Project Management Specialist - Civil Society and Media at USAID

Solicitation No: AID-620-S-00-17-00017-00
Location: Abuja
Period of Performance: Five (5) years renewable
Security Level Required: SBU

Job Summary

• The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is seeking offers from qualified persons to provide personal services under contract as described in this solicitation.Offers must be in accordance with Attachment 1, Sections I through V of this solicitation. Incomplete or unsigned offers will not be considered. Offerors should retain copies of all offer materials for their records.
• This solicitation in no way obligates USAID to award a PSC contract, nor does it commit USAID to pay any cost incurred in the preparation and submission of the offers.
• Any questions must be directed in writing to the Point of Contact specified in the attached.

Statement of Duties
Basic Function of the Position:

• The Civil Society and Media Specialist manages PDG’s civil society programs and is the USAID Mission’s principal advisor on issues related to civil society development in Nigeria. These responsibilities require interaction with: senior USG officials in Nigeria and in the United States; other donors, including the United Kingdom, United Nations, European Union, Canada, Japan, World Bank, and African Development Bank; and high-ranking Nigerians both within and outside of government.
• The incumbent provides guidance and oversight to his/her implementing partners to improve governance in Nigeria and work to enhance the ability of other USAID programs to achieve their results. In addition, the incumbent serves as the PDG Office’s media and public outreach coordinator, working with the Mission’s Development Outreach Coordinator(s) (DOCs) on a range of PDG materials for public consumption, such as fact sheets, press releases, and public remarks by USG officials.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

• The incumbent contributes significantly to implementing USAID/Nigeria’s “Strengthened Good Governance” Development Objective (DO) through activities that address responsive, transparent and inclusive governance.

Program Management 50% of time:

• Develops and manages USAID civil society programs oriented toward increasing capacity and effectiveness of Nigerian civil society to: Hold public officials accountable; express their preferences; engage in policy dialogue; influence public policies and their implementation to enhance confidence in democracy and strengthen foundations of democracy; and use the media to achieve results.
• More specifically, USAID/Nigeria’s civil society program is aimed at: increasing civil society organizations’ (CSOs’) capacity to effectively advocate for key policy reforms such as revenue and budget transparency, extractive industry transparency, and freedom of information; strengthening civil society/government partnerships to fight corruption through public oversight agencies and initiatives; and strengthening CSO institutional capacity for effective program management and sustainability.
• He/she serves as the Contract Officer’s Representative/Agreement Officer’s Representative (COR/AOR) and thus provides technical direction to USAID-funded grantees and contractors implementing civil society programs. The incumbent monitors the performance of such grantees and contractors, and reports on the impact of their work.
• The incumbent monitors performance in the field, and collects and analyzes performance data for the purposes of evaluating implementation and assessing overall program impact.
• He/she provides on a regular basis written and oral reports including portfolio reviews to senior Mission (including the Embassy) management, PDG team members, and USAID/Washington technical backstops.
• These reports cover progress achieved, impact observed, problems and constraints encountered, remedial taken, new opportunities emerging, and any other issues related to program management.
• He/she works with the Program Office and other Mission technical teams to facilitate coordination of the Mission’s civil society support to Nigeria in order to ensure that resources are leveraged and the impact of USG assistance is maximized. He/she organizes field visits for senior USG officials and U.S. Congressional delegations, planning trip itineraries and scheduling meetings and briefings with: USG officers; senior Nigerian officials, groups and individuals; and relevant representatives of international donor agencies on work related to his/her sector.
• He/she manages evaluation of unsolicited proposals related to civil society assistance, and maintains liaison, at the highest levels, with relevant contractors, grantees, development partners and Government of Nigeria officials.

Stakeholder and Customer Relations 25% of time:

• He/she serves as the focal point with other USG agencies in Nigeria, Nigerian national, state and/or local government officials, and other international donor organizations on all issues related to USAID/Nigeria’s civil society programs. In order to do so, he/she will establish close contacts and communications with a wide range of civil society organizations and key government institutions, including development partners, Nigeria’s National Orientation Agency which works with civil society organizations on civic education and capacity building, the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
• He/she will also organize stakeholder consultations that solicit views from a broad range of stakeholders on the overall direction and implementation of USAID/Nigeria’s civil society programs.
• He/she will take the lead in preparing speeches, briefing papers, orientation, and focus discussion groups for the U.S. Embassy and program-related visitors (e.g.,congressional delegations, senior-level USAID and other U.S. government officials and other donors). In addition, the incumbent serves as the PDG Office’s media and public outreach coordinator, working with the Mission’s Development Outreach Coordinator(s) (DOCs) on a range of PDG materials for public consumption, such as fact sheets, press releases, and public remarks by U.S. Government (USG) officials. In this role, the incumbent coordinates the development of these materials with all of his/her PDG colleagues, working on behalf of the PDG Office’s entire program portfolio, not just the civil society programs.
• The incumbent also serves as the Mission’s principal advisor regarding issues of persons with disabilities (PWDs). In this role, the incumbent responds to requests for information from Nigerian organizations and officials, USG officials in Washington, and USAID Mission colleagues regarding the Mission’s work regarding disability issues.

