Procurement and Grants Officer

SUMMARY

Expertise France is recruiting on a fixed-term contract a Procurement and Grants Officer to be based in Tashkent (Uzbekistan) for a 34-month assignment, as part of the EU project " Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor (TCTC) Capacity Development Programme".

The Procurement and Grants Officer will be responsible for supporting the efficient, compliant, and transparent management of procurement procedures and grant implementation under the project. He/She will directly report to the Senior Project Manager/Team Leader and work in close coordination with the Administration and Finance Coordinator, as well as other team members both at field and headquarters level.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

This assignment falls within the framework of the European Union’s Global Gateway strategy, which aims to strengthen sustainable infrastructure, connectivity, and global cooperation, particularly with partner countries in Africa, Asia, the Balkans, and Latin America.

The project “I Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor (TCTC) Capacity Development Programme” is being jointly implemented by the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ – Gesellschaft für internationale Zusammenarbeit) and the French agency for international technical cooperation (Expertise France – EF).

The development of the TCTC is a strategic and transformative project for trade and economic development in the region. It offers an alternative freight transport route, strengthening economic ties between Europe and Central Asia, while promoting greater integration of the participating countries into regional and international trade networks. As such, this initiative aligns closely with the goals of the EU’s Global Gateway strategy for sustainable global connectivity.

The project focuses on enhancing connectivity among five Central Asian partner countries (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan) through six main areas of intervention:

• • Output 1 Enhanced government capacity for development of a simplified, harmonised, paperless and gender-responsive environment for customs and trade in line with international transport and logistics Conventions and relevant EU standards.
  • Output 2 Improved mechanisms for sustainable transport connections and for interoperability across the various modes of land and sea transport.
  • Output 3 Improved government capacity for policy development and implementation relevant for public-private partnerships that incorporate gender principles (PPP).
  • Output 4 Improved government capacity for gender-responsive reforms and liberalisation of the transport market.
  • Output 5 Improved tariffs setting mechanisms along the TCTC.
  • Output 6 Improved capacity of government and transport asset owners for optimisation of transport asset management and related funding mobilisation.

While GIZ will implement outputs 1 and 2, EF is responsible of outputs 3 to 6.

MISSION DESCRIPTION

The Procurement and Grants Officer will carry out the following tasks, which may still evolve during project implementation.

Procurement and contracts management:

• Support the planning, implementation and monitoring of procurements of services, equipment, and supplies throughout the full procurement lifecycle (identification, formulation, preparation procurement documents, analysis of bids/bidders, evaluation, selection, contract signature, monitoring of implementation and deliverables, invoicing, etc.)
• Contribute to, design, complete, and archive procurement documentation (feasibility studies, terms of reference, technical specifications, evaluation forms etc.)
• Develop and update planning and reporting tools with regard to procurements (Project Procurement Log)
• Ensure harmonization and compliance of the team with EF procurement procedures
• Support the project team and country coordinators in monitoring the execution of contracts in accordance with their provisions vis-à-vis counterparts, particularly in terms of modifications (amendments and other execution acts), verification operations, and the receipt of deliverables, activities, and services
• Participate in monitoring relations with suppliers
• Conduct market analysis when required and lead the capitalization on price and supplier lists, as well as documentation in use (import-export, exemption, taxes, etc.)
• Participation in the analysis of the purchasing environment at the national and regional levels

Grants management:

• Support the selection of grants’ implementing partners (preparing the calls for proposals, prepare grants selection documents, analyse and evaluation applications along with a committee, etc.)
• Support the selected grant recipients to comply with all EF and EU granting requirements.
• Monitor the execution of grant agreements to third-party organisations, in particular non-pillar-assessed consortium partners
• Steer the relation with grantees, ensure deliverables and reporting quality-check, plan and implement financial instalments in line with contractual agreements
• Consolidate when required narrative and financial reports and ensure compliance with EU regulations
• Plan and coordinate audits

This job description is not exhaustive and may evolve with time.

PROFILE

Specific professional experience:

• University degree in accounting, business administration, procurement or equivalent
• At least 5 years of proven experience in accounting, grants management, or procurement of large contracts
• Experience in international cooperation or projects funded by various donors (e.g. EU, USAID) is a strong asset
• Experience with public procurement and contract management is an asset

Qualifications and skills

• Excellent communication, teamwork, and interpersonal skills
• Excellent command of English and Russian (written and oral) is mandatory
• Knowledge of public procurement principles and rules
• Professional command of French is a strong asset
• Team spirit, organization, autonomy, and personal integrity
• Attention to detail

Additional Information

Applications must include the following documents and information:

• CV with at least three professional references
• Cover letter

Expertise France is committed to equal opportunities and strongly encourages female candidates to apply

• Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications as soon as possible. Expertise France reserves the right to conduct a preselection before the deadline
• The selection process will take place in two stages
  • First, a shortlist will be freely established by Expertise France
  • Second, selected candidates may be invited for an interview
  • Application deadline: 15/06/2026
  • Application language: English