Background

The Groundwater Access Facility Initiative, launched in May 2024 in Jigijiga, Ethiopia, aims to enhance groundwater resource management in the Horn of Africa. 

As part of the GAFA initiative, in August 2025, UNDP and CIFF agreed to implement the Productive Use of Water program pilot phase project in Somali region aims to proof overall feasibility of ground water access and availability focusing on shallow and deep borehole and water supply infrastructure development. The project will deploy two drilling rigs to drill a total of 20 wells, each designed to provide a minimum yield of 3 liters per second using solar-powered pumps operating for eight hours per day. Each site will include a minimum water storage capacity of 100,000 liters to ensure consistent supply. The wells will provide safe drinking water and domestic-use water to approximately 150,257 people, of whom 60% are adults of 27.5% are women and 40% are children. In addition to benefiting households, the project will also support 59 health facilities, collectively serving around 170,000 people, and improve water access for 66 schools across the northern and southern parts of the Somali Region.

Outcome: The pilot phase aims to ensure the overall feasibility of the ground water access and availability by drilling shallow and deep borehole and developing ground water supply scheme and infrastructure such electromechanical components, water supply pipeline and water storage and quality maintenance infrastructure.

Outputs to contribute to the outcomes: 

Output 1. Drilled 20 shallow and deep boreholes in the 4/four identified sites in Somali;

Output 2. Installed water use schemes and Infrastructure by integrating solar powered electromechanical component, water supply pipes and water storage and quality maintenance reservoir.

Scope of Work

UNDP is actively seeking to recruit a highly skilled Procurement and Contract Specialist who will help to realize the targets set in project. The Specialist will be responsible for managing the full lifecycle of procurement and contract administration while ensuring strict compliance with UNDP financial rules and regulations. This role typically involves strategic planning, sourcing, negotiation, and contract management to ensure the best value for money in support of UNDP's development projects and operations within budget and timeline, and in compliance with all regulatory and quality standards.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Management of Procurement:

• Conduct the procurement activities in accordance with the Procurement Plan of the project procurement activities;
• Ensure full compliance of procurement activities with UNDP Procurement, Financial Rules and Regulations, relevant Organizational Directives and Administrative Instructions; donor regulations (when required); 
• Procures equipment, goods and services/or works at the best value to be contracted to international or national companies/firms, consistent with UNDP Financial Regulations, Rules, polices and requirements as to quality, delivery and reliability of source for activities undertaken by UNDP;
• Implement effective internal control, proper design and functioning of a client-oriented procurement management system of the projects;
• Ensure effective use of internal Standard Operating Procedures in Procurement, control of the workflows, continuous business processes monitoring and elaboration of improvements in the systems and processes.
• Develop specifications based on end user requirements and prepare shortlists based on investigation of markets as well as policy considerations;
• Review and verify all purchase orders for goods, contracts for services and works;
• Develop and manage the rosters of suppliers, elaborate supplier selection and evaluation, quality and performance measurement mechanisms.

2. Contract Management:

• Maintain regular contacts with projects to review procurement needs and practices; 
• Guide and train other staff in appropriate UNDP procurement policies and procedures;
• Ensure that the reporting and auditing requirements are in full compliance; 
• Prepare monthly, quarterly and annual procurement-plans and progress reports as required;
• Issue of contract amendments, verification of services delivered against contractual requirements, alignment of specifications and standards. Provide objective oversight over various contract management processes and ensure their transparency; 
• Develop and implement systems for internal control that would ensure compliance with contractual terms and conditions, in collaboration with the Project Managers;
• Maintain records, prepare correspondence related to procurement matters;
• Prepare Contracts and support the Project Management in managements and variations;
• Make recommendation for payments upon review of reports and comments from the procurement team; 
• Negotiate the contract terms with bid winners and selected contractors in the best manner achieving the best interest of UNDP Clients and beneficiaries;
• Monitor and analyze contract performance against agreed benchmarks and through agreed reporting mechanisms. Advise the Project Managers on any potential issues and recommend remedial actions or solutions;
• Negotiate, within the terms and conditions of the contract, solutions to conflicts/problems arising in case of poor performance or non-compliance with contractual obligations;
• Frequently convene meetings with contractors to allow ample opportunity for the identification and early resolution of potential disputes.

