Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment -The Government of Nigeria has emphasized the importance of diversifying the economy, supporting sectors that have potential for growth and creating massive employment. In line with this commitment, the Government has sought and received Credit from the World Bank to help Nigeria support Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) operating in different high potential sectors throughout the country. This support is being implemented under the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMIT&I) and operationalized in the Growth and Employment (GEM) Project.

The GEM Project Development Objective is to increase firm growth and employment in participating firms in Nigeria. The project became effective in July 2013, and will close in September 2018. The project focuses on manufacturing and service sectors, specifically supporting ICT, entertainment, tourism and hospitality, light in manufacturing and construction. Project support addresses crosscutting sector issues, assistance to specific clusters, and more direct support to firms channeled through a platform - called the Business Innovation and Growth (BIG) Platform providing various trainings, technical assistance and grant schemes. The GEM Project intends to apply part of the proceeds of this credit to payments for consulting services.

The consulting services (‘the Services’) include implementation support to the project as regards to the daily management and coordination of all activities on the BIG Platform.

The GEM Project of FMIT&I now invites eligible individual consultants to indicate their interest for the following positions below:

POSITION : BIG Unit Monitoring and Supervision Expert 

Package Ref. #: GEM/CS/IC/2015/104

Responsibilities
The Monitoring and Supervision Expert shall perform the following activities:

Validate the work plan of the Monitoring and Supervision firm with the BIG unit manager. This includes monthly work plan for regular field visits and spot checks undertaken by the Monitoring and Supervision firm for the following activities GEM SOS providers, training courses BIG beneficiaries and audits of the MSMEs receiving grants;
Validate the templates for the various spot checks and regular field Visits undertaken by the Monitoring and Supervision firm;
Produce analyses of all services available through the BIG Platform, training schemes, grants, access to SOS support,etc;
Work with the Training expert, the BDS expert, the Grant management firm, the Monitoring and Supervision firm, and ff specialist to ensure all their undertakings focuses on the main project objectives;
In collaboration with the IT specialist, ensure that the main information collected by the Monitoring and Supervision firm is been properly recorded in the BIG Platform.
Prepare periodic reports on the various BIG Platform activities to the management of the PIU via BIG Unit manager.
Prepare quarterly evaluation reports on the various BIG Platform activities as well as the impacts of the BIG activities in line with the Monitoring and Evaluation Framework of the GEM project,
Report to the BIG unit manager and Assess the quality of the outputs (audit reports for the grant awardees, audit reports for the 13 OS providers and MSMEs, need assessments) and deliverables done by the Monitoring and Supervision firm;
Undertake all other activities as requested by the BIG Unit manager (eg. contract management).

Qualification/Requirements 
Interested candidates should possess the following activities:

Masters in Business Administration and/or advanced degree in management, or accountancy from reputable university with 5 years+ working experience;
Evidence of minimum 5 year experience in unsocial audit:
Evidence of minimum 5 year experience in other business development activities with accent on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises;
In-depth knowledge of the Nigerian private sector and business environment;
Proven ability to work in a multi-disciplinary environment, with excellent teamwork and diplomatic skills; also fluency in English language.
Experience in project management and/or monitoring would be an added advantage;

POSITION : BIG Unit Admin/Logistic Expert

Package Ref. #: GEM/CS/IC/2015/106

Responsibilities
The Admin/logistic Expert shall perform the following activities:

Manage events per required procedures in collaboration with PIU procurement team
Keep informed the BIG unit and entire Phi about upcoming events
Ensure competitive selection of venues and associated services
Ensure all arrangements are in place for BIG platform associated missions
Liaise with the PIU FM unit for timely disbursement of appropriate funds
Ensure the administration of BIG Unit support necessary logistic arrangements for the Unit staff to facilitate their functions
Prepare budgets for the BIG Platform activities (workshops, meetings, trainings, missions, etc.) Perform additional tasks as requested by the Unit manager(e.g. contract management)

Qualification/Requirements 
Interested candidates should possess the following activities:

Evidence of working experience in administration and logistic in a development focused organization preferably in Business development and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises environment
Graduate degree in Public /Business Administration, or related field from a reputable university with 3 years+ working experience.
Must be Fluent in English

POSITION : BIG Unit IT Specialist

Package Ref. #: GEM/CS/IC/2015/115

Responsibilities
The IT Specialist shall be responsible for carrying out the following activities:

Guide and manage integration of training content into the BIG Platform;
Update the Home page with news received from FPIU, in particular cluster specialists, Grant management firm and training consultants. The Home page needs to reflect the various activities of the Growth and Employment project as well as the new training and grant windows made available to the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises;
Provide periodic updates on the Dashboard like events, training schedule etc.
Ensure that each BIG user has a personalized access to the Dashboard (accessible training, eligible window, etc);
Liaise with IT teams from the Grant Administrator and Monitoring and Supervision firms:
Ensure that the dashboards from the Grant Administrator firm and the Monitoring and Supervision firm are in line with their needs and the data collected;
Prioritize platform functionalities according to level of importance
Provide access controls for all platform users when/where required;
Periodic testing of the platform to ensure functionalities are active;
Coordinate and manage communication of messages to platform users periodically (Bulk messaging);
Ensure that data collected from the Registration form are communicated to the Monitoring and Supervision firm;
Testing and signing off new functional needed on the platform

Qualification/Requirements 
S/He must demonstrate having the following qualifications:

Evidence of minimum 5 year experience as an IT specialist to a Project of national orientational coverage;
Evidence of at least one similar and significant experience in a similar assignment, such as development of art online platform and/or website with slot of viewers and users;
Evidence of an experience in e-learning;
An advanced graduate degree in Engineering or Computer Science from a reputable university
Software development experience for online applications
Proves ability to work in multidisciplinary environment, with excellent teamwork and diplomatic skills;
Demonstrate pro activity, innovative ideas and fluency in English.

