The objectives of the TA are to assist the government of Azerbaijan to develop a financial recovery plan, establish a cost recovery tariff, and optimize tariff structure which will help the government meet the financial needs for independently and efficiently running the power sector utilities. The aim is to help the Azeri power sector achieve full cost recovery by 2022.
The current electricity tariffs in Azerbaijan are considerably lower than other countries in the region and the electricity sector relies heavily on government support. As of July 2016, the tariff was increased slightly but the increase is not enough to make the electricity sector financially sustainable. The PATA will ensure an adequate phased increase in the tariffs to meet the stated objectives of this Technical Assistance (TA) whilst also considering the limitations of the most vulnerable group of electricity consumers in Azerbaijan.
The expected outputs of the project are described below:
1. Calculate the real cost of electricity supply (power generation, transmission, and distribution).;
2. Design new tariff structure for power generation (including options for carbon pricing for thermal generation), transmission, and distribution, with differentiating tariffs for different customers and different generation sources;
3. Develop a financial recovery road map for gradual increase in tariff, to achieve full cost recovery by 2022;
4. Undertake a public information campaign on tariff reform, case studies of good practices in other countries, and institutional strengthening. More...

The overall objective of the project is to support local and national authorities to address regional, social and economic disparities in order to enhance competitiveness, job creation and inclusive growth.

The expected results of the project are grouped in 4 Components as described below:

1. Result 1 - Capacities of the Ministry of Economy and Industry enhanced. It is expected that at least 35 staff of central and regional offices of the Department of Development of Regions and State Programmes will directly benefit from the PRDP support; 2. Result 2 - A model of Regional Development Plan, as an instrument to realise efficiently the "State programme on socio-economic development of regions 2014-2018" in a selected pilot region is produced and approved by the beneficiary institution; 3. Result 3 - Specific methodology and assessment instruments developed in the pilot region, for providing infrastructure and support to the development of entrepreneurship and of economic activities are available; 4. Result 4 - The capacities of the Department for Cooperation with International Organizations are enhanced in relation to the monitoring of the projects funded by International Financial Institutions and implemented in the regions of Azerbaijan. More...

The state-owned energy utility in Zambia, ZESCO, has received financial support from the World Bank, acting as administrator for the Global Partnership on Output-Based Aid (GPOBA), to implement the Electricity Access for Low-income Households in Zambia project. The objective of the project is to increase access to grid-based electricity services by low-income households in urban and peri-urban areas.

Under the project, households and Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) in targeted areas will gain access to electricity through either a standard or enhanced connection. The outputs under the project are approximately 22,000 working household electricity connections for low-income consumers in urban and peri-urban areas of Zambia; installation of ready boards for about 3,000 of the connected households; and approximately 5,000 MSEs connected to the electricity grid in target areas.

The objective of this assignment is to verify that the grid connections have been installed by the service provider, ZESCO, in accordance with the project objectives

Specifically, the Consultant will:

1. Verify that installed connections are consistent with either the standard or the enhanced connection as described earlier and meet the quality standards required by the Energy Regulation Board;
2. Verify that installed customer connections are in eligible project target areas;
3. Check that customers have been provided with basic training and user information;
4. Prepare output verification reports (OVRs) that underpin the subsidy disbursement requests; and,
5. Report on the key performance indicators for the project as laid out in the Results Framework.
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The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has developed a project together with the Joint Stock Company Kyzylorda Regional Electricity Company and the Akimat of Kyzylorda Oblast to modernise electricity distribution networks in the City and Oblast of Kyzylorda. The Company has been suffering from poor operating and financial performance in the past decade, resulting in substantial underinvestment and the deterioration of quality of supply. Meanwhile, the regional electricity demand has been growing steadily at 3-4 per cent annually, contributing to a gradual decline in quality of supply and increasing electricity losses. The Project will enable the Company to address the above outlined issues and improve its electricity distribution services by financing priority investments for the rehabilitation and modernisation of the metering system and strengthening of the network. More...

