BACKGROUND
The USAID Africa Trade and Investment (ATI) activity is a five-year, flexible buy-in mechanism jointly managed by the USAID Africa Bureau, Middle East Bureau, and Africa Regional Missions. It was designed to mobilize enterprise-driven solutions that increase trade and investment in Africa, including North and Sub-Saharan Africa. It strengthens Africa’s markets by developing new trade and investment relationships, particularly between the United States and African continent. It also works to achieve development outcomes across all sectors.
Driven by market demand, ATI embraces innovative approaches to achieve its goals. ATI is designed as a small, core set of centrally coordinated technical and institutional support activities, and a large, flexible performance-based subcontracting and grants under contract facility designed to support the needs and opportunities that USAID Missions and the private sector identify.
In support of Prosper Africa’s goals, USAID funding through the Africa Trade and Investment program, is implementing a $20 million Liberia Agribusiness Incubator and Development Activity from March 2023 to June 2026. This activity will strengthen the commercial agricultural sector by incubating new ideas from promising entrepreneurs, increasing access to finance, fostering an improved network of business service providers, strengthening agricultural value chains, creating jobs, and improving the overall business-enabling environment in Liberia.
The activity is also working with at least three existing incubators that will support and provide Business Development Services (BDS) to targeted local agribusiness, women, and youth-led business with ideas to strengthen the commercialization and performance of the Agricultural sector in Liberia.
POSITION DESCRIPTION
The Activity & MEL Associate will provide technical support to activity’s monitoring, evaluation, and learning activities, ensuring that the activity is implemented effectively and efficiently. S/he will work closely with the Liberia Country Team, USAID, ATI and other stakeholders to design and implement MEL systems, collect and analyze data, and provide insights to inform activity decision-making. . Responsibilities also include supporting the activity manager and country team to implement buy-in activities, working with the technical and /operational teams to identify and mobilize resources in support of implementation, and supporting activity’s clients. The Activity and MEL Associate will support generating buy-in activity scopes of work, supporting the design of procurements and grants programs, tracking budgets, coordinating travel and other administrative support tasks as needed across ATI’s portfolio.
KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Activity Implementation
- Manage and track buy-in activity implementation progress by partners, i.e grantees, sub-contractors, consultants, and ATI team members, ensuring adherence to approved work plans and deliverable schedules, seeking guidance, and providing solutions to deviations
- Support the development of technical deliverables and contribute to the development of communication outputs in liaison with ATI communication team for onward sharing and subsequent learning.
- Support on all matters related to the buy-in, including but not limited to contractual, operational, MEL, reporting, and financial matters.
- Support the development of calls for applications/proposals and all related solicitation documentation; work with the Technical team to integrate technical guidance and requirements.
- Under supervision of the Activity Manager and relevant grants and procurement personnel, provide procedures and policy guidance and interpretation for program staff as well as grantees and subcontractors to ensure adherence to the Activity policies.
- Assist the grants and procurement teams in chairing technical evaluation committees and recording committee member evaluations and feedback.
- Assist the grants and procurement teams in carrying out pre-award responsibility determination of prospective grantees.
- Provide background information to the grants and procurement teams in preparation of negotiation memos for submission to USAID, supporting the development of first drafts.
- Provide assistance to grantees and subcontractors in several areas i.e. submitting proposals, prepare grant/subcontract modifications, maintain compliance with USAID regulations, reporting, and other areas in which partners may require support.
- Ensure assigned buy-in activities are managed in accordance with USAID regulations and DAI Procurement policies.
Collaboration, Learning, and Adapting
- Develop and implement monitoring and evaluation plans for activities.
- Liaise with implementing parties to ensure proper MEL data capture and data quality to contribute to overall ATI project MEL reporting;
- Collect and analyze data to track activity progress and impact
- Identify and mitigate risks, and develop corrective actions as needed.
Stakeholder Engagement
- Collaborate with USAID, government stakeholders, private companies, NGOs, and other development stakeholders to ensure activity alignment and buy-in
- Build and maintain relationships with clients and subcontractors and serve as a POC for data quality and indicators reporting.
Administrative Support
- As needed, support the project’s procurement and operational staff in administrative and operational needs.
- Coordinate, schedule and participate in field activities with staff and consultants.
- Carry out any other tasks as requested by the Activity Manager.
REPORTING
The Activity & MEL Associate will report to the Activity Manager or designee.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required:
- Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, agribusiness, economics or related field required.
- 7+ years of working in program related activities i.e., MEL, activity management and implementation, financial reporting based on program activities, and/or wider finance experience, with a minimum of 3 years’ experience on a USAID funded project
- Strong office management and communications skills.
- Familiarity with USAID rules and regulations regarding project management, including project inventory, disposition, and operational procurement.
- Ability to identify time sensitive demands & inquiries and respond effectively.
- Ability to respond effectively to the most sensitive inquiries or complaints.
- Demonstrated knowledge of internal controls and audit processes (e.g. procurement, local subcontract agreements, etc.).
- Demonstrated report writing skills in English is required.
- An articulate individual who possesses excellent communications and personnel management skills and who can relate to people at all levels of an organization.
- An energetic, forward-thinking, and creative individual with high ethical standards and appropriate professional image.
- An extremely well organized and self-directed individual with sound technical skills, analytical ability, good judgment, and strong operational focus.
- Previous experience with DAI policies, procedures, and systems (TAMIS, etc.) preferred.ABOUT DAIDAI is a global development company with corporate offices in the United States, the United Kingdom, EU, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Palestine and project operations worldwide. We tackle fundamental social and economic development problems caused by inefficient markets, ineffective governance, and instability. DAI works on the frontlines of global development. Transforming ideas into action—action into impact. We are committed to shaping a more livable world.DAI and its employees are committed to confronting racism and holding ourselves accountable for positive change within the company and in the communities, cultures, and countries in which we live and work. DAI is committed to attracting and retaining the best employees from all races and backgrounds in our continued effort to become a better development partner.DAI upholds the highest ethical standards. We are committed to the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment as well as other ethical breaches. All our positions are therefore subject to stringent vetting and reference checks.
How to apply
APPLICATION LINK: https://fs25.formsite.com/DupOTo/emapfvtw3n/index
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
- Select the position in which you are interested in applying, fill out the required information, and upload your CV. Please indicate what location you are applying for. Applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible as interviews will be conducted soon. Please note, due to the volume of applications that we receive and the urgency to fill up positions, only shortlisted applicants will receive notification on the next steps.
