1. Project and Program management (40%) 

Serves as an extended member of activity designs, advising Power Africa staff and senior leadership on how to best incorporate partnership financing into new designs, ensuring that blended finance PSE opportunities are maximized. Liaises with the Program Office, Energy Office and Communications team to ensure successful program management of PAPO mechanisms with Implementing Partners (IPs). Serves as COR/AOR (and/or alternate) for Partnership-related activities. As COR/AOR of projects related to climate finance, development partners and private sector engagement, complies with all functions and duties as established in the COR/AOR letter, including the following functions: 

a. Monitors primary contractor/grantee’s progress in achieving the objectives of the program descriptions. 

b. Reviews reports, work plans, budgets, expenditures, and sub-contract/grant proposals. 

c. Provides implementation guidance. Verifies that program activities conform to terms and conditions of the award. Monitors activities following the implementation stage. 

d. Makes written recommendations to the Contracts/Agreements Officer when changes to the program descriptions, technical provisions, and/or any other terms or conditions of the contracts/awards are necessary, along with a justification for the proposed action. 

e. Requests new modifications to existing contracts/grants through GLAAS. Meets with clearance officials to resolve any problems that arise with requisitions. 

f. Responsible for any USAID substantial involvement specifically delegated to the COR/AOR in the schedule of the award such as approval of key personnel, development of indicators and program targets. 

g. Administers financial management responsibilities as outlined in the COR/AOR Designation Letter. 

h. Analyzes project expenditures and oversees the preparation of quarterly accruals and other financial or budget data. Reviews and monitors budgets for work plans. Receives and analyzes financial quarterly reports from the awardees. Contact partners directly to clarify any questionable items. 

i. Maintains current information on how much has been obligated, how much expended, the pipeline and how much remains for each contract/grant or project activity. Provides information to leadership, as requested. 

j. Provides support to designated CORs/AORs as Activity Manager to monitor and oversee the implementation of approved work plans and verify invoices. 

k. Attends and participates in meetings, seminars, and evaluations of program activities. Meetings may be with the national, regional and local government authorities, leaders of the private sector, other international donors, public international organizations, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Follows up to ensure that assigned actions are carried out in the agreed upon timeline. 

l. Receives and reviews periodic reports to ensure that benchmarks and goals are being met. 

m. Provides guidance on USAID policies and procedures and answers questions of implementing partners. 

n. Travels to activity sites to observe progress, identify and/or solve problems and take action to ensure that assigned actions are, in fact, successfully completed in accordance with USAID regulations 

The job holder is required to perform work-related travel. Responds flexibly to other work-related requirements such as supporting VIP visits

1. Knowledge Management (KM) and Organizational Learning (30%

Gather information, identifies and analyzes issues, and develops recommendations to resolve substantive issues facing private sector companies investing in electricity or the sector in sub-Saharan Africa. The Project Management Specialist must stay abreast of incentives to invest in sub-Saharan Africa and concerns about investing in sub-Saharan Africa, as well as the thinking and incentives of various pertinent government parties. 

Applies this knowledge in the development of new Power Africa plans, strategies, schedules, or methods to accommodate changing program requirements in the financing of clean energy and infrastructure. The strategies and plans must address annual and long-term goals for engaging, negotiating, and finalizing formal partnerships with potential partners. Identifies objectives based on an analysis of interrelated issues of effectiveness, efficiency, and productivity of substantive Operating Unit (OU)-oriented programs, such as those implemented at a regional or comparable level. Determines approach to achieve objectives, identifies specific steps, and decides on meetings, information, and other input to advance Power Africa, Partnerships Office (PAPO) priorities.

Champions KM and preserves information about meetings in form readily accessible to other staff in Power Africa including meeting notes, trip reports, Salesforce, and PATT. 

Becomes proficient in PATT and obtains necessary information for PA Coordinator, PAPO Pretoria-based Deputy Director, the Climate Finance Advisor, and OUs to prepare them for meetings and to draft and/or contribute to briefers. 