3. Planning, Reporting and monitoring:

• Ensure timely preparation of procurement plans for the project and monitor their implementation;
• Implement proper monitoring and control processes including receipt of requisitions, issuance of RFQ, and RFP, receipt of quotations, bids and proposals, their evaluation, negotiation of certain conditions of contracts in full compliance with UNDP regulation; 
• Manage and monitor all transactional procurement including tendering processes, evaluation, contracting, contract management, legal considerations and payment conditions, contractors, performance evaluation, and risk assessment; 
• Maintenance and update of all procurement files and records of corporate, service, maintenance and other contracts;
• Prepare logistical reports and asset returns as required; 
• Provide regular reports to the Project Managers on delivery of procurement services.

4. Team management:

• Facilitate the engagement and provision of high-quality results and services of the team supervised through effective work planning, performance management, coaching, and promotion of learning and development;
• Provide oversight, ensuring compliance by team members with existing policies and best practices.

5. Capacity building and knowledge sharing:

• Organize, facilitate and/or deliver training and learning initiatives for Business Unit personnel on Procurement-related topics;
• Contribute to Procurement knowledge networks and communities of practice by providing collaborative synthesis of lessons learnt and dissemination of best practices in procurement;
• Collect feedback, ideas, and internal knowledge about processes and best practices and utilize productively. 

The incumbent performs other duties as required by the UNDP CRES team leader and Procurement team.

Institutional Arrangement 

The Procurement and Contracts Specialist will work with the procurement team and project management team under the overall guidance and the direct supervision of the Team Leader – CRES Unit, UNDP. The incumbent shall also discharge duties and responsibilities in close collaboration with the project manager and different programme units at UNDP country office, operation team, regional resilience hub and partners. The required qualifications and experiences are described in the sections below.

Competencies

Core

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact.
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems.
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences.
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands.
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and act to achieve greater results.
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration.

• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies 

Supplier/relationship management:

• Knowledge of supplier management concepts, principles and methods, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations.

Contract management:

• Knowledge of contract management concepts, principles and methods, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations.

Procurement concepts, processes, and management:

• Knowledge of procurement processes and management.

Strategic Thinking:

• Develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s mission and objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, opportunities and potential risks; link the general vision to reality on the ground to create tangible targeted solutions; learn from a variety of sources to anticipate and effectively respond to both current and future trends; demonstrate foresight.

Systems Thinking:

• Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.

Results-based Management:

• Ability to manage the implementation of strategies, programmes, and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results. Knowledge and understanding of relevant theories, concepts, methodologies, instruments, and tools.

Communication:

• Communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channel.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• An Advanced University Degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Business Administration, Economics, Engineering   or other relevant fields of Social and Administrative Sciences is required, Or
• A first-level university degree (bachelor´s degree) in above-mentioned fields in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

• CIPS level 4 is highly desirable for this position and candidates holding this level at the time of application will have a distinct advantage. If the desired certification is not available at the time of recruitment, it should be obtained within one year of recruitment. Candidates holding a CIPS certification at any level below at the time of application will have a proportionate advantage.

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years (with master’s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) progressive experience in procurement and contracts management.
• Strong working experience in procurement and managing large-scale contracts.
• Experience in procurement and managing contracts in water infrastructure development projects. 
• Experience in usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.)
• Proven knowledge of UNDP procurement rules and regulations. 
• Progressively professional development experience in the sector.
• Experience in designing and delivering resilience building, post crisis-recovery, and/or development programmes/projects.
• Experience working in UNDP and UN system policies & programming.

Required Language(s)

• Fluency in English and Amharic is required.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Scam alert

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.