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1. SOLICITATION NO.: 72066318R00011
2. ISSUANCE DATE: April 10, 2018
3. CLOSING DATE/TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: May 06, 2018 before and/or on 5:00 PM (Ethiopian local time)
4. POSITION TITLE: Food Security Coordinator
5. MARKET VALUE: $75,628 - $98,317 equivalent to GS-13. The final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value based on the successful candidate's salary history, work experience, and educational background. Salaries over and above the top of the pay range will not be entertained or negotiated.
6. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Two years, with three year option to extend. Extensions will be contingent on satisfactory performance, continued need for the services and availability of funds. No PSC contract may exceed a five year period of performance
7. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: USAID/Ethiopia, Addis Ababa
8. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS: United States Citizens and United States Permanent Residents.
9. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: The selected candidate must be able to obtain both the appropriate security and medical clearances within a reasonable period of time. In addition, the requirements of the position will likely require the candidate to obtain a USG Secret clearance. If such clearances are not obtained within a reasonable time or negative suitability issues are involved, any offer made may be rescinded.
10. STATEMENT OF DUTIES
1. General Statement of Purpose of the Contract
A. Background of the Project
As a member of USAID/Ethiopia's Assets and Livelihoods Transition Office (ALT), the incumbent will serve as the Food Security Coordinator (FSC) to the Mission. The FSC will coordinate USAID programs supporting the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (GFDRE)'s programs in food security and ensure that USAID activities support the Mission's strategic development objectives and the overall Mission strategy, the Global Food Security Strategy, the Feed the Future Initiative, and USAID objectives in Ethiopia to build the resilience of vulnerable populations. The FSC will be the primary point of contact for food security matters on the ALT team, serve as the Food Security Team Leader, and will represent USAID/Ethiopia in broader donor and government fora covering food security issues, with a particular focus on, but not limited to, the Productive Safety Net Program (PNSP).
Safety Net and Food Security Programming in Ethiopia
The objective of the Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP4) is: Resilience to shocks and livelihoods enhanced and food security and nutrition improved for rural households vulnerable to food insecurity. Originally, the PSNP was not designed to graduate households on its own. In addition to a safety net that smooths consumption and prevents backsliding, other measures are also needed to help people build their assets and escape from poverty. Previously, these other measures were provided through the Government's Household Asset Building program (HABP). With strong USAID advocacy to improve coordination and link livelihoods support more directly to PSNP beneficiaries, this livelihoods support work is now supported under the Livelihoods Component of PSNP4 which includes three livelihoods pathways: on-farm, off-farm and employment. USAID livelihoods investments are aligned with these efforts. In 2017 PSNP4 underwent a reform under the Rural Productive Safety Net Program that addressed gaps in financing for PSNP4 and set out an agenda to improve and achieve a more predictable safety net system seeking to better integrate PSNP and humanitarian assistance programing under a common operational framework to better manage the selection, administration, and payments to beneficiaries.
B. Organizational Location of Position:
The position title is the Food Security Coordinator (FSC). The FSC will be a part of the USAID/Ethiopia's ALT team and will work with all appropriate Mission development objectives (DO) teams to better serve vulnerable food insecure populations with food security and resilience oriented strategies and programming. The FSC will contribute to related crosscutting activities such as nutrition, gender, and youth. Within ALT, across USAID, and in conjunction with USAID implementing partners and other partners such as other donors and the Government of Ethiopia, the FSC will support ALT's agenda for Collaboration, Learning and Adapting. The FSC will directly support senior Mission management as well as relevant offices in the Embassy in formulating and articulating appropriate food security strategy policy and activities to address vulnerability among the chronically food insecure, including the coordination of USAID's support to the PSNP and support for an improved continuum of response across safety net and humanitarian beneficiaries.
The FSC will contribute to the Mission's work under the U.S. Global Food Security Strategy for Ethiopia; including Feed the Future and Food for Peace Title II supported programming targeted at chronically food insecure populations. The FSC will have an important role in supporting the operationalization of the PSNP4 livelihoods component of PSNP4 supported by USAID and other donors in collaboration with the Food Security Coordination Directorate at the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
2. Statement of Duties to be Performed
Specific responsibilities will include but are not limited to the following:
Technical Expertise (30%)
1. Stay abreast of current GFDRE and donor thinking with regard to chronic and transitory food insecurity and social protection in Ethiopia, including overall policy, strategy and programs.
