USPSC Country Program Manager for Mauritania

The USAID Senegal Regional Mission (USAID/Senegal) works in a regional capacity to support presence and non-presence Francophone countries (NPC) in West Africa. Mauritania is one such NPC. USAID established a field office in Mauritania in early 2007 to effectively manage its programs in the country; one being a Limited Scope Grant Agreement (LSGA) with the

host-country government. This and other smaller programs for which the incumbent will be

responsible are detailed below.

The office was closed in early 2009 due to the suspension of all USG development programs as a

result of the military coup in August 2008 and political instability in the country. On July 18,

2009 however, Mauritania held a Presidential Election which was declared by the international

community and international observers as free and fair. Since that time, the USG has reinstated

its development assistance due to the democratic election and the return of seemingly peace and

stability in the country. Mauritania faced long standing issues with Trafficking in Persons (TIP)

and was placed on the USG watch list and subsequently, due to the application of TIP-Tier3

sanctions in FY 2019, a previous youth-focused activity was terminated in May 2019. In

alignment with TIP Tier 3 guidance established for FY 2020. This meant that USAID’s funding

that supported the Government of Mauritania was paused and adaptations in programs instituted.

In calendar year 2020, Mauritania was removed from Tier 3 and USG sanctions lifted. USAID’s

programming cycle has restarted.

The Country Program Manager (CPM) will be the principal advisor to the Ambassador and

his/her designee on USAID development programs; be the resident point of contact and liaison

for USAID in Mauritania; oversee, support, assess, critique, monitor and evaluate USAID

activities managed in-country; analyze the operating environment (political, economic and

physical); and coordinate USAID activities with State, DoD, and assistance provided by other

donors, including international and private assistance agencies.

The level of current and planned activities in Mauritania will warrant the full attention of a

dedicated and experienced development professional. USAID therefore plans to recruit a

USPSC to serve as the Mauritania Country Program Manager to administratively oversee and

coordinate, as appropriate, all USAID-funded activities and locally employed USAID staff in

Mauritania. S/he will monitor and provide oversight on the growing portfolio of current

activities and other potential USAID projects. The CPM will liaise with USAID/Senegal staff,

and with USAID/Senegal’s principal grantees to facilitate performance tracking. The person will

receive support from technical offices in Dakar and Washington, as appropriate, and will

coordinate and respond to tasks from USAID/Washington.

This is a high-profile position and requires that the incumbent maintain high-level professional

contacts among regional institutions, donors, the private sector, and USG agencies. The

incumbent is therefore expected to have the initiative, knowledge of Agency regulations and

procedures, experience and maturity required to exercise professional judgment for conducting

negotiations with relevant counterparts to further the Agency’s interests.