Solicitation for U.S. Personal Services Contractor (U.S.PSC) Senior Stabilization Advisor – Somalia At US Agency for International Development

GENERAL INFORMATION

1. SOLICITATION NO.: Mission Notice 21-185
2. ISSUANCE DATE: November 11, 2021
3. CLOSING DATE/TIME: November 26, 2021, at 04:30 p.m. (Nairobi Time)
4. POSITION TITLE: Senior Stabilization Advisor – Somalia
5. MARKET VALUE: $110,460 to $143,598 annually equivalent to GS-15. Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value.
6. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Two (2) year base period, with three one-year options subject to funding availability and satisfactory performance or better.
7. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Nairobi, Kenya
8. AREA OF CONSIDERATION: U.S. Citizens and/or U.S Resident Aliens[1] residing in Kenya. Citizenship, if dual, must be clearly stated.
9. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Secret
10. POINT OF CONTACT: Executive Office/Human Resources, Patrick Bii, HR Assistant, email at pbii@usaid.gov
11. PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The primary location of work will be on the U.S. Embassy/USAID compound in Nairobi, Kenya. No special demands are required to perform the work.
12. STATEMENT OF DUTIES/POSITION DESCRIPTION

Background/Introduction

USAID/Somalia seeks to contract for a U.S. Personal Services Contractor (PSC) to lead the Mission’s stabilization team and advance USAID’s goal of preventing and countering violent extremism in Somalia. The Senior Stabilization Advisor will: (1) provide expert management and technical leadership of the planned $50 million Locally Legitimate Stabilization program and associated stabilization and access to justice programs (currently valued at a total of $77.5 million); (2) lead USAID interagency engagement on issues surrounding stabilization and broader efforts to prevent and counter violent extremism; (3) supervise a team of three that includes a GS-14 USPSC Senior Rule of Law Advisor and Program Management Specialists focused on Stabilization (FSN 10) and Rule of Law (FSN 11) respectively; and (4) ensure USAID/Somalia stabilization and rule of law programs achieve measurable impact in reducing the influence of Al-Shabaab in USAID’s focal zone.

USAID/Somalia’s approach to stabilization recognizes that stabilization programs must be a bridge to and catalyst for longer term development processes, be grounded in efforts to advance political inclusion, and connect with efforts to resolve grievances and conflict that can drive instability. To be successful, USAID’s programs must both look ahead to identify new stabilization opportunities created by clearance operations while simultaneously looking back to ensure that al-Shabaab’s influence is sufficiently eroded so that longer term development processes can take root. This approach requires USAID to engage with communities recently recovered from al-Shabaab and in communities that may have been recovered for several years but remain vulnerable to al-Shabaab and where opportunities exist to consolidate and expand stabilization gains. USAID must also consider how to address citizen grievances in these same communities as an absence of justice is often cited as one of the root causes of instability in Somalia and a key driver of violent extremism.

The Senior Stabilization Advisor reports to the DSG Director. Somalia is one of the most complex political and security environments in the world, and approximately half of USAID/Somalia’s nearly $60 million annual Development Assistance budget supports the Agency’s largest and most comprehensive Democracy, Rights, and Governance (DRG) portfolio in all of Africa. This portfolio includes programs that support elections, public sector capacity building, legislative development, local governance, access to justice, and stabilization and reconciliation. The DSG Office is a team of eight, composed of two USDHs, two USPSCs, and four FSNs.

The Senior Stabilization Advisor serves on the core team overseeing the Mission’s strategic vision and implementation of its Development Objective 1: “Targeted local institutions govern in a more legitimate manner, diminishing influence of violent extremist organizations.” This includes coordinating the stabilization activities within the broader DSG portfolio and with the Economic Growth and Education teams. S/he crafts the vision for Stabilization in the coming years, ensuring the new Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) guides stabilization and political inclusion efforts. S/he represents USAID to the inter-agency community and senior government and donor officials on issues related to stabilization. This includes ensuring USAID’s stabilization efforts are at the forefront of US Government (USG) policy in Somalia, liaising with complimentary donors and multiple Department of Defense elements at post and in United States Africa Command (USAFRICOM). S/he provides USAID/Somalia with strategic and technical leadership on the full range of Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance (DRG) programming, and is responsible for managing and mentoring staff in all aspects of the Office’s portfolio, including but not limited to planning, design, budgeting, procurement, program management, and M&E. Strong management and interpersonal skills, strong stabilization experience, and political astuteness are essential to the incumbent’s success in the position.

SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

The incumbent must meet the following requirements in education and professional experience:

Education (0 points): Bachelor’s and post graduate degree in a relevant area such as, but not limited to, international relations, conflict analysis, international development, social sciences, or law.

Prior Work Experience (25 points): Minimum of fifteen (15) years of progressively responsible management experience with a USG entity, international assistance organization, or non-governmental organization in community development, stabilization, conflict resolution, democracy and governance, reconciliation, citizen security, and/or political analysis; within which there must be a:

· Minimum of ten (10) years of overseas field experience working on stabilization, reconciliation, local governance, conflict prevention, dispute resolution, community development, or other relevant programs;

·Minimum of ten (10) years of supervisory experience (including mentoring, training, and guiding staff).

Language Proficiency (10 Points): Fluent (Level IV), fluent verbal and written English communication skills and analytical ability are required.

Technical Knowledge (30 points): The incumbent must have an expert-level understanding of development and/or conflict-related programs characterized by multi-disciplinary approaches, and their role in U.S. foreign policy. S/he must have comprehensive knowledge of donor programming policies and international donor regulations, procedures, and practices. Candidates must show past experience in performing successfully at high levels, with minimal supervision and daily direction.

Abilities and Skills (35 points): The incumbent must have demonstrated ability in dealing effectively and diplomatically with customers from a variety of organizations. The individual must be able to develop and maintain an extensive range of contacts with both senior and working level staff in USAID/Somalia, USAID/Washington, US Mission in Somalia, and the inter-agency, as well as development partners, donors, host-country representatives, and other stakeholders. The individual must be able to effectively identify, mobilize, and draw upon the expertise of USAID personnel, including subordinate staff.

Candidates must have the ability to independently manage activities and deliver quality, timely products that require minimal review and oversight. Proven written and oral English communication skills, as well as strong research, teamwork, and interpersonal skills are required to perform successfully in this position. The incumbent must be comfortable developing outreach strategies, and delivering formal briefings and presentations.

The ability to provide information and advice with objectivity is required. The incumbent must be able to excel in a fast-paced, multicultural work environment, and be able to deliver multiple tasks simultaneously. The individual must therefore apply expert-level analytical skills and judgment to determine the best solution from the range of possible alternatives.

[1] U.S. resident alien means a non-U.S. citizen lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States.