Procurement Officer (11 months Consultancy), Bangui, Central African Republic (CAR)

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WFP seeks candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian principles.

Selection of staff is made on a competitive basis, and we are committed to promoting diversity and gender balance.

ABOUT WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. The mission of WFP is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetimes. Every day, WFP works worldwide to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women and children, can access the nutritious food they need.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

Procurement unit in WFP Country Office in Central African Republic (CAR) is currently managing one of the most difficult procurement operations in WFP. Like any other country office, CAR office buys both food and non-food items needed for its operations. In particular, to promote local production and economy, the country office is buying locally produced food commodities from smallholder farmers through SAMS activities, besides buying from local traders. The country office also undertakes Cash Based Transfert (CBT) related procurement activities so far through retailers with an intention to explore the use of financial service providers.

The incumbent will mainly focus on 3 activities during this short assignment: food procurement, CBT related procurement and market research.

JOB PURPOSE

Under the direction of the Head of Procurement, the Procurement Consultant will assist the procurement unit in the execution of all procurement activities that are necessary to support the programme of operations in CAR.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

The Procurement Consultant shall undertake the duties stipulated by the Head of Procurement, including, but not be limited to:

1. Support procurement programs and operational activities such as issue tenders, evaluate offers and negotiate/award contracts, procurement of non-food commodities and/or services, including construction.
2. Contribute to analysis of data to provide recommendations for process improvement.
3. Conduct research and analysis on a range of data, and produce substantive reports providing insight and recommendations to Procurement Officers and enabling informed decision-making.
4. Support auditing of procurement activities to ensure conformity with compliance rules;
5. Work in close collaboration with internal counterparts to align procurement activities with wider programmes and ensure a coherent approach to meeting food assistance needs;
6. Support training of WFP staff to take a strategic and proactive approach to the procurement of goods, services and food;
7. Guide junior staff, acting as a point of referral and supporting them with simple analysis and queries;
8. Act in an assigned emergency response capacity as required to meet emergency food assistance needs.
9. Act as an escalation point, liaising with suppliers and providing solutions to complex issues related to delivered goods, using initiative and following process, to ensure timely resolution of problems.
10. Follow standard emergency preparedness practices to ensure WFP can quickly respond and deploy food and needed resources to affected areas at the onset of the crisis.
11. Perform other related tasks as required.

FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITIES

Capability Name Description of the behaviour expected for the proficiency level Tendering & Contracting Demonstrates ability to establish and manage small contracts/ portions of larger contracts that enhance the value WFP obtains from its engagements (e.g., cost, efficiency, quality). Vendor Management Demonstrates working knowledge and understanding of the supplier network and business needs to effectively select vendors that meet the selection criteria. Commodity/Product/Service Intelligence Selects appropriate products and/or services in own area based on a basic understanding of sources, country requirements, and public procurement principles/practices. Systems & Reporting Demonstrates strong understanding of procurement systems, Corporate operating System and tools to conduct range of analyses and generate reports to drive decision making. Ethics & Compliance Demonstrates ability to collect, collate and report records relating to ethics and compliance to assist in the analysis of audit findings.

4Ps CORE ORGANISATIONAL CAPABILITIES

Purpose

• Understand and communicate the Strategic Objectives: Understands WFP’s Strategic Objectives and the link to own work objectives.
• Be a force for positive change: Flexibly adapts individual contributions to accommodate changes in direction from supervisors and internal/external changes (such as evolving needs of beneficiaries, new requirements of partners).
• Make the mission inspiring to our team: Recognizes and shares with team members the ways in which individual contributions relate to WFP’s mission.
• Make our mission visible in everyday actions: Sets own goals in alignment with WFP’s overall operations, and is able to communicate this link to others.

People

• Look for ways to strengthen people's skills: Assesses own strengths and weaknesses to increase self-awareness, and includes these in conversations on own developmental needs.
• Create an inclusive culture: Participates in open dialogue, and values the diverse opinion of others, regardless of background, culture, experience, or country assignment.
• Be a coach & provide constructive feedback: Proactively seeks feedback and coaching to build confidence, and develop and improve individual skills.
• Create an “I will”/”We will” spirit: Participates in accomplishing team activities and goals in the face of challenging circumstances.

Performance

• Encourage innovation & creative solutions: Shows willingness to explore and experiment with new ideas and approaches in own work.
• Focus on getting results: Consistently delivers results within individual scope of work on time, on budget and without errors.
• Make commitments and make good on commitments: Commits to upholding individual accountabilities and responsibilities in the face of ever-changing country or functional priorities.
• Be Decisive: Makes rational decisions about individual activities when faced with uncertain circumstances, including in times of ambiguity regarding information or manager direction.

Partnership

• Connect and share across WFP units: Seeks to understand and adapt to internal or cross-unit teams’ priorities and preferred working styles.
• Build strong external partnerships: Demonstrates ability to understand and appropriately respond to and/or escalate needs of external partners.
• Be politically agile & adaptable: Portrays an informed and professional demeanor toward internal and external partners and stakeholders.
• Be clear about the value WFP brings to partnerships: Provides operational support on analyses and assessments that quantifies and demonstrates WFP’s unique value as a partner.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Advanced University degree in Economics, Commerce, Business Administration, Engineering, Legal or Accounting or other relevant field, or First University degree with an additional relevant work experience and/or training/courses.

Language: International Professional: Fluency (level C) in both English and French.

OTHER SPECIFIC JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Sound understanding of country requirements and public procurement principles and practices.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and manage contracts for services and goods.
• Demonstrated working knowledge of the supplier network and business needs to effectively select vendors that meet the selection criteria.
• Ability to collect, collate and report records relating compliance to assist in analysis of audit findings.
• Hands on experience in UN regulations and policies in work is a plus.
• Having supervisory experience.
• CIPS certification in Public Procurement is desirable

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE

• A minimum of three years of relevant professional experience in Economics, Commerce, Business Administration, Engineering, Legal or Accounting or other relevant field is required for holders of an advanced university degree, or five years of relevant professional experience in Economics, Commerce, Business Administration, Engineering, Legal or Accounting or other relevant field is required forholders of a first university degree. Additional years of experience and training will be an advantage.
• Experience with procurement activities (purchasing, vendor research, etc.).
• Experience conducting cost analyses.
• Experience working with vendors or other partners

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

30 November 2021

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Female applicants and qualified applicants from developing countries are especially encouraged to apply

WFP has zero tolerance for discrimination and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status.

No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.