Historique

Strengthening accountability and tackling corruption are essential pre-requisites for Iraq's long-term stability, economic recovery, and development. Both Iraqi and regional Kurdish governments have recently initiated steps to drive an ambitious anticorruption agenda including development of anticorruption strategies, the establishment of interagency task forces under the prime minister offices and the arrest of powerful individuals by federal authorities and the development of an access to information legislation. In this context, it is important to empower civil society that engages in a constructive dialogue and support anticorruption efforts.

UNDP developed the Anti-Corruption for Trust (ACT) in Iraq project with a double aim to: i) support public institutions to enhance preventive anticorruption measures notably the drafting of key legislations that would provide for and enhance a greater role for civil society as a key stakeholder in anti-corruption reform; ii) support civil society organizations to develop better capacity to engage in anti-corruption efforts. The project that started in April 2020 will end in June 2022 and is implemented by UNDP. The project is focused on legislative drafting, capacity building of public institutions, development of anticorruption strategies, e-governance and capacity empowerment of civil society.

UNDP is looking for a senior international Public Procurement Integrity Specialist (hereinafter “the Specialist”) that can improve existing integrity provisions in public procurement in Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). Public procurement in KRG is conducted in a decentralized manner  with facilitation and monitoring provided by a Public Contracts Department within the Ministry of Planning. The legal framework relies on a public procurement regulation enacted by the Council of Ministers in 2016 and drafted with the assistance of the World Bank. The objective is to determine if legal provisions on integrity of public procurement are in line with international standards and best practice and to what extent they are implemented. Further, the Specialist will determine the feasibility of Open Contracting Data Standards in KRG procurement.

Devoirs et responsabilités

The Specialist will assess the compliance of the KRG legal framework to international best practice and standards on integrity in public procurement, identify its vulnerabilities and propose recommendations. UNDP will facilitate the Specialist’s access to the regulation and any other legal document that may appear relevant to the assessment.

The Specialist will assess the implementation of key integrity provisions in the regulation enacted since 2016, analyze implementation challenges and propose specific recommendations. The assessment will evaluate the role of the Public Contracts Department and a limited sample of procuring authorities including a mix of big and small spenders as well as ministries and governorates. The assessment will look in particular at key public procurement practices that undermine the integrity provisions of the regulation. The assessment will be based on desk research and 12 to 15 interviews. Further, a consultation meeting where the preliminary findings and recommendations will be presented will ensure buy-in and support from the government for the assessment and follow-up actions.

The Specialist will determine the feasibility of Open Contracting Data Standards (OCDS) in KRG through desk review and 4-6 meetings with relevant KRG decision makers. The feasibility report will include a list of sequenced actions and recommendations on reform measures. Further, consultation meetings can be held with KRG public officials in which the Specialist may have to present the feasibility report findings and convince them to implement OCDS in public procurement.

The Specialist shall submit the following deliverable to UNDP ACT on the agreed timetable.

The price proposal should be an “all-inclusive” lump sum fixed rate. In case, the Specialist need the translation of the material into Arabic, UNDP will bear the cost for the translation separately.

The payment is deliverable based, i.e. upon satisfactory completion and UNDP’s acceptance of the deliverable.  Each payment claims must be approved by the UNDP focal point and head of Governance Portfolio. UNDP will make the payments within 30 days from receipt of invoice

Compétences

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to engage in substantive technical discussion with public officials
• High analytical skills oriented towards problem-solving
• Leadership and self-management
• The ability to model the UN's values and ethical standards, and to promote UNDP’s and the UN’s vision, mission, and strategic goals
• Sensitivity and adaptability to cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality, and age.

Qualifications et expériences requises

The Specialist will have the following qualifications, experience, competencies and language skills. Only applicants who meet these criteria will be short-listed and will be contacted.

A. Education and Professional Qualifications Required:

• A master’s degree (or bachelor degree with two additional years of experience) in public procurement, public administration, law, business administration, political science or a related field of study field

B. Experience Required:

• A minimum of 10 years of experience in providing policy advice on governance, anticorruption, transparency and public procurement.
• Previous experience and knowledge in reviewing public procurement legislation in at least two countries mobilizing international best practice and standards
• Previous assignment in a similar country context
• Knowledge of Open Contracting Data Standards.

C. Languages Required:

• Fluency in English is required.
• Fluency in Arabic and Kurdish is preferred.