Political Analysis and Activity Design 15% of time:

• The incumbent assesses Nigeria’s national, regional and international setting and analyzes the impact of political, social and economic change upon USAID/Nigeria’s civil society programs. This includes: evaluating the impact of new and proposed host-country legislation and policies; political, social and economic developments; personnel changes; as well as regional and international events that impact upon Development Objective 3’s support for governance institutions - and recommending appropriate responses (e.g., re-orienting ongoing activities).
• The incumbent assists in organizing the visits of program design and assessment teams, planning their itineraries and scheduling meetings and briefings with relevant Nigerian institutions and organizations, international donors and USG officials.
• He/she leads the review process of incoming proposals for civil society assistance and drafts responses on technical quality and relationship to PDG objectives.

Strategy Design and Implementation 10% of time:

• The incumbent is responsible for carrying out ad hoc duties as assigned, including drafting Development Objective (DO) Agreement documents and Performance Monitoring Plans.
• He/she is responsible for providing direction to the Mission’s DO teams on how to access assistance for their programs managed by the incumbent.
• He/she reviews and makes comments on activity designs from other operating units for technical soundness, as well as appropriateness of procurement mechanisms.
• He/she participates in and helps plan and implement team planning meetings, debriefings, and report writing.

Area of Consideration:

• Nigerians Only

Physical Demands:

• The work quested does not involve undue physical demands.

Minimum Qualifications Required for this Position
Education:

• Master’s Degree in Political Science, International Relations, Development, Law, Public Administration, Public Policy, Social Sciences, Liberal Arts, or Communication/Journalism is required.

Prior Work Experience:

• Minimum five years of progressively responsible professional work experience in democracy and governance program management or in civil society advocacy is required.

Post Entry Training:

• Contracting Officer’s Representative/Agreement Officer’s Representative (COR/AOR) certification, Program Management, Financial Management, and Monitoring and Evaluation trainings, as well as other training necessary to develop sound knowledge of U.S. Government laws, regulations and policies relating to program development and management.

Language Proficiency:

• Level IV (Fluent speaking, reading, and writing) in English language is required.

Job Knowledge:

• Must demonstrate in-depth understanding of civil society organizations and the media in Nigeria. Must have sound knowledge of Nigeria’s laws, policies, political history and development.

Skills and Abilities:

• Must have high level of judgment. Must possess excellent skills in program management, oversight, monitoring, reporting, financial analysis, evaluation of civil society and democracy and governance programs. He/she must have strong computer skills in Microsoft Office software.
• Must have outstanding interpersonal teamwork skills, especially in multicultural settings, to be able to interact with all persons within and outside the Mission.
• Must be able to interact professionally with high-level GON and USG officials. Must be knowledgeable and capable to deal with sensitive issues that emerge.

Benefit/Allowances
As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a PSC is normally authorized the following benefits and allowances:

Benefits

• Health Insurance
• Annual Salary Increase (if applicable)
• Annual and Sick leave
• Annual Bonus

Allowances (as applicable):

• Transportation Allowance
• Meal Allowance
• Miscellaneous Allowance
• Housing Allowance

Taxes:

• The Mission emphasize to its employees of the fact that they are obliged to observe Nigerian Laws, including those concerning income and related tax obligations. Payment of such taxes is a matter between the individual employee and the Nigerian Government. In the absence of a specific international agreement, the U.S. Government will not withhold local taxes from an employee’s salary.

Market Value
N11,581,095.00 equivalent to FSN-11 In accordance with AIDAR Appendix J and the Local Compensation Plan of United States Mission, Nigeria (Effective September 04, 2016). Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value.

List of Required Forms for PSC Hires:
(Once the CO) informs the successful Offeror about being selected for a contract award, the CO will provide the successful Offeror instructions about how to complete and submit the following forms.

• Medical History and Examination Form (Department of State Forms)
• RSO Security Questionnaire
• BI Guide Questionnaire
• THOR Enrollment Intake Form.

Evaluation and Selection Factors 

• Applications will be required to have the minimum qualifications expressed in Section II. Qualified applicants possessing skills above the minimum requirements will be assessed based on the following factors:
  • Education (10 points)
  • Work Experience (20 points)
  • Knowledge (30 points)
  • Language Proficiency (10 points)
  • Skills and abilities (30 points)
• Per this scoring rubric, Work Experience, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities are the most important factors. Applications will initially be screened for conformity with minimum requirements and a short list of applicants developed.
• USAID reserves the right to interview only the highest ranked applicants in person or by phone OR not to interview any candidate. After the closing date for receipt of applications, a committee will be convened to review applications and evaluate them in accordance with the evaluation criteria. Applications from candidates which do not meet the required selection criteria will not be scored. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted. No response will be sent to unsuccessful applicants.
• As part of the selection process, finalist candidates may be interviewed either in person or by telephone at USAID’s discretion. Reference checks will be made only for applicants considered as finalists. If an applicant does not wish USAID to contact a current employer or a reference check, this should be stated in the applicant’s cover letter, and USAID will delay such reference check pending communication with the applicant. Only finalists will be contacted by USAID with respect to their applications.