Procurement Specialists at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is a regional grouping with 15 Member States in West Africa (three landlocked and one island) with a population of about 300 million with an annual economic growth rate of around 6%. The ECOWAS Commission is one of the eight Regional Economic Communities supporting the African Union to coordinate the implementation of continental and regional integration and development programmes in the West African region.

We are currently recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Procurement Specialist

Vacancy code VA / 2015 / B5302 / 8236
Location: Lome, Togo
Duration: 1 year subject to availability of fund and good performance
Department/office: AFO, CIOH, Cote d'Ivoire
Contract type: Fixed Term

Background Info - Job-specific

• ECOWAS has studied the feasibility of a regional food security reserve (ASSR), intended only for emergency operations in the event of cyclical food crises.
• The proposal to create an ASSR was adopted by the ECOWAS Agriculture Ministers in September 2012 and by the Heads of State in February 2013; thus, the 42nd regular session of the Conference of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS held in Yamoussoukro (Republic of Côte d'Ivoire) adopted an additional act (AS / 2/02/13) establishing a regional food security reserve, and instructed the Commission to take the suitable measures to its actual start.
• On this basis, the Commission has worked to mobilize its international financial partners to supplement this allocation.
• The European Union (EU) was willing to support ECOWAS in the implementation of the reserve and to consider the support to be implemented as part of a project in line with the region's decisions.
• The proposed project aims to support ECOWAS in the implementation of its regional food security strategy storage, based on complementarity / subsidiarity between three lines of defense to address these repetitive food crises: Stocks close, national stocks, and finally, a regional food security reserve for regional solidarity to play in a major food crisis.
• The goal is to help respond effectively to food crises and strengthening the resilience of households in a perspective of sustainable regional security and food sovereignty, through the promotion of food reserve systems at different levels of urgency.
• The project is funded by the European Union and will be implemented through centralized management with the French Development Agency (AFD), the Spanish Agency of International Cooperation for Development (AECID).

Functional Responsibilities
Reporting to the Executive Director of the Regional Agency for Agriculture and Food (ARAA) and supervision of the Head of Administration and Finance Unit, the Procurement Expert will be responsible for:

• Prepare the tender documents and call for proposals and ensure their qualities
• Ensure the quality of call records for proposal
• Ensure that procurement decisions respect the agreed arrangements
• Press resolve any procurement problems that may arise
• Ensure the planning of activities and the contract files follow to avoid delays in the award procurement process, signing and performing contracts
• Coordinate its mission with the Head of Administration and Finance Unit and program and project coordinators to ensure that procurement is perfectly integrated in the planning and management of funds

Control and Monitoring of Activities
The procurement specialist tasks are as follows:

• Prepare and coordinate planning for the award of supply contracts, not intellectual services, selection of consultants and calls for proposals
• Update the procurement plan at least annually and whenever the need arises
• To classify and archiving of all documents and records Procurement
• Develop a monitoring procurement mechanism, including deadlines, in order to rapidly identify potential sources of delay, inform the hierarchy and to propose solutions to solve
• Write requests expressions of interest and calls for proposals and have them published
• Ensure the quality of technical specifications and terms of reference produced by the technical managers
• Prepare tender documents, requests for quotation and RFPs
• Monitor the publication of notices of tenders in appropriate media
• Participate folds openings, evaluation of bids, contract awards, to useful advice to those involved in procurement
• Write contracts / agreements between the Agency and the consultants, suppliers and contractors selected
• Monitor the no-objection sought from partners necessary
• Ensure that all decisions related to the award and execution of contracts are in compliance with agreed rules
• ARAA advise in understanding and drafting of any incoming or outgoing mail with procurement aspects
• Provide appropriate advice in the execution of markets and especially as regards the resolution of disputes that may arise
• Any task or assignment related to the procurement assigned by hierarchy
• Produce regular market conditions and contribute to the procurement aspects of the Financial Monitoring Report
• Ensure that the commitments on the markets are systematically reflected in the information system and communicated to the accounting
• Ensure that the results of tenders are published within the prescribed period after the functions of markets, and that unsuccessful bidders receive the necessary information
• Provide coaching or possibly the secretariat committees or subcommittees analysis

Competencies:

• Having a strong background in award of general markets
• Have a good knowledge of the rules and procedures for awarding contracts of international institutions, public and technical and financial partners (EU, USAID, A ECID, GIZ, AFD ....)
• Have a very good ability to solve problems related to procurement
• Have good aptitude for communication and teamwork
• Have knowledge of IPSAS
• Have a good command of procurement software would be an asset
• Education / Experience / Language requirements

Education

• Equivalent advanced degree at a BAC + 4 Procurement Markets Law, International Business or related field is required a higher degree of nvieau BAC + 5 or more in the areas of Procurement, in Law, International Business or related field would be an asset

Experience:

• Having five (5) years experience in the field of procurement in a similar position;
• A total experience of three (3) years is accepted instead of the five years required for a holder of a BAC + 5 or more
• Have a good knowledge of the agriculture sector in the West African region
• Language:
• Being fluently bilingual in French and English, both orally and in writing
• Knowledge of Portuguese would be an asset

Additional Requirements:

• Have the nationality of a member state of ECOWAS or CILSS member States not members of ECOWAS
• Enjoy their civic rights and be of good character

Application Closing Date
30th August, 2015.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note

• This job ends at the closing date at midnight, Copenhagen (CET)
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for maintenance
• We strongly encourage qualified women to apply.