Coordination and Representation (50%)
6. Serve as the primary technical USAID representative to the PSNP Donor Working Group and fully participate and represent USAID in technical working groups and other coordination meetings. During the U.S. Chair of the Donor Working Group, undertake chairing and leadership responsibilities, as needed. The FSC will keep the ALT Office Chief and Deputy Chief apprised of all developments within the donor community and GFDRE.
Administrative Management and Supervision (20%)
11. The FSC is responsible for supervising the Food Security Team of three senior Foreign Service Nationals (FSN) and oversees all related administrative processes for the members of FS Team. This includes day to day management of the staff and completion of annual performance reviews, reviews of position descriptions, professional development plans and leave requests. The incumbent will also advise, consult, and notify ALT Office management on personnel matters relevant to the team that require action.
The FSC will report to the Deputy Chief of the ALT Office at USAID/Ethiopia. As required, s/he will provide in-depth briefings on food security issues including the PSNP, aspects of Feed the Future and resilience programming for the Mission Director and Ambassador, as well as Mission staff. S/he may receive guidance from senior Mission management as the situation warrants. The FSC will be expected to show strong independent initiative and work with minimal supervision.
4. Supervision Exercised
The FSC will directly manage a team of at least three FSNs.
11. AREA OF CONSIDERATION: United States Citizens, and United States Permanent Residents.
For USPSC:
• Be a U.S. citizen or U.S. Permanent Resident ("green card holder");
• Submit a complete application as outlined in the solicitation section titled APPLYING;
• Be able to obtain facility access authorization;
• Be able to obtain a Department of State medical clearance;
• Be willing to travel to work sites and other offices as/when requested;
• Employment is subject to funds availability and all the required approvals obtained.
12. PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The work requested does not involve undue physical demands.
13. POINT OF CONTACT: Shelby Hunt, S/EXO, and/or Fekadu Tamirate, HR Specialist, email at [email protected].
Note: No in-person appointments or telephone calls will be entertained, unless you are required to have more information about this solicitation.
II. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION
This position requires a combination of high-level technical, analytical, communication and managerial skills combined with senior-level public diplomacy skills. The following specific qualifications are necessary:
EDUCATION: REQUIRED: A master's degree in international development assistance, public administration, business administration, agriculture, social protection, food security and nutrition or another related field is required. A master's degree can be substituted with an additional three years of relevant development experience.
WORK EXPERIENCE: REQUIRED: A minimum of seven years related development experience including social protection, rural development, agricultural development, food aid assistance, poverty reduction or other resilience related development activities is required. Experience in the support of donor-government relations will be given extra weight, as will experience working with USAID. Experience designing and implementing safety net food security, poverty reduction, livelihoods diversification, or resilience related programming is a considered a plus.
LANGUAGE: Fluent English speaking, reading and writing are required. Amharic language skill at the conversational level is considered an advantage.
III. EVALUATION AND SELECTION FACTORS
1. SELECTION PROCESS AND INSTRUCTIONS
After the closing date for receipt of applications, a committee will convene to review applications that meet the minimum requirements and evaluate them in accordance with the evaluation criteria. Applications from candidates who do not meet the minimum requirements will not be scored. As part of the selection process, finalist candidates will be interviewed. Reference checks will be made only for applicants considered as finalists. The applicant's references must be able to provide substantive information about his/her past performance and abilities. If an applicant does not wish USAID to contact a current employer for a reference check, this should be stated in the applicant's cover letter; USAID will delay such reference checks pending the applicant's concurrence.
Those applicants who meet the minimum education and experience qualifications will be evaluated based on the content of their application as well as on the applicant's writing, presentation, and communication skills. To be considered for this position, applicants are required to address each of the Selection Criteria on a separate sheet, describing specifically and accurately what experience, training, education, and/or awards or recognition they have received relevant to each criteria described below, citing specific, illustrative examples to address each factor. Responses are limited to 1,000 words per factor, Times New Roman font, 12-font size, and 1" margins. Be sure to include your name and the solicitation number at the top of each additional page.
2. EVALUATION FACTORS
Selection will be based on the following criteria (Maximum of 100 Points Available):
FACTOR #1: TECHNICAL EXPERTISE (20 points)
FACTOR #2: PROGRAM COORDINATION (20 points)
The Evaluation Factors listed will be the basis for evaluating and ranking applicants for the position. Applicants will be scored based on the documentation submitted within the application. Only the highest-ranked applicants will be interviewed.
