Individual Consultant as Finance Officer — East Africa Girls' Empowerment and Resilience

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (CONSULTING SERVICES – INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT) Country: Ethiopia Name of Project: Eastern and Southern Africa Girls’ Empowerment and Resilience (EAGER) programme Grant No : P179293 Assignment Title : Individual Consultant as Finance Officer Reference No . ET-AUC-559234-CS-INDV The African Union Commission has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of Eastern and Southern Africa Girls’ Empowerment and Resilience (EAGER) programme and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services. The consulting services (“the Services”) include providing day-to-day financial management, ensure compliance with AU Financial Rules, Manuals, Guidelines and World Bank fiduciary requirements, and produce timely and accurate financial reporting. Specific tasks include: Financial Management & Controls Manage daily financial activities including monitoring budgets, expenditures, and cash flows. Maintain effective internal controls and ensure compliance with AU and World Bank financial policies. Track accounts payable, receivable, and commitments. Planning & Budgeting Monitor budget to ensure that the expenditure is in line with the approved budget, approved workplan, and the financial plans. Monitor budget performance, conduct variance analysis, and provide recommendations to PIU management. Financial Reporting Maintain an up-to-date and reliable financial management system and verify the accuracy of data posted in the system frequently. Prepare timely and accurate monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual financial reports, including Interim Financial Reports (IFRs), for AUC management and the World Bank as indicated in the Financing Agreement Collect and consolidate the IFRs of the CIEFFA (the African Union International Centre for the Education of Girls and Women in Africa) office and other entities implementing the project. Prepare the project’s financial statements and supporting schedules and make available documents and financial information to internal and external auditors. Properly file all financial documents and records for easy access. Making sure that all fixed assets acquired by the project funds are recorded (maintain assets register), kept safe, and are provided with an identification number. Disbursement & Fund Flow Management Understand and implement the World Bank disbursement procedures and guidelines for the Project. Prepare and submit Withdrawal Applications to the World Bank through the World Bank Client Connection Platform. Monitor fund flows and ensure timely replenishments and transfers to the designated accounts. Manage the project's cash flow to ensure that sufficient funds are available to meet project needs and obligations, including Business Units. Review designated accounts and ensure reconciliations (bank and fund) are prepared monthly and properly documented. Oversee disbursements to ensure compliance with budget allocations. Audit and Compliance Ensure compliance with AU Financial Rules, Manuals and Policies, as well as World Bank fiduciary requirements and the Project Implementation Manual Identify and assess financial risks associated with the project and develop strategies to mitigate these risks. Facilitate annual project audits (internal and external audit), prepare responses to audit queries, and support the implementation of audit recommendations. Capacity Building & Support Provide training and guidance to PIU staff and the implementing business units on financial procedures, requirements and donor compliance. Provide technical assistance and guidance on financial management issues to the Business Units to ensure effective implementation of the project's financial management arrangements. Support PIU Staff with financial input when required Undertake any other financial management duties as may be assigned. The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment are attached to this Request for Expression of Interest. The African Union Commission 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. The shortlisting criteria are: Academic qualifications and membership Bachelor’s Degree in the same fields with at least 5 years’ relevant experience . A professional audit or accounting qualification (Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Association of Certified Chartered Accountants (ACCA). An active member (in good standing) of a professional body would be an added advantage Work experience Proven track record in managing donor-funded projects (experience with World Bank–financed projects is a strong advantage). Solid knowledge of AU Financial Rules and World Bank fiduciary procedures. Demonstrated experience in budgeting, financial reporting, reconciliations, and audits. Hands-on experience with ERP systems (preferably SAP) and strong MS Office skills. Technical proficiency Strong financial reporting and analytical skills. Excellent organizational and time-management abilities. High ethical standards, integrity, and impartiality. Strong interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills. Ability to work under pressure and deliver within tight deadlines. Proficiency in one AU working language (English, French, Arabic, Kiswahili, Portuguese, or Spanish) is required. Fluency in English is mandatory; knowledge of another AU languages is an advantage. The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section III, paragraphs, 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” July 2016, revised November 2020 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest. A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Individual Consultant selection method set out in the Procurement Regulations. Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours i.e. 0900 to 1700 hours . Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by e-mail) by 13 August 2026 African Union Commission, Attn: Head of Supply Chain Management Division Building C, 3rd Floor, P.O Box 3243, Roosevelt Street Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Tel: +251 (0) 11 551 7700 – Ext 4305 Fax: +251 (0) 11 551 0442; +251 11-551-0430 E-mails: Tender@AfricanUnion.org TERMS OF REFERENCE Finance Officer for the Implementation of the East and Southern Africa Girls' Empowerment and Resilience (EAGER) Project Ref: ET-AUC-559234-CS-INDV Background The African Union Commission (AUC) and the World Bank Group have established a strategic partnership and an extensive collaboration in various areas over the past years. Following increased engagement between the Commission and the World Bank, existing collaborations and new programmes on gender equality and women’s empowerment (GEWE) have been established. In 2023, the AU and World Bank signed an agreement to implement the East and Southern Africa Girls’ Empowerment and Resilience (EAGER) Project, to be implemented from 2024 to 2029. The project provides a platform