TERMS OF REFERENCE
FOR
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF NSA WEBSITE
Integrated Public Financial Management Reform Project (IPFMRP)
1. PROJECT BACKGROUND
The Government of Sierra Leone signed Financing and Grant Agreements with the International
Development Association to commission the Integrated Public Financial Management Reform
Project (IPFMRP) on the 19th October 2009. This project was designed to support the
Government in improving the credibility, predictability, control and transparency in fiscal and
budget management.
The project has a Non State Actors (NSA) component. The Project Appraisal Document
(PAD) of IPFMRP indicates that the project would “support the development of the analytic and
dissemination capacity of civil society and NSAs in exercising scrutiny over the use of public
resources, as well as building a constituency for Public financial management (PFM) reforms.”
The NSA component is composed of 2 key sub-components:
Sub-component 4.1 – Provision of Supply Driven Support (US$0.40 million)
Under this sub-component support is provided for the engagement of NSAs on PFM reform.
Activities under this sub-component includes, but are not limited to, analyses and monitoring of
the national and local government budgets, support for advocacy activities and dissemination of
information on all aspects of public financial management, building a grassroots constituency for
reforms and media training for journalists on covering government budget (government
revenue and expenditure matters) and other public financial management related issues
Sub-component 4.2 – Sub-grants to Non-State Actors (NSAs) (US$0.60 million)
Under this sub-component the provision of sub-grants will be made to eligible NSAs to support
activities related to PFM including but not limited to (i) analysis and monitoring of the national and
local government budgets at various stages of the budget preparation, approval and execution cycle;
(ii) support for advocacy activities and dissemination of information on all aspects of PFM at the
national and local government levels; and (iii) media training for journalists on covering government
budget and spending matters.
To date, the project has made substantial progress in implementing the supply-driven activities
and programmes in the area of increasing the involvement and participation of NSAs in PFM
related programmes of Government through the Ministry of Finance and Economic
Developement, the Audit Service and the International Development Partners’ programmes.
Information and coordinating mechanisms have also been established resulting in the
organization of regional and district structures through which PFM activities have been carried
out at the district levels. Among successes already gained in the project include the finalization
of the citizens’ budget, the preparation of grant manual, the active engagement of NSAs in the
last national budget hearings, the publication of press releases on the annual budget statement
and the relationship established with key oversight institutions including parliament that has
enhanced the recognition of the role of NSA in public financial management. To climax the
success of the supply-driven phase, a national training of non-state actors preceded by a training
validation workshops in all the regions of the country have been concluded followed by the
publications of a policy briefing papers on NSA training and citizens’ awareness materials on
PFM involvement with a number of flyers on the NSA component project activities.
To consolidate the supply driven activities of the component, the demand-driven component
has been initiated which is critical for the success of the entire component. Under this
component the services of a Sub grants Evaluation Agent has almost been secured to undertake
certain key tasks that will effectively roll out the grant-making aspect of the project.
In line with one key objective of the Non-State Actors’ (NSAs) oversight and scrutiny subcomponent of the Integrated Public Financial Management Reform Project (IPFMRP) is the need
to share information on NSA activities and programmes to the all stakeholders. Thus, the
establishment of a website for information sharing on the activities of the NSAs is pivotal in the
successful implementation of an integrated financial management project of this nature, as it will
improve the process of engagement and interface between and amongst central and local
government functionaries on the one hand and the citizenry on the other. It will also help in the
awareness raising drive of the wider citizenry on public financial management issues and
facilitate dialogue process, and at the same time aid experience sharing
The key purpose of this Terms of Reference therefore is to solicit the services of a consultant
to establish a NSA website that will be managed by the NSA themselves. The term of reference
will further spell out the details related to the development, administration and management of
the website and all other related issues to support information sharing and communicating on
all the activities of the supply-driven and demand-driven components.
2. OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSIGNMENT
The overall objectives of the assignment is to develop and maintain a website and internet
facility for the NSA component of the IPFMRP that will help disseminate and communicate
information on the entire activities of the component, as well as to keep the NSA audience with
latest news, upcoming activities, programmes of all its members at the national and local levels.