3. BASIS OF RATING
Applicants who clearly meet the Education/Experience requirements and basic eligibility requirements will be further evaluated based on scoring of their Evaluation Factor responses. Those applicants determined to be competitively ranked will also be evaluated on their interview performance and satisfactory professional reference checks. The Applicant Rating System is as follows:
Evaluation Factors: 60 points
Factor #1 20 points
Factor #2 20 points
Factor #3 20 points
Interview Performance: 40 points
Satisfactory Professional Reference Checks - Pass/Fail (no points assigned)
Total Possible Points: 100
IV. APPLYING
All applicants must complete the attached Application for Employment (AID 302-3) and submit a cover letter outlining their relevant qualification and experience for the position.
For your application to be considered, the following documents must be submitted:-
1. Letter of application/cover letter.
2. Eligible offerors are required to complete and submit the offer form AID 302-3, "Offeror Information for Personal Services Contracts," available at http://www.usaid.gov/forms.
3. Current resume/CV.
4. Written statements of the four factors (Section II.2. Evaluation Factors).
5. Offers must be received by the closing date and time specified in Section I, item 3,
and submitted to the Point of Contact in Section I, item 12.
6. To ensure consideration of offers for the intended position, Offerors must prominently reference the Solicitation number in the offer submission.
7. Application must be submitted ONLY via [email protected] and the email subject must say -: 72066318R00011 Food Security Coordinator.
8. Please submit the application only once; and
9. Late and incomplete applications will not be considered; the application must be submitted before or on the closing date at local Ethiopian time 5:00 p.m. (Local Ethiopia Time)
V. 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.
1. Medical History and Examination Form (Department of State Forms)
2. Questionnaire for Sensitive Positions for National Security (SF-86), or
3. Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions (SF-85)
4. Finger Print Card (FD-258)
VI. BENEFITS/ALLOWANCES
As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a PSC is normally authorized the following benefits and allowances:
1. BENEFITS:
(a) Employer's FICA Contribution
(b) Contribution toward Health & Life Insurance
(c) Pay Comparability Adjustment
(d) Annual Increase (pending a satisfactory performance evaluation)
(e) Eligibility for Worker's Compensation
(f) Annual and Sick Leave
2. ALLOWANCES (if applicable)*:
Section numbers refer to rules from the Department of State Standardized Regulations (Government Civilians Foreign Areas)
(a) Temporary Quarter Subsistence Allowance (Section 120)
(b) Living Quarters Allowance (Section 130)
(c) Cost-of-Living Allowance (Chapter 210)
(d) Post Allowance (Section 220)
(e) Separate Maintenance Allowance (Section 260)
(f) Education Allowance (Section 270)
(g) Education Travel (Section 280)
(h) Post Differential (Chapter 500)
(i) Payments during Evacuation/Authorized Departure (Section 600), and
(j) Danger Pay Allowance (Section 650)
* Standardized Regulations (Government Civilians Foreign Areas).
*Eligibilities for allowances are in accordance with Standardized Regulations (Government Civilians Foreign Areas) based on the type of appointment and Mission Policy.
VII. TAXES
USPSCs are required to pay Federal income taxes, FICA, Medicare and applicable State Income taxes.
VIII. USAID REGULATIONS, POLICIES AND CONTRACT CLAUSES PERTAINING TO PSCs
USAID regulations and policies governing USPSC awards are available at these sources:
1. USAID Acquisition Regulation (AIDAR), Appendix D, "Direct USAID Contracts with a U.S. Citizen or a U.S. Resident Alien 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
3. Acquisition and Assistance Policy Directives/Contract Information Bulletins (AAPDs/CIBs) for Personal Services Contracts with Individuals available at: http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs.
END OF SOLICITATION
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY: The U.S. Mission in Ethiopia provides equal opportunity and fair and equitable treatment in employment to all people without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation, marital status, or sexual orientation. USAID/Ethiopia also strives to achieve equal employment opportunity in all personnel operations through continuing diversity enhancement programs.
The EEO complaint procedure is not available to individuals who believe they have been denied equal opportunity based upon marital status or political affiliation. Individuals with such complaints should avail themselves of the appropriate grievance procedures, remedies for prohibited personnel practices, and/or courts for relief.