International consultant to conduct the review of the draft Methodological guidelines on the evaluation and mitigation of corruption and fraud risks within public entities of the Republic of Moldova

Background

"Curbing corruption by building sustainable integrity in the Republic of Moldova" Project will contribute to achieving a sustainable integrity and anticorruption system in the Republic of Moldova through the strengthened capacities of the public and private sector entities and the civil society for the efficient application and monitoring of national integrity instruments and standards.

Although an important progress has been made to put in place efficient anticorruption policies and mechanisms in the Republic of Moldova in the recent years, national and international opinion polls still attest a low trust in public institutions, while corruption persistently remains among three major issues to be solved during the last four years.

The National Integrity and Anticorruption Strategy 2017-2020 (NIAS) adopted by the Parliament on 30 March 2017, identifies among the main causes of systemic corruption in public sector the tolerance of the lack of integrity within public institutions, impunity of civil servants, violation of the public procurement rules and regulations, embezzlement thought public-private partnerships, etc.

To tackle the mentioned above problems and to enhance corruption prevention efforts, NIAS sets as the objective for its Pillar II “Government, Public Sector and Local Public Administration” strengthening the integrity, accountability, transparency, and resistance to corruption risks of the pubic agents, Government members, and locally elected officials. Specific instruments to ensure the institutional integrity are regulated by the Integrity Law no. 82/2017[1]. One of the effective instruments of corruption prevention is the management of corruption risks, regulated by the art.27 of the Integrity Law. This instrument derives from the provisions of the UN Convention against Corruption, ratified by the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova in July 2007. The Convention provides that Each State Party shall, in accordance with the fundamental principles of its legal system, take appropriate measures to promote transparency and accountability in the management of public finances, including through Effective and efficient systems of risk management and internal control.[2]

The National Anticorruption Center (NAC) has a defined mandate for the prevention and investigation of corruption and is entitled to participate at the development and improving of the legal and normative anti-corruption framework, as well as to offer the methodological support to public entities in strengthening the institutional integrity. NAC is also responsible for the coordination of the implementation, monitoring, evaluation and reporting of the NIAS. The 2017 NIAS Monitoring and Evaluation report released by NAC[3] mentions the lack of capacities of public entities to perform the analysis of corruption risks and vulnerabilities and to identify the appropriate mitigation measures, particularly, at local level.

In this context, the UNDP Project ”Curbing corruption by building sustainable integrity in the Republic of Moldova” (further “the Project”) seeks to hire an international consultant to support NAC in developing methodological guidelines on the evaluation and mitigation of corruption and fraud risks within public entities.

[1] http://lex.justice.md/md/370852/  

[2] https://www.unodc.org/documents/treaties/UNCAC/Publications/Convention/08-50026_E.pdf

[3] https://www.cna.md/public/files/parts/Raport_de_monitorizare_i_evaluare_a_implementrii_SNIA_2017.pdf

Duties and Responsibilities

The main objective of the assignment is to support NAC in developing the Methodological guidelines on the evaluation and mitigation of corruption and fraud risks within public entities, aligned to the national and international anti-corruption standards and best practice.

Scope of work and expected outputs:

The consultancy will have one major output: The Review Report of the draft Methodological guidelines on the evaluation and mitigation of corruption and fraud risks within public entities with clear and specific recommendations on it improving accompanied by the amended Guidelines in the track changes format.

For detailed Terms of reference and Procurement Notice please refer to UNDP Moldova job announcement: http://sc.undp.md/jobdetails/1818/

Competencies

• Knowledge of the UNCAC and international anti-corruption instruments;
• Knowledge and understanding of the methodological approaches to corruption and fraud risk assessment in public sector;
• Extensive demonstrated experience in developing methodologies and/or reports related to corruption risks in public sector;
• Previous successful experience of working with UN agencies is an advantage;
• Effective communication and strong analytical skills

Personal qualities

• Proven commitment to the core values of the United Nations; in particular, is respectful of differences of culture, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, language, age, HIV status, disability, and sexual orientation, or other status;
• Responsibility, Flexibility, Punctuality
• Capacity of collaboration and teamwork

Required Skills and Experience

Education:      

• Master’s Degree or equivalent (5 years of university studies) in Law, Political Science, Public Policies, Finance, or other relevant field;

Years and sphere of experience

• At least five years of proven experience in anti-corruption related consultancy, audit and/or anticorruption agencies or other relevant international institutions.
• At least three assignments related to (corruption) risk assessment in public sector and/or in the management of public funds and assets in the new EU Member or candidate states or CIS region.

Languages:

• Knowledge of English; knowledge of Romanian or Russian would be an advantage.

The first three candidates who passed short-listing evaluation criteria with the best score shall be invited for the skype interview and pass cumulative analysis.

Cumulative analysis

The award of the contract shall be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

• Responsive/compliant/acceptable; and
• Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.
• Technical evaluation (max 300 points) – 60%;
• Financial evaluation (max 200 points) – 40%.

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% score of the technical evaluation (at least 210 points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

• Master’s Degree or equivalent (5 years of university studies) in Law, Political Science, Public Policies, Finance, or other relevant field - max 20 pts;
• At least five years of proven experience in anti-corruption related consultancy, audit and/or anticorruption agencies or other relevant international institutions - max 50 pts;
• At least three assignments related to (corruption) risk assessment in public sector and/or in the management of public funds and assets in the new EU Member or candidate states or CIS region - max 50 pts;
• Previous successful experience of working with UN agencies is an advantage - max 25 pts;

Interview:

• Knowledge of the UNCAC and international anti-corruption instruments max 30 pts;
• Knowledge and understanding of the methodological approaches to corruption and fraud risk assessment in public sector - max 30 pts;
• Extensive demonstrated experience in developing methodologies and/or reports related to corruption risks in public sector - max 30 pts;
• Effective communication and strong analytical skills- max 20 pts;
• Knowledge of English; knowledge of Romanian or Russian would be an advantage - max 15 pts;
• Proven commitment to the core values of the United Nations, in particular, respecting differences of culture, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, language, age, HIV status, disability, and sexual orientation, or other status - max 15 pts;
• Responsibility, Flexibility, Punctuality, Capacity of collaboration and teamwork - max 15 pts