The Joint Stock Company Akbulak together with the Akimat of Aktobe Oblast and the Akimat of Aktobe City have requested the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to provide technical assistance for Aktobe Water project to upgrade the water and wastewater services in the city of Aktobe resulting in enhanced energy efficiency and reduction in water consumption and water losses in the system.

The Company now intends to retain a consulting company to support the Company and the Project Implementation Unit to improve its commercial standing, service and environmental and social performance by helping to identify and implement the necessary corporate, financial and operational improvements required to meet the related financial ratios and good commercial standing operational covenants included in the EBRD finance documents. The Company will be the major beneficiary of the services rendered by the Consultant and will have overall responsibility for the project. More...

The Government of Kazakhstan has requested EBRD to provide technical assistance on reforming the tariff policy and regulatory framework for natural monopolies and dominants in infrastructure sector. The Bank approved Infrastructure regulation and tariff policy development project in 2013 with the objectives to provide assistance to the authorities of Kazakhstan in reforming the existing system of tariff regulation for natural monopolies and dominants in infrastructure sectors, adopting a modern and transparent framework for regulation, as well as strengthening the institutional powers and means to implement and administer such framework. As of October 2015, the Bank has completed Phase 1 of Tariff TC by providing the Government with recommendations on improving the tariff policy and regulatory framework. The Government has agreed with these recommendations and requested actual implementation of these recommendations on the basis of pilot projects, which will constitute Phase 2 of the project. Below is the Terms of Reference for Phase 2 of the project.
The expected outputs of the project are described below:

1. Prepare detailed incentive based tariff regulation methodology and document tariff calculation process for the water sector;
2. Assist pilot company in implementation of proposed tariff methodologies;
3. Assist Regulator in implementation of proposed methodologies and reviewing of investment program of pilot company and tariff approval;
4. Assist the Regulator and Legal Consultant in drafting relevant amendments to laws and secondary legislation based on prepared methodologies and recommendations. More...

The proposed Power Generation Efficiency Improvement Project will construct two units of 450 megawatt (MW) combined cycle gas turbines (CCGTs) at the Talimarjan Thermal Power Plant (implementing agency) in Kashkadarya region, contributing to energy saving, greenhouse gas emission reduction, and reliable power supply in Uzbekistan. The Talimarjan TPP is completely owned by the state energy company, Uzbekenergo (executing agency). The project will build on the experience gained through the Talimarjan Power Project (Phase 1 project) by further improving corporate governance, and promoting commercialization of the energy sector. More...

The objectives of the assignment are to assist the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Tajikistan to: 1. Review, and amend as necessary, the key standards which govern the highway design and construction works including standards for road safety assessment/approval of performed works and the management of the country's road sector so as to produce safer and more cost-effective outcomes which are responsive to the needs of market-oriented economies, and enable the introduction of productivity-enhancing technology in the current and expected future funding environment;
2. Prepare a Road Sector Institutional Reform Strategy and Action Plan to help establish a more sustainable institutional framework for the road sector, including the introduction of more commercial approaches to the management of the road network for the road funding environment that is likely to prevail in the medium to long term. More...

Majority of transport services in Dushanbe are provided by minibuses, restructuring of the network by the City should create the market conditions for improving the position of the trolleybus in Dushanbe. The main focus of this assignment is to assist the Trolleybus Company in preparing a Trolleybus Routes Priority Rehabilitation Plan, a Full Operational Plan, a Maintenance and Repair Programme and a Five-year Business Plan. Additionally, the assignment will assist the Company with implementation of the signed Public Service Contract
The objectives of this assignment are to identify the best measure to rehabilitate the power supply, so optimal use of the available fleet can be made.Improve the planning of business, operation and maintenance to assure optimal use of the available resources and assets within the framework of the Public Service Contract
Set the stage for a more effective and efficient operation of the Company in future years.
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EDL implemented a financial management system early in 2000 including two main blocks, namely the billing and collection and the Accounting and Financial Management System (AFMS). The Billing system has been fully implemented and currently in operation throughout the country and has been one of the factors for improving the financial management of EDL. The AFMS system was not fully implemented for a number of reasons and the old ledger system (ALIS) coexists. EDL is also using a small scale accounting system to provide a bridge on the accounting system operation.
EDL has undertaken a management restructuring with the aim of improving its operations. As a result of this initiative it reviewed the Financial Management Information Systems (FMIS) requirements and respective capacity building to complement this business development with the objective of taking the company to the league of international utility practices. The objective of this project is to:

Review current processes and produce design specifications for the modernisation of its FMIS;
Assist EDL prepare documentation for the process to procure a new FMIS and subsequently assist EDL in administering the bidding and evaluation procurement process. More...

