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.: 72061524R10026 
2. ISSUANCE DATE: March 08, 2024 
3. CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: March 24, 2024 (4:30 PM East Africa Time). 
4. POINT OF CONTACT: USAID Kenya and East Africa Human Resources, e-mail at [email protected] 
5. POSITION TITLE: Development Assistance Specialist (Partnerships and Liaison). 
6. MARKET VALUE: Equivalent FSN-11 Step 1 (5,435,381 KSH per annum) to Step 13 (9,069,687.00  KSH per annum). In accordance with AIDAR Appendix J and the Local Compensation Plan of  USAID/Kenya and East Africa. 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: 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. It is anticipated  that the selection of the successful candidate will be completed within an estimated six-month period  from the closing date of this solicitation.  
8. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Nairobi, Kenya; with possible travel as stated in the Statement of Duties. 
9. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: Open to qualified Kenyan Citizens, including current locally hired employees  of the US Mission in Kenya. 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  

The USAID/Kenya and East Africa Partnerships and Liaison Specialist serves as the liaison and  partnerships operations to the front office to support the overall coordination of external stakeholder  relations. The job holder assists Front Office and broader mission staff to 1) Liaison Management and  Protocol Responsibilities 2) establish and maintain effective linkages, partnerships, and relationships. 2)  Contact Development to build linkages and networks with GoK, civil society organizations, academia,  private sector actors, implementing partners and development partners; 3) Providing strategic protocol  advice and coordination with the high-ranking Government of Kenya (GOK) officials; 4), Information  gathering, analysis and reporting on matters of strategic importance to USAID's development program; 5)  Liaise with county government on USAID development issues; and 6) Perform other related duties to assist  the Kenya and East Africa Front Office. The incumbent serves as the deputy to the strategic partnership  front advisor on matters pertaining to establishing and building effective strategic partnership, strengthening  the mission liaison with stakeholders, facilitating communication, providing advice on government protocol, building linkages and networks, knowledge sharing with the Mission Senior Management within all US  Government (USG) agencies on matters related to host country protocol guidelines, contacts,  communication, and correspondence. The incumbent will support the coordination and collaborative efforts  for sustainable relationship management with mission stakeholders i.e. GOK and County Government  officials, private sector, civil society, academia, donors/ foundations etc.  

The job holder is responsible for providing substantive advice on host country protocol advice, gathering  background information on issues of partnerships that require management action from the Mission  Director, structuring briefings and meetings for interaction with Mission stakeholders, and drafting guidance  on relevant correspondence to external partner meetings in which the Mission Director and senior  leadership is involved. The Partnerships and Liaison Specialist works closely with the Front Office strategic  partnerships advisor, chief of staff, Visitor coordinator and DOC team to align the Mission Directors and the  deputy mission director’s agenda with regards to Mission development priorities. The incumbent  demonstrates the highest standards of confidentiality and integrity. The job holder will manage multiple  responsibilities simultaneously, mixing long-term projects with the urgency of immediate demands. The  incumbent must also have the demonstrated ability to deal with highly confidential information and act as a  liaison between the Mission Director and other partner or Mission entities, both internal and external. The  incumbent must also demonstrate willingness and ability to manage large amounts of detail with  confidentiality, great care and accuracy. Lastly, the job holder will interface with the deputy mission directors  and Office Directors to ensure they are adequate preparations for Mission Director’s engagements  organized by others. 

Statement of Duties to be Performed

The Partnerships and Liaison Specialist will work closely with the USAID/Kenya and East Africa Executive  Secretaries to ensure effective Front Office operations. This position has four core areas of responsibility:  Liaison Management and Protocol Responsibilities, partnership and relationship management; and  information gathering and contact database management in interfacing with the Embassy, USG  Washington staff, GOK, Development Partners, Implementing Partners, and other Front Office relationships  affecting USAID's development program. 

Liaison Management and Protocol Responsibilities 40%  

a) Provides protocol guidance and liaison with both national and county government, private sector,  CSOs, institutions and local community. The job holder is required to make suggestions for events, in  coordinating and planning events including providing input and guidance on the expected pattern of  official functions and the review of the generated list and preparation of the final guest lists, issuance  and distribution of invitation cards, and seating arrangements. 

b) Prepares responses to letters requesting invitations to functions and representational events and for  the Strategic Partnership Advisor clearances while referring other letters to relevant sections for action.

c) Prepares letters for the Mission/DMD signature and works with front office manager and secretaries in  keeping records of the incoming and outgoing correspondence and responses. c) Coordinates with  strategic partnership advisor meeting requests and travel arrangements for the Mission Director and  other DMDs and identifies emerging concerns and potential problems, which breach protocol. The job  holder will provide backstopping and representation support for visit of Washington delegations, senior  government and manage the functioning of the office and administrative support. 

d) Secures appointments for the Mission/DMD and other mission officials as requested and obtains  appropriate contact info upon request of the GOK and their contacts. Facilitates and follows-up on all  meeting requests with National and County government officials at all levels. The job holder supports  various teams in organizing consultation meetings including undertaking documentation and capturing  the meeting proceedings.  

e) Coordinates with various technical office representatives/ secretaries to personally review guest lists  for events, identifies, meet and greet and also escorts them whenever required and also coordinates  with the Regional Security Office and Executive Office to inform and request access for VIP and regular  visitors to Mission.

f) Identifies synergies and leverages any existing networks to maximize the impact of USAID programs  with external stakeholders and supports the day-to-day liaison activities with government counterparts  of USAID/KEA programs to support the implementation of various activities.  

g) Initiates the preparation of drafting of outgoing correspondence to National and County Government,  Development partners Private sector Implementing partners, Diplomats CSOs, FBOs and respond to  invitations both in writing and over the telephone and ensures that drafted remarks, talking points,  briefing materials and written communication are accurate and consistent as required by USAID.  

h) Manages strategic partnership issues in the absence of the Strategic Partnerships Advisor and  undertakes any other duties as prescribed and ensures that any emerging concerns and issues/  obstacles to protocol services are addressed.  

