Empower West Africa, multiple roles

Chemonics International is seeking to fill multiple roles to support the anticipated USAID-funded Empower West Africa (EWA) Activity. The purpose of the Activity, under the Power Africa initiative, is to increase the availability of and access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and clean energy in West Africa in order to reach measurable economic growth, development outcomes such as reducing poverty, improving livelihoods, and increasing inclusive access to electricity enabled services in such areas as health, education, sanitation and food security. These positions will be based in Dakar, Senegal. We are looking for individuals who have a passion for making a difference in the lives of people around the world.

We are seeking candidates for the following positions:

• Gender and Social Inclusion (GESI) Advisor
• Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, Learning Director
• Technical Leads with expertise in developing equitable, resilient net-zero economies

Gender and Social Inclusion Advisor

The GESI Director will have experience in assessing and addressing GESI-related impacts of EWA in alignment with the Power Africa Results Framework. Energy poverty has an effect on climate change, and way of life with disproportionate impacts on women, gender minorities, people with disabilities, and children. Further, these groups are more likely to experience violence, water-borne diseases, domestic and livelihood responsibilities, and psychosocial distress associated with poverty. A wide range of expertise is welcome, recognizing the diversity of Energy related work and the disparate impacts and considerations to effectively ensure GESI equity, access, and agency. Some of the specific areas of implementation are expected to include:

• Provide program-wide leadership on the integration of GESI considerations, best practices, and key approaches to strengthen interventions, analysis, research, and learning within the program, and for all program counterparts, stakeholders, and USAID Missions in West Africa
• Provide technical assistance to any project component as an Energy GESI expert for both long-term core programming as well as during rapid response surge support activities, as appropriate, such as: assessing the key drivers of, and identifying interventions to prevent, gender-based violence related to EWA in specific geographies; leading activities to meaningfully engage women and gender minorities and people with disabilities; and, strengthening equity and inclusion within local West African governance and services systems
• Determine technical needs and priorities for short-term technical assistance and subcontractor support to best implement ongoing and surge support activities of this component.
• Manage a team of local and international experts to ensure high quality implementation at the highest standards of professional conduct.
• Develop technical reports, work planning, and regular progress report inputs as needed, under the overall direction of the Chief of Party.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Director

The MEL Director is responsible for leading the development of the data analytics framework, capacity building, and systems development for better performance data collection, reliability, and quality. The MERL Director will also lead all program monitoring, evaluation, reporting, and evidence-based learning and outreach for both long-term programming as well as rapid response and surge support wherever the program is responding to a crisis. The MEL Director will work closely with the Chief of Party to ensure consistent, regular collaboration, learning, and adaptation throughout the life of the program. This position informs the Activity’s approach to using real-time information and data analytics to continually inform and improve programming while leading overall monitoring and evaluation of activities.

• Oversee the design and implementation of the MEL strategy and plan, including data collection, data systems, and results reporting to meet USAID requirements
• Lead the development of collaboration, learning, and adaptation (CLA) mechanisms and incorporate these mechanisms throughout implementation to regularly adapt and modify approaches and interventions as needed
• Develop, with input from technical staff, baseline survey data points and methods for MEL per the Activity’s MEL plan and individual activities or events the Activity implements; ensure the inclusion of gender-sensitive indicators and results in MEL
• Spearhead, guide, and supervise all database, survey, and assessment methodology documents (sampling frame, guides, instructions, surveys, and analysis) for quality assurance and adherence to USAID data quality standards
• Develop guidance documents and toolkits for effective engagement of local organizations and voices, including the perspectives of women and gender minorities, youth, persons with disabilities, and ethnic and religious minorities in West Africa
• Manage team of local and international experts to ensure high quality implementation at the highest standards of professional conduct

Technical Leads

The Technical Lead will provide technical leadership and guidance across a wide range of program objectives in Western Africa. The Technical Leads shall develop technical plans and deliverables from EWA’s work in the region, ensuring high quality and technical excellence. The position will support the Chief of Party and provide technical advisory support to specific decarbonizing elements of program implementation. They will perform both an internally facing and externally facing role in Western Africa.

• Provide technical leadership in delivery of expected results in West Africa
• Manage, supervise, and coordinate technical services, prioritize the activities in the Western Africa region, and provide thought leadership and technical support as needed to accelerate a support activity.
• Regularly liaise with the USAID missions in West Africa, Power Africa Coordinator’s Office, and other USG agencies, as appropriate.
• Maintain strong relationships with relevant regional organizations and with private sector companies and host country governments.

Minimum Qualifications for each position:

• Minimum of 10 years’ work experience in the technical area
• Bachelor’s Degree in relevant area required, advanced degree preferred or comparable years of work experience
• Experience implementing development activities in West Africa, and/or in a similar context
• Oral and written proficiency in English required; French fluency preferred