Project Management Specialist (Preventing/Countering Violent Extremism Team Leader) – Somalia Mission

GENERAL INFORMATION

USAID DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING) AND DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANT’S BANK ACCOUNTS.

1. SOLICITATION NO.: 22-74

2. ISSUANCE DATE: May 13, 2022

3. CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: May 26, 2022 (4:30 PM East Africa Time).

4. POINT OF CONTACT: USAID Kenya and East Africa Human Resources, e-mail at [email protected]

5. POSITION TITLE: USAID Project Management Specialist (Preventing/Countering Violent Extremism Team Leader).

6. MARKET VALUE: Equivalent to FSN-12 Step 1 (6,834,442 KSH per annum) to Step 13 (11,618,566 KSH per annum). In accordance with AIDAR Appendix J and the Local Compensation Plan of USAID/Kenya and East Africa. Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value.

7. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: The services provided under this contract are expected to be of a continuing nature that will be executed by USAID through a series of sequential contracts, subject to the availability of funds, the continued need for services and successful performance. It is anticipated that the selection of the successful candidate will be completed within an estimated six-month period from the closing date of this solicitation. The base period will be for one year with the commencement date based upon successful medical clearance and security certification. Contingent on Agency needs, the Contracting Officer may exercise four additional option periods from the contract commencement date.

8. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Nairobi, Kenya; with possible travel as stated in the Statement of Duties.

9. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: Open to qualified Kenyan Citizens. Current locally hired employees of the US Mission in Kenya Employees presently on probation are ineligible to apply.

10. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Security certification issued by the US Embassy RSO.

General Statement of Purpose of the Contract

The Somalia Mission aims to help Somalia and its people to more effectively withstand disruptions and increasingly drive their own development. To this end, USAID/Somalia has a new five year-strategy (2020 – 2025) which works to help targeted local institutions govern in a more legitimate manner, diminishing influence of VEOs, and enable marginalized Somalis to more effectively withstand shocks and stresses. This position will be based in the Mission’s Program Office. The Program Office manages and supports strategic planning, the design of new activities, monitoring and evaluation, and mandatory reporting requirements.

The Project Management Specialist (Preventing/Countering Violent Extremism Team Leader) advises the Mission Director, Technical Offices, and the Program Office on implementation of the Mission’s Development Objective (DO) 1 and manages the Preventing/Countering Violent Extremism Team. This team is dedicated to directing USAID/Somalia’s various types of funding to achieve DO 1: Targeted local institutions govern in a more legitimate manner, diminishing influence of violent extremist organizations. In addition to leading the Preventing/Countering Violent Extremism Team, the Project Management Specialist (Preventing/Countering Violent Extremism Team Leader) will further facilitate program designs for all new procurements contributing to DO 1.

The incumbent will also liaise with high-level representatives from the Federal Government of Somalia, the Federal Member States, multilateral organizations, and other development donors. S/he will also serve as the Mission’s liaison to the United States Government’s (USG) stabilization interagency working group, coordinating closely with the State Department, the Department of Defense, and other USG agencies.

The Project Management Specialist (Preventing/Countering Violent Extremism Team Leader) is a highly influential position, acting as technical advisor in CVE capacity building, a strategic manager of the USAID Mission funding portfolio, and a leader of activity design processes across mission offices.

Statement of Duties to be Performed

Leadership and Preventing/Countering Violent Extremism Team Oversight 50%

● The Project Management Specialist (Preventing/Countering Violent Extremism Team Leader) is responsible for providing strategic and technical expertise, guidance, and oversight for Mission implementation of USAID/Somalia Country Development Cooperation Strategy DO 1. DO 1 focuses on strengthening the capacity of targeted institutions to govern in a more legitimate manner in order to diminish the influence of violent extremist organizations.

