SOL-696-13-000007_-_Senior_Agriculture__Advisor.pdf

U.S. Agency for International Development B.P: 2848

KIGALI, RWANDA

Tel: +250 252 596 400 Fax +250 252 596 591 www.usaid.gov/rw

Solicitation No.: SOL-696-13-000007 Issuance Date: June 12, 2013 Question Due Date/Time: June 21, 2013 at 12:00 pm (Kigali Time) Closing Date/Time: July 12, 2013 at 12:00 pm (Kigali Time)

SUBJECT: Solicitation for US Personal Services Contractor (PSC) for Senior Agriculture Advisor

Ladies/Gentlemen:

The United States Government, represented by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), is seeking applications from qualified U.S. Citizens, U.S. Resident Aliens to provide personal services as described in this solicitation. USAID/Rwanda anticipates awarding one contract as a result of this solicitation, subject to availability of funds.

Submissions shall be in accordance with the instructions provided in this solicitation, at the place and time specified.

Interest applicants must submit all the materials required by the solicitation such as (but not limited to):

(i) A signed U.S. government OF-612 which is available at the USAID website http://inside.usaid.gov/forms/,

(ii) The applicant’s detailed CV and a cover letter of application; and

(iii) Three (3) to five (5) references, who are not family members or relatives, with telephone and email contacts.

Electronic submission is authorized and the most preferred. Electronic application packages are to be submitted by email to: KIGALIHR@USAID.GOV. Please quote the number and position title of this solicitation on the subject line of your email application.

Be sure to include the announcement number at the top of each of the additional pages.

For those who wish to send hard copies of their application by mail, address package to:

Hadiza Linganwa Executive Officer USAID/Rwanda 2657 Avenue de la Gendarmerie B.P. 2848 Kigali, Rwanda

SOL-696-13-000007

To ensure consideration of applications for the intended position, please reference the solicitation number on your application and as the subject line of cover letter. Highly ranked applications may be selected for interview.

Any questions regarding this solicitation should be submitted in writing to Hadiza Linganwa, Executive Officer via email at hlinganwa@usaid.gov; no later than June 21, 2013 at 12:00 p.m. (Kigali Time).

Applications must be received no later than July 12, 2013 at 12:00 p.m. (Kigali Time), as stated in the solicitation. Please note that USAID/Rwanda does not accept responsibilities for delays transmission or receipt of application. Applications received after that date and/or time specified will not be considered.

USAID/Rwanda reserves the right to award, or not award a contract as a result of this solicitation. This solicitation does not represent a commitment on behalf of USAID.

Additionally, the US Government is not obligated to pay any costs associated with the preparation of an application in response to this solicitation.

Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted; no response will be sent to unsuccessful Applicants.

Sincerely, Martin Fischer Contracting Officer

Attachment: Solicitation No. SOL-696-13-000007

Attachment to Solicitation No. SOL-696-13-000007

1. SOLICITATION NO.: SOL-696-13-000007

2. ISSUANCE DATE: June 12, 2013

3. QUESTIONS DUE DATE/TIME: June 21, 2013 at 12:00 p.m. (Kigali Time)

4. CLOSING DATE/TIME: July 12, 2013 at 12:00 p.m. (Kigali Time)

5. POSITION TITLE: Senior Agriculture Advisor

6. MARKET VALUE: Position is classified at GS-14 with annual salary range of

$84,697 to $110,104. The actual salary will be negotiated based on qualifications, work experience and previous salary history of the successful candidate.

7. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: One year. Level of effort is full time (40 hours per week)

8. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Kigali, Rwanda

9. SUPERVISION: Contractor will report to the USAID/Rwanda Economic Growth

Office Director

10. SECURITY ACCESS: US Citizen – Secret Level; Third Country Nationals –

Employment Authorization

11. MEDICAL CLEARANCE: The apparently successful applicant, and any eligible family members who will accompany the applicant to post, shall be required to obtain a Department of State Medical clearance to l live and/or work in Rwanda as a pre-condition for employment and/or residence in Rwanda.

12. WHO MAY APPLY: U.S Citizens and Third Country Nationals (TCNs)

I. POSITION DESCRIPTION – OVERVIEW:

Rwanda is a small, landlocked country with the highest population density on the continent of Africa and remains one of the world’s poorest countries. However, much has changed in Rwanda since the 1994 genocide that left more than 800,000 people dead. Today, the Government of Rwanda (GoR) is committed to making Rwanda a middle-income country by 2020. Vision 2020 is the GoR’s development roadmap on how to reach this goal.