The overall objective of the project is to support ZESCO in strengthening good corporate governance and compliance within the company, in order to enhance efficiencies, provide greater transparency and accountability, eradicate corruption, ensure sound decision-making, improve the quality of service, improve financial, technical, and engineering performance and help ensure that decisions are based on sound business principles.
Corporate Solutions is helping create a basic, functioning program that includes high-level governance policies, internal controls for targeted day-to-day operations, compliance mechanisms to promote adherence to the rules, and training of personnel to equip them to train others. This infrastructure will position the company to further build governance, controls, and compliance mechanisms on an ongoing basis to address additional needs and shift operations and risk profiles. More...

ENR is a crucial player in Egypt's transport sector, delivering 1.2 million passenger journeys per day, including significant commuter traffic into Cairo, which would otherwise have to be accommodated on the overcrowded road network.

The EBRD is providing vital funds to ENR to support its comprehensive 10-year investment plan for transforming into a more efficient operator, including funding the purchase of twelve new locomotives and 60 new carriages to be used on long-distance services.

The objective of this assignment was to assist ENR with developing and improving its Environmental, Health and Safety performance within its operations to meet the EBRD's Environmental and Social Policy, by implementing the requirements of the project agreed Environmental & Social Action Plan (ESAP).

An important result of the assignment was the successful development of an Environmental Management System, and the development, formal approval and adoption of a company-wide Environmental Policy by ENR. More...

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the EBRD or the Bank) has developed a project (the Project) together with the State Communal Enterprise Kyzylorda Su Zhuyesi (the Company) and the Akimat of the City of Kyzylorda (the Akimat) to upgrade the water and wastewater system in the City of Kyzylorda (Kyzylorda or the City) in the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The Project will enable the Company to improve its water and wastewater services by financing priority investments for the rehabilitation and modernisation of the water supply and wastewater management infrastructure. The Project will result in increased energy efficiency, a reduction in losses, and improvements in environmental standards. This will stimulate the process of commercialisation of water and wastewater operations in general, thus supporting the sector reforms.
The Company and the Akimat require a firm or group of experts (the Consultant) to assist the Company and the private management company (to be selected during the Project implementation period) operating under the terms of the Public Service Management Contract (PSMC) (the Manager) to improve the Company's commercial standing, service and environmental and social performance. The Consultants will identify and implement the necessary corporate, financial and operational improvements required to meet the related covenants included in the EBRD finance documents. More...

The EBRD has been approached by the Oblast of Kyzylorda (the "Oblast") and JSC NK SPK Baikonur ("SPK") to assist the City of Kyzylorda (the "City") with reforming its urban public transport sector. As is the case of many secondary cities across Kazakhstan, only one mode of transport is used in the provision of urban transportation services in the City's second-hand buses operated by individual drivers. The quality level of urban transport services is constantly deteriorating, due primarily to the poor regulatory framework, where licenses are granted but quality standards are not particularly enforced. The project will include the renewal of the bus fleet with CNG buses, establishment of proper Depots with maintenance and CNG refuelling stations, assistance with consolidating private bus operators into an integrated public transport system, developing of a robust PSC and development of an integrated Ticketing System (TS). In parallel with the investment programme, the consultant is required to provide assistance with development of organisation structure and functions, enhancement of financial management and accounting system, preparation of Framework Agreement between the Company and the City, design and implementation of a formal ticketing system and support on setting up of the PSC supervision. More...

