Chemonics seeks a short-term Francophone strategic activity development and implementation advisor for the Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI) Burkina Faso Regional Program. A task order under the SWIFT IV IQC, the OTI/Burkina Faso Regional Program is a quick-response mechanism to support activities that maintain and deepen stability in Burkina Faso, neighboring countries, and the broader Sahel region, including by addressing the threat posed by violent extremist organizations. The program will implement quick-response activities aimed at maintaining and deepening stability in Burkina Faso, neighboring countries, and the broader Sahel region. This will include addressing the threat posed by violent extremist organizations. The anticipated duration of the position, is two to three months. The advisor will be based in Ouagadougou, with travel anticipated to the regional offices in Dori, Fada N’gourma, and Ouahigouya as the security context allows. We are looking for individuals who have a passion for making a difference in the lives of people around the world.
The ideal candidate will possess the capability to:
- Maintain close, daily collaboration with USAID/OTI in-country staff, including taking programmatic and strategic direction from the client
- Ensure that program implementation is in accordance with regulations and procedures and the specifications determined in the scope of work
- Maintain a good grasp of the technical and regulatory compliance aspects of the program and be prepared to step in as needed to support the chief of party and other program staff
- Remain apprised of the evolution of the local political, legal, and economic situation and on how to continuously adapt the program to fit this context.
Responsibilities include:
- Provide targeted mentoring and coaching to regional program managers with a focus on remote management techniques and best practices and planning along the activity cycle
- Utilize best practices/lessons learned for optimal remote management of activities, including early detection of issues and troubleshooting and monitoring of activity implementation in security-challenged areas
- Troubleshoot issues in a timely manner and report any identified issues about implementation challenges and solutions to project leadership
- Review and provide quality control on date extension and/or budget modification notifications and approval requests submitted to OTI
- Provide oversight and spot checks for programmatic staff to ensure they are effectively implementing administrative and financial procedures compliant with contractor and USAID policies
- Suggest/develop/provide (through observation and engaging input from regional program managers, the monitoring, evaluation, and learning specialist, and other staff as appropriate) additional training for Grants Management Unit staff as needed
- Provide support to regional program managers, program development officers, grants specialists, and other staff as appropriate to develop and provide additional training for grantees as needed
- Identify new ways of achieving project efficiencies with regards to senior/middle staff management and implementation along the activity cycle
Qualifications:
- Strong experience with USAID/OTI concept and activity design and the development, management, and implementation of activities at all phases of the OTI grants cycle, preferably including both community-level and national-level activities
- Proven experience serving in a long-term capacity as deputy chief of party or chief of party on an OTI program
- Demonstrated strong managerial, mentorship, and supervisory skills, preferably with culturally and geographically diverse staff
- Experience working in Burkina Faso or other Sahel countries undergoing transition highly desired, but not required, and ability to cope with and function effectively in high stress and fluid environments
- Experience working in developing countries required, preferably complex, high-speed, dynamic, and challenging field operations
- Financial management experience, including budgeting, financial management, tracking, reporting and accounting, and procurement
- Demonstrated ability to strategically analyze national, regional, and local politics and guide program staff in creatively designing grants that relate to the current political environment
- Thorough experience and understanding of administering grants and small grants programs, and the ability to ensure activities are appropriately implemented, monitored, evaluated, and closed out as required
- Proven problem solver with demonstrated experience identifying creative solutions to advance program and activity objectives
- Experience with remote management in transition environments highly desired, but not required
- Experience working on infrastructure and rehabilitation subcontracts or complex procurement processes desired
- Fluency in writing and speaking English and French required
- Demonstrated leadership, versatility, and integrity
Application Instructions:
Please send an email with your CV and cover letter attached with “SADI Advisor” in the subject line to [email protected] no later than February 22, 2020. No telephone inquiries, please. Finalists will be contacted.
More Information
- Job City Burkina Faso
