Democracy and Governance Advisor

About Us

International Business & Technical Consultants, Inc. (IBTCI), a U.S. based international development consulting company established in 1987, has worked in over 100 countries and implemented over 300 projects. IBTCI serves government agencies, private sector companies, and several donor agencies. IBTCI specializes in monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning (MERL) and institutional support across many areas and sectors including, but not limited to, conflict and crisis, democracy and governance, agriculture, economic growth, food security, education, environment, and global health.

Assignment Title: Democracy and Governance Advisor

Department/Location: USAID/Zimbabwe Democracy and Governance Office, Harare

Technical Point of Contact: Africa RISSA Project Manager

Type: Consultant / 100 days but multiple terms are possible

Classification: Consultancy

Category: Ongoing Project

Clearance Required: Secret (role will start once clearance is granted, if not already held)

Consultant must be a US citizen or Green Card holder living in the US for 3 years to obtain Secret Clearance

Overview:

Zimbabwe was once one of southern Africa’s most vibrant, productive, and resilient countries. However, over the past two decades, a series of political and economic crises have led to a general decline in the standard of living and a breakdown in public health, education, and infrastructure.

USAID/Zimbabwe’s Democracy and Governance (DG) Office provides technical leadership to deliver technical assistance in the democracy, rights, and governance (DRG) sector. The support includes the protection and promotion of democratic governance to prevent continued backsliding in political and economic conditions; protect and build capacity for civic participation; election monitoring and observation; implementation of the country’s 2013 constitution; promotion of accountability, inclusion of vulnerable or marginalized populations in democratic processes; and training and organizing of communities to improve social cohesion and address trauma caused by political violence. The DG Office also supports the development of Mission DRG strategies, implementation of Mission’s CDCS, and designs and manages program implementation and evaluation.

The Zimbabwe DG team seeks a DG Advisor to provide support for the Democracy and Governance team. As a critical member of the DG team, the advisor, under the guidance of the DG Office Director will provide advisory and technical support for the DG office, will work closely with development objective (DO) integration teams to implement Mission CDCS objectives, and with interagency colleagues to identify opportunities for USAID/Zimbabwe to support positive democratic processes. Support will also involve designing activities responding to identified opportunities; working with partners to effectively implement activities and monitor and report on the impact of those activities; and will perform other associated technical and advisory assistance for the Mission. The DG advisor will work closely with other technical offices during reviews of strategies, policy documents, and resource allocation issues.

Responsibilities

Essential Duties/Tasks and Responsibilities:

The DG Deputy/advisor’s responsibilities will be varied and dynamic to reflect changing circumstances facing USAID/Zimbabwe. The DG advisor is considered an expert in the DRG field and is expected to carry out work assignments using independent professional judgment to ensure the provision of effective technical leadership and managerial support. Specifically, the DG advisor will:

• Support the DG Office Director or acting DG Office Director in the absence of the Director.
• Support oversight of thematic assessments or program evaluations and operationalization of DRG Assessment and other context evaluations to inform current activity implementation, new designs, and/or new strategy development.
• Lead and/or contribute to design of new activities/programs.
• Participate in internal, interagency, and/or Washington discussions on the direction of DG portfolio and development policy for the Mission.
• Support coordination efforts with interagency, implementing partners, and international donors.
• Advise and support USAID and/or DG leadership in high-level interagency and Washington meetings.
• Provide soft mentorship for FSO and FSN staff.
• Take up Activity Manager duties for assigned DG portfolio activities, which may include accountability, parliamentary strengthening, elections & political processes, or social cohesion workstreams.
• Develop relationships with government partners, NGOs, academic institutions, and other stakeholders interested in the DG country portfolio.

The advisor will report to the DG Office Director when present. Results of work will be considered technically authoritative. The Supervisor sets the overall assignment objectives, program emphasis, and resources available. The advisor and the Supervisor, in consultation, develop the deadlines, projects, and work to be done. The position needs only administrative direction in order to complete broadly defined missions or functions. The advisor, having developed expertise in the technical field, performs planning and oversight functions and day-to-day work in concert with the Office Director, suggests priorities and approaches to be taken resolving most of the conflicts that arise, coordinates the work internally with others as necessary, and interprets policy in terms of established objectives. Completed work and deliverables are reviewed for conformance to overall requirements, compatibility with other work, and effectiveness in meeting objectives. The contractor has responsibility for independently planning, designing, and carrying out his/her work. Results of the work are considered technically authoritative and are normally accepted without significant change. If the work should be reviewed, the review concerns such matters as fulfillment of program objectives, effect of advice and influence on the overall program, or the contribution to the advancement of the program.

It is envisioned that the advisor will:

• Serve as advisor to the DG Deputy Office Director or acting DG Office Director and support essential functions in the absence of both.
• Manage thematic assessments or program evaluations and operationalization of DRG Assessment and other context evaluations to inform current activity implementation, new designs, and/or new strategy development.
• Lead and/or contribute to design of new activities/programs.
• Participate in internal, interagency, and/or Washington discussions on direction of DG portfolio and development policy for the Mission.
• Support coordination efforts with interagency, implementing partners, and international donors.
• Support USAID &/or DG in high-level interagency and Washington meetings.
• Support and advise one or more FSNs.
• Provide soft mentorship for FSO and FSN staff.
• Serve as Activity Manager for assigned DG portfolio activities, which may include accountability, parliamentary strengthening, elections & political processes, or social cohesion workstreams.
• Develop relationships with government partners, NGOs, academic institutions, and other stakeholders interested in the DG country portfolio.

NOTE: The consultant will not perform other inherently governmental functions or duties (e.g. will not serve as AOR/COR or supervise staff), but rather will advise, mentor, and facilitate as appropriate on the performance of inherently governmental functions on the part of the Office or Mission.

Key Deliverables:

By the end of the STTA the DRG Senior Advisor will deliver:

1. Complete two solicitations for 1) Local Governance and 2) Social Cohesion by May 2025. The STTA will also provide technical guidance to design teams to build capacity for future designs.
2. Provide technical advice and finalize the DG portfolio’s Theory of Change and Strategic approach to be used to improve the quality of results achieved under existing and future awards.
3. Mentor 6 current DG FSN and USDH staff in award management and compliance with agency rules and regulations on activity results’ reporting.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements:

• In-depth knowledge and understanding of development theory and programmatic best practice in one or a combination of the following fields: democracy and governance, anti-corruption, elections, civil society, local development, justice and rule of law, local governance, independent media, digital safeguarding, and public administration.
• The incumbent must demonstrate advanced knowledge in understanding the economic, social, cultural, and political characteristics of development and democratic governance.
• Expert knowledge in activity design, program management, monitoring and evaluation related to democracy and governance.
• Demonstrated knowledge in managerial and administrative areas, related to project teams and development activity management.
• Technical, analytical, and managerial abilities (project and staff) combined with excellent interpersonal, diplomatic, and leadership skills. This includes learning agility and the ability to effectively adapt to new or changing situations; problem-solving abilities; the ability to establish and maintain effective relations with international and host-country counterparts; sensitivity to others; and balanced judgment.
• Advanced capacity to work successfully in a fast-paced environment and capable of handling tasks with varying deadlines. Expert ability to conceptualize, both strategically and programmatically.
• Excellent English writing and editing skills, as well as ability to provide cohesive oral presentations (formal and ad hoc) around complex issues in an understandable manner; ability to draft quality and clear documents including briefing papers, project design documents, and reports.
• Demonstrated skills in coordinating and collaborating between teams, offices, and or units within a larger organization.
• Proficiency in the use of MS Office suite, Gmail, and Google suite.
• Language Proficiency: Fluency in English language is required.

Education: Master’s degree in social sciences, international development, political science, international relations, law, or other relevant fields involving democracy, human rights, and governance with seven years of professional experience in providing technical assistance, implementing, managing, analyzing and/or evaluating democracy and governance programs in developing countries is required or a bachelor’s degree with ten years of experience.

Working Environment: Work is to be performed in the office.

Physical Requirements: This is largely a sedentary position that requires the ability to speak, hear, see, and lift small objects up to 20 lbs.

Supervisory Responsibilities: This position does not have supervisory responsibilities.

Travel: Not required outside of Harare.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

About the Organization:

IBTCI has been in business since 1987. We specialize in Monitoring, Evaluation, Research & Learning (MERL), Institutional Support (IS), Financial & Risk Management (FRM), Supply Chain Management & Procurement (SCMP); Social & Behavior Change (SBC) and Capacity Building. We provide these services across many sectors including, but not limited to, agriculture, resilience & food security, conflict & crisis, democracy & governance, economic growth & trade, education & human capacity development, energy & infrastructure, environment & climate change, global health & WASH and humanitarian and disaster assistance. At IBTCI, our colleagues are encouraged to collaborate and be part of the solution while getting the tools and guidance needed to grow and support our clients’ missions.

IBTCI is committed to a policy of equal employment opportunity for all persons without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identification, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, disabled veteran or Vietnam-era veteran, or any other classification protected by applicable anti-discrimination laws. We prohibit and do not tolerate any form of discrimination or harassment. VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

If you are an applicant with a disability that requires a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process or are limited in the ability, or unable to use the online application system and need an alternative method for applying, you may contact the Talent Acquisition team at [email protected] (Do not send your resume to this account, for consideration please apply in our career page, https://careers.ibtci.com/jobs).