Consultant Recruitment for Procurement Management — Somalia Empowering Women Through Education and Skills Project

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION CULTURE & HIGHER EDUCATION Somalia Empowering Women Through Education and Skills (Rajo kaaba) Project REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (REOI) Individual Selection of Consultant Project ID No. P176898 Name of the Project: Somalia Empowering Women Through Education and Skills (Rajo kaaba) Consulting Service: Procurement Specialist Individual/Firm: Individual Duty Station: Mogadishu Deadline: November 20, 2024 Ref No. SO-MOECHE-453631-CS-INDV • BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT The Ministry of Education Culture & Higher Education is implementing the Somalia Empowering Women Through Education and Skills (Rajo kaaba) financed by the World Bank.

The Project Development Objective (PDO) is to improve literacy and numeracy skills of women in selected areas and to prepare women for leadership roles. To achieve these objectives the project is comprised of the following three components: Component 1. Skills for Life and Labor Market Success.

This component will support adolescent girls and women to acquire basic literacy and numeracy skills, cross-cutting socio-emotional and life skills, and skills to improve their livelihoods. Component 2: Higher Skills Development for Women’s Leadership. This component will create a consortium of women’s colleges and women’s development centers to expand women’s higher education access and leadership development opportunities; and Component 3: Technical Assistance and Project Management.

This component aims at supporting systems strengthening efforts, technical assistance, and project management, including on data systems, policy, and strategy development, remote delivery of services, monitoring and evaluation, and capacity building at federal and state level. The Ministry of Education, Culture and Higher Education (MoECHE) intends to hire a qualified procurement specialist to be responsible for implementation of procurement activities within the Somalia Empowering Women Through Education and Skills.

• Responsibilities: The procurement specialist is responsible to advise the project manager on all procurement aspects of the Project, ensure that complete documentation is maintained on all procurement cases and coordinate, and to respond to procurement queries, disputes, and complaints, Participate and provide guidance to the evaluation process and the preparation of prepare Bid/Proposal Evaluation Report and Award Recommendations. The procurement specialist will Ensure that procurement procedures are in line with the Bank’s Procurement Regulations and the provisions of the Project Implementation Manual are followed.

He/she will Prepare and publish general and specific procurement notices/ invitation for bids and work closely with user departments to ensure that Terms of Reference or technical specifications are obtained timely from relevant technical departments and beneficiaries. In close consultation with User Departments, participate in Evaluation of Expression of Interest, Quotations, Bids and Proposals. S/he will undertake all the other specific tasks detailed in the Terms of Reference (TOR) that can be found at the following website https://moe.gov.so/en/jobs/ or can be provided upon submission of application.

• Selection Criteria: The selection shall be based on the qualifications, experience and skills of the candidate and followed by an interview. The qualifications, experience and competencies include: • Degree in business administration/ economics/ finance/ law, Engineering, Procurement, and Supply Chain Management or related field, from a recognized university, (master’s degree and final examination of Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply or equivalent) will be an added advantage. • A minimum of at least 7 years of direct relevant experience including broad expertise in the management of procurement in the public sector or private sector organizations. • Minimum of 3 years’ experience in implementing procurement actions according to international organizations guidelines such as World Bank, African Development Bank, the United Nations etc. for procurement of goods, works and services. • Proven experience in implementing procurement of high value contracts in education or in the social sector or in civil works.

Supply of goods and consultancy services and procurement planning is an essential requirement. • Proven experience in contract management. And a proven integrity records. • Good communication and interpersonal skills; • Ability to solve complex problems involving multiple stakeholders and constraints. • Possesses strong negotiation skills and persuasiveness in presenting, negotiating and resolving highly complex issues, both orally and in writing. • Timeliness in following up on contracts and checking on backordered items. • Excellent computer skills for Microsoft Office tools (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) and Internet use.

NB: "Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position given the relevance of the project to the women empowerment agenda". 4. REPORTING The procurement specialist will report to the Project manager, He/she will also work under the guidance of the Director General, Ministry of Education, Culture, and Higher Education.

• TIMING Duration of Assignment: The procurement specialist shall be contracted for an initial one-year period. The Ministry of Culture and Higher Education (MoECHE) now invites eligible Individual Consultants to indicate their interest in providing these services.

Interested Individual Consultants must submit the following: (i) Curriculum Vitae (CV) with 3 reference persons; (ii) copies of certificates of academic qualifications; and (iii) cover letter indicating that they are qualified to perform the services. 6. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to section III, para 3.14,3.16 & 3.17 of the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers: Procurement in Investment Projects Financing Goods, Works, Non -Consulting and Consulting Services, July 2016, revised November 2017, August 2018 and November 2020, and September 2023, (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Individual Consultant method set out in the World Bank Procurement Regulations. Interested Consultants may obtain further information at the address given below from 8:30 to 3.30 pm Mogadishu time (Excluding public holidays). The Expressions of interest (EOI), CV with 3 reference persons and certificates of academic qualifications must be delivered (in person to the address below or by clicking the following link: https://jobapplication.moe.gov.so/ by 20th, Nov, 2024 at 12:00 Hours (Mogadishu Time) – marked clearly as “Procurement Specialist- Somalia Empowering Women Through Education and Skills (Rajo kaaba)”.

Ministry of Education, Culture and Higher Education KM5 Zoope Area, Mogadishu Federal Republic of Somalia