GENERAL INFORMATION 

USAID DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING) AND DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANT’S BANK ACCOUNTS.

1. SOLICITATION NO.: 72064924R10007

2. ISSUANCE DATE: April 30, 2024

3. CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: May 21, 2024 (4:30 PM East Africa Time).

4. POINT OF CONTACT: USAID Kenya and East Africa and Somalia Human Resources, e-mail at [email protected]

5. POSITION TITLE: USAID Project Management Specialist (Gender, Monitoring and Evaluation)

6. MARKET VALUE: 5,435,381.00 KSH to 9,069,687.00 KSH per annum equivalent to FSN-11 grade level in accordance with AIDAR Appendix J and the Local Compensation Plan of USAID Somalia. The salary range provided is inclusive of all allowances and annual bonus. All applicable taxes will be deducted from the stated gross market rate. Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value.

7. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Five (5) years estimated to start o/a November 1, 2024. The services provided under this contract are expected to be of a continuing nature that will be executed by USAID through a series of sequential contracts, subject to the availability of funds, the continued need for services and successful performance.

8. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Nairobi, Kenya with possible travel as stated in the Statement of Duties.

9. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: Open to qualified Cooperating Country National (CCN) (an individual who is a cooperating country citizen or a non-cooperating country citizen lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the cooperating country). Employees presently on probation are ineligible to apply.

10. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Security certification issued by the US Embassy RSO.

STATEMENT OF DUTIES

General Statement of Purpose of the Contract

USAID/Somalia manages a large, complex foreign assistance program in Somalia. Given the challenges of designing and implementing effective development projects in a highly dynamic, high threat environment, USAID/Somalia invests in developing a strong monitoring, evaluation, and learning culture. This enables the Mission to be able to design, manage, and adapt activities to ongoing security, political, social, and economic changes as well as to test whether development approaches and interventions are achieving results and are sustainable and scalable in Somalia.

The Project Management Specialist (Gender, Monitoring and Evaluation) is a member of USAID Somalia’s Program Office (PRO). The incumbent will be responsible for overseeing USAID’s monitoring and evaluation approach and ensuring compliance with USAID’s gender equality-related policies.

The Gender, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist will serve as a subject matter expert on monitoring and evaluation in conflict and crisis areas. Given the restrictions on US Government staff to travel to Somalia,it is imperative that the Mission have a highly skilled individual to minimize its risk and ensure that USAID resources are being used as intended. The jobholder should have excellent management skills as the position entails managing contractor(s) implementing activities in Somalia and ensuring that the MEL products from these contractor(s) are responding to Mission needs. The job holder will keep abreast of current trends, publications, and information in order to advise the Mission on its monitoring, evaluation, and learning approach. The job holder will provide support to technical offices on monitoring and evaluation through capacity building, review of monitoring and evaluation products, engagement with Mission learning partners, and implementation of evaluations.

The Gender, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist will serve as the Mission’s point of contact for gender equality and advise the Program Office, technical teams, and implementing partners throughout all aspects of the USAID Program Cycle. The job holder will ensure that gender policies, legal requirements, and gender transformative approaches are carried out in the implementation of USAID’s activities. The jobholder must work closely with the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Advisor, other USAID/Somalia staff, and Senior Gender Advisor for the Africa Bureau.

The assignment requires regular site visits and other travel to select locations in Somalia in adherence to Mission standard operating procedures including those related to security and safety.

Statement of Duties to be Performed.

