ATTACHMENT 1 72066320R00018
Base Period:11/01/2020 –10/31/2021
Option Years:11/01/2021 –10/31/2022
For USPSC:
Background
Over the past decade, Ethiopia has maintained one of the fastest rates of economic growth in the world, and its poverty rate has decreased from 44 percent in 2000 to 23.5 percent in 2016. The Government of Ethiopia (GOE) is a strong regional security partner in combating terrorist threats, contributing peacekeeping troops, and hosting the continent’s second largest refugee population. However, Ethiopia, one of the most populous landlocked countries in the world, with an estimated 102 million people, remains beset by severe challenges that threaten its development gains. Chronic malnutrition, extreme poverty, a restless, youth bulge, rapidly expanding urban centers, increasingly limited space for political expression and association, civil and political conflict and intensifying droughts all strain the GOE’s ability to provide for its citizens. Recently, the government appointed a new prime minister and several new ministers and is sending strong signals in response to citizen concerns for a more transparent and responsive system.
With an active portfolio worth approximately $2 billion and more than 100 on-going activities, USAID/Ethiopia implements one of the US Government’s (USG) largest and most complex development and humanitarian assistance programs. USAID/Ethiopia’s interventions work to save lives, build resilient systems, and maintain a focus on supporting Ethiopia’s long-term goal of a more self-reliant, prosperous and democratic society. Ethiopia’s FY 2017 budget is $892 million, including $584 million in humanitarian assistance, and contributes to five Presidential initiatives – Feed the Future, Power Africa, the Global Health Initiative, the President's Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief, and the Presidential Malaria Initiative. As a high profile country USAID supports the embassy with numerous official visitors, including delegations headed by the USAID Administrator and numerous members of Congress. USAID Ethiopia’s staff includes 217 positions: 43 U.S. Direct Hires (USDH), 24 U.S. Personal Service Contractors (USPSC), 2 Third Country National PSCs and 148 Foreign Service Nationals (FSN). The Mission also provides comprehensive regional support to USAID’s office in Djibouti, which has a program portfolio worth $33 million and 2 USDH, 1 USPSC, and 12 FSN staff members.
USAID/Ethiopia is a pilot Country Development and Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) country for the Agency with the intent of providing lessons learned on how to develop a strategy that places a country on a path toward self-reliance. The approved CDCS identifies a goal whereby Ethiopia will become more prosperous, inclusive and self-reliant, with empowered citizens driving effective and accountable governance, poverty reduction, and improved crises management. This would be targeted by achieving development objectives that seek to: (1) reduce risk and impact of disasters; (2) increase resilience of vulnerable populations to key shocks; (3) improve broad-based, inclusive economic growth; (4) advance health and education outcomes through effective and gender equitable systems, and a Special Objective that advances citizen-centered governance
ORGANIZATIONAL LOCATION OF POSITION:
Based in USAID/Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, the Program Officer (PO) serves in the Program Office for USAID/Ethiopia, and reports to the Supervisory Program Officer and would join a team of 13, including 3 USDHs and 10 FSNs. The USAID/Ethiopia Program Office executes all strategic development processes, budget planning, project and activity design, establishes useful and practical Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) processes and robustly links MEL with Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) and Knowledge Management (KM). The Program Office also conducts public outreach and engagement, supports donor coordination and helps the Mission build strong partnerships with GOE counterparts and the private sector. The Program Office is highly integrated across the Mission’s portfolio in advancing the agency’s program cycle and providing counsel through regular, on-going backstop support to technical offices. It also provides guidance to Mission staff on promoting and strengthening cross-office collaboration to execute an integrated County Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS), supports best practices, innovation and creative thinking, and is a hub of thought-leadership. The Program Office also translates policy and provides guidance on the application of agency guidelines and regulations.
This high-level professional position requires advanced, hands-on, state-of-the-art knowledge, strong interpersonal relationship and managerial skills, and sound judgment. The PO exercises a high degree of personal initiative, and must set and meet deadlines in a complex organizational structure. The PO advises the Supervisory Program Officer on strategic and management issues, supports the formulation and execution of Mission policy, and supports technical offices in the planning and implementation of development programming. The PO cultivates and maintains strong relationships and partnerships with officials in the GOE, especially with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Cooperation (MOFEC), international donors, and key Washington and Embassy interagency stakeholders.
