Advisor/Private Sector Liaison, USAID Power Africa

About Us

International Business & Technical Consultants, Inc. (IBTCI), a U.S. based international development consulting company established in 1987, has worked in over 100 countries and implemented over 300 projects. IBTCI serves government agencies, private sector companies, and several donor agencies. IBTCI specializes in monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning (MERL) and institutional support across many areas and sectors including, but not limited to, conflict and crisis, democracy and governance, agriculture, economic growth, food security, education, environment, and global health.

Job Title: Advisor/Private Sector Liaison, USAID Power Africa

Department/Location: Private Sector Engagement Team/Remote

Type: Regular Full-Time

Clearance Required: Facilities Access

Overview:

Power Africa, Launched in 2013, is the largest public private partnership in the world, surpassing $50 billion in investment mobilized to grow the energy sector and bring electricity to millions in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Power Africa is a dynamic and ambitious whole-of-government effort that mobilizes the tools of the U.S. Government to advance access to electricity in SSA with USAID as the coordinating Agency. Power Africa’s network now includes more than 200 partners, including 12 U.S. Government agencies, 20 development partners and more than 180 private sector partners. Power Africa is tasked with adding more than 30,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity generation capacity and bringing electricity to 60 million homes and businesses on the continent. It seeks to bridge the gap between Africa’s power shortage and its economic potential by working with other U.S. Government agencies, African Governments, NGOs, and the private sector to substantially expand power generation and transmission, access, and necessary policy reforms. Power Africa and its partners work to advance transactions by providing financial solutions, technical and engineering assistance, transaction advisory services, guidance on policy and regulatory reform, and numerous other tools to assist project developers, governments and financiers advancing deals to financial close and commissioning. Power Africa now closely tracks close to 500n energy transactions.

The Power Africa Partnerships Office provides strategic oversight and programmatic direction to the Power Africa Coordinator, U.S. Government interagency, as well as our private and public sector partners to achieve Power Africa’s goals. The office drives the interagency’s support and is responsible for tracking transactions, identifying issues, coordinating U.S. Government and Partners’ work on those issues, and directing resources to solve those issues enabling deals to close.

The Private Sector Liaison (“Liaison”) is a vital member of the Private Sector Engagement Team, and will primarily work to fulfill Power Africa’s goals for megawatts and connections by expanding the investment footprint of current private sector partners, and bringing new partners to the initiative. Particular focus will be paid to identifying and deploying means by which to attract new U.S. partners to trade, invest, and otherwise participate in power generation, dispatch, transmission and distribution transactions. The Liaison will support Power Africa goals and the mission of the interagency Power Africa Working Group. The individual will work directly with the private sector, and ensure coordination with interagency partners, development partners and other U.S. Government staff in Washington, Pretoria, and across the sub-continent. The Liaison will assess and direct support to priority transactions to advance development and execution, and serve as the Private Sector Team Leader’s cohort in achieving Power Africa’s most critical development objectives. They will become expert in identifying and leveraging U.S. Government, development partner, and private sector tools that can provide the catalysts needed to bring power projects to fruition.

NOTE: The incumbent will not perform inherently governmental functions or duties (e.g. will not serve as AOR/COR or supervise staff), but rather will advise, mentor, and facilitate as appropriate on the performance of inherently governmental functions on the part of the Office or Mission.

Responsibilities

Essential Duties/Tasks and Responsibilities:

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The incumbent will report to the Private Sector Engagement Team Leader and will hold primary responsibility for identifying and advancing energy, trade and investment opportunities. The Liaison will coordinate across Power Africa, with the interagency Power Africa Working Group, with U.S. Missions in Africa, and among Power Africa’s existing private and public sector partners to advance private-sector participation – particularly businesses with U.S. nexus – in energy transactions in Africa. Work may be conducted in Washington, D.C. and any Power Africa-supported country, and will concentrate on private-sector transactions that support the Power Africa initiative. The Liaison is expected to provide guidance, policy insight and recommended action in furtherance of Power Africa and U.S. Government objectives to advance opportunities and transactions between Sub-Saharan Africa and the U.S. The major duties and responsibilities inherent in the position include:

• Supporting delivery, performance, and reporting under the Power Africa Initiative by serving as Liaison to private enterprises with the special objective to advance transactions, mobilize finance, and increase U.S. participation.
• Monitoring trade, investment, and private-sector development activities by Power Africa partners like U.S. interagency, donor partners, African governments and US Missions, and position private sector partners to take full advantage of identified opportunities.
• Building strong relationships between Power Africa and U.S. business leaders, trade associations, investors, and other key energy sector players.
• Building linkages between U.S. companies and counterparts in Africa to advance trade and investment.
• Supporting partnership development by identifying potential, supporting outreach to, and development of relationships with, relevant private sector entities.
• Participating in Power Africa meetings and events, and being responsible for coordinating Power Africa’s policy, recommendations and assistance to priority transactions.
• Coordinating closely with representatives of USAID, the State Department, U.S. Trade and Development Agency, Department of Commerce, ExIm Bank, S. Government Missions and Partner technical stakeholders to advance private sector participation in energy transactions that advance the Power Africa initiative.

