Procurement Specialist

1. BACKGROUND

To support the improvement of the preschool education system in Uzbekistan, the Ministry of Preschool and School Education (MOPSE) has prepared the investment project "Enhancing Access to Quality Early Childhood Education" (hereinafter referred to as "the Project"), financed by the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and the OPEC Fund for International Development. The proposed Project would be implemented over a period of five years, organized around six components, for an amount of US$ 30.0 million from the IsDB. The Project Development Objective is to enhance access to quality early childhood care and education (ECCE) facilities and improve the quality of early learning environments in Uzbekistan.

The Project Management Unit (PMU) to be located in the premises of the MOPSE.
PMU will be responsible for the day‐to‐day management and administration of project activities. The PMU will report directly to the MOPSE. The PMU would provide technical, managerial, and fiduciary assistance to the MOPSE to implement the project effectively including: (i) implementation, coordination and oversight; (ii) financial management, including planning and budgeting, accounting, financial reporting, internal controls, funds flow and disbursement and auditing; (iii) management of environmental and social safeguards aspects; (iv) procurement and contract management; (v) Project monitoring; (vi) coordination and oversight of disbursements by PFIs; (vii) Project completion.

2. OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The main objective of the Procurement Specialist is to support the PMU/MOPSE
in planning, managing, and monitoring all procurement activities under the Project
in accordance with IsDB and national procurement policies and procedures.

3. SCOPE OF WORK

The responsibilities of the Procurement Specialist would be in the following areas:

– Procurement & Selection Planning

– Processing of Procurement

– Training of Entities in Procurement Procedures

Procurement & Selection Planning. The Procurement Specialist will be responsible for preparing and updating the Project Procurement Plan and Consultant Selection Plan, including contract packages, estimated costs, procurement methods, and implementation schedules.

In the areas of processing of procurement, the Consultant will be accountable for the following:

– Preparation of specifications, bidding documents for goods and equipment contracts, requests for proposals for consulting assignments, and proposal application packages for subproject proposals using standard documentation agreed with IsDB.

– Arranging for advertising contracting opportunities and assistance in inviting bids

– Assisting and advising in evaluating bids and proposals received and recommending for the selection of consultants and suppliers.

– Preparation required procurement and other documentation for review by the IsDB and Evaluation Group.

– Finalization of contracts to be signed with suppliers, consultants, NGOs, CBOs and other entities.

– Maintaining proper procurement records;

In the area of contract administration and reporting, the consultant will:

– Liaise with PMU Coordinator, Technical Specialists and FM Specialist in preparing quarterly Project Management Reports (PMR) to be submitted to IsDB. The PMR shall include (i) Financial Management Report; (ii) Progress Monitoring Report and (iii) Procurement Management and Subproject Report including contract expenditure information.

– Maintain proper and complete records of procurement in appropriate filing system to ensure ease of retrieval of information and to ensure the ease of following the paper trail of procurement by independent external auditors and/or Bank staff.

4. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

– Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in relevant discipline, e.g. Economics, Finance, Business, Law, Engineering, Administration etc. with minimum 3 years’ experience in procurement and contract management in public or business sector.

– Must have good knowledge of procurement policies and procedures of a multilateral financial institution (preferably the IsDB); as well as good knowledge of the institutional, technical, and commercial aspects of procurement.

5. Language: Knowledge of Uzbek, Russian and English.

Deadline for application submission: 27 July, 2026