Because four out of five Rwandans rely on subsistence agriculture, USAID’s economic growth program strives to expand economic opportunities in rural areas by building sustainable market linkages, increasing policy coordination, and improving management of ecosystems and natural resources. Under the U.S. President’s Feed the Future Initiative, programs support post-harvest handling and storage, provide feeder roads to help farmers get their goods to markets, support dairy sector competiveness, and help rural agricultural farmers and cooperatives to establish better linkages to markets.

II. POSITION DESCRIPTION – SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

The incumbent is the Mission’s lead technical advisor responsible for managing, coordinating, monitoring, and evaluating USAID/Rwanda agriculture and food security value chain programs to implement the Feed the Future Initiative. This complex work program involves: technical oversight and guidance of implementing partners; coordination with other development partners, commercial, and public institutions involved with enhancing national food security and increasing employment in the private sector; leading coordination across the range of USG actors involved in Feed the Future implementation;

ensuring regular and effective communication and coordination with Bureau of Food Security and Africa Bureau on Feed the Future implementation, including effective monitoring and evaluation; and representing and negotiating Rwanda’s Feed the Future program across the full range of GoR, bilateral and multi-lateral international donors, and USG stakeholders. A key component of this position is to advise, mentor, and coach Economic Growth Office staff on the full range of technical and program/project management responsibilities related to the implementation of USAID/Rwanda’s Feed the Future Strategy

Specifically, the Senior Agriculture Advisor shall provide:

1. STAFF DEVELOPMENT AND MENTORING (30%)

Advise, mentor, and coach Economic Growth Office staff on effective project / activity management, including best practices in exercising Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) and Agreement Officer’s Representative (AOR) roles and responsibilities.

Advise, mentor, and coach Economic Growth Office staff on “managing for results” and their roles and responsibilities in the USAID Program Cycle, as it pertains to their portfolios.

Exercise the “Technical Leadership” and “Program/Project Management” responsibilities outlined below in a manner that builds capacity of Economic Growth Office staff.

Supervise three Foreign Service National (FSN) staff in the Economic Growth Office and write their performance evaluations.

Design and deliver in-house “brown bag” seminars and training sessions on topics related to Feed the Future, agricultural development, food security, nutrition, agribusiness, and other related topics.

2. TECHNICAL LEADERSHIP (35%)

Provide strategic, technical, and organizational leadership in developing and managing agriculture and agribusiness development programs and activities in support of the Feed the Future Strategy.

Exercise intellectual leadership to align Feed the Future activities with CDCS development objectives, achieve synergies across sectors, and ensure effective implementation.

Prepare project papers and design documents for agriculture development programs and lead research on social, political, cultural, and economic factors pertaining to agriculture development in Rwanda.

Develop and sustain close collaborative, professional relationships with highest-level officials of other USG agencies and the GoR, key business leaders, other major donors, international organizations, and leading economic or agricultural development research institutions.

Collaborate with other donors and organizations to ensure synergy of program activities with those of other organizations.

Represent the Economic Growth Office to stakeholders and external development partners in a wide variety of events, including conferences, workshops, donor subgroup meetings, and other relevant forums on agricultural development and food security.

Promote expansion of effective strategies and approaches that can enhance the impact of Feed the Future programs and activities.

Serve as the principal technical expert and advisor to USAID/Rwanda on all aspects of agricultural development, food security, and market-driven private enterprise growth in Rwanda.

Provide technical advice to institutional contractors, grantees, GoR officials, and other stakeholders as warranted.

Represent the Mission at agriculture and private enterprise development meetings (e.g., regular agriculture sector working groups) and other functions, as delegated by the Economic Growth Office Director.

Develop and maintain professional contacts among a broad range of USG agencies, GoR institutions, civil society groups, donors, and private sector entities to follow trends in agriculture and advance the goals of the Feed the Future Strategy.

Lead conceptualization, design, and drafting of new agricultural and private enterprise activities, including implementation of USAID Forward initiatives.

Provide regular reports to technical and managerial leadership at USAID/Rwanda on the status of Feed the Future programs and activities and the achievement of outcomes and impact.

Utilize appropriate partner reports to contribute quantitative and qualitative input into USAID/Rwanda’s annual reporting requirements.

Provide analysis, advice, and recommendations regarding the formulation of Mission strategy and programmatic interventions for Feed the Future and related food security activities to the Economic Growth Office Director and Mission management.

Collaborate with the inter-agency team in managing major components of the Feed the Future Strategy and meeting measurable objectives.

3. PROGRAM / PROJECT MANAGEMENT (35%)

Serve as project manager and Agreement/Contracting Officer’s Representative (AOR/COR), as needed.

