Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) Lesotho II
About MCA
The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) is a U.S. government corporation focused on assisting countries dedicated to good governance, economic freedom, and investing in people. In May 2022, MCC signed a five-year agreement (“compact”) with the government of Lesotho (GoL) aimed at poverty reduction through inclusive and sustainable economic growth in the country.
The Millennium Challenge Account (MCA- Lesotho II), is an entity established by the Government to act as the accountable entity to implement the Compact, with the authority to bind the Government with regard to all Program activities.
Lesotho Compact
The Lesotho Health and Horticulture Compact aims to benefit 2.5 million people by growing, strengthening, and organizing the private sector in Lesotho and improving the government’s coordination to deliver critical services necessary to support private sector development.
It will achieve this goal through investments in Health System Strengthening, strengthening of the business environment and Market Driven Irrigated Horticulture, providing sustainable income for smallholders and increasing climate resilience by replacing rain-fed subsistence farming with irrigated commercial horticulture in select locations.
The GoL is committed to passing several key reforms that will help make this compact successful, including reforms that address gender equality, working conditions and worker safety, as well as land and water rights. All of the compact’s projects focus on overcoming barriers to the economic inclusion of women, youth, and the rural poor.
Procurement Specialist
Objective of this position
The Procurement Specialist, under the supervision of the Director, Procurement (PD), ensures that all procurement transactions are implemented in accordance with the MCC Program Procurement Guidelines (PPG), consolidates and oversees all procurement activities, and reports on the progress of these activities. The Procurement Specialist also assists the Procurement Director in liaising with the Procurement Agent, MCC and outside entities from a variety of specialized sectors on all procurement activities and facilitates the smooth interplay between and among all elements of the procurement process.
Primary responsibilities
- Oversee delivery of various procurement services (across the organization, ensuring that the quality of services rendered meet organization needs and are consistent with MCC/ MCA-Lesotho II procurement standards.
- Advise on MCA-Lesotho II’s and implementing entities’ procurement systems and determine their compliance with MCC standards, identify issues and risks, to support internal and external audit exercises.
- Monitors and coordinate with the Procurement Agent to closely manage the progress of procurements against the Procurement Implementation Plans.
- Coordinates with MCA-Lesotho IImanagement and staff to ensure everyone understands their respective roles and responsibilities in the execution of procurement, appreciates the critical nature of their responsibilities and are aware of the serious consequences of missed deadlines and unacceptable inputs.
- Assess technical procurement requests and ensure that they are aligned to procurement plans.
- Coordinate with the Procurement Agent in the planning and implementation of technical procurements and tendering processes to ensure transparency, compliance with MCC/ MCA-Lesotho II procurement standards, quality of goods and suppliers, and documentation.
- Communicates procurement priorities to Procurement Agent in consultation with the PD
- Advise management on overall issues regarding procurement operations and provide recommendations to improve service delivery and efficiency.
- Monitor procurement flow to determine core issues affecting procurement delivery, efficiency, and timeliness.
- Assists the PD in regular reviews of MCA’s Procurement Operations Manual(s) and Contract Administration Manual(s) prepared by the Procurement Agent(s) and recommend any necessary changes or improvements.
- Assists the PD in the review of Terms of Reference submitted by Sector Leads
- Anticipate organization-wide procurement needs according to purchasing trends and projections to sustain smooth delivery of expected services rendered.
- Assist MCA-Lesotho II management team particularly the MCA-Lesotho II Project Directors and MCA-Lesotho II Legal team, in interpreting and applying various contractual provisions with respect to the contractors’ performance and compliance with contractual obligations generally, and specifically with respect to claims from contractors for time extensions or extra payments.
- Oversees the contract administration and amendment/modification process in coordination with MCA-Lesotho II management, including MCA-Lesotho II Project Directors.
- Applies fraud and corruption awareness and anti-fraud and corruption measures, with emphasis on the procurement and contract execution processes in collaboration with the MCA-Lesotho II Procurement staff, Procurement Agent(s), MCA-Lesotho II Project Directors and other managers, the MCA-Lesotho II financial team and the MCA-Lesotho II legal teams, and MCC.
- Reviews reports submitted by the Procurement Agent and ensures that the Procurement Agent keeps records of all procurement activity.
- Oversees the quality delivery by examining procurement requests, quality of goods, and other relevant documentation to ensure compliance to established work plans, as well as MCC/ MCA-Lesotho II standards.
- Performs additional tasks and responsibilities assigned by the MCA-Lesotho II Procurement Director or CEO
Required Competencies
- Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Procurement, Engineering, Law, Finance or related field is required.
- Minimum five (5) years of relevant experience in position(s) or in advisory role(s) in the management of project(s) that required procurement of goods, works and services is required.
- Experience in drafting, reviewing, and approving procurement documents and their adherence to international procurement standards.
- Proven excellent leadership and team building and communication skills are required.
- Proven abilities of result-oriented leader who understands procurement, collaboration, compliance, and international development.
- Experience in planning, organizing and successfully presenting at the market outreach is preferred required.
- Demonstrated experience with procurement policies of international development organizations, including but not limited to World Bank, African Development Bank, or MCC.
- Proven experience successfully managing teams of procurement professionals delivering high quality outcomes is required.
- Fluency in English (written and verbal) is required.
- Strong computer skills with office productivity applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and MS Project) are required.
How to apply
Applications must be submitted online, on or before the 22nd December 2023.
Complete applications must comprise of the following documents:
1. Curriculum vitae containing detailed work experience;
2. Cover letter confirming interest and availability;
3. Soft copies of higher education and professional certificates (if available);
4. A completed online application form (can be accessed from https://lesotho-jobs.tenderwell.app – CV Template MCA Lesotho II)
Only applications that are submitted on or before the deadline will be considered.
We thank all applicants. However, note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Submit your application online via: https://lesotho-jobs.tenderwell.app . Hard copy applications will not be considered.