Senior Procurement Officer (East and Southern Africa Division)

Organizational context

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is an international financial institution and a specialized United Nations agency dedicated to eradicating rural poverty and hunger. It does so by investing in rural people. IFAD finances programmes and projects that increase agricultural productivity and raise rural incomes, and  advocates at the local, national and international level for policies that contribute to rural transformation.

Post's organizational accountability

The Programme Management Department (PMD), under the leadership of an Associate Vice-President, is responsible for the overall programme of loans and grants of the Fund and is composed of five (5) Regional Divisions, and the Operational Policy and Results Division (OPR).  Under the joint strategic management and policy guidance of a PMD Regional Division Director and the OPR Director through the Lead Procurement Advisor, the Senior Procurement Officer will work closely with Lead Portfolio Advisors, Country Programme Managers (CPMs), IFAD Country Offices (ICO) staff and project team members, to provide authoritative advice and support to ensure that procurement activities carried by Borrowers/Recipients under IFAD-financed projects are performed effectively and efficiently and adhere to applicable corporate project procurement policies and guidelines.

The Senior Procurement Officer is accountable for IFAD core values of integrity, transparency, competitiveness, value-for-money and equity in fulfilling his/her responsibilities.  The accountabilities/key results include:

1. Effectiveness Management and Quality Control/Assurance
2. Procurement Management
3. Partnership Building
4. Managerial Functions

The Senior Procurement Officers in Regional Divisions have a dual reporting line to the PMD Regional Division Director and the Lead Procurement Advisor in OPR. This position is located in the East and Southern Africa Division.

Key results expected / Major functional activities

EFFECTIVENESS MANAGEMENT AND QUALITY CONTROL/ASSURANCE: Within the assigned Regional Division, the Senior Procurement Officer plays a key role in the fulfilment of IFAD’s project procurement oversight function, most importantly of ensuring that procurement activities undertaken by Borrowers/Recipients in the context of IFAD-financed projects are conducted effectively and efficiently and are consistent with applicable corporate project procurement policies and guidelines. She/he ensures appropriate fiduciary, project procurement quality assurance and risk-based systems are implemented effectively. She/he provides authoritative advice, innovative solutions and technical support to Regional Division management and country programme management teams relative to all project procurement aspects throughout IFAD’s programming cycle (e.g. country strategy development, project design and supervision, portfolio performance review), including with regards to no-objection decisions, preparation of Letters to the Borrower, and establishment of specific project procurement arrangements  and prior-review thresholds. She/he monitors procurement performance by project management teams, and develops and implements key project procurement performance indicators and risk management tools to ensure proactive identification and action to address procurement and contract management issues and bottlenecks.

PROCUREMENT MANAGEMENT: The Senior Procurement Officer has a key role in guiding and/or conducting assessments of country public procurement systems (which could include, where necessary, the procurement capabilities of farmers' organizations), including procurement risk assessments and development of associated risk mitigation plans. She/he assesses needs and identifies training options for CPMs, ICO staff and project team members to ensure robust management of procurement risk. When necessary, She/he provides training and guidance to CPMs, ICO staff and project team members on project procurement management and related risks. She/he shares knowledge through formal trainings and hands-on field practise and exchanges lessons learnt with other Regional Divisions and the Lead Procurement Advisor, OPR.

PARTNERSHIP BUILDING: The Senior Procurement Officer contributes to promoting a constructive dialogue on project procurement matters with country programme managers, government officials, counterparts in other multilateral development banks and international financial institutions, and with public sector management and financial management specialists, as well as other external parties. She/he attends meetings on procurement related matters, champions continuous improvements in the project procurement area within IFAD, and maintains a roster of qualified procurement specialists in the region, ensuring they are fully abreast of IFAD project procurement policies, guidelines and systems.