1. Presentation and networking (30%)

Develops and strengthens relationships necessary to Power Africa and the PAPO. Meets with USG and external stakeholders, including government officials, financial institutions, and developers, independently and with other Interagency and Power Africa staff, to both learn their needs and interests and to connect them with one another. Prepares briefing materials for meetings, captures notes, and enters information into PATT. These meetings may be with individuals or at workshops and conferences.

a. Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively as part of a multicultural team.

b. Ability to work independently and perform at a high level with minimal supervision.

c. Ability to communicate information in an objective, transparent, accurate, and concise form orally and written.

d. Ability to present information, analyses, and recommendations in clear written and oral formats.

e. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of internal and external points of contact.

f. Ability to work effectively in a team environment and coordinate well with others.

g. Excellent analytical, technical and project management skills to draft, review and provide substantive feedback on concept papers, proposals, performance reports, and other technical and programmatic documents.

b. Scaling Up Financing for Clean Energy, Sustainable Landscapes, and Climate Adaptation.

c. Private Sector Engagement and Partnerships.

Interview Performance – 100 points 

●  After the closing date for receipt of applications, applications will be reviewed for submission requirements and the established minimum requirements for the position. Applications that meet the minimum requirements will be forwarded to a Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC).

●       The TEC will review each of the forwarded applications against the established evaluation criteria to develop a shortlist of applicants to be tested and possibly interviewed. 

●       Shortlisted applicants may be further evaluated. Assessments to include English writing, computer and other technical skills may be administered to determine competitively ranked applicants for possible interviews. Competitively ranked applicants will be interviewed. Reference checks will be made only for the interviewed applicants.

●    Following the interview, during which the applicant will be evaluated against the established criteria, the TEC will make a preliminary determination of applicants to be considered for employment and conduct and document reference checks. Please note that references may be solicited from current as well as former supervisors in addition to the references you provided in application packages. References will only be solicited for those interviewed applicants who are being considered for ranking.  The applicant’s references must be able to provide substantive information about their 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.

●       Based on this final input, the TEC will make its final decision on applicant ranking and submit a selection memo to the Contracting Officer (CO) for final determination on whether an offer of employment will be made. Unsuccessful applicants who were interviewed will be contacted and advised of their non-selection. As a positive medical clearance and security certification are a condition of employment, the selected candidate will undergo a stringent investigation prior to employment with USAID/SA.

1. SUBMITTING AN OFFER

●       All interested and eligible candidates should visit http://usaid.ci.hr to apply. Applicants with PNet accounts can log-in from the above website to apply and first-time users will be required to register on the site before they can apply. 

●       Offeror submissions must clearly reference the Solicitation number on all offeror submitted documents.

●       Kindly note that when you apply via cellphone you are not able to complete the required questionnaire.  And if you do not complete the required questionnaire for the position, you will automatically be eliminated from further review.

●       For an application to be considered complete, please include a CV of no more than 4 pages. Failure to comply with these instructions may result in your application being considered “non-responsive” and eliminated from further consideration.

●       Offers must be received by the closing date and time specified in Section I.

●       The U.S. Mission in South Africa provides 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.  The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) also strives to ensure equal employment opportunity in all personnel operations.

●       Only short-listed applicants will be contacted.  Applicants who do not follow the application instructions may be dropped from further consideration.

Applicability: 

This position is open to South African citizens and South African permanent resident permit holders. USAID Southern Africa management will consider nepotism/conflict of interest, budget, need for continuity, and residency status in determining successful applications.  Current USG employees on probationary status (i.e., within their first year of employment) are not eligible to apply.

References: 

Three (3) references, who are not family members or relatives, with working telephone and e-mail contacts. The references must be able to provide substantive information about the applicant’s past performance and abilities. USAID reserves the right to contact an applicant’s previous employers for relevant information concerning applicant’s performance and may consider such information in its evaluation of the application.

      II.      LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS PRIOR TO AWARD

1.      The CO will provide instructions about how to complete and submit the following forms after an offeror is selected for the contract award:

a. Conditional Selection Letter.

b. Security Eligibility Requirements.

c. Medical Clearances or Statements

VII.     BENEFITS AND ALLOWANCES

As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a PSC is normally authorized the following benefits and allowances: basic salary, miscellaneous allowance, pension fund and medical aid subsidy in accordance with the Local Compensation Plan. 

VIII.    TAXES  

Every CCNPSC staff member in the Mission regardless of agency affiliation is require as a condition of employment, to pay their taxes to the South African Government.

IX.     USAID REGULATIONS, POLICIES AND CONTRACT CLAUSES PERTAINING TO  CCNPSCs

USAID regulations and policies governing CCNPSC awards are available at these sources: