Power Africa Presidential Initiative Advisor

1. Position Title: Power Africa Presidential Initiative Advisor 2. Market Value: GS- GS-13 equivalent $73,115 to $95,048. Final compensation will be based upon the candidate past salary and work history, experience, and educational background of the successful candidate. 3. Place of Performance: Kampala, Uganda 4. Period of Performance: Six months only contract. 5. The U.S. Agency for International Development Mission in Uganda seeks to employ a U.S. (U.S. and Resident Aliens) offshore or resident in Uganda or Third Country National Personal Services Contractor to provide senior-level expertise in the design, development, and management of Power Africa activities and programming.6. Education: Master's degree in a relevant field such as energy, engineering, physics, economics, business, international development or a closely related field is required; higher-level degrees are preferred. 7. Work Experience: At least five years of progressively responsible, professional-level experience is required; with at least two years of this experience should have been in diplomatic or development-related work for the USG. Experience with the Power Africa Presidential Initiative is preferred. 8. Knowledge: Knowledge of the GoU development agenda (including its electricity sector), the Power Africa Presidential Initiative, and Uganda's development priorities for energy infrastructure, trade, finance, and distributed solar sector and related areas is required. Knowledge of issues relating to economic development in Uganda is required. 9. Skills and Abilities: Energy sector technical expertise and ability to navigate USG procurement processes (including DCA); Demonstrated ability to advise senior Mission management on Ugandan development and issues across a wide range of topics and their implications on USAID programs; Developed program design, budgeting, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation skills; Proven ability to effectively communicate complicated policy, strategy, and program issues orally and in writing; Good interpersonal, coordination, and bureaucratic skills to be able to coordinate successfully with all parts of the USAID Mission and U.S. Embassy to advance program interests; Ability to handle sensitive issues diplomatically, represent USAID authoritatively, and use good judgment in speaking on behalf of USAID in high-level meetings with the USG, the GoU, NGOs, and other donors and in conferences, seminars, and workshops; Good organizational and management skills, as well as proficiency in drafting action packages for senior management.10. Security Clearance: Employment Authorization. 11. Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will be evaluated and ranked based on the selection criteria. Applicants are strongly encouraged to address each of the criteria on a separate sheet describing specifically and accurately what experience, training, education, and/or awards that are relevant to each factor. 12. Notice to Applicants: USAID reserves the right to obtain from previous employers relevant information concerning the applicant's past performance, technical knowledge, required skills, including teamwork and team-building experience and may consider such information in its evaluation. Shortlisted candidates may be required to submit writing samples and/or do a written test. USAID/Uganda shall not pay for any expenses associated with the interviews. Introduction: The Power Africa Presidential Initiative Advisor ("Advisor") will provide support to the Office of Economic Growth, Development Objective 1 (DO1) which is responsible for pursuing broad-based economic growth from agriculture and the natural resource base. DO1 achieves this goal by working comprehensively in specific agricultural value chains through the Feed the Future initiative (FTF) on projects that address nutrition, vulnerable populations, and environment. DO1 is also responsible for implementing the Power Africa and Trade Africa Presidential Initiative. The Advisor will be responsible for participating with the DO1 team in the design, development, and management of Power Africa activities and programming. The Advisor utilizes an in-depth knowledge of the Ugandan and regional electricity infrastructure, trade, and financial sectors related to generation, transmission, distribution, international transmission connections, and the distributed solar sector to help USAID/Uganda achieve high impact programs. She/he contributes to the design and planning for USAID and United States Government (USG) Power Africa programs, participating actively in the Mission and USG decision-making process for designing, drafting, and soliciting contracts, task orders, and grants for carrying out Power Africa. S/he drafts and analyzes technical documentation (Requests for Application, Requests for Proposals, Statements of Work, etc.) needed to develop strategy, obligate funds, and award grants and contract and serves as a member on Technical Evaluation Committees, contributing to the review and selection of Power Africa proposals and activities. The Advisor informs USAID senior managers of issues in Uganda related to Power Africa and coordinates task teams to support it. The Advisor assists USAID staff including senior managers, visiting USG officials, and others in Power Africa-related public meetings, field trips, and discussions with Ugandan and regional officials, donors, and partner organizations. S/he also advises on the allocation of budget resources available for the Power Africa portfolio and on highly specialized issues relating to trade in Uganda, particularly those bearing on bilateral assistance, USG interests, and regional issues impacting Uganda. B. MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Energy Sector Engagement, Integration, Strategic Planning, Implementation and Program Design and Technical Advice 50 per cent - The Advisor provides substantive technical and managerial support to the conceptualization, planning, implementation and monitoring of significant components of the Power Africa strategy and related activities. S/he coordinates the drafting of Power Africa strategy, activity design, analysis, and assessment documentation and related technical, policy, economic, and budgetary analyses and serves as a member of Mission technical review teams for Power Africa-related concept papers, solicited and/or unsolicited proposals, and proposed awards under USAID-funded activities. The Advisor stays abreast of Power Africa centrally-funded projects, implementing mechanisms, and tools such as the Development Credit Authority (DCA), and integrates and coordinates USAID/Uganda activities as appropriate. Program Management and Monitoring - 25 per cent - The Advisor keeps track of Power Africa projects and activities, collaborating closely with the team leader and with senior Mission management as required. The Advisor serves as a principal USAID employee responsible for interpreting, explaining, and clarifying U.S. Mission policies, programs, and strategies through regular contact with the Government of Uganda (GoU), NGOs, implementing partners, other donors, private sector, and civil society organizations. The Advisor establishes and maintains contacts with energy-related GoU counterparts, donor agencies, the private sector, NGOs, and Ugandan-based social enterprises. The Advisor ensures coordination with other USG activities and GoU ministries, departments, and agencies to the extent that these are complementary to or integrated with USAID-funded programs. The Advisor represents USAID/Uganda and Power Africa at the GoU's Energy and Mineral Development Sector Working Group and the Energy and Mineral Development Partners [Donor] Group. Other Duties as Assigned or Required 25 per cent -Economic Growth is a cross-cutting sector and, as a result, the Advisor will be required to work on other USAID and DO1 programming and activities as required in order to help achieve DO1 and USAID/Uganda development objectives. Supervision: The contractor will report to the Economic Growth Office Private Sector Unit Team Leader. For detailed scope of work and evaluation criteria, please send email to gnakaddu@usaid.gov and copy aocen@usaid.gov