Ensure that Feed the Future programs and activities achieve their intended results.

Provide technical and organizational leadership on the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of Intermediate Result-level activities.

Contribute to preparing documentation for Mission and Feed the Future Portfolio

Reviews.

Ensure that partners meet their benchmark requirements in accordance with USAID regulations.

Conduct assessments and site visits to monitor implementing partner, stakeholder, and counterpart progress in the implementation of activities at the national, district, and local levels.

Track the collection of performance data that originate from various sources such as USG cooperating agencies for Feed the Future, local implementing partners, and other international organizations.

Prepare inventories of current indicators, information collected, and information still required.

Provide advice on more efficient methods for collecting information.

Verify data reliability and accuracy.

Ensure that the information gathered responds to the indicators of the annual report and related performance monitoring plans.

Analyze development projects, work plans, and project budgets in order to determine their appropriateness.

Ensure regular and effective communication and coordination with

USAID/Washington Bureau of Food Security and Africa Bureau on Feed the Future implementation, including monitoring and evaluation.

Collect and synthesize data for the USAID/Rwanda Annual Operational Plan and Performance Report, the U.S. Mission Resource Request, and Congressional Budget Justifications.

Advise USAID implementing partners on Feed the Future and related activities.

Work closely with USAID’s implementing partners involved in food security to provide advice on effectively incorporating evolving Agency guidance on Feed the Future priorities and reporting requirements into their programs.

Collaborate with the Program Office in the development of consistent monitoring and evaluation approaches for all Feed the Future funded activities as these evolve and are amended over time.

Work closely with the Economic Growth Office Director, the Health Office, the Program Office, the Front Office, and the U.S. Embassy on Feed the Future activities and reporting requirements.

Draft speeches, press releases, briefing papers, and weekly reports, and other outreach materials for use in USAID/Rwanda communications relating to Feed the Future.

Work closely with other USG partners in Nairobi and Washington, particularly USAID’s Bureau of Food Security, to ensure that information and communications between the US Mission in Rwanda and other USG stakeholders is well coordinated.

Manage financial matters related to program activities, such as providing administrative approval of vouchers, planning and preparing for annual incremental funding amendments, and other financial administrative activities as needed, to ensure that fiscal needs of the recipient GoR and U.S. and local contractors are met in a timely manner.

Contribute to budget requests and Operational Plans.

Manage and update Performance Management Plans and other monitoring, evaluation, and reporting activities related to the Feed the Future portfolio.

Prepare all necessary internal USAID project obligation and implementation documentation for smooth program implementation.

Prepare and submit the annual evaluation of contractors’ performance.

Monitor and analyze activities and identify possible solutions to overcome obstacles.

Maintain regular contact with implementing partners and travel to field sites to assess program performance in light of Feed the Future priorities.

Share field visit reports with the Economic Growth Office Director and relevant program managers for further discussion on how to optimize program performance.

Work with USAID/Rwanda’s implementing partners and the Mission’s Economic Growth and Health Offices to coordinate food security activities and build synergies with other donors, civil society, host government, and private institutions.

Ensure that activities are appropriately documented in required reports and through regular updates given to USAID stakeholders and external development partners, including the Annual Report, Portfolio Reviews, annual budget and pipeline analyses, Congressional Presentations, briefs and talking points.

Ensure indicators to measure program impact are tracked accurately and used to revise strategy as necessary.

Review work plans and negotiate program and activity agreements with counterparts in the GoR and civil society.

Coordinate with other members of the Economic Growth Office and Program Office to ensure data submitted on activities are complete and consistent for reporting in the annual report, portfolio reviews, annual budget, pipeline analyses, and other required reporting.

III. Qualification, Experience and Evaluation Criteria

The position requires an experienced Program/Project Development Officer with extensive experience in the design, implementation, monitoring, and reporting on foreign assistance programs in a developing country setting. Specifically, candidates will be evaluated and ranked based on the following Evaluation Factors:

1. Education (10 points) Advanced graduate work beyond a Master’s Degree in agriculture, agricultural economics, food security, nutrition, or a closely related field. In addition to the minimum required education qualifications, professional training in one or more of the following areas: Management; Staff development, mentoring, coaching; Monitoring and evaluation; Project design; Project management (focused on international development projects); Leadership, teambuilding;

Facilitation, training of trainers; Website development, social media; and Knowledge Management

