Disbursement Specialist/Cashier; Agricultural Commercialization Project

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES – SELECTION OF AN INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT)

Country: Republic of Tajikistan

Project title: Agricultural Commercialization Project (additional financing)

Credit # 6089-TJ, Grant # D205-TJ

Contract title: Disbursement Specialist/ Cashier

Registration number (according to the procurement plan): ACPAF/MOFPIU/IC/2022-01

The Government of Tajikistan, with the assistance of the World Bank, is implementing a five-year Agricultural Commercialization Project (ACP). The objective of the project is to increase the commercialization and growth of agricultural and agribusiness products by improving the efficiency of selected value chains and supporting the development of productive partnerships between producers, processors and traders by increasing access to finance and building the capacity of project beneficiaries.

The World Bank has approved additional funding that supports the government's program to promote private sector development, including creating income and employment opportunities for returning migrants and other start-up entrepreneurs (including women, youth and people with disabilities).

A new component has been added to support potential target groups of entrepreneurs with entrepreneurship training, business development services (BDS) and start-up support, as well as pilot innovation approaches to promote entrepreneurship and job creation. The component will attempt to address identified market gaps, such as lack of basic business skills and knowledge (legal, financial, tax), access to finance, as well as skills and knowledge of potential entrepreneurs, lack of collateral for obtaining loans (especially for women); high interest rates, excessive taxation.

The State Institution " Project Implementation Unit for Access to Green and Rural Development Finance" under the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Tajikistan (PIU MOF) within the framework of the Agricultural Commercialization Project (additional financing) invites interested candidates to express their interest in filling the vacant position of a Disbursement Specialist/ Cashier.

Objectives and scope of work

The main objective of the assignment is to oversee disbursements, collection, and receipt of the Project funds. Disbursement Officer/ Cashier duties include, but are not necessarily limited to these:

Maintain accounting records of the components to ensure proper control over components’ funds under the Project, their movements and payments, following accepted procedures and standards of accounting of the Republic of the Tajikistan, in accordance with the requirements of the World Bank and Tajik law;
Process primary documents, enter all transactions and daily banking transactions into the 1C accounting system with the preparation of the components’ bank documents;
Make cash payments and cash advances from the Project cash for operational and other costs of the Project, due keep cash assets;
Complying with all regulations of the WB on disbursement, payment, spending as well as taxation regulations applied to the Project;
Opening required accounting books, checking initial documents, making accounting records, entering data into the computerized system, fulfilling procedures of disbursement and payments in compliance with being-valid regulations and provisions stated in the Project Document;
Process the advance statements of the implementing partners and other staff to be paid under the Project;
Prepare all evidences and supporting documents on components’ expenditures together with the application for withdrawal;
Prepare the monthly reports on cash flows on Project components’ accounts;
Maintain an electronic cash book and bank statements control;
Control over consumption and maintain the expenditure statements for components’ fuel;
Process the accounting records for all tangible and intangible assets, participate in the annual inventory of fixed assets purchased and transferred to the Project components;
Participate in preparation of various reports at the request of the WB, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Agriculture, State Statistics Committee and other Government agencies;
Supporting the auditing process, making sure that all findings from the audit relating to financial activities should be corrected appropriately with due attention
Perform other related duties at the request of the PIU MoF Director and the Chief Accountant.

Qualification requirements

Higher education in finance, economics, or similarly relevant discipline;
At least 2 years of relevant experience in the field of accounting/financial management compliance with the international standards acceptable to the International Development Association;
Knowledge and experience in maintaining financial and accounting documents, preferably in international organizations and/or government agencies;
Knowledge and practical experience with the accounting software “1-C Accounting”;
Knowledge of MS Excel and MS Word programs, e-mail, Internet and office equipment;
Ability to work in a team, strong communication and interpersonal skills.
Fluency in Russian and Tajik (oral and writing) and knowledge of English would be an asset.
Sound knowledge of accounting and financial procedures, Tajik Accounting and Tax regulations;

Duration of the assignment will be until project completion date June 30, 2022

The selection will be made using the "IC – Individual Consultant" method in accordance with the World Bank procedures in accordance with the Guidelines: Procurement of Goods, Works and non-consulting Services under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits and Grants by World Bank Borrower" dated January 2011, (revised July 2014).

Interested candidates shall submit (send) their CV in Russian and English to the following address, and, if necessary, apply for additional information from 8:00 to 17:00 from Monday to Friday. The deadline for submission of proposals is January 21, 2022 until 17:00 (local time):

Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Tajikistan

PIU under Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Tajikistan

F. Niyozi, 7th floor, Dushanbe, Tajikistan

Tel./Fax: +992 37 227-67-87

E-mail: p.negmatov@greenfinance.tj