Monitoring and Evaluation Duties – 50%

• Serve as the COR/AOR and/or alternate for monitoring, evaluation, and learning grants and contracts in Somalia. This includes responsibility for budget allocation, obligation, and expenditure. The job holder will undertake regular analyses of financial information of project activities, including monitoring overall pipeline, and make adjustments and recommendations as necessary. The incumbent will facilitate the development of work plans and monitoring plans, reviewing and proposing modifications to activity approaches when necessary to better achieve results. The incumbent will review annual and quarterly project reports and weekly updates. The jobholder will also ensure that the monitoring, evaluation, and learning products respond to Mission needs and/or fill existing gaps.
• Liaise with technical offices and provide guidance on: (1) management of activity monitoring, evaluation, and learning plans, (2) engagement with and use of the Agency’s Development Information System, (3) evaluation design and management, and (4) engagement with Mission learning partners.
• Liaise with implementing partners and provide guidance on: (1) approaches to monitoring and valuation, (2) use of the Agency’s Development Information Solution platform, (3) engagement with the Mission’s learning partners, and (4) contribution to the Mission’s learning priorities and evaluations.
• Collaborate with other Office members and inter-agency processes in drafting narratives and providing other inputs into mission planning (Operational Plan) and reporting (Performance Plan and Report; Mission Resource Request, Congressional Budget Justification, etc.)
• Assist senior USG, Mission, and Office staff in representing USAID to implementing partners, NGOs, Somali government counterparts, donors, and other national and international groups and bodies, to ensure the use of appropriate MEL approaches to test whether development approaches and interventions are achieving results and are sustainable and scalable in Somalia.

Gender Policy Advisor and Representation – 50%

• Advise on MEL efforts to support implementation of gender equality-related policies and progress toward gender transformative approaches. Work with technical teams to review project and activity MEL plans and advise on how to ensure requirements such as data-disaggregation, standard F gender and custom gender indicators, and gender-based learning objectives are in place to ensure measurement of meaningful results. Review field reporting and evaluation scopes of work to ensure gender equality factors are assessed and in compliance with the Agency’s gender equality-related policies.
• Participate in the activity design process to ensure that gender equality-related policies and gender transformative approaches are integrated into sector specific activities. Provide updates on progress, challenges, and opportunities and seek input from Mission leadership, as appropriate.
• Provide leadership, promote coordination, and represent USAID in activities that contribute to Agencywide gender-related efforts, such as the development of guidance or policy documents, and participation in interagency collaboration and bilateral and multilateral meetings and events. Maintain close relationships with stakeholders working on efforts that further USAID’s gender policy objectives.
• Contribute to Mission responses to reporting related to gender equality, including but not limited to narratives for the annual Performance Plan and Report and Operational Plan. Contribute as needed to other Mission reporting requirements.

The contractor is eligible for temporary duty (TDY) travel to the United States, or to other Missions abroad, to participate in the "Foreign Service National" Fellowship Program, in accordance with USAID policy.

Prior Work Experience

Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in areas relevant to monitoring, evaluation and learning. Prior experience in gender equality/integration work including: gender analysis and design and implementation of gender equality/integration related projects. Prior work experience in the region is required. Out of the five years, at least two must have been in Somalia or a similar conflict context.

Supervisory Relationship

The Gender, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist will work under the supervision of the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Advisor. The incumbent will be expected to work with a high degree of independence. The job holder will be expected to develop their own work schedule, establish priorities, adhere to and meet established deadlines, and perform responsibilities and duties with minimal guidance and little or no follow up. The incumbent must be proactive as well as self-motivated.

Supervisory Controls

None.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The work requested does not involve undue physical demands.

EVALUATION AND SELECTION FACTORS

The Government may award a contract without discussions with offerors in accordance with FAR 52.2151. The CO reserves the right at any point in the evaluation process to establish a competitive range of offerors with whom negotiations will be conducted pursuant to FAR 15.306(c). In accordance with FAR 52.215-1, if the CO determines that the number of offers that would otherwise be in the competitive range exceeds the number at which an efficient competition can be conducted, the CO may limit the number of offerors in the competitive range to the greatest number that will permit an efficient competition among the most highly rated offers. The FAR provisions referenced above are available at https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far.

The technical evaluation committee may conduct reference checks, including references from individuals who have not been specifically identified by the offeror, and may do so before or after a candidate is interviewed.

Job Knowledge (60 points)

The Gender, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist must have in-depth professional-level knowledge of the main technical and substantive issues related to monitoring, evaluation, and learning in conflict and/or crisis affected states. The job holder must have knowledge of gender equality and/or integration challenges, approaches, and best practices.