POSITION : BIG Unit Training Expert

Package Ref. #: GEM/CS/IC/2015/105

Responsibilities
The Training Expert shall be responsible for carrying out the following activities:

Prepare training schedule based on number of registrations on the BIG platform and number of seats available (based on consultations with training partners).
The Training Expert will then communicate a list of’ BIG users that were selected to participate to training. In addition, the Training expert will make sure there is a good geographical coverage across the country while the costs are minimized, This will be done in collaboration with the training partners. OEM cluster experts and BIG portal manager;
Develop a template in coordination with each training partner to get feedback on each training and/or use the BIG platform to get online feedback;
Propose new training and development programs based on the identified needs:
Collaborate with Cluster Leads to prepare Cluster specific training for the BIG platform:
Work with the IT specialist to ensure till training courses and schedule are visible on the BIG Portal and that participation, attendance and score at tests arc reported on the BIG Platform;
Prepare periodic reports on the various training programs as well as training evaluation of the BIG Platform beneficiaries;
Support the Monitoring and Supervision Firm in auditing the training courses and assessing the quality of the trainers;
Preparation of training budgets for the BIG Platform

Qualification/Requirements 
S/He must demonstrate having the following qualifications:

Evidence of minimum 3 year working experience in elaboration and rollout of training programs for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and business development support
Evidence of at least one assignment that involved online courses and/ore-learning;
In-depth knowledge of the Nigerian private sector and business environment;
Masters in Business Administration and/or advanced degree in Management, Business Administration or related areas;
Experience in project management would bent plus;
Proven ability to work in a multi-disciplinary environment, with excellent teamwork and diplomatic skills; also should be fluent in English.

POSITION : BIG Platform Unit Manager

Package Ref. #: GEM/CS/IC/2015/107

Responsibilities
The BIG portal manager will be involved in the following activities:

Oversee the design, development and management of all IT related activities including online infrastructure and supporting systems;
Develop update and track progress against a comprehensive work plan with feasible timelines that are agreeable to stakeholders
Co-ordinate all training activities on the BIG Portal.
He/She will be working closely with the Business Edge training institution as well as contractors in charge of providing cluster-specific training programs
Co-ordinate activities with the Business Development Marketplace and ensure all BD service providers are integrated into the BIG Portal;
Co-ordinate activities with the Grant Administrator Firm to ensure all MSMEs have equal access through the BIG portal to grant schemes;
Co-ordinate with the Monitoring and Supervision Finn to ensure that the GEM project is able to 1) report on the activities being developed and financed. 2) cheek that the foods are used in a transparent manner and 3) measure the impacts of the GEM activities;
Facilitate updates of progress of all activities to the stakeholder (FP1U Coordinator, World Bank, Senior Government Officials, other development partners);
Do quality checks on the outputs and deliverables to be done by each BIG team member, the Monitoring and Supervision firm, the Grant Management firm, the IT firm, the Business Edge training institution and the BO market place consultants;
Report to the Project Coordinator on the performance of the BIG related contracts, namely each BIG team member the Monitoring and Supervision firm, the Grant Management firm, the IT firm, the Business Edge training institution and the SD market place consultants

Qualification/Requirements

She/he must demonstrate having the relevant qualifications, prior managerial experience in both the technical and administrative functions
Evidence of at least one substantial experience as the project team lead or manager of a unit in a large and internationally supported project;
Evidence of minimum of 10 years working experience with Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises providing support in business development, training, dc;
A post graduate degree in Management, Economics, Public Policy, MIS or related discipline
In-depth knowledge of the Nigerian private sector and business environment;
Proven ability to work in a multi-disciplinary environment, with excellent teamwork and diplomatic skills; also should be fluent in English.

How To Apply 

Expressions of Interest must be submitted in two (2) hard copies (one original and one copy plus one CD Rom) in a sealed envelope clearly marked "Expression of Interest for the engagement of individual consultant to Manage Business Innovation and Growth (BIG) Platform" delivered to the address below in person, or by courier mail:

The Project Coordinator
Growth and Employment (GEM) Project,
Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment,
Block G, Room 225,
Old Federal Secretariat,
Area 1,
Garki-Abuja.
Tel: +2348039265356 or +2348051763523
Email: sanyunus2002@yahoo.com

Note

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to "paragraph 1.9 of the World Bank’s Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits & Grants by World Bank Borrower Revised January 2011 and 2014" setting faith the World Bank policy on Conflict of Interest, individual Consultant will be selected accordance with the Procedures set out in the Consultant Guidelines.
Further information can be obtained at the address above during office hours [from 09hours to 1600 hours] Monday through Friday (Except Public Holidays )from the Project Coordinator, Tel: +2348039265356 or + 2348057763523.
Interested candidates should provide information demonstrating that they have the requisite qualifications and experience to perform the services.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.