CMU Procurement & Compliance Specialist (National Contract)

Position: Procurement & Compliance Specialist

Duty station: Beirut, Lebanon with regular visits to partners offices.

Unit: Consortium Management Unit (CMU)

Reports to: Consortium Manager (Operational)

Technical Supervision: WW Regional Procurement 

1. Background

Lebanon continues to face a prolonged economic and social crisis, further aggravated by the 2024 hostilities, which severely damaged agricultural land, MSMEs, local infrastructure, and basic services, particularly in South Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley. In response, the Economic Recovery Project, funded by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), aims to support an inclusive, sustainable, and climate-resilient recovery in conflict-affected areas. Implemented by a consortium led by WeWorld, together with LRI, FJPII, IECD, and The Nawaya Network, the project is structured around three core pillars:

1- Rehabilitating agricultural land, water infrastructure, and ecosystems, and promoting climate-smart, market-oriented agriculture;

2- Improving employability and entrepreneurship opportunities for vulnerable populations—especially women, youth, refugees, and displacement-affected communities—through MSME support, vocational training, and business incubation;

3- Strengthening municipal and national governance capacities for participatory, gender-responsive, and environmentally sensitive recovery planning and basic service delivery

1. Position Summary

The Procurement & Compliance Specialist is a core member of the Consortium Management Unit (CMU), responsible for ensuring that all procurement and contracting processes within the consortium comply with AFD rules and procedures and the consortium Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

The Specialist will conduct a comprehensive review and assessment of each partner’s existing procurement systems and procedures, identifying their level of alignment with AFD standards.

This assessment will serve as the basis for the CMU to determine how procurement will be managed across partners during project implementation. The role therefore focuses initially on diagnosing and mapping compliance gaps, before supporting partners and the CMU in harmonizing and applying the agreed framework.

Working under the Consortium Manager and in close coordination with the WW Regional Procurement Reference for technical aspects, the Specialist provides technical oversight, capacity support, and compliance advises across all partner organizations, acting as advisory for harmonized procurement systems and audit-ready documentation within the consortium.

2. Key Objectives

• Support all consortium member in ensuring all procurement and logistics processes comply with AFD rules and procedures.
• Conduct a baseline review of each partner’s procurement and logistics system to assess alignment with AFD standards.
• Support the CMU in defining how procurement and logistics will be managed across partners.
• Provide technical guidance, advisory for harmonization and compliance to all partner procurement and logistics teams, including requirements, policies and best practices.
• Support the consortium to ensure  that all consortium procurement and logistics files are fully AFD-compliant and audit-ready.

3. Specific Responsibilities

1. Procurement Oversight& Quality Assurance

• Conduct a baseline compliance assessment of all partners’ procurement manuals, thresholds, and documentation practices against AFD standards and consortium requirements.
• Prepare a diagnostic report and recommendations highlighting areas of compliance, partial compliance, or gaps.
• Support the CMU in reviewing findings and deciding on the applicable procurement framework for each partner.
• Lead the consolidation and validation of the consortium’s annual Procurement Plan, based on partner submissions and aligned with approved work plans and budgets
• Ensure that the consolidated Procurement Plan is regularly updated, shared with the CMU, and reflected in donor reporting.
• Provide technical guidance and pre-verification of procurement files (goods, works, services) to support the consortium in ensuring full compliance with AFD rules.
• Consolidate partners’ Procurement Trackers into  a centralized Consortium Procurement Tracker, ensuring timely updates, consolidation, and monitoring of procurement activities across partners.
• Provide technical support in ensuring procurement documentation meets the highest standards of traceability, competition, and transparency.
• Revise partners Logistics policies and suggest improvements for harmonization and enhancement of Logistics good practices, as well as compliance with AFD rules

2. Compliance Management

• Develop and implement a procurement and logistics compliance framework, including checklists, and review matrices.
• Monitor partners’ procurement and logistics practices and documentation quality, supporting in ensuring consistent application of the agreed AFD-compliant framework.
• Conduct spot checks and internal compliance reviews across consortium partners.
• Support the Finance & Compliance Coordinator and external auditor during interim and final expenditure verifications.
• Identify and document any compliance gaps or risks observed during procurement and logistics reviews, report key risks to the CMU, and follow up on corrective actions with partners.
• Support the implementation of audit recommendations and maintain an audit readiness tracker for procurement and logistics files.

3. Coordination

• Chair and coordinate the Procurement & Compliance Working Group, engaging all partner procurement focal points.
• Provide general capacity building to partners and ongoing tailored support to strengthen partners’ understanding of AFD procurement requirements.
• Facilitate harmonization of procurement templates, checklists, and filing systems across partners.
• In coordination with Consortium Manager, engage in technical coordination with the donor with regards to Procurement and Logistics aspects, guidelines and compliance
• Support partners in planning annual procurement forecasts and ensure integration with financial planning.

4. Documentation& Reporting

• Ensure all procurement files are archived systematically in shared digital folders according to consortium standards.
• Prepare quarterly procurement compliance reports for the CMU and WW Regional Procurement Reference.
• Contribute to interim and final donor reports with updates on procurement performance, compliance, and risks.
• Provide inputs for the consortium’s annual learning and exchange event on transparency, accountability, and risk mitigation.

4. Deliverables

• Consortium-wide Procurement Compliance Assessment Report and Compliance Matrix
• A validated Consortium Procurement Plan, updated biannually and aligned with partner work plans and budgets.
• Quarterly Procurement & Compliance Reports and Working Group Minutes.
• Updated Consortium Procurement Tracker shared with CMU and partners.
• Audit-ready documentation verified before each disbursement request.

5. Required Qualifications& Experience

Essential

• University degree in Procurement, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or related field.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in procurement management or compliance oversight.
• Demonstrated experience reviewing procurement systems and procedures for compliance and audit readiness.
• Proficient in English, both written and spoken

Desirable

• Previous experience with other international donors such as the EU, AFD, or similar
• Experience working in consortia or multi-partner programmes.
• Familiarity with Lebanese fiscal and supplier registration regulations (tax, customs, supplier legal standing
• Knowledge of e-procurement systems.

6. Competencies

• Integrity, impartiality, and commitment to transparency
• Strong analytical and audit-oriented mindset.
• Ability to manage sensitive information and maintain confidentiality
• Rigorous attention to detail and documentation discipline
• Problem-solving and facilitation skills to support compliance harmonization

7.  Supervision& Accountability

• Operational Line Management: Consortium Manager (CMU)
• Technical Supervision: WeWorld Regional Procurement
• Functional Coordination: Partner Procurement Focal Points
• The postholder operates with a high degree of autonomy but must ensure regular coordination, transparency, and documentation of all processes.