The Specific objective of the consultancy is to establish an interactive website that will have a
public internet facility that will describe the role and activities of NSA and other related information
for use by the public to enhance the effectiveness of the operation of the component.
3. SCOPE OF THE WORK
The tasks and activities of the website development consultant shall include:
1) Conduct an inventory of available information, assessing the format in which it is currently,
and making plans to web-enable it;
2) Conduct meetings with NSA members to determine information needs required to be
posted in the website;
3) Determine the information structure of the website, making allowances for the location and
display of the information relating to this project. It is expected that after initial content
strategy sessions, the consultant will develop wireframes for the proposed website and
share these with staff for adjustments and final approval;
4) Design, develop and operationalize a website that reflect all past, on-going and future
activities of the NSA component including work of its members;
5) Ensure that the website contains easy links in all aspects and should allow for registration
function for users to facilitate transmission of electronic mail for example, newsletter to all
audiences;
6) Develop a website that should contain search facility for retrieving information on the NSA;
7) Make periodic recommendation to the NSA Secretariat to improve on the quality of content
and information pages of the website.
4. PERIOD FOR PERFORMANCE OF THE ASSIGMENT
The assignment will be conducted in two phases. The first phase will involve the technical
aspect of the assignment related to the design, development and operationalization of the
website and is expected to last a month. The second phase will be testing phase of the website
including the finalization of arrangements for the website administration. This will also involve
the arrangement for setting up intervals for upload of information on the website by the
Administrator and possible options for trainings of a small team of NSAs on website
management.
5. DELIVERABLES AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
The website consultant shall produce specified deliverables with reporting requirements as
follows:
1. Prepare an inception report detailing out methodology and approach of the assignment;
2. Produce and submit specifications for the website content and process of development
within a month;
3. Produce a plan of action for the management and administration of the website;
4. Hold meetings with key stakeholders comprising the NSA secretariat, the NSA media
and communication committee members and the IPFMRP;
5. Complete the website construction and make it functional within a month with a
domain name, internet access, and compliant with web browsers in most common use
in the west such as internet explorer, fire fox, chrome and others;
6. Produce at the end of the assignment a report outlining recommendations for
maintenance and effective operation of the website.
6. SERVICES AND FACILITIES TO BE PROVIDED BY THE CLIENT
The NSA Secretariat and thePublic Financial Management Reform Project unit (PFMRU) will
provide any advice and related documents requested by the consultant required for the
successful discharge of the tasks of the assuagement. The NSA Coordinator will act as
counterpart in providing advisory support services if required in the area of facilitating the
successful discharge of the assignment.
7. INSTITUTIONAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL ARRANGEMENTS
MOFED will be the main hiring authority for the Website development consultant. However
the IIPFMRP Finance Unit will be the main body that will coordinate disbursement of funds
related to payment consultancy fees for the assignment.
The Procurement Unit will be responsible to carry out all procurement-related tasks to recruit
the consultant.
8. QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
The assignment will require the services of a consultant and must be associated with a credible
firm with the following qualifications:
1. Extensive experience in website development with examples of previous work either by
screen shot or hyperlinks;
2. Thorough knowledge and implementation of website standards;
3. A clear understanding of future directions and other technologies;
4. Capacity to suggest what could be inexpensively incorporated into the site to add
functionality, increase visual communication and make it more user-friendly;
5. Ability to work constructively with both government and NSA counterparts;
6. Sound understanding of non-governmental organisation environment;
7. Demonstrate ability to deliver the assignment’s on time and budget.
As part of its application process, the agent will submit a technical and financial proposal,
explaining the methodology of the assignment as well as timelines. In the appointment process,
the agent’s integrity will be valued extremely highly and a code of conduct will be signed as part
of contracting arrangements between the consultant and MOFED.
8. TENTATIVE TIMELINE FOR SELECTION AND CONTRACTING OF THE
WEBSITE CONSULTANT
Action
Tentative date
Preparatory kick off meeting
15th November
Domain Selection, Registration and set up
23rd November 2012
Design initiation
28th November
Website construction
6th December 2012
Website testing
Web sign off and go live
Training a select NSA media and
communication Committee members
7th December 2012
10th December 2012
13- 14th December 2012