Job Title: Senior Agricultural Regional Trade AnalystGrade: FC-0401-11 (equivalent to GS-14) Area of Consideration: All Sources The individual selected for this position will be administratively assigned to the Resources Support Service Support (RSSA) Management Center of the Development Resources Division, International Cooperation and Development, Foreign Agricultural Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture (FAS/ICD/DRD/RMC), but will be located in and work directly with the U.S. Agency for International Development/Zambia. The incumbent will provide senior, technical, management and advisory guidance to the USAID/Zambia senior staff as required by the Economic Growth Team, and will report directly to the Economic Growth Team Leader. The achievement of the Zambia Economic Growth Strategic Objective – Increased Private Sector Competitiveness in Agriculture and Natural Resources – in addition to the objectives of the Initiative to End Hunger in Africa (IEHA), are heavily dependent upon regional coordination in terms of research, policy harmonization, technology transfer, regional commodity marketing and financial systems, and most importantly – regional trade. Therefore, the successful candidate will be required to contribute to the USAID Zambia Economic Growth Team’s performance in the following categories: 1. Regional Policy and Trade Coordination a. Coordinate the Zambia Mission’s regional collaboration with the Regional Center for Southern Africa (RCSA) in Gaberone, Botswana, and with bi-lateral Missions in the region. b. Play a key role (with implementing partners, bilateral Missions and private sector) in establishing regional trading mechanisms, relationships and trade finance systems. c. Collaborate with COMESA and SADC common markets to harmonize policies regarding trade protocols, customs systems, information systems, arbitration mechanisms, trade finance and technology transfer. d. Play a lead management role in program elements designed to improve the quality of agricultural technology and rural support service development assistance, including participation in the development and guidance of regional consultative bodies. e. Assist with the USAID Zambia’s efforts in evaluating the effectiveness of agricultural trade policy and program in Africa, in ensuring such programs are properly evaluated in terms of performance and their ability to achieve results and impact, in the promotion of lessons learned and the transfer of such lessons. 2. Program/Project Management and Analysis. a. Play the lead role in the establishment and coordination of the Zambia “node” for the Strategic Analysis and Knowledge Support System (SAKSS), and taking a leading role in articulating the Mission’s contributions to Zambia’s progress toward the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals. b. As required as a member of the Economic Growth Team, contribute to activity management of the Mission’s contract and cooperative agreement holders. c. Production of USAID position papers, guidelines and other documents involved with agriculture technology, research and non-research public and private partnerships, and agricultural productivity. d. With Team Leader, organize and coordinate technical and policy consultation processes with senior African, USAID and other-donor officers involved in policy formulation and technology development. e. Any other duties as required by the Economic Growth Team and assigned by the Team Leader. He/she will develop analyses reports and recommendations on programs based upon the incumbent's best professional, expert judgment and in anticipation of senior Agency and Field Mission’s management needs. He/she will represent both USDA and ICD overseas. He/she is responsible for developing and promoting ways to increase integration of USDA expertise into overseas development assistance programs, including ways to increase the exchange of information between USDA and USAID programs. Required skills and experience: a. Advanced degree in an agricultural economics or related agricultural science or equivalent experience. b. Demonstrated expert knowledge of Southern African agricultural policy and familiarity with Southern African countries, particularly in the area of trading systems issues within the region. Practical experience in Southern African trade policy, trade finance, market mechanisms and market/trade information systems will be very favorably evaluated. c. Due to the senior-level analytical, collaboration and reporting requirements of the position, he or she should have at least ten years of work experience in Southern African development, with an emphasis on program management and agricultural trade, research, and exposure to a number of development sector disciplines (e.g. agricultural development, environmental management). d. Proven familiarity with the COMESA and SADC common markets, and an in-depth understanding of the constraints and opportunities facing Zambian agricultural trade. e. Understanding of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and the trade opportunities it makes available to Zambian producers and traders. f. Proven ability to work successfully at multiple levels of problem solving as a key member of a team of dedicated professionals. g. Effective writing and organizational skills to prepare guidance for specialists and non-specialists and to complete program status reports, analyses and presentations. Ability to write succinctly to produce documents quickly is highly desired. h. Proven record of effective, team-based working relationship, from staff to policy-making levels, with a wide range of individuals and organizations, including technical experts and contractors, host country partners (public and private sectors), and international organizations. i. Mastery of conceptual analysis, written and oral expression in order to work with U.S. interest groups, contractors and grantees, USAID Missions, USDA agencies and host country African officials, to develop appropriate strategies and plans for agricultural technology policy, agricultural research and rural support services. j. Seasoned ability to plan and manage in order to guide relevant studies and monitor the effects of approved development activities. To apply, please send: (1) a cover letter with a paragraph description of qualifications that directly address each of the Required Skills listed above and (2) your recent resume of experience and qualifications to the Program Officer listed below. Applications will be accepted through August 30, 2004 Address applications to, and seek further information from: Executive Officer USAID/Zambia P.O. Box 32481 Lusaka Zambia Email:
[email protected] or
[email protected]