MANAGERIAL FUNCTIONS: The Senior Procurement Officer is accountable for ensuring adherence by the projects under his/her purview to IFAD's procurement policies, guidelines and handbook. She/he coordinates and liaises with the Office of Audit and Oversight and other Technical Divisions on procurement cases. She/he proposes revisions and updates to IFAD’s framework project procurement documents and supports the development of IFAD project procurement systems and tools.

Impact of Key results / Key performance indicators

The key results have an impact on the overall efficiency of project procurement management, and success in introduction and implementation of operational procurement strategies. This requires a strategic approach to procurement, accurate, thoroughly researched and well documented information, resulting in timely and appropriate delivery of services to ensure client satisfaction and overall timely delivery of IFAD projects. The Senior Procurement Officer at this level provides strategic/technical analysis and advice on a wide range of project procurement related issues to ensure proper project portfolio performance and adherence to IFAD's project procurement guidelines. Going beyond established procedures or models, the Senior Procurement Officer's substantive contributions reflect proposals for revisions and updates of procurement guidelines ensuring relevance and appropriateness. She/he demonstrates authoritative knowledge and capacity in performing the Senior Procurement Officer role.

Representation / Work relationships

COMMUNICATIONS:

Within the parameters of a Senior Procurement Officer, at this level she/he serves as senior technical analyst and advisor on procurement related issues. Combination of credible authoritative capacity with independent responsibility for assessment of national/project procurement systems, training of staff and management of procurement risks, ensures the adherence to IFAD's procurement policies and procedures. She/he contributes to resolving complex issues related to procurement matters.

Competencies

Organizational: 

• Strategic thinking and organizational development: Personal influence (Level 1)
• Demonstrating Leadership: Personal leadership and attitude to change (Level 1)
• Learning, sharing knowledge and innovating: Continuously seeks to learn, shares knowledge and innovates (Level 1)
• Focusing on clients: Focuses on clients (Level 1)
• Problem solving and decision making: Demonstrates sound problem solving and decision making ability (Level 1)
• Managing time, resources and information: Manages own time, information and resources effectively (Level 1)
• Team Work: Contributes effectively to the team (Level 1)
• Communicating and negotiating: Communicates effectively: creates understanding between self and others (Level 1)
• Building relationships and partnerships: Builds and maintains effective working relationships (Level 1)
• Managing performance and developing staff: Manages staff and teams effectively (Level 1)

Technical/Functional:

• Thorough knowledge of the legal profession, with good knowledge of international law.
• Skill in applying legal concepts and principles to complex issues and actively develop alternatives / proposals for the provision of a broad range of lebal services.
• Skill in the identification of new opportunities or requirements to meet emerging challenges in the Fund or legal field and propose changes.
• Communication skills to establish and maintain trusted partnerships for achievement of objectives.
• Skilled in identifying and developing networks to promote the Fund’s objectives and identification as a competent and trusted partner.
• Ability to contribute to formulation of strategies and policies.

Minimum recruitment qualifications

 Education:

• Advanced university degree from an accredited institution in business administration, public administration, law, commerce, finance or a related field.

Experience:

• Eight (8) years of experience in procurement activities in an international organization including a proven record of managing and delivering complex procurement programmes and record of relevant field experience. Work experience in more than one geographic region as well as at Headquarters is an asset. Management and procurement experience in the UN system is desirable.

Language requirements:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English. Working knowledge of another official language (Arabic, French, or Spanish) is desirable.

Other information

Applicants should note that IFAD staff members are international civil servants subject to the authority of the President of IFAD, and they may be assigned by him/her to any of the activities of IFAD, including field assignments and/or rotation within IFAD.

In the interest of making most cost effective use of funds and resources, we are only able to respond to applicants who are short-listed for interview. Candidates who do not receive any feedback within three months should consider their application unsuccessful

Candidates may be required to take a written test and to deliver a presentation as well as participate in interviews.

IFAD is committed to achieving diversity and is seeking a balanced workforce from its Member States. Women are particularly encouraged to apply.