to directly collaborate with AU Member States across Eastern and Southern Africa on women and girls’ empowerment. The EAGER project seeks to increase girls’ and women’s educational attainment and earnings and to strengthen the institutional capacity to implement gender equality policies. The programme components include boosting human capital accumulation, enabling access to productive employment, and building the enabling environment to generate change across both formal and informal institutions, including development of policies and regulatory frameworks, markets, and social norms that support the adoption of progressive gender equality reforms. Rationale As part of the implementation of the project, AUC intends to select an Individual consultant as Finance Officer for the Project Implementation Unit (PIU). The primary purpose of the position is to provide day-to-day financial management, ensure compliance with AU Financial Rules, Manuals, Guidelines and World Bank fiduciary requirements, and produce timely and accurate financial reporting. The Finance Officer will provide technical financial management services to the PIU and Business Units implementing the project, ensuring that all project funds are properly managed, accounted for, and reported on, in accordance with the AU rules and World Bank guidelines, and the Financing Agreement. Scope of the work Specifically, the job holder shall, among other things: Financial Management & Controls Manage daily financial activities including monitoring budgets, expenditures, and cash flows. Maintain effective internal controls and ensure compliance with AU and World Bank financial policies. Track accounts payable, receivable, and commitments. Planning & Budgeting Monitor budget to ensure that the expenditure is in line with the approved budget, approved workplan, and the financial plans. Monitor budget performance, conduct variance analysis, and provide recommendations to PIU management. Financial Reporting Maintain an up-to-date and reliable financial management system and verify the accuracy of data posted in the system frequently. Prepare timely and accurate monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual financial reports, including Interim Financial Reports (IFRs), for AUC management and the World Bank as indicated in the Financing Agreement Collect and consolidate the IFRs of the CIEFFA (the African Union International Centre for the Education of Girls and Women in Africa) office and other entities implementing the project. Prepare the project’s financial statements and supporting schedules and make available documents and financial information to internal and external auditors. Properly file all financial documents and records for easy access. Making sure that all fixed assets acquired by the project funds are recorded (maintain assets register), kept safe, and are provided with an identification number. Disbursement & Fund Flow Management Understand and implement the World Bank disbursement procedures and guidelines for the Project. Prepare and submit Withdrawal Applications to the World Bank through the World Bank Client Connection Platform. Monitor fund flows and ensure timely replenishments and transfers to the designated accounts. Manage the project's cash flow to ensure that sufficient funds are available to meet project needs and obligations, including Business Units. Review designated accounts and ensure reconciliations (bank and fund) are prepared monthly and properly documented. Oversee disbursements to ensure compliance with budget allocations. e) Audit and Compliance Ensure compliance with AU Financial Rules, Manuals and Policies, as well as World Bank fiduciary requirements and the Project Implementation Manual Identify and assess financial risks associated with the project and develop strategies to mitigate these risks. Facilitate annual project audits (internal and external audit), prepare responses to audit queries, and support the implementation of audit recommendations. f) Capacity Building & Support Provide training and guidance to PIU staff and the implementing business units on financial procedures, requirements and donor compliance. Provide technical assistance and guidance on financial management issues to the Business Units to ensure effective implementation of the project's financial management arrangements. Support PIU Staff with financial input when required Undertake any other financial management duties as may be assigned. Deliverables Quarterly and Semi-Annual Financial Reports (including IFRs) submitted on time to the World Bank. Annual Financial Statements prepared in compliance with AU and World Bank requirements. Timely submission of Withdrawal Applications and supporting documentation. Audit support provided and responses to audit queries prepared. Capacity-building sessions delivered to PIU staff on financial compliance. Effective financial management of the project to build strong confidence with the World Bank Qualifications and Experience a) Academic qualifications and membership Bachelor’s Degree in the same fields with at least 5 years’ relevant experience . A professional audit or accounting qualification (Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Association of Certified Chartered Accountants (ACCA). An active member (in good standing) of a professional body would be an added advantage b) Work experience Proven track record in managing donor-funded projects (experience with World Bank–financed projects is a strong advantage). Solid knowledge of AU Financial Rules and World Bank fiduciary procedures. Demonstrated experience in budgeting, financial reporting, reconciliations, and audits. Hands-on experience with ERP systems (preferably SAP) and strong MS Office skills. c) Technical proficiency Strong financial reporting and analytical skills. Excellent organizational and time-management abilities. High ethical standards, integrity, and impartiality. Strong interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills. Ability to work under pressure and deliver within tight deadlines. Proficiency in one AU working language (English, French, Arabic, Kiswahili, Portuguese, or Spanish) is required. Fluency in English is mandatory; knowledge of another AU languages is an advantage. Duty Station The selected candidate shall be based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia at the African Union Headquarters. Contract Duration The initial contract duration shall be for one year with the possibility of extension subject to resource availability, satisfactory performance, and approval of the appointing authority. Renumeration Remuneration shall be monthly. The African Union Commission shall pay the Consultant for services rendered at the rate(s) per man/month spent, subject to a maximum of eight hours per day in accordance with the rates agreed during contract negotiations. Reporting The Consultant will report to the Head of External Resources Management Division (ERM) under the Directorate of Finance at the African Union Commission.