Request for Expression of Interest for Consultancy Services in Finalization of VSF Switzerland Manuals On Finance, Administration and Standard Operations
Consultancy TOR: Finalization of VSF Suisse Manuals for Finance, Administration & Operations, April 2009
1. BACKGROUND
Vétérinaires sans Frontières-Switzerland (VSF Suisse) was founded in 1988 as a
humanitarian, charitable, politically and religiously neutral organisation with headquarters in Bern, Switzerland.
It is a recognized international non-profit organization, which provides livestock related aid to those most in need. Current programs focus on livestock emergency preparedness and response as well as food security and nutrition (development) interventions.
Projects in the livestock sector are implemented in Western, Central and Horn of Africa countries and in Eastern Europe.
VSF Suisse, based on its statutes, is registered as an international NGO in Switzerland
and in some of the Countries of Operation, including Kenya (registered as VSF Switzerland, VSF-CH), Southern Sudan and Puntland (Somalia).
The regional Horn of Africa Office in Nairobi, Kenya, coordinates regional and national projects ongoing in Southern Sudan, Somalia, Puntland and Kenya and is a major operational and administrative hub for the Horn of Africa projects.
The volume of projects administered in the Horn of Africa Office has been growing over
the last 4 years and the number of Donors as well. The demands of different donors on
VSF S administration are varied, in general there is an increased demand for detailed
documentation (accountability), transparent decision making processes and cost
effectiveness.
In this high-pressure work context VSF S needs to review the appropriateness of Horn
of Africa Finance, Administration and Operations procedures and systems and to update
existing Manuals accordingly.
This consultancy aims at reviewing the current system and at improving it with a view on the current and future needs and will allow the office to function in a cost-effective manner.
2. OBJECTIVES
2.1 Review appropriateness of existing financial, administrative and operational systems and procedures as documented with a view to current and future needs.
2.2 Improve the existing financial, administrative and operational systems and procedures to ensure they meet current and future demand and document them.
- The improvements will be agreed upon in a consultative manner with the respective teams involved.
- Findings will be presented and agreed upon with senior staff.
- Especially for the Finance and Administration Department (field and RON):
a. Assess RON Finance department and field staff: job descriptions, staffing
levels/qualifications, performance measurement system and organogram with a view to establishment of an efficient accounting system for the current number of projects,
b. Document Finance Cycle Management Procedure in all details (HQ-RONField
in South Sudan, Somalia and Kenya), anti-fraud policy,
c. Financial reporting, requirements by donors for projects, verification of
accounting produced, establishment of procedures for field finance management,
d. Ensure that the overlaps/linkages of Admin and Finance with Logistics and
Operations are clearly defined and described.
e. Consult with Regional Coordinator for needs of specific information needs
regarding sub-policies on Vehicles and Equipment or IT.
3. METHODOLOGY
- This will be done in a consultative manner in cooperation with the Regional Coordinator and the Senior Staff in charge of Projects (PMs), Finance, Administration (FAM), Logistics and Operations (RLM), who should call upon their team members in case of need and to ensure a simple as possible but integrated system development.
- This will be done in a comparative manner (other VSF’s and NGO’s) to ensure VSF S is appropriately positioned.
- This will be done in reference to all existing VSF S and donor regulations and requirements to ensure that VSF S is compliant.
- This will be done while crosschecking existing manuals.
- This will involve visits to VSF S field locations in Kenya, Southern Sudan and Somalia for better understanding of how especially the new systems need to be set up to be efficient.
4. CONSULTANT’S QUALIFICATIONS
The consultant should:
- Have a demonstrated experience of administration, finance and operations and logistics management in international NGO’s (detailed understanding of how the so called “support or service sectors” to the technical team have to function and adapt the knowledge to VSF S needs).
- Awareness of Donor requirements (ECHO, EC, USAID, SDC, SIDA, FAO) for international NGO’s.
- Experience in organsational policy development.
