Recruitment of Project Coordinator — Eastern Africa Regional Digital Integration Project (IGAD-Djibouti)

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES – INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT SELECTION)

Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)-Djibouti

Eastern Africa Regional Digital Integration Project

Grant No: IDA- IDA-E1670

Project ID No: (P176181)

Assignment Title: Recruitment of Project Coordinator

Reference No.: DJ-IGAD-360078-CS-INDV

The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has received financing in the amount of US$ 10 Million equivalent from the World Bank/IDA toward the cost of Eastern Africa Regional Digital Integration Project, and it intends to apply part of the proceeds to payments for consulting services.

Objective(s) and Scope of the Assignment

The regional Series of Projects (SOP) development objective is to promote the expansion of an integrated digital market across Eastern Africa by increasing cross-border broadband connectivity, data flows and digital trade in the region. The Phase I development objective of the SOP is to advance digital market integration in the Eastern Africa region by increasing affordable access to regional broadband connectivity and strengthening the enabling environment for cross-border digital services.

To achieve this objective and to deliver the mandate of the project, IGAD seeks the services of Project Coordinator.

IGAD now invites eligible individual consultants to indicate their interest in providing these services. Interested individual consultants must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services of Project Coordinator (i.e., updated CVs with description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, and availability of appropriate skills. Interested Individuals should send their applications in PDF format enclosed with a cover letter, CVs, academic documents, with three reference persons including the last employer.

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to paragraph 3.14 of the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers "Procurement in Investment Project Financing, Goods, Works, Non-Consulting, and Consulting Services,” Fourth Edition, November 2020; the World Bank’s “Guidelines on Preventing and Combatting Fraud and Corruption” revised July 1, 2016.

• Scope of Work The Project Coordinator will be expected to lead and implement various tasks including, but not limited to, the following:

• Ensure efficient, effective and timely implementation of the Project while ensuring that funds are used for the intended purposes and carry out the Project implementation in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth or referred to in the Project Guidelines.
• Assist IGAD leadership to coordinate and facilitate the implementation of the Project and convene technical as well as other stakeholders by providing a platform for technical and policy dialogue with all IGAD member states, pertaining to the project.
• Ensure coordination with the other PIUs under the Project and co-chair the Project Coordination Committee with representatives of the East African Community.
• Supervise the preparation for, and participate in the biannual meetings, of the Project Coordination Committee (PCC).
• Ensure that a financial management system is maintained in accordance with the provisions of the Project Guidelines and other documents related to the Project in consultation with the Finance team.
• Coordinate and manage the PIU, including core staff, experts and specialists, ensuring appropriate performance management systems in line with the World Bank’s policies, procedures, and guidelines in place, as well as lead the supervision of other consultants/consulting firms, procured under the project. These include externally contracted firms/individual consultants.
• Along with the PIU team, ensure timely, high quality project reporting in line with World Bank’s requirements and IGAD’s agreements with its development partners and stakeholders.
• Monitor sectoral-wide developments across the HoA region and IGAD’s Member States that may reasonably be expected to impact the project, including but not limited to action taken by IGAD or other donor-funded activities in the sector;
• Along with the PIU team, ensure delivery against cross-cutting project priorities and commitments related to citizen engagement, gender and inclusion, climate adaptation and mitigation etc.
• Ensure project activities adhere to the project’s environment and social safeguard frameworks and that the Grievance Redressal Mechanism is in place, in line with the World Bank’s requirements.
• Assist IGAD with advocacy, networking, information and communication on ICT and digital trade with stakeholders and beneficiaries.
• Prepare, organize and follow up on workshops, meetings, training (based on a training needs assessment) and field missions related to the specific activities related to the expected results of the Project.
• Provide technical guidance and administrative/secretarial support for the activities and decisions of the Project Steering Committee (PSC).
• Shall be responsible to ensure the establishment and proper functioning of internal control and quality assurance system and participate in ensure that the Bank procurement, financial management and reporting requirements are fulfilled.
• Ensure annual Audits of the Project accounts are being undertaken by Auditors and facilitate submission of the Audit Reports to the Bank, within six months after the end of each financial year.
• Along with the PIU team, ensure that all requisite processes for smooth project implementation and robust supervision are established, including but not limited to drafting and managing ad hoc updates to the Project Implementation Manual, preparation of Annual Work Plans and Budgets, quarterly progress reports, establishing an M&E and reporting system, formalizing relationships with project beneficiaries and stakeholder, calling and preparing steering committee meetings, with the support of the wider PIU team.
• Facilitate the Mid-Term Review (MTR) and, no later than six weeks prior to the MTR submit to the World Bank a progress report, Project Status Report (PSR) describing the status of the implementation of each Project component.
• Facilitate production of the Project Implementation Completion Report.

• Required Qualifications and Experience: The applicant should possess a combination of general, leadership and technical competencies, including:

General Competencies

• A minimum of a University Master’s Degree in Information Technology, Information and Communication Technology (ICT); Management; Development; Public or Business Administration; or any other discipline related to the field.
• A minimum of 10 years’ experience at a senior level in a relevant public institution, private sector or in an international organization, with proven skills in the management and coordination of internationally financed development programmes/projects.
• Proven experience in working in the Greater Horn of Africa region and ability and experience in management of partner funded project such as United Nations and multilateral development projects.
• Proven track record of formulating, implementing, and monitoring policy dialogue on ICT and/or trade and related infrastructure development operations.
• Experience demonstrating strong analytical capacity in the field relevant to project management, technology, and personnel.
• Possess excellent team building, interpersonal relationship management and negotiation skills, and ability to resolve conflicts constructively.
• Demonstrated experience in working on similar projects in countries of fragile context;
• Knowledge of and working experience in IGAD region context is highly desirable;
• Proven ability to develop and sustain highly effective relationships with development partners and other stakeholders, adopting a highly inclusive and collaborative approach, building strong networks with the range of stakeholders;
• Strong oral and written communication skills, including report writing and presentation skills;
• Demonstrated experience in development and management of government or development partner funded programs/projects (previous experience of managing WB-funded, and digital development project is preferred);
• Familiarity with policies and procedures of donors would be an added asset, and prior experience of WB-funded projects is an added advantage;

Leadership Competencies

• Strongly results-oriented and able to manage a complex and multi-faceted workload with minimal supervision; Ability to lead and work in multi-disciplinary teams;
• Excellent team building, interpersonal relationship management and negotiation skills, and ability to resolve conflicts constructively;
• Demonstrated ability to listen and integrate ideas from diverse views, create partnerships and collaborate with others, advocate and influence, resolve conflicts constructively, and work effectively across boundaries even without active guidance from the management;
• Ability to maintain strategic overview and manage priorities yet be detail-orientated within a dynamic, fast-paced environment;
• Strong problem-solving abilities;
• Ability to make forward-looking and practical decisions and operate effectively in a results-oriented and implementation culture;
• Fluency in English is essential; knowledge of French is an added advantage
• Solid IT skills including Word, Excel and PowerPoint;
• Should demonstrate a high degree of professionalism and integrity. Technical Competencies

• Sound knowledge of contemporary issues related to trade, digital services, telecommunications, cyber security, fiber optics, infrastructure development, and project management;
• Demonstrates sound technical knowledge of IGAD region’s ICT challenges and Innovation sector, including familiarity with digital integration and digital trade issues tackled by the project.

• Duration of the assignment The PIU Coordinator shall be contracted for