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD or the Bank) considers providing a loan (the Project) to Khujand International Airport (KhIA, the Airport or the Client). The Project will contribute a comprehensive phased plan for KhIA's future development. Firstly, the loan provided by EBRD is expected to potentially lead into a larger loan facility that will target plans developed by the consultant in conjunction with KhIA. Secondly, the Airport's management developed a staged approach for their capex investment programme in 2007. The plan incorporated four separate phases of investments over 10 years. However, due to the financial crisis and other impediments, the realisation of the investment plan has been heavily delayed. Additionally, current terminal space is split across three main terminals one of which is a VIP terminal. The Client requires a consolidation and reorganization of the terminal spaces in addition to having modern spacious terminal and modern equipment, air bridges, etc. Also, KhIA has shown interest in developing non-aeronautical revenue streams in the form of sub-contracts, duty free, advertising, parking, food and beverages, etc. Lastly, the Client, in line with becoming more competitive, as well as in connection to fast growing international traffic and increased focus on strengthened safety standards, requires becoming ICAO compliant. More...

The Republic of Armenia received financing from the World Bank towards the cost of the Grant for Capacity Building for Public Sector Auditing and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.
The main objective of this assignment is to provide institutional capacity building support to the Chamber of Control of the Republic of Armenia (CoC). The aim specifically is to create and provide an opportunity for performing comprehensive financial and compliance audits in conformity with INTOSAI (ISSAI) standards and in line with the best practice in the European Union.
In particular, with this assignment the CoC wishes to have a practical and useful methodology necessary for performing complete financial and compliance audits, a trained team with knowledge and skills conforming to the INTOSAI standards and pilot financial and compliance audits in line with INTOSAI standards, as well as the best practice in the European Union.
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The Government of Uzbekistan, together with the ADB, have embarked on implementing an important project to build Central Asia's first 800-900 megawatt CCGT power plant. This will expand the capacity of the Talimarjan Thermal Power Plant and improve management and operational capacity of the power utility.
Corporate Solutions was recruited to assist Uzbekenergo in assuring that the project is constructed to the specified standard in the bidding documents on the EPC contract, completed on schedule and with costs monitored and controlled. The consultant's role covers design audit and construction supervision of the contractors' works, issue of necessary progress reports, payment certificates and general project management.
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Majority of transport services in Dushanbe are provided by minibuses, restructuring of the network by the City created the market conditions for improving the position of the trolleybus in Dushanbe. The main focus of this assignment was to assist the Trolleybus Company in preparation of Trolleybus Routes Priority Rehabilitation Plan, a Full Operational Plan, a Maintenance and Repair Programme and a Five-year Business Plan. Additionally, the assignment assisted the Company with the implementation of the signed Public Service Contract
Essentially, the objectives of this assignment were to:
Identify the best measure to rehabilitate the power supply, so that optimal use of the available fleet can be made; Improve the planning of business, operation and maintenance to assure optimal use of the available resources and assets within the framework of the PSC; Set the stage for a more effective and efficient operation of the Company in future years.
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The EBRD has committed to funding two parallel projects designed to improve the City of Aktau's solid waste management system, which has suffered from many years of under-investment. The two projects are: the Corporate Development Programme (CDP) and the Priority Investment Programme (PIP). Corporate Solutions and TBU are involved with The CDP project, assisting the Company to improve its commercial standing, service and environmental and social performance by helping to identify and implement the necessary corporate, financial and operational improvements required to meet the related covenants included in the EBRD finance documents. More...

Tanzania adopted the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) and International Standards on Auditing (ISA) with effect from 1st July 2004. The Bank of Tanzania through its Directorate of Banking Supervision (DBS) is expected to ensure that banking institutions comply with the IFRS requirements when preparing their Audited Financial Statements. Likewise, the Directorate of Finance (DF) and Directorate of Internal Audit (DIA) are expected to be conversant and comply with the IFRS in the execution of their duties including preparation of various financial and audit reports.

Challenges encountered during the application of IFRS by DBS, DIA and DF staff included keeping abreast and coping with regular changes and updates made on the IFRS. In this regard, the Bank was seeking a consultant to provide training on the application of the IFRS for the central bank staff performing bank examination, finance, accounting and auditing duties.
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