Deputy Chief of Party – Sudan Feed the Future Project At Near East Foundation

Title: Deputy Chief of Party – Sudan Feed the Future Activity

Reports to: Chief of Party

Location: Sudan

Pre-Award: Anticipated Start Date March 2025

About NEF

Since 1915, NEF has supported community-led economic and social development in Middle East, Africa, and Caucasus. As a non-profit international development organization, NEF draws on local teams, experience, and partnerships in these regions to create community-led solutions to reduce poverty, create economic opportunity, increase resilience, and empower conflict, climate- and crisis-affected people to improve their outlook and wellbeing. Our programs span three focal areas: Inclusive Economic Development, Climate Resilient Development, and Peace and Stability.

NEF works through a network of country offices and with local partners, with current or recent operations in Armenia, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Mali, Morocco, Palestine, Sudan, South Sudan, and Syria. Our global headquarters are based in Syracuse, NY, London, UK, and Brussels, Belgium.

Near East Foundation (NEF) has been operating in Sudan since 1978. NEF’s overarching goal in Sudan is to foster inclusive and equitable growth that improves the lives of the Sudanese population. By supporting locally led initiatives, NEF aims to create lasting change, harnessing the potential of communities to drive their own development.

Position Overview

The Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) will support the Chief of Party in the implementation of the anticipated Feed the Future project. The DCOP will take a lead role in managing project operations, coordinating with partners, and ensuring the delivery of high-quality results focused on enhancing resilience, improving food security, and strengthening agricultural value chains in Sudan. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in agricultural development and experience in managing complex projects in challenging environments.

Responsibilities

• Assist the COP in day-to-day project management and operational oversight. Ensure compliance with USAID policies and procedures in all aspects of project implementation.
• Lead the development and implementation of technical strategies related to agriculture, food security, and market linkages. Provide technical guidance to project staff and partners on best practices and innovative approaches.
• Collaborate with the M&E team to track project progress, outcomes, and impacts. Contribute to the development of performance indicators and ensure data collection aligns with project objectives.
• Facilitate collaboration among project stakeholders, including local communities, government agencies, and private sector partners. Support capacity-building efforts for local actors to ensure sustainability of project interventions.
• Identify operational risks and develop mitigation strategies to address challenges related to security and market dynamics. Provide recommendations for adapting project activities based on ongoing assessments of the context.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in agriculture, Development Studies, agribusiness, or a related field.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in agricultural development, with a focus on project management and implementation.
• Experience in USAID-funded programs and familiarity with USAID regulations.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to work in a dynamic environment.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Fluency in Arabic and English