Hiring of Project Coordinator for the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, through the Liberia Investment, Finance and Trade Project (LIFT-P).

REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA

MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

LIBERIA INVESTMENT, FINANCE AND TRADE PROJECT (LIFT-P) INSURANCE BUILDING, 5TH STREET-SINKOR, OPPOSITE CONEX GAS STATION MONROVIA, LIBERIA

P.O. Box 9041, 1000 Monrovia, 10 Liberia

www.moci.gov.lr

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (REOI)

(CONSULTING SERVICES)

Individual Consultant Selection (INDV)

RE-ADVERTISED March 28, 2025

•

PROJECT COORDINATOR

Individual Consultant Selection (INDV) Method

1 Year

Background

The Republic of Liberia through the Ministry of Commerce & Industry has received Financing from the International Development Association (IDA) towards the cost of implementing the Liberia Investment, Trade & Finance Project (LIFT-P) and it intends to apply part of the proceeds of the Financing towards payments under the contract for above mentioned position for the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI). under the Liberia Investment, Finance and Trade Project (LIFT-P) of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

The overall objective of the LIFT-P is to improve the investment climate, expand sustainable access to finance, and increase the efficiency of trade in Liberia and help formal MSMEs recover from the impact of the COVID-19. The LIFT-P is an explicit contributor to the FY19-FY24 Country Partnership Framework (CPF)

The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for this position can be found below.

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry now invites eligible and interested Individual Applicants (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the required Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the required Services. The shortlisting (qualification) criteria are listed as per the Terms of Reference. Applicants must have minimum qualifications and experience as per the Terms of Reference.

Applicants will be selected in accordance with the Individual Consultant Selection (INDV) as set out in the World Bank Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers dated July 2016 as Revised in November 2017, August 2018, November 2020, September 2023 and February 2025.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours, i.e., 0900 to 1600 hours GMT, Monday to Friday.

The deadline for submission of Expressions of Interests is on Monday April 14, 2025. Please submit your Expressions of Interest with a letter of interest to the addresses below only by email indicating the position title in the subject line of the email.

Please note that ONLY shortlisted Applicants will be contacted.

Liberia Investment, Finance and Trade Project (LIFT-P)

Attn: Joseph Blanco

Human Resource Director

First Floor, Commerce Building

EJS Ministerial Complex, Congo Town

Monrovia, Liberia

E-mail: [email protected]

Cc: [email protected] and [email protected]

TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR PROJECT COORDINATOR

Post Tile: Project Coordinator

Location of Project: Project Implementation Unit-Ministry of Commerce and

Industry, EJS Ministerial Complex, Tubman Boulevard, Congo Town

Contract Duration: One (1) year with possibility of extension based on satisfactory performance and availability of funds.

Report Line: The Deputy Minister for Commerce and Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI)

Recruitment Type: National Position

Type of Contract: Time Based Contract

Background

The Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI), has received a Project Preparation Advance (PPA) amount from the World Bank in preparation for the implementation of the Liberia Investment, Finance and Trade (LIFT) Project: P171997. MOCI intends to recruit a new Project Coordinator to lead the Project Implementation Unit established at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

The overall objective of the LIFT-Project is to improve the investment climate, expand sustainable access to finance, and increase the efficiency of trade in Liberia and help formal MSMEs recover from the impact of the COVID-19 and other endogenous and exogenous factors impacting on the business environment and trade facilitation.

The LIFT-Project is an explicit contributor to the FY2019-FY2024 Country Partnership Framework (CPF) Pillar I: Strengthening Institutions and Creating an Enabling Environment for Inclusive and Sustainable Growth. Specifically, the project implements Objective 3 of the CPF, that seeks a more enabling environment for the development of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The Project furthers the CPF’s objective by fostering the emergence of an inclusive private sector through a more hospitable investment climate, expanded access to finance, and stronger market governance. The LIFT Project envisions the removal of key regulatory constraints and will facilitate trade and expand access to finance. Specifically, it will focus on (i) the regulatory areas where Liberia ranks low on Doing Business indicators, (ii) implementation of the Financial Sector Development Implementation Plan and National Financial Inclusion Strategy, (iii) implementation of the Insolvency and Restructuring Law adopted in 2017, and (iv) support for Liberia’s implementation of commitments to the World Trade Organization (WTO), Trade Facilitation Agreement, since adoption of the long-awaited Customs Code.

• The project supports Jobs and Economic Transformation (JET) framework for Liberia and its two pillars on which the outcomes sit: better market functioning and improved firm capabilities. In doing so, the project targets six of the ten-building block in this framework as a complement to other parallel activities under the Liberia CPF supporting macroeconomic management, infrastructure services, employment policy and human capital. The project takes account of the Government Recovery Program (GRP) project that seeks to support otherwise viable growth oriented private enterprises that were adversely impacted by the effects of the pandemic. As the mechanism for firm level support is structured, guardrails will be established to prevent adversely impacting financial discipline and commercial credit underwriting needed for a sustained recovery. At the same time, with various indicators highlighting access to finance as an issue, attention to expanding digital financial services (DFS) is needed.

• In addition to its contribution to the Jobs agenda, the Project design supports a range of IDA priorities including Gender, Climate, Governance, Fragility, Conflict & Violence and Maximizing Finance for Development (MFD). The project will ensure that women-oriented training and eligibility will be included in firm support and financial access component by deliberately incorporating, in the design of project activities, features that seek to address the identified gaps between men and women with respect to their participation in economic activity in the country, especially around differential constraints and performance between women-owned and men-owned firms. These include the reforms to the business environment (e.g., registration, permits and access to finance), as well as activities to support SMEs and entrepreneurs. The project will monitor the extent to which activities are contributing toward closing gender gaps by measuring, among other things: (i) the number of women led MSMEs with a loan through the project; and (ii) the percentage of women that are covered by the credit registry.

• Finally, as a foundational project to strengthen the public sector’s ability to facilitate growth of the private sector on a sustainable basis, significant efforts will be devoted to institution building activities in key agencies. In this light, the project’s concept identifies the strengthening of institutional functioning, streamlining of business processes and use of automation to lower costs, improve services and remove face-to face interactions.

• The Project will be implemented in all 15 counties of Liberia for the next 5 years.

Objective of the Assignment

To lead and coordinate the implementation of the World Bank funded LIFT-Project and be fully responsible for its day-to-day management in such a manner as to ensure efficient and timely implementation of all project activities in accordance with the overall project implementation schedule for the five-year period and duly approve and/or revise Annual Work Plans and Budgets and Procurement Plans, in compliance with the relevant Protocols of Agreement as well as WB’s rules and Procedures as detailed in the Financing Agreement, the Project Appraisal Document the Project Operating Manual, and other related documents.

Scope of Services

The Project Coordinator will ensure the effective and efficient coordination and management of all activities associated with the project, in full compliance with the requirements and procedures of the Government of Liberia and the World Bank.

Main Roles and Responsibilities

Specific responsibilities of the Project Coordinator will include, but not limited to the following:

• Project Leadership and Management

• Provide overall supervision, leadership, and strategic direction for effective implementation of the LIFT Project in line with the agreed results framework.

• Lead the development and review of Annual Work Plans, Budgets, and Procurement Plans, ensuring alignment with project objectives and timelines.

• Manage day-to-day operations of the Project Implementation Unit (PIU), including staff supervision and office management.

• Ensure the project is implemented in compliance with the World Bank's policies, financing agreements, and the Government of Liberia's regulations.

• Planning, Monitoring, and Reporting

• Prepare and submit quarterly, semi-annual, and annual project progress reports to the National Project Technical and Steering Committees and the World Ba