Procurement & Compliance Officer – Foundation for Health and Empowerment (F4HE)

BACKGROUND

The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) is a leading global development organisation working to tackle the root causes of poverty. For more than 50 years, we have helped create strong community institutions that support sustainable, locally driven initiatives to improve the lives of millions of people. By combining local knowledge with global best practices, we strive to bring about transformative and long-lasting improvements to quality of life. Working alongside the agencies of the Aga Khan Development Network and through partnerships with local communities, civil society, and businesses, as well as governments and international aid agencies, we are building a future where we all thrive together. AKF has been operating in Tajikistan since 1993 and, through its programme partners, continues to work in more than 60 districts and towns across the country. Together with state institutions, AKF Tajikistan (AKFTjk) directly contributes to the objectives of Tajikistan’s National Development Strategy and supports national efforts to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Foundations for Health and Empowerment (F4HE) is a five-year, $5.8 million initiative that seeks to improve the health and wellbeing of women, girls, their families, and their communities. Taking a lifecycle approach, from early childhood through adolescence to adulthood, the Programme will strengthen the foundations for equitable development and empowerment. This Programme will work at the intersection of systems for health care, early childhood development, women's empowerment, and gender equality. Through partnership with local professionals, governments, organizations, and communities, the Project will work towards a future where everyone - women, men, girls, and boys - can access the quality care and services they need to unlock their full potential. The Programme will be active across GBAO, Tajikistan.

OVERALL OBJECTIVE

The Procurement & Compliance Officer will be responsible for procurement of all F4HE goods and services by AKFTjk and coordination of procurements under the project with implementing partners to ensure compliance with donor and internal procurement policies. The position holder will also be responsible for other procurement related activities, where the needs arise, with the assumption that the project needs are at the priority.

The Procurement & Compliance Officer will be based in AKFTjk Dushanbe Office and report Program Procurement and Compliance Officer. This is a local position.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Manage and continuously analyze the approved F4HE annual procurement plan for efficiency and effectiveness.
Offer technical support and guidance to AKFTjk personnel and implementing partners as needed, ensuring that the procurement of goods and services adheres to approved annual plans and complies with the regulations of donors, AKF Canada (AKFC)/Global Affairs Canada (GAC), AKFTjk, and local legislation.
Support the Program Procurement and Compliance Officer in developing a thorough annual procurement plan, which aligns with approved project work plans and encompasses all significant procurement activities across AKFTjk and its implementing partners.
Lead AKFTjk procurements for the F4HE project, which involves tasks such as preparing and posting announcements, collecting, and opening offers, preparing meeting minutes and bid comparative analyses, facilitating report preparation, and contracting the best offers based on approved tender reports and controlling delivery to the End User.
Assist the Prrogramme Lead, Health and Nutrition in obtaining donor approval for procurement activities that fall outside of permitted geographic jurisdictions or the parameters outlined in the project agreement.
Proactively identify and catalogue reliable suppliers of goods and services and update the common supplier database based on suppliers’ performance for future use.
Prepare, review, and maintain register of purchase, delivery, and project inventory documentation for F4HE for future reference, audits, and projects reports.
Update and maintain the price and product database for price and specification references.
Monitor the progress of signed procurement contracts.
Assist the Program Procurement and Compliance Officer as the main focal point for the Project procurement committee, facilitating both local and international tender processes for goods and services across all implementing agencies.
Assist the Program Procurement and Compliance Officer in liaising with suppliers to schedule and/or expedite deliveries and resolve shortages, missed or late deliveries and other issues in the frame of internal policies and procedures for all projects’ procurements.
Conduct market analysis for control price identification for goods.
Assist the Program Procurement and Compliance Officer in preparing payment documentation for advances and post-delivery invoices from suppliers, including gathering supporting documents and following up on the payment execution process by AKFTjk Finance.

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

Bachelor’s degree or University level degree in Accounting/Finance or any other relevant fields.

Special knowledge and skills:

Demonstrated ability to negotiate with vendors for diverse goods and services.
Knowledge of vendors in Tajikistan, Central Asia, and Eastern Europe and in other relevant markets is an advantage.
Knowledge of procurement-related operating costs, procurement analyses methods and pricing practices.
Demonstrated ability to multi-task in a fast-paced working environment.
Demonstrated ability to work independently and within multi-sectoral teams.
Strong communications and interpersonal skills.
Strong English, Tajik and Russian language skills.

Experience:

Minimum 3 years of professional experience as a leading person on procurement activities for an international organization implementing development projects, or a donor organization.
Experience conducting local tenders from start to finish.
Experience conducting international tenders involving global suppliers from start to finish is preferred.
Experience with budgeting and cost optimization for purchases and deliveries.

APPLICATION PROCESS

A cover letter (2 pages maximum) and resume (2 pages maximum) clearly demonstrating how applicants meet essential qualifications and asset criteria should be submitted through www.the.akdn/careers/2153613 by no later than 12 March 2024. Only full packages will be considered.

AKF strongly encourages qualified female applicants for this position. AKF seeks to ensure that male and female employees are given equal career opportunities and that staff members are able to keep an appropriate balance between work and private life.

For more information on the Aga Khan Foundation and Aga Khan Development Network visit: http://www.akdn.org.

AKF Tajikistan recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to equal opportunity, safeguarding of children from abuse and zero tolerance of sexual harassment.

DISCLAIMER

By sharing their cover letter and resume with AKF in response to this job application, applicants consent for AKF to keep this information on file for recruitment and human resources management purposes.