INTRODUCTION

The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) is a regional integration grouping of 21 African States which have agreed to promote regional integration through trade development and transport facilitation. COMESA has also established a number of institutions to support integration.

The Accelerating Sustainable and Clean Energy Access Transformation (ASCENT) Program is an ambitious leap toward universal energy access and the clean energy transition in the Eastern and Southern Africa (AFE) region, home to 656 million people. ASCENT presents a programmatic framework for the World Bank to support acceleration of access to electricity in AFE, which utilizes the Multiphase Programmatic Approach (MPA). The Project activities are based on known technologies and business and implementation models. Grid electrification will use well-established technologies and methods. The typical investments will include extensions and strengthening of low-voltage (LV) and medium-voltage (MV) lines, substations, transformers, and service drops. The projects may finance ready boards and internal wiring to increase affordability of connections, as well as appliances and productive-use equipment. Country-specific projects may also include variable renewable energy (VRE) integration investments and equipment, including battery storage. Financing of large-scale transmission is not expected; however, on case-by-case basis.

PROJECT BACKGROUND:

Accelerating Sustainable and Clean Energy Access Transformation (ASCENT) (P180547) is a multi-year, multi-billion-dollar programme aimed at scaling-up energy access in the Eastern and Southern Africa (AFE) Region. The ASCENT program seeks to increase access to sustainable and clean energy, enhance energy security, promote renewable energy solutions, and strengthen climate resilience throughout the region.

Funded by a $5 billion financing envelope from the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA), ASCENT aims to mobilize an additional $10 billion from public and private sources. The project will span over 20 countries in Eastern and Southern Africa during a seven-year period (FY24–FY30). Key targets include providing electricity access to 100 million people and clean cooking solutions for 20 million people.

The ASCENT focuses on three key pillars:

Regional and National Platforms to Accelerate Energy Access

Expanding Grid-based Electrification

Scaling Distributed Renewables and Clean Cooking

The Regional Energy Access Acceleration Platform (REAAP) is part of ASCENT Phase 1 pillars for delivery. Managed by COMESA, REAAP aims to provide comprehensive technical assistance (TA) and capacity building for participating countries and the private sector. REAAP will drive the acceleration of energy access in the region and provide support to countries that have joined the ASCENT programme, as well as those that are preparing their projects for program entry. The REAAP includes the following components:

Component 1: Digital Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (D-MRV) Platforms for Energy Access and Climate Finance. The Platform is supporting countries with adoption of D-MRV platforms and other digital technologies to improve sector planning; implementation of project activities; and monitoring, reporting, and verification of countries’ energy-access efforts; as well as enabling access to climate financing, including facilitating participation in carbon markets

Component 2: Project Preparation Facility (PPF). The PPF is a critical component of the ASCENT MPA, offering support to governments and the private sector in developing bankable, investment-ready projects through a demand-driven approach.

Component 3: Advisory support facility. This component is supporting participating countries on strengthening the policy and regulatory environment for energy access.

Component 4: Knowledge exchange, skills development, consumer engagement, convening and partnerships. This component is building data, knowledge, and skills for energy-access planners, funders, and providers, as well as their current and prospective employees and energy-access consumers. It will enable participating countries to share both technical knowledge and experience in energy-access interventions, thus facilitating faster learning and replication of successful approaches.

PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION UNIT

As part of the implementation of the project, the COMESA secretariat will set up an integrated Project Implementation Unit to support the implementation of the above-mentioned project. The Unit will be based mainly within the infrastructure with the respective technical experts integrated into respective technical divisions and units at COMESA Secretariat.

The COMESA Secretariat intends to recruit staff for the Project Implementation Unit as described in the job description below

No.

POSITION

NO. OF POSTS

1.

Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist

1

2.

Distributed Renewable Energy (DRE) Finance Specialist

1

3.

Distributed Renewable Energy (DRE) Technical Specialist

1

4.

Grants Officer

1

7.0 JOB DESCRIPTION POSITION TWO

JOB TITLE  : Grant Officer
SALARY   : USD 72,000 per annum all inclusive
PROGRAMME : Accelerating Sustainable and Clean Energy Access Transformation (ASCENT)
DUTY STATION : COMESA Secretariat, Lusaka, ZambiaAdvertise in Zambia

CONTRACT DURATION : 2 years with a possibility of extension subject to availability of funds for continued project implementation and satisfactory performance. The initial contract period shall include a six (6) months probationary period.

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REPORTING TO : The Director Budget and Finance with dotted reporting responsibilities to Project Coordinator.

