Finance Officer

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT)

COMMON MARKET FOR EASTERN AND SOUTHERN AFRICA

The COMESA Secretariat has applied for financing from the African Development Bank toward the cost of the Regional Capacity Building Project Against Trade-Based Money Laundering (TBML) and intends to apply part of the agreed amount for this grant to payments under the contract for recruitment of a Project Finance Officer.

The services included under this project include overseeing and coordinating the finance activities of the project to ensure the highest level of project quality and accountability. He/she will support the project and COMESA by assuming full responsibility for the overall financial management of the Project including ensuring project accounting, and fiduciary oversight at project level. In addition, he/she will ensure that, the Project complies with the Bank’s financial procedures and processes. and other duties as detailed in the terms of reference, throughout the project duration.

The duration of the assignment is 3 years.

COMESA Secretariat now invites eligible individual consultants to indicate their interest in providing these services. Interested Individual consultants must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services (Curriculum Vitae (CVs), description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, etc.).

Eligibility criteria, establishment of the short-list and the selection procedure shall be in accordance with the African Development Bank’s “Procurement Framework for Bank Group Funded Operations” dated 2015, which is available on the Bank’s website at: https://www.afdb.org/en/projects-and-operations/procurement/new-procurement-policy .

A Consultant will be selected in accordance withr the Individual Consultant Selection method set out in the Procurement Policy.

Interested consultants may obtain further information and detailed Terms of Reference at the address below during office hours from 08:00 to 17:00 Central Africa Time (CAT).

Interested consultants may send their inquiries during office hours, from 08:00 to 17:00 Central Africa Time (CAT).

Expressions of interest must be delivered to the address below by Monday 13^th July 2026 at 16:00hrs Central Africa Time and with subject “COMESA Capacity Building Project Against TBML – Finance Officer”.

Attn:

Mr. Silver Mwesigwa

Head of Procurement

Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)

Ben Bella Road

P O Box 30051

Lusaka, Zambia

Tel: Apply Now–32

E-mail – Apply Now ,

copying Apply Now and Apply Now .

Issue Date: 19^h July 2026

Annex A: Terms of Reference

ANNEX A: Terms of Reference

FINANCE OFFICER

1. Background

1. Trade-Based Money Laundering (TBML) represents one of the most prevalent and sophisticated methods used to launder illicit proceeds through international trade systems. Criminal networks exploit the complexity of global trade transactions, trade finance instruments, and customs procedures to disguise the origins of illegally obtained funds. The estimated scale of TBML activities ranges between USD 800 billion to USD 2 trillion annually, representing a significant threat to financial integrity and regional economic security.

2. Within the COMESA region, increased regional integration and cross-border trade have created both opportunities and vulnerabilities. While trade facilitation measures enhance economic growth, they also present potential channels for financial crime if appropriate safeguards are not in place. Member States face capacity challenges in detecting, investigating, and prosecuting TBML offenses, including limited inter-agency coordination, insufficient technical expertise, and inadequate risk assessment frameworks.

3. The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) through the support of the African Development Bank (AfDB) under the Targeted Support Window (Pillar III) of the Transition Support Facility (TSF) seeks to strengthen the capacity of its Member States including Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Somalia and Sudan to prevent, detect, and combat TBML through comprehensive training programs, development of operational tools, and enhancement of regional cooperation mechanisms.

2. Objectives

4. The principal objective is to ensure sound financial management, compliance with donor and organisational regulations, efficient use of project resources and timely financial reporting.

5. The specific objectives include:

1. Effective budget utilisation and expenditure control

2. Ensure availability of accurate and complete financial records

3. Ensure timely and compliant financial reports

4. Adherence to grant requirements

5. Ensure financial compliance among project staff

6. Facilitation of audit processes.

3. Scope of Work

Under the direct supervision of the Director Budget and Finance and the overall supervision of the Assistant Secretary General (Administration and Finance), the Finance Expert shall perform the following duties:

1. Provide accounting support to ensure the efficient operation of the TBML Project.

2. Provide financial and accounting services relating to the processing and recording of financial transactions and financial reporting.

3. Provide support for the financial aspects of the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) through the support of the other Project team members to ensure implementation, efficient performance and delivery of the expected results.

4. Work closely with the Division of Budget and Finance, in the development of annual budgets in consultation with other Stakeholders for the benefit of all Member States and;

5. Coordinate and implement the project financial issues, prepare financial reports for the project and attend to day-to-day activities relating to finance and ensure the following outputs:

1. 1. Approved Work Plan and budgets.

   2. Updated project Accounts;

   3. Standard periodical Accounts reports

   4. Monthly, quarterly and annual management reports (including Interim FRs) and annual financial statements in the agreed form and content.

Key Tasks and Responsibilities

1. Set up internal control procedures of the Project Implementing Unit (PIU) and implementing partners.

2. Review, develop and implement appropriate financial and accounting system of the Project to meet the requirements of the AfDB;

Based on the issues identified during the financial management assessment, recommend financial control and other measures (e.g., training, and institutional strengthening) that could be undertaken during Project implementation to ensure that the proceeds of the grant are used for the purpose for which they were provided;

3. Aid the PIU in compiling and consolidation of accounts and preparing Project Accounts within stipulated dates for each fiscal year, as per Financing Agreement.

4. Monitor finance disbursement, utilisation, and administrative procedures in line with the COMESA and AfDB requirements.

5. Process accounting and budget charges, maintain financial cost and budget accounting and keep accounting records.

6. Assist in project planning and budgeting while taking a leading role in the financial plan and budgets ensuring that that assumptions, parameters, guidelines and policies in planning are adhered to;

7. Ensure compliance with all project FM documents including the Financial Agreement.

8. (FA), Disbursement Project Appraisal Document (PAD) and Project Implementation Manual (PIM);

9. Ensure proper coding of the project budget and posting of transactions in line COMESA’s chart of accounts.

10. Effect timely payments and resolve accounting related issues.

11. Continuously monitor and analyse the cash flow requirements of the project.

12. Keep relevant documents and invoices systematically to fully support the accounts.

13. Maintain proper files and records of the project.

14. Facilitate the audit of the project accounts and other financial reports.

15. Any other related duties that may be assigned by the Director of Budget and Finance from time to time.

Once-off deliverables

16. Prepare an Accounting Manual wherever needed by the Project and its implementing Agencies, and train Project staff in adopting sub-Project accounting and financial monitoring

17. Develop a strategy for follow-up of issues highlighted in audit reports and regular bank supervision missions.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, Accounting or related field

• Full Professional Qualification (CIMA / ACCA / or equivalent)

• MBA will be an added advantage

• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in project related field, Finance and accounting

• Experience with an international organisation or other similar development partners will be an added advantage.

• Ability to work effectively in a multinational team environment with a capacity to work with minimal supervision.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.

• Excellent ability to prepare and submit initial disbursement applications and replenishment requests, financial reports and related documents.

• Ability to efficiently use the Sun system accounting package or any other accounting package.

• Computer literacy in the use of office applications (e.g. office software packages; MS Word, Excel, Power Point, or equivalent).

Duration

Three (3) years with a possibility of extension subject to availability of funds for continued Project implementation and satisfactory performance. The initial contract period shall include six (6) months probationary period.

Duty Station

The Finance Expert shall be based at COMESA Secretariat, Lusaka, Zambia.

Leave

1. This role shall be entitled to 2.5 working leave days per calendar month, and no accrued leave days shall be computed into cash at the end of the contract.

EVALUATION CRITERIA – FINANCE EXPERT