Senior Procurement Operations Officer (COMG) at the African Development Bank Group (AfDB)

African Development Bank Group (AfDB) - Established in 1964, the African Development Bank is the premier pan-African development institution, promoting economic growth and social progress across the continent. There are 80 member states, including 54 in Africa (Regional Member Countries). The Bank’s development agenda is delivering the financial and technical support for transformative projects that will significantly reduce poverty through inclusive and sustainable economic growth.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Senior Procurement Operations Officer (COMG)

Position Number: 50067840
Location: Antananarivo, Madagascar
Position Grade: LP5

The Complex

• The Senior Vice-Presidency (SNVP) is responsible for supporting the President in the day-to-day management of the Bank Group to achieve its strategic objective and drive a performance culture that will align all processes and systems to deliver high-impact results.
• The SNVP will provide effective leadership and exceptional coordination to ensure the implementation and monitoring of key corporate decisions as well as the identification of necessary corrective measures and actions.
• The SNVP will lead Senior Management discussions, decision-making processes, and the implementation of key Board and Management decisions.​

The Hiring Department

• The SVP supervises the Fiduciary and Inspection Department (SNFI), which acts as the custodian of the procurement (including procurement for private and public partnership) and financial management (FM) profession, and has the following responsibilities for its functions:
  • Developing and interpreting policy, strategy and related guidance notes and manuals;
  • Preparing annual post review reports on the Bank’s FM and procurement operations for the Board;
  • Developing training strategy for internal and external clients; and Dialoguing with external and global partners with a view to building partnerships and fostering harmonization;
  • Providing the secretariat for the Procurement Review Committee (PRC); and
  • Inspecting and reporting on the performance of procurement and FM activities undertaken by the regions.
• The Senior Procurement Operations Officer is responsible for ensuring that the project procurement activities financed by the Bank in his/her country based are compliant with the Bank’s procurement policy. 
• This is done by advising on procurement arrangements and reviewing procurement decisions within the project/program operations cycle from the identification to completion stages.
• The incumbent also contributes to the preparation of the Bank’s Country Strategy Paper, and to building the procurement capacity of Borrowers which includes training of Borrower staff, advising on project-related procurement matters, and assessing and strengthening the Borrower’s procurement systems.
• The Senior Procurement Operations Officer reports administratively to the Madagascar Country Manager, COMG and functionally to the Division Manager - Procurement (SNFI.3).

Key Functions
Under the supervision and guidance of the Division Manager Procurement and the direct technical supervision of the Regional Procurement Coordinator, the Senior Procurement Operations Officer will in his/her duty station:

• Advise/assist the various Sector Divisions involved in the supervision of Borrowers’ project implementation activities as required by the relevant Presidential Instructions
• Advise Borrowers, Suppliers, Consultants, Contractors, and other Entrepreneurs on all aspects related to the procurement of goods, works, and services under Bank Group-funded projects
• Participate in Preparation and Appraisal missions for projects with routine procurement components with a view to assisting Borrowers and Sector Divisions Staff to define the most appropriate modalities for procurement
• Provide procurement inputs to Project Concept Notes and Project Appraisal Reports
• During the project/program preparation cycle missions, assess the adequacy and effectiveness of the procurement capacity at the Executing Agencies and Project Implementation Unit as well as provide advisory technical support to the project/program team on matters of procurement and input to a new project
• Undertake an assessment of the Country Procurement Systems of his/her country based
• Participate in the project/program Launching Mission to assist the project/program team in developing capacity building of the Executing Agency in procurement
• Review, provide comments and participate in country teams and working group meetings of lending and non-lending activities reports
• Receive, review, and approve all procurement-related documents requiring the Bank’s “No Objection”, “Approval” or “Action” under the Procurement Policy of the Bank; monitor practical aspects by assisting the Projects’ Task Managers to supervise the procurement activities carried out by the Borrower throughout the project cycle
• Maintain an ongoing system of monitoring the compliance with the Bank’s Procurement Policy by the Borrowers and actions taken by project management to implement internal and external audit recommendations and report on the status of implementation
• Facilitate and undertake training seminars /workshops for the Borrower and Bank Staff  
• Ensure that procurement information and data entering in SAP by sector experts are effective, correct and accurate
• Undertake Annual Post Procurement Review Report on ongoing projects with a view to advising Management on lessons learned
• Provide or generate reports (monthly or quarterly or as requested)
• Implementation of audit recommendations as directed – initiating the necessary corrective actions to address all audit findings in the Procurement function and prevent any repeat thereof

Requirements Skills, Experience, and Knowledge

• Hold at least a Master's Degree in Engineering, Architecture, Law, Public / Business Administration, Procurement, Economics, or related fields
• A minimum of five (5) years of relevant professional experience in providing procurement support and advice to the preparation and implementation of programs and projects financed by the Bank or any other similar institution in developing countries, having private sector experience will be an added advantage.
• Proven familiarity with and solid experience in the practice of procurement of goods and works and the procurement of consultancy services under donor funding conditions, it would be desirable to have knowledge of Bank Procurement policy.
• Experience in supervising and effectively managing the implementation of development projects and programs.
• Ability to be flexible, open-minded with integrity, client and results-oriented for achieving both Bank’s and Borrowers’ objectives. 
• Effective consulting and advisory skills that enable Sector Staff and Borrowers to build their confidence and skills to deal with procurement issues.
• Good networking skills and judgment are required while working within teams and when building professional relationships with procurement specialists and sector specialists working in the Region.
• Ability to communicate effectively (written and oral) in French with a working knowledge of the English language.
• Competence with standard MS Office software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), preferably combined with knowledge and experience of SAP operations.

Application Closing Date
3rd June, 2023.