Skills and Abilities (40 points)

The Gender, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist must have demonstrated ability to effectively and diplomatically deal with multiple stakeholders. The job holder must be able to work within a team and have positive interpersonal skills. Good written and oral communication skills are required in order to represent USAID, speak publicly and give presentations for a variety of audiences and a variety of purposes. The job holder must have the ability to prioritize among a considerable range of differing tasks and the ability to use critical thinking and innovation to solve problems as well as to develop new approaches. The job holder must be able to function both independently and as part of a team with a high degree of proactivity, responsiveness, and motivation in order to meet established deadlines.

Total possible points: 100

SUBMITTING AN OFFER

Step 1: Register in MyJobsInKenya at www.myjobsinkenya.com

Step 2: Complete the job application at www.myjobsinkenya.com

Step 3: Internal Offerors/Current USG Employees: Attach an updated curriculum vitae/resume (no more than five pages), a copy of your most recent Performance Evaluation Report, and copies of all relevant certificates. Scan and attach all the documents and upload them to MyJobsInKenya.

OR

External Offerors/Not Current USG Employees: Attach an updated curriculum vitae/resume (no more than five pages) and copies of all relevant certificates. Scan and attach all the documents and upload them to MyJobsInKenya.

Note to Applicants:

1. Offers must be received by the closing date and time specified in Section I, item 3, and submitted through myjobsinkenya.com.

2. Submissions will only be accepted through www.myjobsinkenya.com. Late and incomplete applications (those that do not contain the applicant’s most current and up to date detailed CV and relevant education certificates) will not be considered for the position.

3. All Applicants must provide at least three professional references, who are not family members or relatives, with working telephone and e-mail contacts. The references must be able to provide substantive information about your past performance and abilities. USAID reserves the right to contact your previous employers for relevant information concerning your performance and may consider such information in its evaluation of the application.

LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS PRIOR TO AWARD

The CO will provide instructions about how to complete and submit any required forms after an offeror is selected for the contract award.

BENEFITS AND ALLOWANCES

Benefits and allowances are offered in accordance with the Local Compensation Plan (LCP).

TAXES

CCNPSCs are required to pay PAYE and statutory deductions. All applicable taxes will be deducted from the stated gross market rate.

USAID REGULATIONS, POLICIES AND CONTRACT CLAUSES PERTAINING TO PSCs

USAID regulations and policies governing CCNPSC awards are available at these sources:

1. USAID Acquisition Regulation (AIDAR), Appendix J, “Direct USAID Contracts With a Cooperating Country National and with a Third Country National for Personal Services Abroad,” including contract clause “General Provisions,” available at https://www.usaid.gov/ads/policy/300/aidar

2. Contract Cover Page form AID 309-1 available at https://www.usaid.gov/forms. Pricing by line item is to be determined upon contract award as described below:

ITEM NO (A) - 0001

SUPPLIES/SERVICES (DESCRIPTION) (B) - Compensation, Fringe Benefits and Other Direct Costs (ODCs) - Award Type: Cost- Product Service Code: [e.g., R497]- Accounting Info: [insert one or more citation(s) from Phoenix/GLAAS]

QUANTITY (C) - 1

UNIT (D) - LOT

UNIT PRICE (E) - $_TBD

AMOUNT (F) -  $ TBD  at Award after negotiations with Contractor_  

3. Acquisition & Assistance Policy Directives/Contract Information Bulletins (AAPDs/CIBs) for Personal Services Contracts with Individuals available at http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs

4. Ethical Conduct. By the acceptance of a USAID personal services contract as an individual, the contractor will be acknowledging receipt of the “Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch,” available from the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, in accordance with General Provision 2 and 5 CFR 2635. See https://www.oge.gov/web/oge.nsf/resources_standards-of-conduct.

5. PSC Ombudsman: The PSC Ombudsman serves as a resource for any Personal Services Contractor who has entered into a contract with the United States Agency for International Development and is available to provide clarity on their specific contract with the Agency. Please visit our page for additional information: https://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/personal-service-contracts-ombudsman.

The PSC Ombudsman may be contacted via: [email protected].

6. FAR Provisions Incorporated by Reference

52.204-27 PROHIBITION ON A BYTEDANCE COVERED APPLICATION June, 2023