2. Work Experience (30 points)

Ten or more years of progressively responsible experience managing agriculture development, agribusiness, food security, or related programs and projects, preferably in a developing country context. Demonstrated professional work experience in agribusiness development with an emphasis on some combination of building community-based organizations (e.g., co-ops, producer associations, marketing associations), value chain development, rural finance, and trade. Experience in developing and implementing training and capacity building programs to strengthen rural businesses, establishing and growing agricultural or other rural small and medium-sized enterprises, or working in a for-profit agribusiness is preferred. Experience with a wide range of development issues, such as program evaluation, gender constraints to development, agriculture, economic growth, environment, democracy and governance, nutrition, and education. At least eight years as a program manager and/or COR/AOR with large international organizations – with significant project management, project design, and project development experience. Experience leading or overseeing the work of large teams of individuals with diverse skills and interests. Demonstrated success in mentoring and/or coaching staff in project development, project implementation, and monitoring and evaluation.

Experience working for the USG or another international development organization or non-governmental organization in an overseas context, preferably in Africa. Experience analyzing the work of on-going agricultural, nutrition, and food security programs and providing substantive technical feedback on improving monitoring and evaluation systems to improve program performance. Prior supervisory and management experience in a position of similar complexity is required.

3. Technical Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (30 points)

Thorough understanding of the Presidential Feed the Future Initiative. Expert knowledge in the areas of agribusiness, value chain analysis, enterprise development, agricultural education and extension, and rural development. Familiar with program management, including monitoring and evaluation. Current professional knowledge of development assistance issues and development approaches. Demonstrated program management skills including previous experience in coordinating the development of reports, performance assessments, and monitoring and evaluation systems. Demonstrated technical skills related to the design, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting of development projects in general. Excellent experience-based skills in and knowledge of agriculture, nutrition, and food security program approaches with the demonstrated ability to analyze the work of these programs and provide substantive technical feedback on improving monitoring and evaluation systems to enhance program performance. Knowledge of USG laws, policies, regulations, and procedures related to international development assistance.

Knowledge of the objectives and operations of the USG, or program activities of other international donor or non-governmental organizations, in Africa is highly desirable. Ability to accurately analyze and summarize performance data in the fields of economic growth, agriculture, global climate change, and environment. Working knowledge of the economic and social development context in Rwanda or the East Africa region.

4. Other Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (30 points)

Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to write clearly, quickly, and succinctly.

Proven training, facilitation, mentoring, and coaching skills. Strong interpersonal skills, with a demonstrated ability to collaborate and work diplomatically and effectively in a multi-cultural team environment, and with a wide variety of stakeholders. Ability to develop and maintain productive working relationships at all levels, including with staff and colleagues, the U.S.

Ambassador and members of the U.S. country team, USAID colleagues in Washington and Nairobi, other USG agencies not present at Post, ministerial-level officials in the GoR, other international development partners, and leaders of the non-governmental and corporate community. Strong oral communication skills, including a demonstrated ability to make effective presentations. Conversation and presentation skills that can influence decision makers and foster organizational change. Proven ability to convene and manage periodic meetings, often involving high level officials, to discuss Feed the Future and to share information between these stakeholders in such a way as to further the goals of the program. Demonstrated ability to produce professional-quality analytical pieces. Ability to exercise significant, independent professional judgment with minimal supervision and guidance. Ability to prioritize work and accomplish tasks in a fast-paced, complex organizational environment. Ability to interpret, organize, and present data to a variety of audiences. Computer skills, including the development and management of spreadsheets and tracking systems, proficiency in PowerPoint, and the ability to develop and manage website content. Fluency in Microsoft Office applications is essential. Additional information technology skills, such as the ability to use SPSS or AutoCAD software, are desirable but not essential.

NOTICE TO APPLICANTS: USAID reserves the right to conduct in-person or telephonic interviews with the highly ranked applicants and/or obtain from previous employers relevant information concerning the applicants’ past performance to inform a final decision.

START DATE: As soon as all required clearances have been received.

IV. OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION

A. Benefits and Allowances

As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a US/TCN PSC is normally authorized to receive benefits and allowances in accordance with the AIDAR Appendix D. [A contractor meeting the definition a U.S. Resident Hire PSC, shall be subject to U.S. Federal Income Tax, but shall not be eligible for any fringe benefits (except contributions for FICA, health insurance, and life insurance), including differentials and allowances].

