The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is seeking applications (Standard Form 171 or Optional Form 612) from U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or third-country nationals (TCNs) interested in providing APSA services as described in the solicitation that follows. Submittals shall be in accordance with the attached information at the place and time specified above. Any questions on this solicitation may be directed to Doug Arbuckle, Executive Officer, USAID/Ethiopia, who may be reached by phone at (251 1) 510088, fax at (251 1) 510043, or by e-mail at
[email protected]. Applicants should retain for their records copies of all enclosures which accompany their applications. 8 POSITION DESCRIPTIONS: A. SUMMARY The Agribusiness/Private Sector Advisor (APSA) will play the principal role in providing leadership and oversight to a series of agribusiness, trade, private sector and small enterprise development activities. This new portfolio will consist of inter-related activities including policy reform, markets, trade, technology transfer, agribusiness, producer support services, and small enterprise development. The incumbent will serve as a core member of the Agriculture, Food Security and Economic Growth Team and provide support to all related activities. This will include preparing and approving activity designs, creating results monitoring plans, drafting annual reports, and developing the agribusiness/private sector strategy. S/he will have responsibility for providing oversight for the management and administration of wide range of team activities, including project, financial and program planning, as well as recruiting, supervising and evaluating selected personnel. S/he will directly manage a number of sectoral and cross-sectoral programs with partners. The APSA will provide technical leadership in the Mission regarding activities that cover production, processing, trade, and marketing of agriculture, livestock and natural products, including value-added manufactured products such as leather and textiles. The APSA will arrange for the collection and dissemination of relevant information to Agriculture, Food Security and Economic Growth Team members, partners, clients, and others as required. The APSA will provide technical leadership for design, evaluation and monitoring of programs in Ethiopia funded by other USAID operating units (REDSO, AID/W EGAT). The APSA will liaise with technical officers in other USAID operating units, other donor organizations, PVOs, NGOs and private firms, and the Government of Ethiopia at federal, regional and local levels. S/he will also represent the Mission’s Business, Environment, Agriculture and Trade (BEAT) Office in meetings and fora deemed important to agriculture/agribusiness, trade, small/micro enterprise, and private sector development. B. ORGANIZATIONAL LOCATION OF POSITION: The APSA is assigned to the USAID/Ethiopia Mission Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) and is responsible for the lead in implementing the USAID strategy through portfolio management of activities. The APSA is central to the development of the strategy and direction, and the coordination of multi-sectoral inputs and links with ANR’s mandate. The APSA will work closely with other Mission sectoral offices focusing on health, education, and democracy and governance, as well as ANR. The APSA will serve as a focal/contact point for the Mission’s private sector-related activities. C. SUPERVISION AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS: The APSA will be a member of the USAID/Ethiopia Agriculture, Food Security and Economic Growth Team and will work under the supervision of the Team Leader. Supervision will be provided in general terms, but the incumbent will be responsible for development of work plans for him/her and subordinates. Other Team members, USAID/W, and mission personnel will provide additional input on the APSA’s performance. The APSA will function according to established USAID policies. To fulfill the major duties and responsibilities of the position, this APSA will work with USAID staff, government ministries, NGOs, universities and research organizations, contractors, other donors, and private sector groups. In addition, the APSA will be expected to collaborate with technical staff of USAID/Washington, USAID/REDSO, regional organizations, other US government agencies, NGOs, and other contractors to accomplish SO objectives. D. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Specific responsibilities will include but are not limited to the following: 1. Lead strategy planning activities, program development, program implementation, and activity monitoring and reporting as related to agribusiness, trade and private sector, and small enterprise development; 2. Provide technical and analytical leadership to sub-team. This includes active participation in and oversight to: • establishing criteria for activity selection; • designing activities and developing work plans; • developing results monitoring plans, including baseline data and targets; • developing scopes of work for assistance to design and evaluate activities; • preparing direction to partners on work plans and progress reports; • articulating team positions on technical and management issues for presentation to partner committees; and • preparing the annual resource requests and results reports. 3. Provide management and administrative oversight for agriculture, trade and private sector activities to include: • Preparation of financial and program planning documents, pipeline analyses and annual budget submissions; • Day to day implementation responsibilities for programs. 4. Provide leadership in developing collaborative opportunities with and between organizations, national agencies, non-governmental partners, the private sector, and other stakeholders. 5. Identify and coordinate the development of activities to strengthen organizations and to harmonize national policies. 6. Represent the Agriculture, Food Security and Economic Growth Team and the USAID Mission in partner, donor, and stakeholder meetings and fora; 7. Serve as a key advisor to USAID providing technical and analytical expertise to Mission management, US Embassy, and other USG agencies (i.e., US Trade Representative, US Department of Agriculture, US Trade Development Agency) as appropriate for agribusiness, trade and private sector development. 8. Serve as the key liaison for maintaining professional collaboration and/or team working relationship with the technical and analytical branches of other USAID bureaus, missions, offices and staff dealing with agribusiness, trade and private sector development. 