Senior Procurement Specialist

Job Description:

                                  SENIOR PROCUREMENT SPECIALIST

Institution: Rwanda AI Agency Ltd (RAIA)

Location: Kigali, Rwanda

Contract Type: Full-Time Individual Consultancy

 Duration: 13 Months (1 December 2026 – 31 December 2027)

1. About Rwanda AI Agency (RAIA)

Rwanda AI Agency (RAIA) advances the responsible and inclusive use of Artificial Intelligence and emerging technologies to assist Rwanda's national development priorities. RAIA implements the World Bank-financed preparation program for AI for Economic Transformation in Rwanda.

2. The Opportunity

guide compliant, timely and strategic procurement for the Project Implementation Unit (PIU), including technology goods and consulting services, and produce the Project Procurement Strategy for Development (PPSD) for the follow-on operation.

3. Scope of the Role – Key Responsibilities

• oversee procurement under World Bank regulations and the Grant Agreement, including Procurement Plan updates in STEP.
• produce bidding documents, requests for proposals, evaluation reports, contracts and award notices.
• Take sole responsibility for preparing the follow-on PPSD, with inputs from the technical and financial management teams.
• create vendor-neutral procurement packages for AI, cloud, compute, software and data services; assess commercial risks.
• Oversee contract performance, complaints records, procurement reporting, market sounding and staff capacity building.

4. Qualifications and Experience

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in procurement, supply chain management, law, business, engineering or related field.
• At least 8 years of public procurement experience, including at least 2 years on World Bank-financed projects applying IPF Procurement Regulations and STEP.
• Experience preparing and actively managing a PPSD.
• Demonstrated management of complex procurements, including IT goods and consulting services.
• Proficiency in English.

Desirable Experience

• Knowledge of the Rwandan public procurement framework.
• Master's degree or procurement certification (e.g., CIPS).
• Experience procuring cloud, AI or other technology services.

5. Evaluation and Selection Criteria

Criteria / Points

• Education and professional certification/ Points 10
• General public procurement experience/ Points15
• Procurement under World Bank Regulations, including STEP/ Points 35
• Procurement of technology goods and consulting services/ Points 20
• Knowledge of the Rwandan procurement framework/ Points 10
• Written and oral English proficiency/ Points 10

TOTAL 100

Minimum qualifying score for interview: 70 points. The three highest-scoring eligible candidates reaching this threshold will be shortlisted; if fewer than three qualify, all qualifying candidates may be shortlisted.

6. Deliverables and Reporting Schedule

Deliverable / Timeline

• D1. Inception report and procurement action plan, Month 1 – Dec 2026
• D2. PPSD for follow-on operation, prepared under the specialist's sole responsibility, informing the procurement plan
  Draft: Month 8 – Jul 2027; Final: Month 10 – Sep 2027
• D3. Procurement Plan maintained and updated in STEP Continuous; formal update at least every six months
• D4. Procurement documents and evaluation reports for each package, Per Procurement Plan schedule
• D5. Market sounding reports ahead of major tenders, Before each major package
• D6. Quarterly procurement and contract status reports, Quarterly throughout
• D7. Handover report, procurement templates and filing audit, Month 13 – Dec 2027

All deliverables require written acceptance by RAIA. Dates are indicative and may be adjusted by written agreement, without extending the contract beyond 31 December 2027 or increasing its approved ceiling.

7. Consultancy Engagement and Remuneration

Time-based, full-time individual consultancy; 13 months from 1 December 2026 to 31 December 2027.

Monthly gross fee inclusive of taxes, negotiated based on documented remuneration history within the approved assignment budget.

Eligible consultants based outside Rwanda may be reimbursed up to USD 5,000 for relocation costs against receipts.

Reporting line: PIU Project Director, working closely with RAIA's procurement function.

Possible extension or new contract subject to performance, continued need, financing and applicable World Bank agreement.

8. How to Apply

Submit a cover letter, detailed CV, copies of academic degrees and professional certificates, and contact details for three professional referees.

Application title: REOI — Senior Procurement Specialist, Project Implementation Unit

Deadline: 27 October 2026 at 5:00 PM (Kigali Time).

9. Detailed Terms of Reference (ToR)

evaluate the complete ToR for full scope, deliverables, evaluation criteria and contract conditions:REOI_Package10_PIU_Senior_Procurement_Specialist_RAIA.pdf

All related Inquiries should be submitted to :procurement@raia.rw

NB:

1. Open to eligible individual consultants of all nationalities; firms are not eligible
2. Selection follows the World Bank Open Competitive Selection of Individual Consultants procedure.