In successfully carrying out these duties and responsibilities, the Liaison will exhibit:

Liaison Expertise 50%

• Investigating and promoting ways of integrating solutions and work under the various interventions of Power Africa with the objective of achieving greater private sector participation in achievement of the goals of the Electrify Africa Act.
• Working directly with the interagency and USAID to identify and deploy measures to increasingly involve more private participation , and ensure coordination with private sector partners, development partners and other U.S. Government staff both in Washington, Pretoria, and in the field.
• Tracking Power Africa’s priority transactions, advancing them to solicit the financial involvement of private companies, assessing status and directing policy, finance, or structural assistance to reach financial close.
• Fielding transaction-specific requests and inquiries submitted through all partners.
• Facilitating coordination and negotiations of technical and political solutions to un-stick key transactions with project sponsors, management, governments and the interagency.
• Providing consistent, high-quality, customer-responsive technical support to the Partnerships Team, Power Africa Coordinator, Embassies and USAID Missions supported by the relevant missions.

Technical and Transactional Leadership 25%

• Facilitating Power Africa’s coordination and tracking of key transactions across the interagency, private sector and U.S. Government Missions in Africa.
• In concert with the Team Lead, directing the coordination of Power Africa’s position and approach to resolving issues hindering deals from reaching financial close.
• Conducting analyses of policy enabling environment, financial solutions, political climate, project parties, country specific legal reforms, investment promotion, deal generation, subsidy, risk, and other factors contributing to viable power transactions.

Ability to Promote Power Africa Interests and Manage Resources 15%

• Supporting effective outreach and coordination with Power Africa’s private sector partners and other stakeholders;
• Maintaining close relations with Power Africa Working Group colleagues, Power Africa implementing partner staff, Missions and select Partner technical staff.

Other Duties 10%

• Responding flexibly and capably to a wide range of work-related requirements such as: 1) responding to inquiries; 2) supporting both traditional and VIP visits; and 3) carrying out ad hoc assignments as dictated by unforeseen operational requirements at the discretion of the Team Lead, Partnerships Office Director, Deputy Coordinator, and Power Africa Coordinator, and/or his/her designee;
• Contributing to general Power Africa management, implementation, and reporting needs;
• In collaboration with appropriate Officers, preparing other documents as needed, including, but not limited to, speeches, talking points, website text, and outreach.
• Performing other relevant or related duties as assigned.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements:

• Knowledge of Africa and international development efforts within sub-Saharan Africa including energy and trade, economic growth, infrastructure, and related content;
• Demonstrated experience in partnership development, strategic planning, and securing partnerships with specific focus on engaging the private sector.
• Excellent interpersonal skills; ability to work in a dynamic team environment with a diverse set of partners and stakeholders.
• Excellent writing skills and ability to write in a collaborative process;
• Outstanding organizational and planning abilities.
• Ability to effectively prioritize and meet deadlines.
• Experience working and collaborating with U.S. government agencies and private sector organizations, including officials with international organizations, foreign and domestic government officials, and development partners.
• Ability to work collaboratively with other offices within USAID/Washington and USAID Missions in Sub-Saharan Africa, other U.S. government officials, other donors, partner government representatives, and implementing partners.
• Oral and written fluency in English required, fluency in another language preferred.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field plus ten (10) years of relevant experience, or
• Master’s degree in related discipline plus seven (7) years of relevant experience;

Preferred Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Experience with a diverse set of partners, such as civil society, foundation, bilateral donors, and other partners.
• French and/or Portuguese language skills

Working Environment: Work is typically performed in an office environment. Currently the company is allowing for remote work due to COVID 19 in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia (DMV) area. This can be updated by the company.

COVID Vaccine status: As a condition of employment, IBTCI requires all new employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Candidates should be prepared to submit proof of COVID-19 vaccination upon hire or request for an accommodation with HR that is consistent with our COVID-19 safety protocols and policies.

Physical Requirements: This is largely a sedentary position that requires the ability to speak, hear, see, and lift small objects up to 20 lbs.

Supervisory Responsibility: This position does not have supervisory responsibilities.

Travel: International travel may be required and may include travel to fragile and/or conflict-prone zones.

Work Authorization: Candidate must be authorized to work in the US.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

About the Organization:

IBTCI has been in business since 1987. We specialize in Monitoring, Evaluation, Research & Learning (MERL), Institutional Support (IS), Financial & Risk Management (FRM), Supply Chain Management & Procurement (SCMP); Social & Behavior Change (SBC) and Capacity Building. We provide these services across many sectors including, but not limited to, agriculture, resilience & food security, conflict & crisis, democracy & governance, economic growth & trade, education & human capacity development, energy & infrastructure, environment & climate change, global health & WASH and humanitarian and disaster assistance. At IBTCI, our colleagues are encouraged to collaborate and be part of the solution while getting the tools and guidance needed to grow and support our clients’ missions.

IBTCI is committed to a policy of equal employment opportunity for all persons without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identification, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, disabled veteran or Vietnam-era veteran, or any other classification protected by applicable anti-discrimination laws. We prohibit and do not tolerate any form of discrimination or harassment. VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

If you are an applicant with a disability that requires a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process or are limited in the ability, or unable to use the online application system and need an alternative method for applying, you may contact the Talent Acquisition team at [email protected] (Do not send your resume to this account, for consideration please apply in our career page, https://careers.ibtci.com/jobs).