The Government of Republic of Moldova has received financing from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) towards the cost of Rural Resilience Project (RRP) and intends to apply part of the proceeds for the recruitment of consulting services provided by an individual consultant as part of the post of Financial Services and Rural Development Specialist.
The use of any IFAD financing shall be subject to IFAD’s approval, pursuant to the terms and conditions of the financing agreement, as well as IFAD’s rules, policies and procedures. IFAD and its officials, agents and employees shall be held harmless from and against all suits, proceedings, claims, demands, losses and liability of any kind or nature brought by any party in connection with RRP.
The consulting services (“the services”) assignment is to contract an individual consultant to implement IFAD-funded financial services activities within ongoing RRP and TRTP Projects with a particular focus on activities aimed to facilitate access for Projects target groups: smallholder farmers, micro entrepreneurs, women, youth, agribusinesses to loans/grants through partner financial institutions (PFIs).
The expected start of the assignment is April 1st, 2023. The contract is valid one year, with the possibility of expansion, based on positive annual performance evaluation, to continue the implementation of the financing activity within the TRTP.
The detailed Terms of Reference (ToRs) of the assignment are provided in Annex to this REOI.
The attention of interested consultants is drawn to IFAD’s Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Policy[1] and the Revised IFAD Policy on Preventing Fraud and Corruption its Activities and Operations[2]. The latter sets forth IFAD’s provisions on prohibited practices. IFAD further strives to ensure a safe working environment free of harassment, including sexual harassment, and free of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) in its activities and operations as detailed in its IFAD Policy to Preventing and Responding to Sexual Harassment, Sexual Exploitation and Abuse.[3]
Interested consultants shall not have any actual, potential or reasonably perceived conflict of interest. Consultants with an actual, potential or reasonably perceived conflict of interest shall be disqualified unless otherwise explicitly approved by the Fund. Consultants are considered to have a conflict of interest if they a) have a relationship that provides them with undue or undisclosed information about or influence over the selection process and the execution of the contract, or b) have a business or family relationship with a member of the client’s board of directors or its personnel, the Fund or its personnel, or any other individual that was, has been or might reasonably be directly or indirectly involved in any part of (i) the preparation of the REOI, (ii) the selection process for this procurement, or (iii) execution of the contract. Consultants have an ongoing obligation to disclose any situation of actual, potential or reasonably perceived conflict of interest during preparation of the EOI, the selection process or the contract execution. Failure to properly disclose any of said situations may lead to appropriate actions, including the disqualification of the consultant, the termination of the contract and any other as appropriate under the IFAD Policy on Preventing Fraud and Corruption in its Projects and Operations.
The Consolidated IFAD Programme Implementation Unit (CPIU IFAD) now invites eligible Individual consultants (“consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the services.
Interested consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the services in the form of a curriculum vitae (CV), a Cover Letter and 2-3 professional references from the previous employers/ supervisors. A consultant will be selected in accordance with the individual consultant selection (ICS) method set out in IFAD’ Project Procurement Handbook that can be accessed via the IFAD website at www.ifad.org/project-procurement. Interviews will be conducted as part of the selection process.
The shortlisting criteria are:
| Criterion | Weight |
| 1. General qualifications: | 15 |
| · University degree (Bachelor’s) in Finance and/or Agriculture economics, or other fields related to rural finance. Master’s degree in a relevant domain will be considered as an advantage. | 10 |
| · Participation in specialized international training courses related to agri-business financing.. | 5 |
| 2. Specific previous experience in the field for vacant position: | 30 |
| · At least 3 years of experience in finance, banking and other related fields. Experience in rural and/or agriculture financing will be considered as an advantage. | 20 |
| · At least 1 year experience in implementation of development projects related to financing of agricultural/rural businesses or in other related fields. | 10 |
| 3. Competencies (through Interview for candidates that score at least 35 points on the above criteria 1 to 2): | 55 |
| · Excellent problem solving and analytical skills using creativity and innovation. | 10 |
| · Communication (group facilitation skills), networking and coordination skills with various stakeholders | 10 |
| · Competency technical test (knowledge of the sector and skills in investment financing and monitoring) | 15 |
| · Computer management skills especially office productivity tools | 10 |
| · Language skills: Fluency in Romanian and good command of written and spoken English. | 10 |
|
TOTAL |
100 |
The top ranked candidates will be invited in due course to submit a technical and financial proposal that will be evaluated and negotiated. The passing score for shortlisting is 70 points.
Any request for clarification on this REOI should be sent via e-mail to the address below procurement@ucipifad.md not later than 20 February 2023. The client will provide responses to all clarification requests by 23 February 2023.
Expressions of interest in the form of curriculum vitae (CV) with a cover letter, the 2-3 references letters, from the last employers/supervisors, Self-declaration of liability, as per the form attached, must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by fax, or by e-mail) by 02 March 2023, 16:00.
Attn: Igor Tomita, Procurement assistant
Ștefan cel Mare și Sfînt bd. 162, Chișinău, MD-2004
E-mail: procurement@ucipifad.md
Tel. (022) 22 – 18 – 80
[1] The policy is accessible at https://www.ifad.org/en/document-detail/asset/41942012.
[2] The policy is accessible at www.ifad.org/anticorruption_policy.
[3] The policy is accessible at https://www.ifad.org/en/document-detail/asset/40738506.