- Understand teambuilding and leadership issues in organizations.
- First hand knowledge of the socio-cultural, economic and political situation in the countries of operation of VSF Suisse (Southern Sudan, Somalia, Kenya).
- Ability to manage the task with the available time and resources.
- Excellent analytical abilities and ability to work in a consultative manner with teams.
- Excellent command of the English Language and writing experience to finalize the three manuals.
5. THE PRODUCTS OF THE CONSULTANCY
The consultant is in charge of producing:
- A 30 - day schedule that includes preparation, travelling, fieldwork and manual writing.
- Successful consultants will give a presentation to VSF Suisse on their interpretation of the TORs and methodology to be used. Another presentation will be made to VSF Suisse before finalisation of the manuals.
- The consultant will be paid upon receipt of three satisfactory manuals by VSF Suisse:
- Reviewed and updated VSF S Finance and Administration Manual.
- Reviewed and updated Standard Operations Manual
- oField Operations Manual
6. LITERATURE FOR THE CONSULTANT
The following documents shall be provided to the consultant for background
information.
- VSF S Statutes
- VSF S Registration Documents in each country of operation
- VSF S Horn of Africa Profile
- Annual Reports of the organization
- List of Projects administered by VSF S in the Horn of Africa
- Audit Reports of the Regional Office or Horn of Africa Office Nairobi.
- Applicable Laws/Documents (Kenya, Southern Sudan, Somalia)
- Existing Administration Guidelines
- Existing Financial Guidelines
- Standard Operations Manual
7. LOCATION AND TIMING
The consultancy will take place in Nairobi and in the countries of operation of VSF
Suisse as per need (Somalia, Southern Sudan, Kenya).
8. BUDGET AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Payment of the consultant will depend on experience and qualifications and will cover consultancy fee for a total of 30 days for preparation, travel, analysis, discussions, presentations and finalization of the manuals.
- This will be paid in 1 installment upon completion of the 3 Manuals in soft and hard copy, subject to the satisfaction of the Regional Coordinator (in coordination with his Senior Staff).
- VSF S will meet travel costs and related expenditures from, to and within countries of operation, the required travel permit/visa and provide food & accommodation.
The consultant will receive a daily allowance to cover his/her food & water needs
while in the field but has to cover his own medical expenses (e.g. required
vaccinations such as Yellow Fever, Meningitis, Polio and Tetanus) and has to submit
his/her passport and 2 passport photographs to enable VSF Suisse to obtain a
movement permit/visa for South Sudan.
9. BIDS
- Interested consultants should prepare and submit to VSF Suisse a technical and financial proposal for the assignment, their Curriculum Vitae and a report of previous work done by Friday, 15th of May 2009 through the postal or email address of P.O Box 25656, 00603 Nairobi, Kenya or recruitment @ vsfsuisse.org.
- The client is not obliged to offer the job to the lowest or highest bidder.
- Only consultant(s) that pass our internal evaluation system will be contacted.
- Canvassing is not allowed.
- The successful consultant should be ready to travel to the field locations of VSF Suisse.
10. TENTATIVE TIME SCHEDULE
Timeline: 30 days
Starting date: preferably from 20th May 2009
Place: Nairobi
Activity: Briefing meeting with Regional Coordinator and Senior Staff of VSF Suisse. Availing the documents, literature review, planning of the consultancy with RLM, FAM and PMs.
Place: Southern Sudan
Activity: Travel to Field Locations with FAM and RLM, PM’s and joint analysis of processes
Place: Kenya
Activity: Travel to Field Locations with FAM and RLM, PM’s and joint analysis of processes
Place: Somalia
Activity: Travel to Field Locations with FAM and RLM, PM’s and joint analysis of processes if possible
Place: Nairobi
Activity: Writing of Manuals in consultation with VSF S staff Nairobi
Place: Nairobi
Activity: Presentation of final version of Manuals and recommendations on how to put them into practice (Training on implementation for different cadres of staff)