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.

Assignment Duration: 3 years

Duty Station: COMESA Secretariat, Lusaka, Zambia

Application Deadline: Monday, 13th July 2026 at 16:00hrs Central Africa Time

Background:

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.

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.

Objectives:

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

Specific Objectives:

• Effective budget utilisation and expenditure control
• Ensure availability of accurate and complete financial records
• Ensure timely and compliant financial reports
• Adherence to grant requirements
• Ensure financial compliance among project staff
• Facilitation of audit processes

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:

• Provide accounting support to ensure the efficient operation of the TBML Project
• Provide financial and accounting services relating to the processing and recording of financial transactions and financial reporting
• Provide support for the financial aspects of the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) through the support of the other Project team members
• Work closely with the Division of Budget and Finance, in the development of annual budgets in consultation with other Stakeholders
• Coordinate and implement the project financial issues, prepare financial reports for the project and attend to day-to-day activities relating to finance

Key Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Set up internal control procedures of the Project Implementing Unit (PIU) and implementing partners
• Review, develop and implement appropriate financial and accounting system of the Project to meet the requirements of the AfDB
• Aid the PIU in compiling and consolidation of accounts and preparing Project Accounts within stipulated dates for each fiscal year
• Monitor finance disbursement, utilisation, and administrative procedures in line with the COMESA and AfDB requirements
• Process accounting and budget charges, maintain financial cost and budget accounting and keep accounting records
• Assist in project planning and budgeting while taking a leading role in the financial plan and budgets
• Ensure compliance with all project FM documents including the Financial Agreement, Disbursement Project Appraisal Document (PAD) and Project Implementation Manual (PIM)
• Ensure proper coding of the project budget and posting of transactions in line with COMESA's chart of accounts
• Effect timely payments and resolve accounting related issues
• Continuously monitor and analyse the cash flow requirements of the project
• Keep relevant documents and invoices systematically to fully support the accounts
• Maintain proper files and records of the project
• Facilitate the audit of the project accounts and other financial reports
• Any other related duties that may be assigned by the Director of Budget and Finance from time to time

Once-off Deliverables:

• 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
• 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, PowerPoint, or equivalent)

Leave:

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:

CriteriaPointsAcademic Qualifications20Relevant Professional Experience65Communication and Other Skills15Total100

Application Procedure:

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

Address: Mr. Silver Mwesigwa, Head of Procurement, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), Ben Bella Road, P.O. Box 30051, Lusaka, Zambia

Email: procurement@comesa.int

Copy: smwesigwa@comesa.int and kmzumara@comesa.int

Tel: 260 211 229725–32

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

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.