● Leads and oversees the Development Objective 1 (DO 1), the jobholder will establish, maintain and manage sensitive high-level relationships with the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and several Federal Member States. S/he will liaise with several key FGS ministries, including the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Justice Endowments and Religious Affairs, the Ministry of Social Services and Development; Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs, and Reconciliation, the Ministry of Interior, Local Government and Rural Development; the Ministry of Women and Family Affairs, and the State Ministers of Law and Planning. S/he will facilitate frequent meetings with implementing partners, the Somali government, stakeholders and donors to guide cross-collaboration around DO 1 and programming related to countering violent extremism.

● Responsible for expanding the Mission’s network of influential validators, decision-makers, and institutional leaders in the countering violent extremism space, preferably in Somalia. S/he will be responsible for identifying and building trust-based relationships that leverage resources towards the expected results under DO 1.

● The jobholder will guide the Democracy, Stabilization and Governance Team, the Economic Growth Team, and the Social Services Team to respond in a complete and timely manner to all DO-1 related requests from the Program Office Director, USAID/Somalia Mission Director, the USAID/Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, the U.S. Ambassador to Somalia, USAID/Washington, and other duties as assigned.

Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

1. Providing recommendations and information to the Mission as part of the program activity cycle to ensure new and existing activities further Mission understanding of DO 1 theories and assumptions.

2. Assisting in the identification of opportunities and potential local partners to further advance DO 1.

3. Ensuring activities are prioritized to meet DO purposes

4. Providing timely analysis and reporting support to the Mission as requested on DO 1 progress.

5. Overseeing budget planning and management for DO 1

6. Strengthening/fostering linkages, coordination, and integration across Mission offices and among implementing partners (IPs) under DO 1.

7. Leading/overseeing stakeholder engagement related to DO 1

The Project Management Specialist (Preventing/Countering Violent Extremism Team Leader) will also serve as the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) for the Mission’s $1.5 million DO 1 Measurement Activity, guiding USAID’s substantial involvement in the activity and ensuring learning from the activity is utilized by USAID/Somalia’s portfolio of investments.

To contribute to the support and success of Mission activities under DO 1, s/he will engage implementing partners, key government officials, multilateral organizations, NGOs and other local organizations, USAID bi-lateral counterparts in the region, and donor and interagency working groups.

Project Design Facilitator 30%

● The Project Management Specialist (Preventing/Countering Violent Extremism Team Leader) will also provide oversight of the Mission’s activity design processes for all future DO 1 activities. This will include either leading activity designs or working closely with the activity design team lead. S/he will be responsible for ensuring that activity designs are prioritized to contribute to the Mission’s DO 1. S/he will foster linkages, coordination, and integration with other DO 1 activities. S/he will ensure each activity design team meets all Agency and Mission requirements, as well as articulates the activities’ contribution to the Mission’s DO 1. Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to, facilitating the following design requirements:

1. Identifying or revalidating high-level parameters to guide the design process (e.g., how the activity will advance DO 1, information gaps that will need to be filled, available budget)

2. Drafting activity concept papers, specifically articulating the link of the activity to DO 1

3. Ensuring the design is grounded in evidence, using existing analyses or commissioning new analyses (e.g., conflict sensitive analysis, political economy analyses)

4. Clearing on DO 1 activity approval memos

5. Contributing to preparation of activity design documents for Mission review and approval, including but not limited to, activity descriptions

6. Chairing DO 1 activity review meetings

Programmatic Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Guidance and Policy Implementation 20%

● Serves as the Mission’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Lead. S/he will advise and support the Mission to integrate gender equality and female empowerment and inclusion-focused approaches into all current and planned Mission activities and support technical office staff to articulate both gender and inclusion priorities into activity design, implementation, and learning.

● Provides information, guidance, and technical advice that Mission staff and implementing partners can use to ensure that people from marginalized communities and women and girls are able to actively participate in and benefit from USAID activities and resources

Supervisory Relationship

The jobholder is supervised by the Program Officer or designee within USAID Somalia, who establishes overall objectives and broad outlines of tasks to be performed. The incumbent handles work assignments independently with limited supervision and a high degree of initiative is expected. S/he develops his/her own work schedule, procedures for accomplishing tasks and independently resolves problems which may arise during accomplishment of objectives.**

Supervisory Controls

Supervision of other employees is not anticipated.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The work requested does not involve undue physical demands.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

Any application that does not meet the minimum requirements stated below will not be evaluated.

