Senior Food for Peace Advisor

1. Position Title: Senior Food for Peace Advisor 2.Market Value: GS-13 Equivalent $72,391 to $94,108. 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: Two year contract with three one year options. 5. The U.S. Agency for International Development Mission in Uganda seeks to employ a U.S. (U.S. and Resident Aliens) Personal Services Contractor to supervise the development, planning and execution of strategies, policies and activities necessary to deliver high-quality food aid programs in Uganda. 6. Education: Master's degree from an accredited U.S. or internationally recognized institution with significant study in, but not limited to, public health, agriculture, nutrition, food and agricultural economics, international development, humanitarian assistance or other related field. 7. Technical Knowledge: Comprehensive knowledge of current best practices in developing countries with knowledge of food security, food assistance, humanitarian assistance and P. L. 480 Title II rules and regulations. Ability to identify, formulate and apply effective strategy to deliver high-quality food aid programs in Uganda. 8. Prior Work Experience. Recognized professional with a proven track record managing USAID, or similar organizations' food assistance activities. At least eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience in international development or relief including at least three (3) years of specialized experience in food aid management covering: design, management or evaluation of international food assistance activities (to include in-kind food, cash transfers or cash voucher programs); managing food aid commodity procurement and/or transport; providing rapid responses to quick onset emergencies, and two (2) years of overseas professional experience required. 9. Language and Communication Skills: Fluency in English, strong presentation and communication skills. 10. Citizenship: U.S. Citizen or Resident Alien - residing in Uganda. 11. Clearance: U.S. Secret clearance (or the ability to attain one) is required. 12. Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and selective factors will be further evaluated based on the Quality Ranking Factors. Applicants are required to address each of the evaluation criteria on a separate sheet describing specifically and accurately what experience, training, education, and/or award they have received that are relevant to each factor. 13. Notice to Applicants: USAID reserves the right to obtain from previous employers relevant information concerning the applicant's past performance and may consider such information in its evaluation. USAID/Uganda shall not pay for any expenses associated with the interviews. Introduction: The Senior FFP Advisor supervises the development, planning and execution of strategies, policies and activities necessary to deliver high-quality food aid programs in Uganda. S/he guides the organization, planning and function of individuals and teams to successfully monitor and evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the assistance provided under the Title II food aid program in Uganda while ensuring that the underlying logistical analyses (commodity procurement and transport) is sound. The Advisor develops immediate solutions in emergencies and times of crisis to enable FFP to respond to the food security needs of its targeted beneficiaries. S/he will ensure effective management of FFP resources in Uganda and engage in direct activity monitoring (including travel) approximately 40 per cent of the time. Specific duties include but are not limited to the following: Technical Leadership and Guidance:1. Serve as the Mission's senior technical advisor on food assistance programming. This will require high-level strategic guidance on issues including: a) food aid commodity management; b) food aid distribution; c) approaches to prevent malnutrition through behavior change and direct distribution of food aid commodities; d) improving food security and self-sufficiency in vulnerable populations, e) responding to crises in food security; f) monitoring famine early warning systems; and f) ensuring sustainability in emergency food activities. 2. Explain, orally and in written form, the complexities of U.S. Government (USG) food assistance, particularly pertaining to procuring and contracting under the Title II authority, to a wide range of stakeholders. Provide information and guidance to Title II assistance award recipients on Title II regulations, policies and procedures. 3. Analyze and assess data from a variety of sources - including field assessments, technical data, early warning information, and reporting from USAID staff, NGOs, and PIOs - to inform Title II food aid funding decisions, modifications to ongoing programs, and recommend appropriate food assistance activities. Draft high-quality technical reports and analyses on all food security issues, to include changes in the food security and food aid requirements, government policies, and actions affecting food aid programs, government food aid programs, and donor pledges and programs. 4. Produce information products (e.g., updates and memoranda) on food security situations and FFP programs, provide briefings, and represent FFP in meetings and working groups with donors, Government of Uganda (GOU) officials, embassy officials, implementing agency staff, USAID colleagues, and representatives from other agencies. 5. Coordinate with the USG Country Team (consisting of the USAID mission, U.S. embassy, and/or other USG in-country staff), GOU, NGOs, PIOs, donors, and others to address issues impacting Title II food assistance. 6. Guide discussions, working groups, and field visits with other parts of the USG and other donors to leverage USG, GOU, and other donor funds and promote integration of food aid with other programs to increase the effectiveness of the programs overall. Program Management and Oversight: 1. Serve as primary point of contact and technical advisor for all issues pertaining to Title II emergency food aid in Uganda for the USAID/Mission, USAID/Washington, other parts of the USG, PVOs, international organizations, GOU ministries, agencies, and others in Uganda. Provide strategic and analytical perspective to inform the review of appeals and proposals for emergency programs across all FFP modalities (in-kind, cash, vouchers, local and regional procurement, IFRP). This will include oversight of $10-25M in emergency food aid resources annually. Monitor and report on implementation of ongoing Title II emergency programs, including performance of grantees, progress towards meeting objectives. Provide technical advice to USAID Contracting/Agreement Officer Representatives (C/AORs) and activity managers overseeing Implementing Partners (IPs). 2. Serve as primary point of contact and technical advisor for all issues pertaining to Title II development food assistance in Uganda for the USAID/Mission, USAID/Washington, other parts of the U.S. Government, PVOs, international organizations, host country ministries, agencies, and others in Uganda. This will include direct management of US$12M in development food assistance resources annually and oversight of an additional US$10M in development food assistance in complementary geographic areas. Monitor and report on implementation of ongoing Title II development programs, including performance of grantees, progress towards meeting objectives. Provide technical advice to USAID C/AORs and activity managers overseeing IPs. 3. Supervise the analysis, evaluation and execution of FFP commodity call forwards, procurement and logistics for an annual estimated commodity portfolio of US$25M. This includes guidance and troubleshooting for problems encountered in commodity management, including commodity losses and claims. 4. Recommend organizational adjustments and improvements in USAID partner food aid commodity management systems to promote efficiency, effectiveness, and cost savings in activities. 5. Facilitate discussions and decisions on the USAID/Uganda FFP portfolio's resource allocations across all modalities of food aid (in-kind, cash, vouchers, local and regional procurement, IFRP); providing tracking and analysis of past, present and future resource allocation. 6. Coach and provide informal training and guidance to staff in FFP operations and commodity management. The FFP Advisor will supervise up to two (2) subordinate Foreign Service Nationals (FSNs) responsible for managing FFP activities and providing logistical and operational support for food aid commodity importation, reviewing and approving annual work plans and providing annual performance evaluations. Coordination: 1. Develop and maintain close collaborative relationship with offices inside and outside USAID (i.e. Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA), East Africa Regional Mission, USAID/Washington, the Department of Agriculture, and Department of Defense). Work with USAID staff to ensure appropriate coordination and harmonization of activity implementation and management towards an integrated achievement of results. 2. Develop and maintain close collaborative relationship with the key GOU officials dealing with food assistance (including at the Permanent Secretary and Ministerial levels). The main purpose of these contacts is to ensure high technical standards of implementation as well as alignment with Government of Uganda priorities. 3. Coordinate with the donor community to develop integrated, non-duplicative programs. Represent USAID/Uganda at donor thematic group meetings, and participate in discussions, presentations, assessments, and evaluations being conducted by donor counterparts. Supervision: The Senior FFP Advisor will report to the VPU Leader. For detailed scope of work and evaluation criteria, please send email to gnakaddu@usaid.gov