Job Description

POSITION:  Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP)

TYPE OF EMPLOYMENT:  Long Term Technical Assistance (LTTA)

LEVEL OF EFFORT:  Full Time

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE:  September 1, 2024 – July 20, 2028

BASE OF OPERATIONS: Mogadishu, Somalia

Background

USAID’s Somalia People-Centered Governance (PCG) Activity is a five-year program promoting more effective and legitimate local governance in Somalia. Through various interventions, the Activity will encourage inclusive, fair, and transparent behaviors and decisions that increase the legitimacy of District Councils (DCs). PCG brings citizens and DCs together to co-design activities that build a strong foundation for sustainable, inclusive governance processes and service improvements. 

USAID PCG will promote more legitimate and effective local governance in southern Somalia and, in doing so, provide a credible alternative to al-Shabaab rule. Interventions under Intermediate Result 1 (“DCs are more fair and inclusive”) seek to enhance the legitimacy of the Somali state by supporting districts to better manage resources and disputes (sub-IR 1.1) and promote more inclusive decision-making processes (sub-IR 1.2). Interventions under Intermediate Result 2 (“Improved performance of DCs”) seek to improve the performance - or effectiveness - of the Somali state by supporting districts to better respond to citizen priorities (sub-IR 2.1) and become more sustainable (sub-IR 2.2).

Purpose

The Deputy Chief of Party is a Key Personnel position, and is essential for the overall management and technical success of the project. The DCOP will support the COP’s vision and technical direction. In the COP’s absence, he/she will lead all aspects of PCG program implementation. The DCOP will oversee project engagement with government, civil society and private sector stakeholders at the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS), the Federal Member States (FMS) and target districts to ensure a strong sense of Somali ownership over all aspects of PCG program design and implementation. The DCOP will lead the integration of gender equality and social inclusion into all aspects of PCG operations and program delivery. He/She will lead the design of activities and interventions to ensure that PCG is implemented following the principles of thinking and working politically (TWP), conflict sensitivity, and risk mitigation and will ensure flexible and adaptive program implementation.

Tasks & Deliverables

The Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) will be responsible for the following:

•  Provide programmatic leadership to the PCG team and uphold DAI ethics and values in all aspects of program design and implementation.
• Under the leadership of the COP, and in close coordination with USAID and Somali stakeholders contribute to all key technical deliverables including the annual workplan.
• Contribute to quarterly reports, weekly reports and communication products to showcase the achievements, challenges and lessons learnt on PCG and ensure implementation teams embedded with stakeholders at the FMSs and target districts provide contributions to all reports, and where appropriate help amplify positive developments in districts.
• Develop scopes of work for grants, procurements and technical assistance support with guidance from the COP and input from the program team.
• Quality assure and oversee the work and deliverables of grantees, subcontractors (including construction contractors and Architecture and Engineering firms), and independent consultants.
• Understand and work through DAI systems particularly TAMIS and other project management systems.
• Coordinate closely with the Finance, Administration, and Operations teams to ensure ethical delivery of all PCG activities and compliance with DAI and USAID rules and regulations.
• Collaborate with the CLA (Collaboration, Learning and Adapting) Director on aspects of monitoring, evaluation and learning, program quality (conflict sensitivity, climate adaptation and gender) and communications.
• Oversee engagement with stakeholders, particularly at the FMS and district level and ensure conflict sensitivity in all stakeholder engagement processes.
• Lead the design of technical interventions to ensure alignment with PCG objectives and compliance with USAID and DAI policies and procedures.
• Mentor, guide and supervise the work of the project implementation team including embedded district staff.
• Foster a strong team spirit and “one team” ethos among PCG team in Nairobi, Mogadishu, Kismayo, Baidoa, Jowhar and Dhusamareb and the target districts and lead by example in DAI’s diversity, inclusion and accessibility principles.
• Proactively ensure gender equity and social inclusion in recruitment processes and find creative ways to ensure that the PCG team of professionals is diverse and inclusive.
• Regularly communicate with the COP regarding project planning and implementation, risk and problem identification and rectification. 
• Assist the COP on other time sensitive and priority tasks not listed above.  
• Carry out responsibilities in line with the project schedule of authorities (PSOA).
• Serve as acting COP as needed. 
• Other tasks as requested by Chief of Party. 

Experiences and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and 12 years relevant experience or master’s degree with 10 years relevant experience. Master’s degree preferred but not required.
• Minimum of  five years working in Somalia, focusing on local governance, peacebuilding, stabilization, private sector engagement or other programming relevant to PCG’s scope of work.
• Minimum three years’ experience working on USAID-funded projects and knowledge of USAID rules, regulations and compliance requirements.
• Minimum four years' experience implementing small scale infrastructure and construction projects.
• Minimum of three years’ experience managing diverse, multi-cultural teams.
• Strong interpersonal skills to interact with Somali counterparts and other key stakeholders with the FGS, FMS and districts.
• Demonstrated management and supervision of a large project team or department.
• Fluent verbal communication and written Somali with a demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing.
• Strong interpersonal skills to interact with Somali counterparts and other key stakeholders.

Base of Operations

The DCOP will be based in Mogadishu, Somalia.

 Reporting and Supervision

The DCOP will report to the Chief of Party.

Skills Required

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