Development of Project Operational Manual (POM) for BILIM

Individual Consultant for Preparation of the Program Operations Manual

1) Background

The Government of Uzbekistan, through MoPSE and MEF, is preparing the World Bank-supported BILIM Operation under the Program-for-Results (PforR) instrument, with a complementary IPF Technical Assistance component, financed by an IDA credit and an IFFEd grant. The Operation will be implemented by MoPSE, MEF, and other relevant institutions, supported by an Implementation Office. Results will be measured through Disbursement Linked Indicators and verified in accordance with the Financing Agreements and Verification Protocols. To ensure effective and consistent implementation, a Program Operations Manual (POM) will define institutional responsibilities and procedures for financial management, procurement, environmental and social requirements, monitoring, verification, reporting, and coordination. MoPSE therefore intends to engage an Individual Consultant experienced in preparing operational manuals for World Bank-financed operations, preferably under PforR.

2) Scope of Work

Under the overall supervision of the MoPSE, the Consultant shall carry out the following tasks: Task 1. Review of Documentation The Consultant shall review and analyse all relevant documents, including but not limited to: GFPP Facility documentation; Program Appraisal Document (PAD) and Annexes (including DLIs/DLRs) Results Framework; Financing Agreements; Disbursement and Financial Information Letter (DFIL) (for both the credit and the grant); Environmental and Social Systems Assessment (ESSA); Verification Protocols for Disbursement Linked Indicators (DLIs); Program Action Plan (PAP); Applicable World Bank PforR and IPF policies and procedures, guidance notes and relevant operational documents.

The Consultant shall identify operational requirements, implementation arrangements, institutional responsibilities, fiduciary obligations, and reporting requirements to be reflected in the POM. Task 2. Institutional and Operational Assessment Conduct consultations with MoPSE, MEF, the Implementation Office, and other relevant stakeholders to: Identify institutional roles and responsibilities; Map implementation processes and decision-making arrangements; Document coordination mechanisms between implementing agencies; Identify operational risks, bottlenecks, and capacity gaps; Recommend practical operational procedures to support efficient Operation implementation.

Task 3. Design of the POM The Consultant shall design a logical, user-friendly, and World Bank–compliant structure for the POM, covering at minimum: Operation (Program and Project) overview and legal framework; Program Action Plan; Institutional arrangements, roles, and responsibilities; Governance structure and decision-making processes; Planning, budgeting, and implementation arrangements; DLI/DLR implementation, verification, and reporting procedures; Financial management, disbursement, audit, and fiduciary arrangements (for both the Program and the Project); Anti-corruption measures and reporting; Environmental and social systems, including GRM; Information management and data protection; Monitoring, evaluation, and reporting framework; Amendment, exception, waiver, and revision procedures; Standard annexes, templates, forms, checklists, flow diagrams, process maps (including swimlanes), responsibility matrices (RACI); Procurement and contract management procedures; Risk management arrangements.

Task 4. Preparation of the Program Operational Manual The Consultant shall prepare a complete POM , ensuring that: Roles and responsibilities are clearly defined by process diagrams and internally consistent (approval authorities, reporting lines, etc.); Operational procedures are practical, unambiguous, implementable and clearly documented; Fiduciary, verification, environmental, and social arrangements are clearly articulated; all procedures are consistent with the Financing Agreements, PAD, PAP, DFIL, ESSA, and Other applicable documents; terminology is consistent with the Financing Agreement and PAD.

Task 5. Consultation and Revision

The Consultant shall:

present the draft POM to MoPSE and relevant stakeholders; incorporate comments and feedback from MoPSE, MEF and the World Bank; prepare a revised and finalised POM acceptable to the World Bank.

Task 6. Finalization and Handover Submit the final POM in a format acceptable to the World Bank.

The final submission shall include:

Final Program Operations Manual; Annexes; Standard Operating Procedures; Templates and standard forms; Flowcharts and process maps; Responsibility matrix; Comment-resolution matrix; Editable electronic files in Microsoft Word and PDF formats.

3) Required Qualifications and Experience Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in public policy, project management, economics, finance, law, public administration, or a related field.

Experience Minimum 8 years of professional experience in managing and implementing projects/programs in the education sector, social sector, or public sector financed by International Financial Institutions; Proven experience in World Bank–financed operations , at least one completed Program-for-Results (PforR) assignment; Demonstrated experience in drafting Operational Manuals, POMs, PIMs, or similar operational documents ; Strong understanding of fiduciary systems, results-based financing, DLIs/DLRs, and verification arrangements.

Skills Excellent analytical and drafting skills; Ability to translate legal and policy requirements into operational procedures; Familiarity with World Bank fiduciary, environmental, social, and anti-corruption requirements; Strong communication and coordination skills.

4) Duration and Level of Effort

The assignment is expected to require up to 90 calendar days over an estimated period of 3–4 months . The contract type is individual consultancy (lump-sum) .

5) Confidentiality

All documents, data, and information produced or accessed un