The main objective of this consultancy is to support the implementation of the Project Component-2 activities, specifically to implement sub-grant follow-up activities (coaching and advisory services to 15 BMS trainers (Consultants to deliver coaching/advisory services to sub-grant beneficiaries) and around 300 sub-grant beneficiaries located in 5 project marzes (Ararat, Armavir, Kotayq, Lori and Shirak) on taxation and accounting issues. 

Assignment implementation period: January 2022 - June 2023. 

Job Responsibilities

Scope of work

Under the guidance of the CLIENT, the Consultant on the training of Family Benefit Program beneficiaries (Business Plan Implementation training: accounting and tax issues advisory services) hereafter Consultant, shall be responsible for the provision of assistance to the Client in ensuring the compliance and effective implementation of Business Plan Implementation training on accounting and tax issues advisory services.

Specifically, the Consultant shall implement sub-grant follow-up activities by providing direct advisory services to 15 BMS trainers/coachers working with the sub-grant beneficiaries as well as both indirect and direct support to 300 sub-grant beneficiaries on accounting and tax issues.

The Consultant Shall Be Responsible for the Following Duties, Responsibilities and Tasks:

• Develop brief guidelines (2-3 pages) on main issues related to sub-grant beneficiaries’ activities as tax payers for 6 types of business activities (the most widespread among project supported businesses), including required and/or proper documenting for accounting (workload: 10 hours)
• Develop a document with answers to frequently asked questions submitted by trainers/coachers working with sub-grant beneficiaries (10 questions) and run 3 consulting in-person sessions or workshops (1.5 hour per session) for trainers/coachers and project staff members (workload: 9 hours).
• Run 5 in-person workshops (1.5 hour per workshop) on taxation and accounting issues for sub-grant beneficiaries (estimated number of participants - 30) during trade-fair exhibitions (workload: 10 hours)
• Provide advisory services (maximum workload: 10 hours) for complicated cases related with business taxation/accounting based on Component-2 Coordinator’s or Component-2 Consultant’s requests (if needed).

Administrative and Logistic Arrangements

Anticipated commencement date of the assignment January 3, 2023. Contract end date: June 30, 2023.

The trade fairs will take place in Project marzes (Ararat, Armavir, Kotayq, Lori and Shirak) Consultant’s transportation (taxi car) will be provided by the Client. All technical arrangements (space, equipment, transportation of sub-grant beneficiaries and consultants, coffee-breaks, etc.)  required for the to the organization of trade-fairs and workshops will be provided by the Client.

The working language of the documents (deliverables) is Armenian. 

The dates and places of all activities must be preliminary agreed with Client.  Specific activity periods are based on regular circumstances and can be subject to changes in case of external influence or rescheduling and re-planning of Project activities. As part of the assignment, and depending on the official health recommendations in the country associated to the pandemic, the consultant has to visit the project marzes (all trade-fair activities indicated in the table above require visits to project marzes).

Required qualifications (optional)

The Consultant should satisfy the following qualifications and requirements:

• University degree in the field of accounting, taxation, finance or other relevant fields,
• At least 5-year experience in working as accountant, financial specialist or taxation specialist in Armenia,
• Proven understanding of taxation and accounting system of Armenia,
• At least 3 year of experience of running workshops and trainings in the field of taxation/accounting,
• At least 3 year of experience of delivering of taxation/accounting advisory services to SMEs in Armenia (is an advantage)
• At least 3 year of experience of implementation of taxation and accounting function in project related fields of economic activity, such as as animal husbandry, pig farming, greenhouses, trade, production (bakery, pastries), beauty salons, beekeeping, sewing and fashion salons (is an advantage)
• Good reporting, team player, interpersonal as well as multi-stakeholder communication and performance skills,
• Excellent knowledge of the Armenian (must), working level knowledge of English (is an advantage)
• Good software user and presentation skills (MS Office, Internet, etc.)

Application procedures

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form (CV and letter of interest) to the below e-mail address by December 22, 2022

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to paragraph 1.9 of the World Bank’s Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants [under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits & Grants] by World Bank Borrowers (2016) (“Consultant Guidelines”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest. A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the (Selection of Individual Consultant) method set out in the Consultant Guidelines.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours 10:00 to 18:00.

The “Armenian Association of Social Workers” NGO

Paruyr Sevak 30, Yerevan, 0014

Tel: 37493 514499

E-mail: procurement@aasw.org

About the Project

The project is expected to help increase access to social assistance benefits and services and provide self-employment support to about 11,000 vulnerable members of society in urban and rural communities in Ararat, Armavir, Kotayk, Lori and Shirak regions of Armenia. The Project grant was received under the Japan Social Development Fund (JSDF) which is financed by the Government of Japan. 

The project has been designed by the World Bank in partnership with the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs of Armenia and will be implemented by the Association of Social Workers– a non-governmental, not-for-profit national professional representative body of social workers in Armenia.  The JSDF was established by the Government of Japan and the World Bank as a mechanism to provide direct assistance to the poorest and most vulnerable groups in eligible World Bank countries. The aim is to enhance their capacities, strengthen their empowerment and participation in society and economic