Hiring a technical Lead for the Public Procurement Reform Component — Syria Public Financial Management Capacity Strengthening Project

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (INDIVIDUAL CONSULTING SERVICES) Syrian Arab Republic Syria Public Financial Management Capacity Strengthening Project (P512516) Grant No.: E6410-SY Assignment Title: Technical Lead for the Public Procurement Reform Sub-Component (Sub-Component 2.2) Reference No. (as per Procurement Plan): SY-MOF-547078-CS-INDV The Ministry of Finance of the Syrian Arab Republic (the “Employer”) has received financing from the World Bank towards the cost of the Syria Public Financial Management Capacity Strengthening Project (P512516) and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services. The consulting services (“the Services”) include the services of a Technical Lead for the Public Procurement Reform Sub-Component (Sub-Component 2.2), who will provide high-level strategic leadership and policy direction to the Government of Syria in the design, sequencing, and oversight of the public procurement reform program under the Project, with a view to establishing a modern, transparent, and efficient procurement system aligned with international best practices. The Technical Lead will lead and coordinate implementation of the procurement reform activities under Sub-Component 2.2 - the new public procurement legal and regulatory framework (replacing the Uniform System of Contracts Law No. 51 (2004)), standard bidding documents, the Single Procurement Portal (SPP), an independent procurement complaints and review system, and the national procurement professionalization and capacity-development program, advising the Ministry of Finance and relevant stakeholders, coordinating with government entities, development partners and the World Bank Task Team, overseeing implementation progress and risk management, and leading the results framework for procurement reform, including key performance indicators and milestones. The assignment will be for an initial period of one (1) year, with the possibility of extension based on satisfactory performance and project requirements (the contract may be extended to cover the full duration of the Project). The Technical Lead will work under the overall guidance of the Project Coordinator and the Public Financial Management Reform Coordinating Unit (PFMRCU) within the Ministry of Finance, and will closely coordinate with relevant government entities, the Syria External Assistance Fiduciary Section (SEAFS) and the World Bank Task Team. The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment are attached to this request for expressions of interest. The Ministry of Finance (through the Public Financial Management Reform Coordinating Unit - PFMRCU) now invites eligible individuals (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services (attach curriculum vitae with description of experience in similar assignments, similar conditions, etc.). Firms' staff may express interest through the employing firm for the assignment and, under such situation, only the experience and qualifications of individuals shall be considered in the selection process. The criteria for selecting the Consultant are: postgraduate qualifications in procurement, law, public administration, engineering, economics, or a related field, and at least ten (10) years of relevant professional management-focused experience; proven successful experience in leading and managing technical assistance projects financed by international donors; experience in public procurement, including demonstrated experience in procurement reform, development of legal and regulatory frameworks, and institutional strengthening (highly desirable); advanced leadership skills in organizational change and development, with the ability to introduce critical reforms in complex organizational and contextual structures, including in Fragile and Conflict-affected Situations (FCS); proven experience in coordinating, cooperating and negotiating with high-level government officials, donor partners and multiple local stakeholders; and fluency in Arabic and English. The attention of interested Consultants (including firms) is drawn to paragraph 3.14, 3.16 and 3.17 of the World Bank's Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers [insert correct title and date of applicable Regulations edition as per the financing agreement] (“the Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank's policy on conflict of interest. Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the following email address: syriapfmprocurement@gmail.com by 5PM on 30 November 2026 Damascus time. Attn: Project Coordinator Ministry of Finance Syria Public Financial Management Capacity Strengthening Project Joul Jammal Street, P.O. Box 13136 Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic E-mail: syriapfmprocurement@gmail.com ======================================================================= Terms of Reference (TOR) Syria Public Financial Management Capacity Strengthening Project (P512516) Technical Lead for the Public Procurement Reform Sub-Component Project Background Syria is making progress in its transition towards stabilization, recovery, and reintegration, while continuing to face major challenges after 14 years of conflict . More than one year after the December 2024 political transition, the new Syrian government under the leadership of President Al-Sharaa has maintained overall political stability. Modest economic growth is projected for 2025 and 2026, and Syria has benefitted from the lifting of major economic sanctions and renewed participation in international financial systems and investment discussions. At the same time, the security situation remains fragile, with occasional outbreaks of violence, and the country faces massive development challenges and continued humanitarian needs. Continued international engagement and financing will be critical to support Syria in its post-conflict transition. Sound management of public funds and transparency about their use are prerequisites for the Syrian state to gain the trust of its citizens and the international community as it seeks to mobilize resources and deliver services to the population . Fourteen years of conflict and economic mismanagement have weakened the capacity and legitimacy of Syria’s state institutions. A disciplined and transparent approach to public financial management (PFM) will be a critical foundation for Syria’s path to recovery and development. The Ministry of Finance has identified support for PFM reforms as a priority, highlighting the immediate need to update the relevant legal framework, rebuild human capital for core government functions, advance digitalization, and establish accountability and transparency. Sound management of public funds will also be needed to mobilize external assistance for the country’s massive reconstruction needs, with expectations from the international community of adequate oversight of reconstruction investments, payroll, and the flow of funds to provide these resource flows. The Syrian Arab Republic has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Syria Public Financial Management Capacity Strengthening Project (P512516), and it intends to apply part of the proceeds of the financing for services of a Technical Lead for the Public Procurement Reform Sub-Component . The project components/sub-components are shown in Table 1. Full details are available in the Project Appraisal Document (PAD). Table 1: Summary of project components/sub-components Within this