Tender Description

COUNTRY:                 Federal Republic of Somalia (FGS)

NAME OF PROJECT: De-Risking, Inclusion and Value Enhancement of pastoral economies in the Horn of Africa Project (DRIVE)

 PROJECT ID:              P176517.

Assignment Title:       National Single Window (NSW) Implementation Focal Point

Individual/Firm:          Individual Consultant

Deadline:                      14th March 2026

Reference No.:           SO-MOF-529704-CS-INDV

The Government of the Federal Republic of Somalia has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of De-Risking, Inclusion and Value Enhancement of pastoral economies in the Horn of Africa Project (DRIVE) and intends to apply part of the proceeds of the above project to finance the position of National Single Window (NSW) Implementation Focal Point for the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

The objective of this assignment is to ensure effective coordination and implementation of Somalia’s NSW by establishing and operating the program management function, driving inter-agency decision-making and delivery, coordinating technical and legal workstreams, and supporting phased rollout and adoption by both Government users and the trade community.

Duration: The proposed duration for the assignment is Twelve Months (12) calendar months from starts date.

The detailed Terms of Refence (TOR) for the assignment can be found at the following website:

https://moci.gov.so/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/NSW-Focal-Point-ToR-Advertisement.pdf,

Key Tasks and Responsibility

The NSW Focal Point will undertake the following key functions/tasks:

1. Establish and run the NSW program coordination function (PMO), including work planning, milestone tracking, action/decision logs, issue escalation pathways, and document management.

2. Provide secretariat support to the NSW governance bodies (Steering Committee and technical working groups), including agendas, briefs, minutes, and follow-up trackers.

1. Lead day-to-day coordination among Customs, OGAs, port authorities, ICT agencies, treasury/payment authorities, and private sector bodies (brokers, carriers, chambers, clearing agents).

3. Coordinate with participating agencies and the private sector to gather and validate requirements; maintain an approved Requirements Register and a change control mechanism.

4. Coordinate business process analysis and simplification for priority trade procedures to be digitized through the NSW (import, export, and transit).

5. Coordinate data harmonization outputs required for NSW interoperability across agencies and systems.

6. Serve as the primary liaison between Government stakeholders and consultant firms/vendors, facilitating clear communication and ensuring delivery aligns with agreed objectives and scope.

7. Review and coordinate feedback on solution designs and functional specifications to ensure they are robust, scalable, and aligned to international best practices.

8. Oversee preparation and execution of a comprehensive testing strategy, including functional testing, integration testing, and user acceptance testing (UAT), ensuring issues are resolved before go-live.

9. Coordinate preparation of user manuals, SOPs, training materials, and other documentation to support effective adoption of the NSW.

10. Develop and coordinate delivery of training programs for Government officials, customs agents, and other stakeholders, including training-of-trainers where appropriate.

11. Lead change management activities to support a smooth transition to digital processing, address resistance, and ensure stakeholders understand system benefits and procedures.

12. Coordinate phased rollout planning to manage risks, sequencing pilots and onboarding of agencies based on readiness and priority trade corridors.

13. Coordinate with ICT and infrastructure teams to ensure required hosting, connectivity, equipment, and cybersecurity controls are in place to support NSW operations.

14. Establish and coordinate a support structure to address technical issues and user concerns during rollout and early operations.

15. Monitor system performance and user feedback; maintain an optimization backlog and propose enhancements for subsequent phases.

16. Maintain ongoing communication with all stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle, providing updates on progress, addressing concerns, and collecting feedback to inform continuous improvement.

17. Define, track, and report on NSW KPIs aligned to the NSW roadmap; produce monthly progress reports and quarterly steering briefs.

Selection Criteria: The selection will be based on qualification, experience and skills of the candidate and followed by an interview. The qualifications, experience and competencies include:

1. Minimum Master’s degree in public administration, economics, business, ICT, engineering, or related field (Master’s degree in trade-related subject is an advantage).

2. 8–12+ years in trade facilitation/customs modernization/digital government, including large-scale multi-agency reforms and IT-enabled service delivery.

3. Demonstrated leadership in stakeholder coordination and policy/legal change processes.Demonstrated experience coordinating government stakeholders (ministries/agencies), leading implementation schedules, and producing high-quality reports and decision notes.

4. Strong understanding of trade and border management processes, including Customs and LPCO workflows (desired).

5. Proven ability to manage vendors/consultants and oversee implementation quality (requirements, testing, and go-live readiness).

6. Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; knowledge of Somali language is an added advantage.

The Ministry of Ministry of Finance now invites eligible consulting (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the above-mentioned Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services and furnish the Curriculum Vitae (CV).

Skills Required

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