Selection of Procurement Specialists — GEWEL 2 Project, Zambia

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST CONSULTING SERVICES – INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT SELECTION (OPEN; NATIONAL) PROCUREMENT SPECIALIST COUNTRY: Zambia NAME OF PROJECT: Girls’ Education and Women’s Empowerment and Livelihood for Human Capital (GEWEL 2) Project Credit No: IDA E3020 Assignment Title: Selection of Procurement Specialist The Government of Zambia with support from the World Bank is implementing the Girls’ Education and Women’s Empowerment and Livelihood for Human Capital (GEWEL 2) Project with the main objective of promoting human capital development and productivity among poor and vulnerable girls and women, while strengthening adaptive social protection delivery systems.

The project is being implemented across four Government Agencies; The Ministry of Community Development and Social Services (MCDSS), Ministry of Education (MOE), Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Gender Division in the Office of the President (GD). The project has four components, the Foundational Social Cash Transfer and Nutrition (SCT) implemented by the department of Social Welfare at MCDSS and the Ministry of Health, Keeping Girls in School and Beyond (KGS) implemented by MOE, Supporting Women’s Livelihoods for Climate-Smart Productive Inclusion (SWL) implemented by the department of Community Development at MCDSS and the Institutional Strengthening and Systems Building for Cash ‘Plus’ Delivery (ISSB) implemented by the departments of Planning and Information at MCDSS and Gender Division respectively.

Additionally, the National Secretariat for the GEWEL 2 Project and the overall coordination across project components lies within the Gender Division at Cabinet Office. To efficiently and effectively execute the implementation of the ISSB component and provide oversight and coordination, the Gender Division through the GEWEL 2 National Secretariat seeks to create a Project Implementation Unit (PIU). The PIU will comprise four staff, the Project Coordinator, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist, Communication Specialist and Procurement Specialist.

The Gender Division now wishes to invite Expressions of interest for the position of Procurement Specialist. Objective: i) Support departments of Planning and Information at MCDSS and Gender Division for all procurement process starting from bidding document preparation to award the contract and (ii) closely monitor the contract management process of the signed contracts of departments of Planning and Information at MCDSS and Gender Division on behalf Project Coordinator for proper integration of the project.

Key tasks/Responsibility: Procurement Consultant will work as a full-time member of the procurement team in PIU, and will be responsible for assisting of departments of Planning and Information at MCDSS and Gender Division so that the procurements are done as per the relevant Regulations of World Bank. The Consultant will have a significant role in assuring the integrity, fairness, and overall quality of procurement in conformance with the requirements of the guidelines of the World Bank. He/she should not have any conflict of interest while working and should keep all the project information confidential.