9. Provide senior-level technical services in all areas of agribusiness, trade and private sector development to the USAID Mission and its partners for the development, monitoring and evaluation of USAID funded strategies and activities. 10. Collaborate with other SO teams and Operating Units within the mission to develop mutually reinforcing policies, practices and activities that contribute to increased efficiency in achieving the Ethiopia Mission's Overall Strategic Goal. 11. From time to time, the Incumbent may be required to perform certain other duties directly pertinent/relevant to this position that are not specifically identified above. Such additional duties as assigned by the Director are considered inherent to the position. Successful fulfillment of these responsibilities will entail TDYs throughout Ethiopia, periodic TDYs to other parts of Africa and USAID/W, and participation in USAID workshops, conferences and seminars relevant to meeting the responsibilities described above. F. QUALIFICATIONS: In order to perform the duties described above, the Agribusiness/Private Sector Advisor must have the following qualifications and professional experience: 1. Education: A Masters degree in agricultural economics or a closely related field (i.e., agricultural marketing, agricultural business management). Course work in trade, private sector development, environment and natural resources, and policy analysis is highly desirable. 2. Professional Experience: A minimum of ten years of public and private sector professional work experience at a senior level designing, managing and evaluating agricultural development, agribusiness, trade and private sector activities is required. Work experience with USAID, USAID contractors, and other donors in Africa is highly preferred. 3. Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with a range of professional counter-parts at all levels, including those from host country governmental and non-governmental organizations, in USAID Missions, other U.S. government agencies, and other donors. The candidate must demonstrate cross cultural sensitivity, tact and poise, as he/she will be called upon to interact with high level officials from a range of cultural backgrounds, including senior political representatives of African countries. 4. The ability to work on teams and value teamwork is required. Proven record of effective, team-based working relationships, 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 sector), and international organizations are required. 5. Strong leadership, management, interpersonal and communication skills are essential. The ability to meet tight deadlines with concise documents and verbal interpretation is required. 9. Other Requirements: The selected applicant must be able to obtain USAID security and medical clearances. 10. BENEFITS: As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a PSC is normally authorized the following benefits and allowances: A BENEFITS: Employee's FICA Contribution Contribution toward Health & Life Insurance Pay Comparability Adjustment Eligibility for Worker's Compensation Annual & Sick Leave Access to Embassy medical facilities, commissary and pouch mail service B ALLOWANCES (If Applicable): (1) Temporary Lodging Allowance (Section 120) (2) Living Quarters Allowance (Section 130) (3) Post Allowance (Section 220) (4) Supplemental Post Allowance (Section 230) (5) Post Differential (Chapter 500) (6) Payments during Evacuation/Authorized Departure (Section 600) and (7) Danger Pay (Section 650) * Standardized Regulations (Government Civilians Foreign Areas). C FEDERAL TAXES: US Citizen PSCs are not exempt from payment of Federal Income taxes under the foreign earned income exclusion. 11. APPLYING Qualified individuals are requested to submit a letter of application, a curriculum vitae/resume, and U.S. Government Standard Form 171 or Optional Form 612 (available at the USAID website, http://www.info.usaid.gov/procurement_bus_opp/procurement/forms or internet http://fillform.gsa.gov, or at Federal offices), by fax, e-mail or separate post by the closing date, above, to: Attn: R. Douglass Arbuckle Executive Officer USAID/Ethiopia P.O. Box 1040 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Phone (251)(1) 510088 Fax (251)(1) 510043 E-mail:
[email protected] U.S. Mail: Executive Office USAID/Ethiopia 2030 Addis Ababa Place Washington, D.C. 20521-2030 Courier: Executive Office United States Agency for International Development Mission to Ethiopia Riverside Building, off Haile Gebre Selassie Avenue Addis Ababa, Ethiopia To ensure consideration of applications for the intended position, please reference the solicitation number on your application, and as the subject line in any cover letter. 12. CONTRACT INFORMATION BULLETINS (CIBs) PERTAINING TO PSCs 99-9 Personal Services Contracting (PSC) Annual Health 99-7 Contractual Coverage for Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC) Services 98-25 Defense Base Act (DBA) Coverage and DBA Waiver List 98-24 Use of Compensatory (Comp) Time by PSCs 98-23 Guidance Regarding Classified Contract Security and Contractor Personnel Security Requirements 98-16 Annual Salary Increase for USPSCs 98-14 Change in Required Application Form for USPSCs 98-10 Personal Services Contracts (PSCs) Annual Health Insurance Costs 98-3 Class Deviation to 31.205-6(g)(3), Foreign National Severance Pay Under Professional Services Contracts 97-16 Class Justification for Use of Other Than Full & Open Competition for Personal Services Contracts with U.S. Citizens Contracted with Locally with CCNs and TCNs Subject to the Local Compensation Plan, and for Overseas Contracts of $250,000 or Less 97-11 (Corrected) 1997 FICA & Medicate Tax Rates for Personal Services Contracts 97-3 New USAID Contractor Employee Physical Examination 96-23 Unauthorized Provision in Personal Services Contract 96-19 U. S. Personal Services Contract (USPSC) - Leave 96-8 Determining a Market Value for PSCs Hired Under Appendix D, Handbook 14 94-9 Sunday Pay for U.S. Personal Services Contractors (PSCs) 93-17 Financial Disclosure Requirements Under a Personal Services Contract (PSC) LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS FOR PSCs 1. Standard Form 171 or Optional Form 612. 2. Contractor Physical Examination (AID Form 1420-62). ** 3. Questionnaire for Sensitive Positions (for National Security) (SF-86), or ** 4. Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions (SF-85). ** 5. Finger Print Card (FD-258). ** NOTE: Form 5 is available from the requirements office. ____________________ * Standardized Regulations (Government Civilians Foreign Areas). ** Forms 2 through 5 shall be completed only upon the advice of the Contracting Officer that an applicant is the successful candidate for the job.