a functional coordination line with the Ministry of Finance through the SERP Coordinator and PFM Reform Adviser to ensure alignment of the assignment with national public financial management reforms.

Coordination and Stakeholder Engagement The Expert will maintain close collaboration with key stakeholders including FRS BFC, FMS PACs, and the PBO to ensure that technical support is coherent, inclusive, and aligned with the broader public financial management reform agenda. The Budget and Finance Committee of the Federal Parliament will provide oversight and validate key outputs.

Engagement will include structured collaboration with Federal Member State Public Accounts and Finance Committees to promote harmonization of oversight practices and peer learning.

The Expert will also work closely with the Office of the Auditor General unit responsible for audit follow-up to support the effective review of audit reports and follow-up on audit recommendations and will coordinate with the Ministry of Finance through the SERP Coordinator and PFM Reform Adviser to ensure alignment with national PFM reforms.

Coordination will utilize existing platforms and formal communication channels, with issues escalated through the established avenues. Agency: Federal Government of Somalia Ministry of Finance Procurement method: Individual Consultant Selection Notice type: Request for Expression of Interest Status: Published Value: 83760.0 USD