The Consultant will carry out the following main activities: a) Develop procurement plan for Works, Goods and Services under the project, and update the Plan as and when needed (at least quarterly) through the Bank’s Systematic Tracking of Procurement Exchanges system (STEP). Upload and update the procurement transactions using STEP. b) Prepare drafts to Request for Expressions of Interest (REOI), Invitation for Bids (IFB), Invitation for Prequalification (IFP), Bidding Document, Prequalification Document (PQD), Request for Proposals (RFP) and Pre-Bid Meeting Minutes as per World Bank Procurement Regulations; c) Guide and conduct procurement in accordance with World Bank Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” (September 2023) (“Procurement Regulations”) the Bank’s Systematic Tracking and Exchanges in Procurement (STEP) system will be used to prepare, clear and update Procurement Plans and conduct all procurement transactions for the Project; d) Take part, as a member of evaluation committees; e) Provide timely advice to PIU in making submissions for Letter of No Objection at World Bank, help PIU on necessary documentation and revision of the submissions as advised by the Bank officials. f) Help PIU to address the procurement related complaints, which will include (a) review of the complaints vis-à-vis the respective procurement processes and documents, and (b) participation in discussions that PIU members may have with complainants. g) Provide advice and training to PIU members on World Bank New Procurement Framework (NPF) and procurement related matters, on need basis as a part of the institutional capacity building of departments of Planning and Information at MCDSS and Gender Division; h) Closely monitor procurement activities in reference to the Procurement Plan timeline and the procurement approval process of the Government and bring any slippage of activities immediately to the attention of the Project Coordinator. i) Prepare quarterly report on procurement status and procurement risk mitigation framework and arrange submission of the same to IDA for review. j) Assist in preparing TORs and associated documents for other consultants, as appropriate. k) Conduct diagnostic analyses on delays, inefficiency, etc. in the system, and provide recommendations to improve the same, if required. l) Conduct site visits and verify supervision consultant’s (if any) periodic reports on physical progress. m) Prepare contract management checklist and suggest improvement on contract administration by different contractors at different sites. n) Report any possibility of contract variation. o) Report on implementation of sustainability factors in procurement and contract management, including economic, social and environmental considerations. p) Conduct procurement activities under the project using e-GP portal as applicable. q) Any other task assigned by the Project management as and when required Education and Experience • Graduate qualification (at least Graduate in engineering/ procurement/ supply chain management/ commerce / finance/ business/ management/ law/environmental science or suitable equivalency). • At least 5 years of general experience out of which three years of experience as Procurement Specialist/Procurement Consultant or have had responsibilities with a substantial content of his / her position in the procurement area (use of internationally accepted contract documents for works, goods and services. • Specialized knowledge of procurement of goods; various forms of construction contracts; selection/ contracting of consultant services; preparation of bidding / contract documents for the international procurement of goods, works, services; public procurement policies; sustainable procurement; advanced contract management. • Basic knowledge and understanding of e-Government Procurement (e-GP) • Knowledge and experience in technical, commercial and legal aspects of procurement of the World Bank- financed project will be an added advantage. • Strong communication skills in presenting, discussing and resolving difficult issues.

Ability to work efficiently and effectively in a multidisciplinary team. E. Duration of the Assignment The duration of the assignment will be throughout the project’s duration of 24 months. But it may be extended as per requirement of the project.

However, this will depend on performance of the individual in the position. F. Institutional Arrangement: The Consultant will work under direct control of the Project coordinator. S/he will report directly to the Project coordinator with close collaboration with other officials of the Project.

The Consultant shall be accountable to the Project coordinator for his/her day-to-day activities. G. Reporting Obligations: (1) Monthly Activity Report (2) Quarterly Summarized report (3) Final Report.

H. Procurement/ Hiring method The Consultant will be hired and contracted as per the “Individual Consultant (IC)” Selection method of World Bank Procurement Regulation (PR), September, 2023. Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours between 08:00 to 17:00 hours.

Expression of interest must be delivered in a written form (hard copy) in the Tender Box to the address below by 17:00 hours Zambia Standard Time on 9 th May, 2025. The Expression of interest must be addressed to: The Head Procurement and Supplies Unit Cabinet Office Office of the President Independence Avenue P.O Box 30208 Lusaka REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST CONSULTING SERVICES – INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT SELECTION (OPEN; NATIONAL) PROCUREMENT SPECIALIST COUNTRY: Zambia NAME OF PROJECT: Girls’ Education and Women’s Empowerment and Livelihood for Human Capital (GEWEL 2) Project Credit No: IDA E3020 Assignment Title: Selection of Procurement Specialist The Government of Zambia with support from the World Bank is implementing the Girls’ Education and Women’s Empowerment and Livelihood for Human Capital (GEWEL 2) Project with the main objective of promoting human capital development and productivity among poor and vulnerable girls and women, while strengthening adaptive social protection delivery systems.

The project is being implemented across four Government Agencies; The Ministry of Community Development and Social Services (MCDSS), Ministry of Education (MOE), Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Gender Division in the Office of the President (GD). The project has four components, the Foundational Social Cash Transfer and Nutrition (SCT) implemented by the department of Social Welfare at MCDSS and the Ministry of Health, Keeping Girls in School an