DRC: Project Management Specialist (Climate Change)

Jan 29, 2018 | USAID
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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 information.

Sincerely,

Patrick Kollars

Contracting Officer

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. SOLICITATION NO.: AID-18-02

2. ISSUANCE DATE: January 22, 2018

3. CLOSING DATE/TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: February 12, 2018 at 17.00 Kinshasa time

4. POSITION TITLE: Project Management Specialist ( Climate Change)

5. MARKET VALUE: FSN-11

In accordance with AIDAR Appendix J and the Local Compensation Plan of

[USAID/Democratic Republic of the Congo]

Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value.

6. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: 5 years renewable depending on funds availability

7. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo

8. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Work authorization/certification of employment

9. STATEMENT OF DUTIES

A. Basic functions of the position

The incumbent is a Senior Foreign Service National (FSN) and the Mission’s in-house Climate Change expert who serves as a technical specialist within USAID/Central Africa Regional Program for Environment (CARPE) Office. In this capacity, the incumbent manages projects and activities in support of CARPE in the DRC, Republic of the Congo and other regional countries as appropriate. The incumbent is responsible for the overall direction of all climate change activities aimed at addressing climate change impacts related to land and water management practices. The incumbent provides a full range of expert climate change advice and analytical and technical support to the CARPE Office; supports program priorities that strengthen local resiliency to climate change and forest protection; and liaises with other Mission programs to identify synergies in programs. S/he develops internal Mission documentation supporting project planning and implementation, such as Action Memoranda, Operational Plan, Performance Reports, and others. S/he also monitors, manages, and ensures that deliverables are received from project contractors. The Specialist reports to the CARPE Office Director.

B. MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Provides advisory services on Climate Change, (40%)

  1. Provide strategic, technical and organizational leadership and input on the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of climate change program activities. Serve as a key advisor in managing and implementing mission climate change interventions, working closely with host country officials and project consultants.
  2. Play a lead role in engaging with corporations and philanthropic organizations to build public/private alliances to leverage private funding for climate change activities in the DRC and central Africa.
  3. Produce briefing papers, and semi-annual and annual reports on program status, accomplishments, and implementation issues. Oversee monitoring and evaluation of programs related to forestry and climate change.
  4. Ensure effective coordination and integration with other USAID-funded activities, especially those working in the same geographic areas and in the environment sector.

Serves as Agreements/Contracting Officer Technical Representative (AOR/COR) and/or Activity Manager for assigned contracts, cooperative agreements, and/or grants, (40%)

  1. As AOR/COR, the incumbent fulfills a full range of project management responsibilities related to procurement, supervision, performance monitoring, and reporting and provides technical guidance to the implementing partners in accordance with the terms of the contract/agreement. Specifically s/he:
  2. Provides expert technical advice and direction to contractors’ staff; keep the Team, Mission management, and the Agreements/Contracting Officer informed on progress of work;
  3. Ensures that activities achieve their intended results. Monitors technical and financial adequacy and acceptability of delivered goods and services under approved activities through field inspections, reviewing contractor reports, and meetings with project personnel and contractor representatives;
  4. Provides technical assistance to the Agreements/Contracting Officer in responding to the proposed changes in the Scope/s of Work for assigned activities, the validity of claims and the reasonableness of contract/agreement time extensions: provides appropriate technical assistance to the Acquisition & Assistance staff in issuance and negotiations of change orders in accordance with the USG regulations and procedures;
  5. Receives and inspects completed services upon delivery, verifies that they meet the acceptance standards and delivery schedules, as specified in the contract;
  6. Reviews implementing partners’ work plans and financial and technical reports, evaluates the implementing partners’ performance, and prepares written and oral reports for Mission management, USAID/Washington, and the U.S. Congress;
  7. Submits status, analytical, and other reports, concept papers, and memoranda to the Mission management regarding progress and performance, problems and corrective actions, and general oversight. Reports shall be of sufficient scope so as to be useful to USAID/DRC/CARPE in fully monitoring the progress of contract/grant administration and reviewing contractor performance. Where deficiencies are noted, recommends corrective action.

Performs other responsibilities including but not limited to: drafting project implementation letters, preparing action memoranda and reports, estimating expenditures, reviewing payment vouchers, responding to audits, assessing claims, and performing other related activities.

Act as primary Climate Change expert with USAID leadership and other partners, (20%)

  • Participate in Development Partners Group meetings for Environment, Climate Change and Agriculture, as appropriate.
  • Maintain collaborative, professional relationships with mid- and senior-level Government officials, major financial donors, corporate philanthropic foundations, international organizations, and leading education research institutions to ensure effective coordination of USAID activities related to Climate Change and forestry.
  • Brief USAID leadership on project implementation, overall status of Climate Change in the CARPE portfolio, and related development activities.
  • Assist programming and negotiating with GOT on project design, implementation and evaluation, ensuring that government officials are apprised of program progress as needed.
  • Attend national, regional, and global events related to Climate Change as requested.

10. AREA OF CONSIDERATION: All interested candidates

11. PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The work requested does not involve undue physical demands.

12. POINT OF CONTACT: usaidhrkinshasa@usaid.gov

II. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

a. Education:

Minimum of Bachelor’s Degree in Climate Change, environmental impact assessment, economics, Forestry, or closely related field.

b. Prior Work Experience:

Minimum of five years of progressively responsible professional-level experience in an area (s) related to strategy and policy development, program design and management, especially in environmental compliance, forestry, climate change related field and natural resource management, which includes supervisory and coordination experiences.

c. Language:

Level IV (Fluent) English and French fluency are required.

III. EVALUATION AND SELECTION FACTORS

  • Education and training in relevant field(s) (20 points);
  • Relevant experience in climate change related field and natural resource management, forestry, environmental compliance with a strong emphasis on Africa and especially central Africa (35 points);
  • International technical assistance experience including knowledge of donor programs, in general, and USAID and US government programs, in particular (20 points);
  • Interpersonal, negotiation, communication (including fluency in English and French language), organizational, managerial and computer skills (25 points) **