7.1. SCOPE OF WORK
The Grant Officer will provide grant support to the ASCENT Project Implementation Unit (PIU), under the overall supervision of the Director of Budget and Finance with dotted reporting responsibilities to Project Coordinator. The primary responsibility of this role is to ensure effective planning, management, and oversight of all grant-related activities to support smooth and compliant project implementation.

Specific tasks and responsibilities include:

I. Grant Planning and Management:

a) Lead the planning, management, and execution of grant-related activities in alignment with project objectives and annual work plans.
b) Support the development and regular updating of the Annual Grant Plan.
c) Develop and prepare grant agreement template acceptable to the international development association (IDA)
d) Coordinate and monitor grant implementation to ensure adherence to the terms and conditions of grant agreements.
e) Maintain and update the Grant Tracking Tool to monitor grant progress, compliance, and financial performance.

II. Support the Call for Proposals Processes

a) Prepare, publish and distribute Call for Proposals opportunities.
b) Coordinate the receipt, opening and publishing of Call for Proposals documents in a transparent and timely manner.
c) Respond to queries and provide guidance to potential applicants on the Call for Proposals.
d) Propose the composition of the Opening Committee and the Evaluation Committee to the Assistant Secretary General (Programming) for approval.
e) Coordinate the opening of proposals received and the evaluation of proposals and compile the evaluation reports.

III. Support to Award and Contracting

a) Recommend a negotiating team for appointment by the Secretary General.
b) Prepare and publish notices of award and notices of grant awarded.
c) Draft and finalize grant contract documents in line with the award decision.
d) Prepare and issue rejection and debriefing letters.
e) Prepare grant contract variations and modifications to documents as necessary.

IV. Grant Administration and Monitoring

a) Coordinate and act as a secretariat to the Evaluation Committee;
b) Monitor grant contract management to ensure implementation of grants contracts in accordance with the terms and conditions of the grant contracts;
c) Coordinate internal monitoring and evaluation of the activities carried out by the grant beneficiary; and
d) Support grant recipients in understanding and meeting their contractual obligations, including financial and technical reporting.

V. Reporting and Compliance

b) Prepare periodic reports on grant implementation status and performance for internal and external stakeholders.
c) Ensure all grant processes and activities align with COMESA and World Bank policies and standards.
d) Support audits and compliance reviews related to grant management as required.

VI. Performs any other job-related duties as assigned by the Supervisor from time to time

7.2. EDUCATION QUALIFICATIONS
a) A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.
b) A Master’s degree in the areas mentioned above would have an added advantage
c) At least Six (6) years of relevant work experience in grant management, financial administration, or a similar role, preferably within donor-funded programmes or international development organizations.

7.3. PROFESSIONAL SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
a) Strong understanding of grant management processes, including planning, solicitation, evaluation, contracting, monitoring, and reporting.
b) Demonstrated experience with donor-funded programmes, preferably involving multilateral institutions such as the World Bank, African Development Bank, or similar.
c) Solid experience working in compliance and financial reporting within multilateral or regional institutional frameworks is desirable.
d) Proficiency in the use of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems and grant management or tracking tools.
e) Proficiency in using standard office software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and grant management systems or tracking tools.
f) Professional certification or qualification (e.g., full CIMA, ACCA, ZICA, or membership in another recognized professional accountancy body).
g) Strong ability to assess proposals, identify financial and operational risks, and provide evidence-based recommendations.
h) Excellent report writing and documentation skills, with the ability to produce clear, accurate, and timely grant-related communications.
i) Strong organizational, coordination, and record-keeping skills to ensure high standards of compliance and audit readiness.
j) Working knowledge of COMESA institutional frameworks and policies is an added advantage.
k) Excellent communication skills (both oral and written), with the ability to engage effectively with grantees, evaluators, internal teams, and external partners.
l) High ethical standards and demonstrated commitment to transparency, accountability, and compliance.

8.0 WORKING LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL POSITIONS
a. Must be fluent in English – both spoken and written.
b. Knowledge of French or Portuguese will be an added advantage.

9.0 ELIGIBILITY FOR APPLICATION
Applicants must meet the eligibility requirements for selections and contracts funded by proceeds from a World Bank funded project. Citizens of COMESA Member states are encouraged to apply.

Applications MUST be submitted electronically through email on the prescribed COMESA APPLICATION FORM which can be accessed at the following COMESA website: http://www.comesa.int/, Opportunities, COMESA Job Application Format. Applications without the COMESA Job Application Format will not be considered.

Application should reach the address below not later than Friday 26^th December 2025 at 17:00 hours Lusaka, Zambia time.

The Director of Human Resources and Administration

Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa

COMESA Centre

Ben Bella Road

P.O Box 30051

LUSAKA

Zambia

Email: [email protected]