THE GOVERNMENT OF THE KINGDOM OF TONGA (GOT)
MINISTRY OF HEALTH
PACIFIC HEALTHY ISLANDS TRANSFORMATION (PHIT) PROJECTS
Grant Number E5270-TO
REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
Financial Management Officer (FMO)
Assignment: Financial Management Officer (FMO)
Reference: TO-TON-MOH-534211-CS-INDV
Client/Employer: Project Management Unit (PMU), Ministry of Health (MOH)
Project Number: P508550
Deadline for REOI: 13th March 2026, 04:30 PM (Tongan Time)
The Kingdom of Tonga has received financing from the World Bank towards the Ministry of Health (MOH) as the Implementing Agency for the Pacific Healthy Islands Transformation (PHIT) Project in Tonga, to deliver on the project development objective, of strengthening access to quality health services within participating Pacific Island Countries, with a focus on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) management. PHIT will complement and boost the impact of existing national health systems investments, including the HEART Project (P180965). The Pacific Healthy Islands Transformation (PHIT) Project (P508550) is a USD13.7 million grant financed by the World Bank (WB) through the International Development Association (IDA). PHIT Project is a regional project involving Fiji, Kiribati, Tonga, and Tuvalu. The PHIT project is designed as a suite of regional investments to support the transformation of Pacific health systems into fit-for-purpose primary health care (PHC) oriented health systems that promote health and deliver adequate preventive and curative services in the region. The PMU will play a crucial role in overseeing and managing the implementation process, ensuring that all activities are carried out in accordance with established standards and guidelines. The PMU is staffed with a Project Manager and workstream Officers in different fields (Procurement, Safeguards, Financial Management, Administration and Data management).
The overall responsibility of the FMO is to:
- Maintain accurate financial management arrangements and timely reporting in accordance with the Project Operations Manual (POM), the project Financing Agreement, and Government regulations.
- Processes accurately and promptly all accounting transactions including payroll, operating expenses, travel, consultant payments, vendor payments, charge backs and other office running expenses.
- Keep relevant documents and invoices systematically to fully support the accounts.
- Maintain an up-to-date Project fixed asset register and perform regular (at least annually) asset count to ensure the Project assets are in good use.
- Ensure timely payments, funds transfers and resolve accounting related issues of the Project.
- Ensure contractual payments are made in accordance with current contracts, and that any Tongan taxation is correctly deducted and transferred to the Ministry of Revenue.
- Maintain a contract management and payment system as well as a commitment register to ensure all contracts are up to date and Project funds are available for the committed works.
- If required, recommend an appropriate accounting software for the PMU, support the procurement process and lead the implementation of the new system and the training of relevant PMU staff on its use.
- Monitor and suggest updates to the financial management aspects of the POM.
This is a full-time position, initial contract for two (2) years extendable annually upon mutual understanding and performance up to duration of project (5 years).
The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment can be obtain from Semisi Fukofuka, fukofukas [at] health [dot] gov [dot] to or Jawwad Rashid, jawadtcsu [at] gmail [dot] com.
The Ministry of Health now invites eligible individuals (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services (attach curriculum vitae with description of qualifications, experience in similar assignments, similar conditions, etc.).
The criteria for selecting the Consultant are:
EXPERTISE REQUIREMENTS
Academic Background and Relevant Experience
Minimum Requirements
The FMO must have:
- Degree in Accounting, Finance and/or Public or Business Administration or related fields.
- At least 5 years’ broad experience with donor or public funded projects in accounting including evidence of similar hands-on work.
- Fluency in English and demonstrated ability to be able to write succinct reports which clearly articulate identified issues.
- Excellent Microsoft Excel Skills.
Desirable Requirements
- Previous experience in Donors (The World Bank and similar donors) funded projects is an advantage.
- Previous experience and developing countries and similar assignment, particularly working in Tonga.
- Demonstrated ability to work well with diverse team and various levels of government.
- A knowledge of the relevant Tonga Legislation would be an advantage.
Scoring:
Candidates that meet the above minimum requirements will be scored in accordance with the following criteria.
Evaluation Criteria — Maximum score
- General Qualifications (Education) —20
- Adequacy for the Assignment (relevant education, training, experience in the sector/similar assignments) — 60
- Essential Skills, Knowledge and Competencies and other personal aptitudes as detailed under the ToRs-Evaluation Criteria — 20
The remuneration package for this position is attractive and will be determined based on qualifications, experience, and previous remunerations for similar assignments.
Further information can be obtained at the email above during office hours 08:30 to 16:30 hours weekdays.
Applicants that are civil servants of Tonga at the time of application are only eligible to apply, if a copy of the Savingram from the Tonga PSC informing resignation effective date of the applicant must be submitted together with their EOI application before the deadline of the REOI.
A firm is eligible to nominate an individual – however, note that only the experience and qualifications of the nominated individual shall be used in the selection process, and that (their) corporate experience shall not be considered. The firm, if proposing an individual, must specify whether the contract would be signed with the firm or the proposed individual.
The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to SECTION III paragraph 3.14, 3.16 and 3.17 of the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers, dated February 2025 sixth edition (“the Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest. A Consultant will be selected in accordance with Paragraph 7.22, 7.25, 7.36 to 7.37 of the Procurement Regulations.
INSTRUCTION FOR SUBMISSION:
Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below in person, or by e-mail) no later than 04:30pm (Tongan Time) of Monday, 4th November 2024.
Attention to:
Dr Reynold ‘Ofanoa
Chief Executive Officer
Ministry of Health,
Tofoa, Nuku’alofa,
Tel: +676 740-0700
Address for Hard-copy submissions: Administration Building, Ministry of Health, Tofoa, Nuku’alofa, Tonga.
E-mail for electronic Submission: fukofukas [at] health [dot] gov [dot] to and jrashid [at] finance [dot] gov [dot] to
and MUST COPY to: jawadtcsu [at] gmail [dot] com and upalaki [at] finance [dot] gov [dot] to
Documents that MUST be submitted:
- Cover Letter (addressed to the CEO, Ministry of Health)
- Curriculum Vitae of the Applicant (must include at least two referees.)
- Supporting Documents: Transcripts, certificates, supporting letter from referees, and any other document that may be of support to your application.
Please limit your CV to only 3-5 pages addressing each of the Selection Criteria with exact details.
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