1) Benefits

Employee's FICA Contribution Contribution toward Health & Life Insurance Pay Comparability Adjustment Annual Increase Eligibility for Worker's Compensation Annual and Sick Leave Medevac Insurance Access to Embassy medical facilities, commissary and pouch mail service Cost of Travel to/from Post Shipment of Unaccompanied Baggage Shipment and Storage of Household Effects Shipment of POV (Privately Owned Vehicle)

2) Allowances (if applicable, as found in the Standardize Regulations (DSSR) - sections cited below):

Temporary Lodging Allowance (Section 120) Living Quarters Allowance (Section 130) Post Allowance (Section 220) Supplemental Post Allowance (Section 230) Separate Maintenance Allowance (Section 260) Educational Allowance (Section 270) Educational Travel (Section 280) Post Differential (Chapter 500) Payments during Evacuation/Authorized Departure (Section 600) and Danger Pay (Section 650)

B. Compensation

This position is classified at GS-14 scale. The actual salary of the successful candidate will be negotiated within that pay range depending on qualifications, work experience and previous earning history.

C. Applicable Policy Directives and Regulations Pertaining to PSCs

(1) Acquisition and Assistant Policy Directives (AAPDs) or Contract Information Bulletins (CIBs) contain changes to USAID policy and General Provisions in USAID regulations and contracts. Those documents can be found at this websites:

http://transition.usaid.gov/business/business_opportunities/cib/subject.html#psc

(2) USAID Acquisition Regulation (AIDAR) applicable to award and administration of USPSC and TCNPSC resident hires is contained in AIDAR Appendix D and can be found at:

http://www.usaid.gov/policy/ads/300/aidar.pdf. The link comprises of prescribed Contract Schedule, General Provisions as appropriate, as well as the FAR Clauses to be incorporated in full text and by reference.

(3) Standard of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch can be accessed at:

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2007-title5-vol3/pdf/CFR-2007-title5-vol3-part 2635.pdf or http://www.oge.gov/Laws-and-Regulations/Employee-Standards-of -Conduct/Employee- Standard-of-Conduct/

D. List of Required Forms for PSCs

Forms outlined below can found at http://www.usaid.gov/business/business_opportunities/psc_solicitations.html

Optional Form 612.

Upon advice by the Contracting Officer that the applicant is the successful candidate:

Contractor Employee Biographical Data Sheet (AID 1420-17) Contractor Physical Examination (AID Form 1420-62) Questionnaire for Sensitive Positions (for National Security) (SF-86), Finger Print Card (FD-258). ** (Available from the law enforcement offices or in USAID/Washington

E. Instructions to Applicants

1. Interested applicants are requested to submit the following information:

a) A recent CV or resume. The CV/resume must include sufficient relevant information to evaluate the application in accordance with the stated evaluation criteria and must contain the following information:

(i) Personal Information: Full name, mailing address (with zip code), email address, day and evening phone numbers, social security number, country of citizenship, highest federal civilian grade held (also give job series and dates held)

(ii) Education: High school, name, city and state, date of diploma or GED; colleges and universities, name, city and state, majors, type and year of any degrees received.

(iii) Work Experience: provide the following information for your paid and non-paid work experience related to the job for which you are applying (do not send job descriptions); job title (include series and grade if federal job), duties, and accomplishments, employer’s name and address, supervisor’s name and phone number, starting and ending dates (month and year), hours per week, salary.

Indicate if we may contact your current supervisor;

(iv) Other Qualifications: other pertinent information related to the qualifications required for the position, as noted above including job-related training courses (title and year), job-related skills; for example, other languages, computer software/hardware, tolls, machinery, typing speed, job-related certificates and licenses (current only), job-related honors, awards, and special accomplishments, for example, publications, memberships in professional or honor societies, leadership, activities, public speaking and performance as awards (give dates but do not send documents unless requested.

b) Applicants are strongly encouraged to address each of the evaluation criteria above on a separate sheet describing specifically and accurately what experience, training, education, and/or awards they have received that are relevant to the criterion. Failure to address minimum selection and/or quality factors may result in your not receiving credit for all your pertinent experience, education, training, and awards. Broad general statements that are vague or lacking specificity will not be considered as effectively addressing particular selection criteria.

c) Applicants are required to provide three (3) to five (5) references with complete contact information including email address and telephone numbers. The Applicant’s references must be able to provide substantive information about the applicant’s past performance and abilities. USAID/Rwanda reserves the right to obtain from previous employers relevant information concerning the applicant’s pas performance and may consider such information in its evaluation.

d) Written cover letter of not more than one page.

e) Form OF-612 must be signed and those submitted unsigned will be rejected.

2. Applications should retain for their record copies of all enclosures that accompany their submissions.

3. The number of this solicitation must be referenced on the application.

4. Any attachments provided via email must be in or compatible with Microsoft Word Version

2020 or Adobe Acrobat Portable Document Format (PDF) and not “Zipped”.

5. Highly ranked applicants may be interviewed in person or by phone.

[END OF SOLICITATION]