LGA Manager at DAI

Position Objectives:

• The LGA Manager in Bauchi State will oversee and implement all aspects of State2State interventions at the LGA Level. She/he will ensure timely preparation of political economy analysis.
• She/he will provide support to other State led interventions across objectives as well as cross-cutting interventions.
• The role also serves as a liaison between the Activity and focal LGAs and as a point of contact for all gender and social inclusion, and desk officers matters in Bauchi State.

Responsibilities:

• Responsible for the operation and technical delivery of LGA-level interventions and effective management of reform support with local government representatives and community-level stakeholders.
• Deliver support for improved governance and service delivery within the local government.
• Maintaining strategic relationships with government counterparts and other relevant stakeholders, including local government, civil society, and development partners.
• Responsible for developing, planning, and implementing targeted, high-impact interventions which meet the objectives of the Activity.
• Ensure the integration of cross-cutting considerations, such as gender and diversity (inclusion of people with disabilities) conflict sensitivity and environment considerations.
• Work with members of the state team to identify and develop intervention concepts and budgets, in line with Activity objectives and delivery.
• Ensure weekly and monthly targets for activity concepts and commitments are met.
• Ensure governance improvements are owned and delivered by the local governments under their own agenda.
• Engaging local partners in setting sector and budget priorities and strengthening LGA budgeting and planning processes while adapting existing citizen guides to the budget and collaborate with CSOs’ to raise budget literacy.
• Applying a Do No Harm approach, collaborate with local partners to mitigate the potential for conflict and forge partnerships between state and LGA institutions and CSOs to support participatory mechanisms for dialogue on budget priorities.
• Provide training and mentoring to LGA finance and administration staff on developing systems for more rigorous controls on LGA expenditures.
• Tracking improvements at the state and LGA levels in all areas of governance including auditing, budgeting, and planning, and procurement processes.
• Address conflict and provide M&E support at the LGA levels including establishing KPIs that flow down to the LGA level on health, education, and WASH facilities.
• Coordinate with the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Director to report on indicators.
• Compile and submit political economy analysis reports to the State Team Lead on weekly, monthly, and annual basis.
• Consult with the GESI Coordinator to implement and report on GESI and Desk Officers interventions.
• Perform such other duties as may be assigned.

REQUIREMENTS

Education

• A bachelor’s degree or Higher National Diploma in International Relations, Law, Management, Development Studies, Planning, Business Administration, Social Studies, Political Science, Sociology, or a related field from an accredited academic institution with 7 years of relevant professional experience or a master’s degree in the above fields with 5 years professional experience.

Experience:

• At least seven (7) years (with bachelor’s degree) and five (5) years (with master’s degree) work experience with United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded programs, or on other large donor-funded program with preference given to democracy and governance related to the technical area of the position.
• Experience in leading successful reform interventions and evidence of good working relations with relevant local, ward, and state-level governments and other key stakeholders.
• An ability to manage relationships and a sound understanding of institutional change in complex environments.
• An exceptional understanding of financial and technical delivery, program impact monitoring and evaluation, and reporting against results.
• Knowledgeable of the socio-economic context of the implementing state.
• Experience in liaising and building effective partnerships with government authorities and civil Society Organizations (required).
• A solid understanding of conflict sensitivity and gender and social inclusion as core principles and the ability to incorporate it throughout a project cycle, including experience applying political analysis tools and adjusting programming according to potential socio-economic dynamics (desired).

Skills

• Excellent communication and writing skills with the ability to analyze complex political and socio-economic problems and reporting on them.
• Collaborates effectively with local authorities, stakeholders, beneficiaries, and the broader community to advance country office or regional objectives.
• Excellent writing and communication skills.
• Establishing and maintaining effective relationships with implementing partners.
• Strong knowledge and cultural understanding of the State.

Languages

• Fluency in English is required (oral and written), and at least a working knowledge of the language of environment.