Capacity Development Advisor, USAID/Global Inclusive Development Activity

About IREX:

IREX is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to building a more just, prosperous, and inclusive world by empowering youth, cultivating leaders, strengthening institutions, and extending access to quality education and information. Founded in 1968, IREX has an annual portfolio of over $100 million, work in more than 100 countries worldwide with offices in 13 countries, and a global staff of 600.

Position Summary:

IREX seeks qualified Capacity Development Advisor (CDA) candidates to support an anticipated five-year USAID-funded inclusive development activity to bolster Missions’ and DC-based operating units’ ability to represent and address the needs of marginalized, under-represented populations and/or people in vulnerable situations (MUGPVs). The activity will address programmatic gaps USAID Missions have in assessing the needs of, engaging with, and supporting the priorities of marginalized and underrepresented groups around the world. This includes accompanying local organizations in their ongoing efforts to transform their societies to be more inclusive and equitable and responsive to the needs of marginalized communities across diverse geographic regions and areas of programming. The CDA will provide technical leadership and oversight of the project’s capacity development strategy to strengthen partner organizations’ processes, knowledge, relationships, assets, and behaviors to improve performance. The intent of the capacity building investment is to ensure resilient and effective local organizations are available to support and represent marginalized populations.

Applicants from marginalized or underrepresented group and those based in the global south are highly encouraged to apply. This position is contingent on funding. This position is remote-based.

Summary of Responsibilities:

• Provide technical leadership and oversight of the project’s capacity development strategy using a holistic, collaborative framework and systems-thinking lens
• Provide strategic inputs into the overall capacity development component, recommending adaptations based on ongoing lessons learned
• Advise on investments in organizational development, staff development, financial management, infrastructure and security, project design and management, governance, fundraising, and other areas
• Lead/contribute to efforts to strengthen the capacity and effectiveness of MUGPVs, consortium partners and local organizations and representatives to enable their independent and objective participation in engaging with Missions and OUs
• Lead/contribute to efforts to assess the needs of, engage with, and support the priorities of marginalized and underrepresented groups around the world, including tailoring capacity development approaches and tools to diverse needs and contexts
• Help synthesize and distill promising/relevant approaches, tools, and learning to share with wider audiences, including across programs and with USAID and the broader development community
• Support the development and realization of local organizations’ resource mobilization, sustainability, and resiliency strategies
• Serve as a member of the program senior management team, including collaborating with the senior management team to ensure adherence to targets, timelines, budget management, and achievement of objectives
• Some international travel will be required
• Other duties, as assigned

Required Skills and Qualifications:

• At least seven (7) years’ experience providing capacity development technical support to large complex, donor-funded projects in developing or transitional countries.
• Excellent grasp of participatory capacity development tools and methodologies.
• Excellent facilitation and training skills in addressing the needs of MUGPVs, preferably with extensive experience working with organizations led by MUGPVs.
• Demonstrated experience developing organizational capacity in financial and grant management, human resources, USG compliance, and related topics.
• Demonstrated effective interpersonal and creative problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated ethical management practices.
• Ability to develop and maintain strong relationships with civil society partners and government stakeholders.
• Demonstrated familiarity with USAID’s Program Cycle; Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting framework; localization and inclusive development approaches; Positive Youth Development; and gender equality and women’s empowerment policies and guidelines.
• Professional fluency in English; professional proficiency in a second language preferred
• Ability to travel internationally periodically.
• Graduate degree in a relevant field.

IREX is committed to attracting and retaining a diverse staff and will honor your unique experiences, perspectives, and identity. IREX strives to create and maintain working and learning environments that are just, inclusive, and welcoming, because we believe every member on our team enriches our collective effort by exposing us to a broad range of ways to understand and engage with the world, identify challenges, and to discover, design and deliver solutions. Our goal is not only to advance diversity, equity and inclusion at IREX, but also to increase equity and justice on a global scale.