Project Title: Stronger Together – A Gender Transformative Action Coalition
Duty station: Monrovia
Duration: January – October 2026
Reports to: Project Manager and Head of Finance at medica Liberia; Finance Officer at medica mondiale e.V.
Start date: Immediate

1. Introduction

These terms of reference were prepared by medica Liberia and medica mondiale e.V., in consultation with the coalition members, to outline the assignment expectations for a Financial Consultant. The consultancy aims to strengthen coalition-wide financial capacity, ensure compliance with BMZ donor standards, and support the sustainable development of transparent, harmonized financial systems.

2. Background and context

About medica Liberia

Medica Liberia (mL) is a feminist, women’s rights NGO supporting survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and advancing women’s leadership. Since 2006, mL has implemented projects across Liberia with funding from the German Government and other donors.

About the Feminist Coalition

Formed under the BMZ-funded project Stronger Together – A Gender Transformative Action Coalition, the coalition comprises:

• medica Liberia (mL)
• Women’s NGO Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL)
• Liberia Feminist Forum (LFF)
• Radical Young Women Movement (RAYWOM)
• Sisters 4 Sisters (S4S)

The coalition seeks to strengthen Liberia’s women’s movement and drive structural change for gender equality. Financial reporting follows a coordinated structure whereby each partner submits financial information to mL for consolidated reporting to medica mondiale e.V.

Given diverse financial capacities among partners, particularly organizations with small finance teams such as S4S, RAYWOM, and LFF, the coalition seeks technical financial expertise to ensure compliance, strengthen systems, and build sustainable capacity.

3. Purpose of the consultancy

The purpose of the consultancy is to:

• Strengthen coalition members’ financial management capacities through targeted training, coaching, and systems development.
• Ensure coalition-wide adherence to BMZ donor requirements, procurement guidelines, and financial accountability standards.
• Support the configuration, adoption, and effective use of financial management software (e.g., QuickBooks).
• Harmonize financial procedures and templates across coalition members to improve efficiency and transparency.
• Contribute to long-term sustainability through documented systems, risk mitigation measures, and capacity transfer.

4. Scope of Work and Responsibility
5. Capacity Strengthening and Individualized Coaching

The consultant will:

1. Conduct an initial financial capacity and needs assessment for each partner organization.
2. Develop and implement a structured capacity-building plan, including:
3. Fundamentals and advanced training in donor-compliant bookkeeping (BMZ standards).
4. Budget development, monitoring, variance analysis, and cash-flow management.
5. Internal control procedures appropriate for small and large finance teams.
6. Documentation standards, audit preparation, and filing systems.
7. Creation and use of financial SOPs and procurement guidelines.
8. Provide individualized coaching, especially for:
9. S4S Finance Officer (single-staff finance unit): internal control adjustments, workload management, accounting accuracy, and BMZ compliance.
10. RAYWOM and LFF finance staff with limited experience.
11. Facilitate peer learning among finance officers through practical sessions and shared tools.

1. Financial Systems, Tools, and Software Implementation

The consultant will:

1. Support the setup, configuration, and customization of QuickBooks or comparable accounting software for each partner.
2. Ensure the chart of accounts aligns with BMZ categories and coalition-wide standards.
3. Provide step-by-step practical training in:
4. Data entry and coding
5. Bank and cash reconciliation
6. Payroll and cost allocation
7. Producing accurate donor-aligned reports
8. Develop a user manual and data backup/security protocols for each organization.

1. Financial Reporting, Planning, Compliance, and Risk Management

The consultant will:

1. Ensure partners’ financial systems and practices comply with BMZ guidelines, procurement rules, and coalition standards.
2. Prepare a compliance gap analysis with summary of risks, weaknesses, and corrective actions.
3. Develop and implement a financial risk management plan, including:
4. Risk identification
5. Mitigation strategies
6. Internal control recommendations
7. Support partners in integrating gender-responsive and inclusive budgeting practices.
8. Assist in aligning financial planning with feminist principles (fair compensation, participatory decision-making).
9. Support mL in preparing consolidated donor reports and ensuring coherence between budgets, expenditures, and activities.

1. Harmonization and Coordination

The consultant will:

1. Review all coalition partners’ financial and procurement policies.
2. Produce recommendations and support the development of a harmonized coalition financial procedures guide, including standardized templates (expense forms, reconciliations, procurement forms, timesheets).
3. Facilitate quarterly coalition finance meetings to promote coordination, experience exchange, and problem-solving.
4. Maintain regular check-ins (monthly or as agreed) with each organization. The consultancy is expected to run from now until the end of the project in October 2026. Specific timelines for deliverables will be agreed upon jointly at the start of the assignment.

5. Deliverables

The consultant will be responsible for the following deliverables:

At the start

• Kick-off meeting with all coalition members to assess needs and expectations.

Within first two months

• Comprehensive financial capacity and needs assessment (per partner)
• BMZ compliance gap analysis report
• Risk mitigation and internal controls recommendations

Throughout consultancy

• Structured training sessions and materials (foundation and advanced levels).
• Individual coaching documentation for each partner, especially S4S.
• Software setup documentation, user manuals, and chart of accounts.
• Harmonized financial templates and SOPs.
• Quarterly progress summaries, including:

1. Training delivered
2. Improvements achieved
3. Remaining gaps
4. Risk monitoring updates

Two-month Interim Report with a summary of:

• Assessment findings
• Implemented capacity-strengthening activities
• Software rollout progress
• Key challenges and recommended next steps

Final Consultancy Report covering:

• Assessment results and progress over the consultancy period
• Summary of capacity improvements per partner
• Lessons learned and sustainability recommendations
• Status of harmonized systems and software adoption

6. Requirements for the consultant

• University degree in Finance, Business Administration, Accounting, Economics, or a related field with solid knowledge of management and accounting.

• At least 3 years of relevant professional experience in financial management and/or trainings for international development or donor-funded projects.
• Familiarity with BMZ (German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development) standards and reporting.
• Competence in bookkeeping software, especially Quickbooks, and required skills to support the partners in implementing/ continuing use of the software.
• Excellent command of Microsoft Excel.
• Experience in organisational development and training.
• Demonstrated commitment to feminist and intersectional approaches.
• Power- and trauma-sensitive communication.

Furthermore, the consultant must be independent from medica Liberia, WONGOSOL, LFF, RAYWOM and S4S.

7. Time commitment and level of effort

The consultant is expected to:

• Provide a detailed work plan with estimated number of days per month
• Be available for in-person or virtual meetings as required
• Respond to partner requests within an agreed timeframe (e.g., 48 hours)

8. Management and Coordination

The consultant will work under the supervision of the medica Liberia Project Manager, in close collaboration with the Finance Team at medica Liberia and the Finance Officer at medica mondiale e.V. Regular coordination meetings will ensure alignment with feminist values and project objectives.

9. Application Procedure

Applications with the subject line ‘Stronger together’ should be submitted to all documents must be submitted not later than January 23^rd, 2025, via email to recruit@medicaliberia.org/fenny.diggs@medicaliberia.org cc serveh.flomo@medicaliberia.org with reference “Financial consultant”

Offers shall be submitted in a pdf-document and contain the following:

• Full name of consultant
• Detailed CV
• Complete and detailed budget including:
  • VAT (if applicable)
  • daily consulting fees and breakdown of expected costs

Only complete applications will be considered.