Education: Master’s degree in political science, economics, public policy or administration, project management or related degree is required.

Prior Work Experience: A minimum of seven years of work experience in a relevant position, including a minimum of six years of experience in facilitation and project design or strategy development and implementation and at least 3 years of experience working in development at an International Organization, Donor Agency, Non-Governmental Organization or Embassy.

Language Proficiency: Level IV fluency in both oral and written English and Somali language is required.
Previous experience working in Somalia or other conflict prone countries is required. Demonstrated experience leading teams and working collaboratively with diverse internal and external stakeholders required.

EVALUATION AND SELECTION FACTORS

The Government may award a contract without discussions with offerors in accordance with FAR 52.215-1. The CO reserves the right at any point in the evaluation process to establish a competitive range of offerors with whom negotiations will be conducted pursuant to FAR 15.306(c). In accordance with FAR 52.215-1, if the CO determines that the number of offers that would otherwise be in the competitive range exceeds the number at which an efficient competition can be conducted, the CO may limit the number of offerors in the competitive range to the greatest number that will permit an efficient competition among the most highly rated offers. The FAR provisions referenced above are available at https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far.

• Job Knowledge (50 points)

The jobholder should have sound knowledge of technical and substantive issues on countering violent extremism (CVE in Somalia, as well as implementation of shared and integrated development objectives. A strong knowledge of the concepts, principles and approaches that relate to CVE is required.

• Skills and abilities (50 points)

Due to frequent interaction with external stakeholders in high stakes environments, the jobholder must be able to perceive, use, understand, manage, and handle emotions and communicate effectively to ensure positive working relationships are maintained. The jobholder should have the ability to plan, organize and facilitate strategic efforts that advance progress toward accomplishing DO 1, including participatory discussions and workshops; advisory and design support to technical teams; and identifying and leading internal and external collaborations. S/he must have excellent verbal and written communication skills in order to establish and maintain working relations and trust with Mission staff, Somali government officials, implementing partners, and other key stakeholders. In addition, the jobholder should be self-motivated, work well within a team, and have good problem-solving and time management skills.

Total possible points: 100

LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS PRIOR TO AWARD

The CO will provide instructions about how to complete and submit any required forms after an offeror is selected for the contract award.

BENEFITS AND ALLOWANCES

Benefits and allowances are offered in accordance with the Local Compensation Plan (LCP).

TAXES

The Contractor must observe Kenyan laws including those concerning income and related tax obligations.

USAID REGULATIONS, POLICIES AND CONTRACT CLAUSES PERTAINING TO PSCs

USAID regulations and policies governing CCN and TCN PSC awards are available at these sources:

1. USAID Acquisition Regulation (AIDAR), Appendix J, “Direct USAID Contracts With a Cooperating Country National and with a Third Country National for Personal Services Abroad,” including contract clause “General Provisions,” available at https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/aidar_0.pdf

2. Contract Cover Page form AID 309-1 available at https://www.usaid.gov/forms. Pricing by line item is to be determined upon contract award.

3. Acquisition & Assistance Policy Directives/Contract Information Bulletins (AAPDs/CIBs) for Personal Services Contracts with Individuals available at http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs

4. Ethical Conduct. By the acceptance of a USAID personal services contract as an individual, the contractor will be acknowledging receipt of the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch, available from the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, in accordance with General Provision 2 and 5 CFR 2635. See https://www.oge.gov/web/oge.nsf/OGE%20Regulations

5. PSC Ombudsman
   The PSC Ombudsman serves as a resource for any Personal Services Contractor who has entered into a contract with the United States Agency for International Development and is available to provide clarity on their specific contract with the agency. Please visit our page for additional information: https://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/personal-service-contracts-ombudsman

The PSC Ombudsman may be contacted via: [email protected]