context, Component 2 of the Project focuses on improving the efficiency and effectiveness of essential PFM and procurement functions. A key sub-component (Sub-component 2.2) is dedicated to public procurement reform, which aims to establish a modern, transparent, and efficient procurement system aligned with good international practices. This includes the development of a new procurement legal framework, introduction of standard bidding documents, establishment of a Single Procurement Portal (SPP), strengthening of complaint handling mechanisms, and development of procurement professionalization programs. The current procurement system, governed by the Uniform System of Contracts Law No. 51 (2004), presents several structural gaps and limitations, including weaknesses in competition, transparency, complaints review, and the absence of modern e-procurement systems. Objective of the Assignment The objective of this assignment is to provide high-level strategic leadership and policy direction to the Government of Syria in the design, sequencing, and oversight of the public procurement reform program under the Project, with a view to establishing a modern, transparent, and efficient procurement system aligned with international best practices. The Technical Lead will guide the reform agenda at the institutional and policy level, ensure coherence across reform pillars, and support sustainable capacity development and ownership by government institutions. Tasks and Responsibilities The Technical Lead for Public Procurement Reform Component will be responsible for leading and coordinating the implementation of the public procurement reform activities under the Project and providing advisory support to the Ministry of Finance and relevant stakeholders. In particular, the Lead will undertake the following tasks: Strategic Leadership and Reform Direction: Provide overall vision, leadership, and strategic direction for the public procurement reform program, ensuring alignment with national priorities and international good practices. Define and guide the sequencing and prioritization of reform initiatives, taking into account institutional readiness and the FCV context. Advise senior government leadership on policy options, reform trade-offs, and implementation risks. Procurement Legal and Regulatory Reform: Lead the strategic design and oversight of the new public procurement legal and regulatory framework, ensuring coherence, applicability, and sustainability. Oversee the work of technical teams responsible for drafting legislation and regulations and ensure quality assurance and policy consistency. Facilitate high-level consultations and consensus-building among key stakeholders to support adoption of the reform framework. Digital Transformation and System Modernization Provide strategic guidance on the development and implementation of the Single Procurement Portal (SPP) as a cornerstone for transparency and efficiency. Ensure that digital solutions are aligned with broader public financial management systems and government digital strategies. Oversee high-level design decisions to ensure sustainability, interoperability, and scalability of systems. Complaint Handling and Oversight Mechanisms: Lead the strategic design of an independent and credible procurement complaints and review system. Ensure that oversight mechanisms are aligned with principles of fairness, transparency, and due process, and are institutionally sustainable. Capacity Development and Professionalization Strategy Provide strategic guidance on the development of a national procurement professionalization framework, including certification pathways and institutional arrangements. Oversee the design of capacity development programs to ensure long-term institutional strengthening, rather than short-term training delivery. Promote a culture of professionalism and ethical standards in the procurement function across government. Stakeholder Engagement and Coordination Act as a key interlocutor with senior government officials, development partners, and other stakeholders on procurement reform matters. Ensure effective coordination across ministries, agencies, and donor-supported initiatives to avoid fragmentation and duplication. Support the Government in articulating and communicating the reform agenda to build broad-based ownership . Implementation Oversight and Risk Management Provide strategic oversight of implementation progress, ensuring that reform activities remain aligned with objectives and timelines. Identify key implementation risks and bottlenecks and advise on mitigation measures at the policy and institutional levels. Guide pilot initiatives and scale-up decisions from a strategic perspective. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Results Orientation Lead the development of a results framework for procurement reform, including key performance indicators and milestones. Oversee monitoring and evaluation processes to ensure evidence-based decision-making and adaptive management. Provide high-level reporting and strategic insights to inform the Government and the World Bank on reform progress. Deliverables The overall deliverable is the successful and timely implementation of the project activities as contained in Sub-Component 2.2 under the project. The Technical lead will also be expected to achieve smooth, effective, and efficient disbursement of the budget allocated for Sub-Component 2.2. Specific delivery includes work programs, budgets, procurement plan and periodic progress and delivered as they fall due. Duration of the Assignment The assignment will be for an initial period of one (1) year, with the possibility of extension based on satisfactory performance and project requirements. The contract may be extended to cover the full duration of the Project. Institutional Arrangements The Technical Lead will work under the overall guidance of the Project Coordinator and the PFM Reform Coordinating Unit (PFMRCU) within the Ministry of Finance and will closely coordinate with relevant government entities, the Syria External Assistance Fiduciary Section (SEAFS), and the World Bank Task Team. Qualification and Experience Requirements The suitable candidate for appointment must hold postgraduate qualifications in procurement, law, public administration, engineering, economics, or a related field, and at least ten (10) years of relevant professional managementfocused experience. Proven successful experience in leading and managing Technical Assistance projects financed by international donors. Experience in public procurement, including demonstrated experience in procurement reform, development of legal and regulatory frameworks, and institutional strengthening is highly desirable. Candidate must possess excellent interpersonal skills, strong oral and written communication skills, problem-solving and decision-making capabilities, with the ability to succeed in evolving Fragile, Conflict, and Violence (FCV) environment. be proficient in the use of the computer. Advance leadership skills in organizational change and development with the ability to introduce critical reforms in complex organizational/contextual structures. Proven experience in coordinating, cooperating and negotiating with high level Government officials, donor partners and multitude of local stakeholders. Excellent Knowledge in International management Standard for Quality management System, Health & Safety Management System, Environmental Management System, Business Continuity Management System, Information Security Management System. Fluent in Arabic and English.