Letter of Invitation

Date: July 29, 2021
Dear Mr./Ms.: Eligible Consultant

1. The Ministry of Finance of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (hereinafter called “Client”) has received financing (hereinafter called “the funds”) from the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) toward the cost of technical advisor on tax administration who support the government on implementation progress of the tax administration reform. The Client intends to apply a portion of the funds to eligible payments under the contract for which this Request for Proposals is issued.

2. The Ministry of Finance now invites proposals to provide the following consulting Services: Individual consulting service to support the government in comprehensive analytical reports regarding the progress of the implementation of the tax administration . More details on the Services are provided in the Terms of Reference (TOR).

3. A consultant shall be selected under the quality-based selection method (Consultant’s qualifications) and cost. The candidate should possess at least 15 years of experience in the areas of tax administration, and government advisory, Deep practical understanding of the Ethiopian tax administration and reforms, Knowledge of the home-grown economic reforms agenda, and the Domestic Resource Mobilization goals and objectives of the Ethiopian Government, Demonstrated knowledge and experience of tax policy and tax administration, etc. The detailed evaluation criterions (Qualification, experience and skills) are stated in the Terms of Reference (TOR)

4. This Request for Proposals includes the following documents:
 This Letter of Invitation;
 The letter of Submission of the Proposal;
 Technical Proposal;
 Financial Proposal;
 Terms of Reference;
 Standard Form of Contract.

5. Your proposal shall comprise your Proposal Submission Form, a Technical Proposal (including curriculum vitae (CV)), a Financial Proposal net of taxes and the signed Statement of Integrity, and must be submitted to: agelgelu@mofed.gov.et with a copy to mezgebua2011@gmail.com, aberag11@gmail.com by addressing to Ministry of Finance (MoF), Channel One programs Coordinating Directorate, MoF main building, sadist Killo, yekatit 12 Square, King George Avenue, 4th Floor, Room no.403, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on or before August 23, 2021 at 3:00pm local time . If necessary, you may request any clarifications by sending an email to the same email address above before August 10, 2021, at 5:00 pm
Best regards



Terms of Reference
Terms of Reference-Draft
Technical Advisor – Tax Administration
I. Background
The Government of Ethiopia is implementing a comprehensive economic reform agenda-Home Grown Economic Reform (HGER) to address the macroeconomic imbalances created over the past recent years. The objective of the HGER is to ensure macro-economic stability and sustain the economic growth by implementing corrective reforms and by enhancing the role of the private sector participation in the economy. The Ministry of Finance (MoF) is leading the implementation of the HGER reforms including privatization and SOE reform, fiscal policy, and public finance management to lay the ground for the successful implementation of the Government’s economic reform agenda towards promoting private sector investment in Ethiopia. One of the major focus of the reform is to enhance Domestic Resource Mobilization where raising the low level of the tax-to-GDP ratio over the medium term is the central objective through implementing a well-designed comprehensive tax policy and tax administration reforms. MoF is coordinating and leading the implementation of these reforms. An inter-ministerial steering committee is established to oversight the implementation progress and take the necessary decisions. A technical committee was also setup to provide technical backing of the work of the inter-ministerial committee.
Therefore, the MoF is seeking a Technical Advisor who will support the work of the technical committee in the area of tax administration. The Advisor will be particularly responsible to provide hands off support to the technical committee comprehensive analytical reports regarding the progresses of the implementation of the tax administration reforms within the Ministry of Revenue.
II. Duties and Responsibilities:
The main and overall objective of this assignment is to assist the work of the inter-ministerial committee by engaging both the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Revenues to produce consolidated progress reports of the tax administration reforms underway and provide recommendations and advices to the joint technical team.
Duties and responsibilities include but not limited to:-
• Track and consolidate progresses of the various reform solutions being implemented in the tax administration as well as produce an evaluation report.
• Advises in identification of gaps in revenue administration functions and propose reform and modernization measures.
• Advice on compatibility of various tax administration improvements internally initiated and those proposed from external technical assistances.
• Assess efficiency and effectiveness and ensure the proper functioning of tax management programs put in place,
• Advise on legal reform required and resolution mechanisms to minimize revenue administration issues disputed by taxpayers.
• Advise on reforms that require to create conducive tax compliance environment in general;
III. Qualification and Experiences
Education:
• A minimum of Masters degree in taxation, accounting, economics;
Functional experience and skills
• Senior professional with at least 15 years of experience in the areas of tax administration, and government advisory,
• Deep practical understanding of the Ethiopian tax administration and reforms,
• Knowledge of the home-grown economic reforms agenda, and the Domestic Resource Mobilization goals and objectives of the Ethiopian Government,
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience of tax policy and tax administration,
• Engaged in leading the tax administration reform of the country,
• Experience in and ability to lead diagnostic studies, design of tax administration reforms, develop monitoring and evaluation systems of the implementation of the tax administration reforms,
• Ability to work with multiple internal and external stakeholders, including senior policy makers, donors, and consultants
• Excellent communication and partnership management skills
Language
• Fluent in Amharic and English (written and spoken)
IV. Duration of the service
• Adviser’s engagement is expected to run for two (2) years
V. Reporting requirement
• The Adviser will report to both the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Revenue
VI. Evaluation Criteria/selection criteria

The following criteria shall be used to select candidates:
1. General qualification and relevant training of the candidates (20 points)

2. Relevant Specific experience of the candidates related to the assignment (40 points)

3. Adequate knowledge and understanding of the home-grown economic reform agenda, domestic resource mobilization goals and objective of Ethiopia, tax administration reforms, tax policy, diagnostic studies, design of tax administration (20 points

4. Skills and competency –language (fluent in Amharic and English, Ability to work with multiple internal and external stakeholders, including senior policy makers, donors, and consultants; and Excellent communication and partnership management skills, etc (20 Points )