The PO must be flexible and be able to work on any of the core Program Office work streams. This includes strategic development and implementation, budget planning, project planning and execution, activity design, performance management planning, communications and public outreach, donor coordination, and/or other duties as assigned by the Supervisory Program Officer.
The PO must be a self-starter and demonstrate the ability to exercise significant, independent and professional judgment, and anticipate and address both systemic and ad hoc challenges related to any of the components of the program cycle. The position requires an entrepreneurial, results-oriented approach to delivering development assistance; a customer service-oriented approach to serving broad Mission needs; and the ability to diplomatically and tactfully resolve conflict, while maintaining strong and collaborative relationships. The Mission seeks a candidate who will be responsive to client needs, has the ability to work calmly and effectively under pressure, and is a team player.
Specific responsibilities may include:
The PO reports directly to the Supervisory Program Officer. The PO must show strong, independent initiative, and be able to work with minimal supervision.
Note: No- in-person appointments or telephone calls will be entertained, unless you are required to have more information about this solicitation.
Applications will be initially screened by the Human Resources Office to determine whether they have met the minimum qualifications listed below. A list of qualified applicants will be referred to the hiring office for further consideration and screening.
EDUCATION: A minimum of a master’s degree in international development, management, economics, business, or a related field is required. Training in the areas of leadership, program management, project design, MEL, risk management and/or USAID policies and procedures is a plus. Additional evaluation points will be given to offerors who exceed the minimum requirement.
WORK EXPERIENCE: A minimum of at least 7 years of progressively responsible experience in areas such as strategy development, budgeting, project planning and execution, monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL), communications, public engagement, or managing international development programs or activities.
The Government may award a contract without discussions with offerors in accordance with FAR 52.215-1. The CO reserves the right at any point in the evaluation process to establish a competitive range of offerors with whom negotiations will be conducted pursuant to FAR 15.306(c). In accordance with FAR 52.215-1, if the CO determines that the number of offers that would otherwise be in the competitive range exceeds the number at which an efficient competition can be conducted, the CO may limit the number of offerors in the competitive range to the greatest number that will permit an efficient competition among the most highly rated offers. The FAR provisions referenced above are available at https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far.
The TEC may conduct interviews with all offerors in the competitive range and provide the final rating and ranking of the offerors based on the interview. The CO will also consider findings from the reference checks as part of the responsibility determination.
EDUCATION (20 points): A minimum of a Master’s Degree in international development, management, economics, business, or a related field is required. Training in the areas of leadership, program management, project design, MEL, risk management and/or USAID policies and procedures is a plus.
EXPERIENCE (50 points): A minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience in strategy development, budgeting, project planning and execution, MEL, communications, public engagement, and/or managing international development programs or activities. Familiarity with USAID Agency and Program Office processes and procedures, and mastery of development programming concepts. KNOWLEDGE: The candidate must possess a mastery of program budget planning and oversight. Advanced understanding of the Program Cycle as elaborated in USAID Automated Directive System (ADS) 201 -- including a sophisticated understanding of Collaborating, Learning and Adapting (CLA) and the Program Cycle -- is strongly preferred.
Demonstrated ability to work independently within agreed-upon parameters with minimal supervision or guidance, while exercising sound judgment. Advanced facilitation, coordination interpersonal, consensus building and problem-solving skills. Ability to work in a cross-cultural context and within team settings and maintain a customer service-orientation.
COMMUNICATION EXERCISE (30 points): Demonstrated ability to write and speak effectively, problem-solve, facilitate discussions, build consensus, and resolve conflict. Strong communications skills are critical to the position. The candidate must demonstrate the ability to communicate diplomatically, clearly, and concisely, both orally and in writing, including the ability to draft high-quality technical reports, presentations and briefings. The candidate must also demonstrate the ability to produce professional-quality analyses, and to deliver authoritative, persuasive oral presentations to senior USG officials from multiple agencies, other donors, and the GOE.
For your application to be considered, the following documents must be submitted:
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.
As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a PSC is normally authorized the following benefits and allowances:
BENEFITS:
Section numbers refer to rules from the Department of State Standardized Regulations (Government Civilians Foreign Areas)
USPSCs are required to pay federal income taxes, FICA, Medicare, and applicable state income taxes.
USAID regulations and policies governing USPSC awards are available at these sources:
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.