Partnership and Relationship Management (30%)  

a) Build networks with national and county leaders to serve as a platform to promote USAID development  programs and build strategic linkages to enhance the effectiveness of those programs. 

b) Strengthens the coordination and collaboration for effective sustainable relationship management with  mission stakeholders and creates an institutionalized and systematic process driven outreach and  relationship management.  

c) Identifies synergies and leverages any existing networks to maximize the impact of USAID programs  with external stakeholders.  

d) Develop and manage a relationship management system that facilitates effective strategic  communications both inside and outside of USAID and establishes relationships with a wide range of  institutional and government actors including Missions and representatives of Development Partners,  Private Sector, Academic/Research Institutions and CSOs, FBOs and NGOs.  

e) Develop and maintain relationship and linkages with all the county officials (Governor, CECs, County  Liaisons, County Commissioners etc.) and other key stakeholders working at the county level and  ensures respectful, solution-oriented communication through the correspondence process. 

f) Support technical and lifeline offices to establish and maintain existing relationships with external  stakeholders and identifies and fosters new opportunity for potential partnerships through effective  networking.  

g) Build strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds  positively to feedback.  

Information Gathering and Reporting on County Government (20%)  

a) Collect relevant county information from technical offices, provides support to county outreach activities  and liaises with technical offices in documenting county visits including county program activities. 

b) Develop a National and county government database to support the programmatic work of the  USAID/Kenya mission.  

c) Responsible for information gathering and tracking relevant reports to support the needs on programs  being implemented.  

d) Liaise with USAID implementing partners, GoK MDAs and County Governments to support the  collection of the development plans as requested by the Front Office and ensure that all the records  are maintained in an efficient and professional manner.  

Contact Database and Biodata management 10%  

a) Develop Contact to create and maintain information database for sustainable linkages, partnerships  and networks with GoK, civil society organizations, private sector actors and development partners.

b) The incumbent maintains a contact list of both National and County Government officials and regularly provides updates on any changes made to the structures of governments at both levels. 

c) Manages, edits, updates, corrects, and creates new contacts databases and updates existing contacts. 

d) Oversees the completeness, accuracy, and accessibility of records by liaising sectional office teams to  compile contact lists for the mission and reviews them to avoid duplication of records and correcting  erroneous entries as and when found.  

e) Work closely with senior USAID/Kenya and East Africa staff to ensure follow-up of Front Office required  actions. The job holder will participate in the development of activity ideas, as requested. 

Prior Work Experience: A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in  development or diplomatic work in building partnerships, protocol management, communications,  public relations, or journalism in an English-language work environment is required. Three of the five  years’ experience should be within a donor agency or international organization at a senior level. The  incumbent must have working experience in a position with responsibilities similar to the duties outlined.  Prior administrative management knowledge and/or experience, either within the USG or with an  international organization is required. Solid experience of Host Country Operational environment,  particularly in the areas of protocol management, developing and fostering relationships, political  framework, socio-cultural activities etc. 

Supervision Received 

Incumbent will report directly to the Strategic Partnerships Advisor. The incumbent is expected to take  significant initiative in organizing, planning and carrying out the assignment with minimal supervision.  

Supervision Exercised 

Exercises no administrative supervision. 

Physical Demand

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 52.215- 1. 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. 

Job Knowledge (40 points) 

The incumbent has advanced knowledge of the GoK protocol issues, partnership management, fostering  and maintaining relationships, political, economic, social, and cultural environment with demonstrable  experience in liaison strategy and interacting with a range of partners including national and county  government officials, diplomatic personnel, private sector, academia, international development  organizations, civil society organizations. The incumbent must demonstrate understanding of the contextual  complexities of Kenya and how development programs should assimilate these.  

Skills and abilities (30 points) 

The incumbent is highly motivated, dedicated, a self-starter, and able to work in challenging and stressful  environments; excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work in a team setting; and ability to easily interact with tact and diplomacy when interacting with high level officials, external  stakeholders, and USAID partner organizations. H/She should have proven ability to develop new and build  existing linkages, partnerships, and networks with GoK, civil society organizations, private sector actors  and development partners that will enhance USAID development outcomes and results. Possess a strong  protocol management and communication skills to articulate the information to provide strategic guidance  and manage USAID-GOK institutional relationships. H/She must have the ability to gather, analyze and  synthesize information and develop a plausible interpretation of implications for USAID programs  implementation is critical.  

The incumbent must exhibit skill to collaborate with, and achieve results through, others, the ability to build  strong and sustainable partnerships and relationships, and the capability to interact within all levels of the  Agency and mission staff. The incumbent must have a high-level collaboration skill, with outstanding  diplomacy, analytical and organizational skills, finely honed oral and written communication skills, laterally  to others on the executive team, downward through the system, and upward to the Mission Director and  senior management. Demonstrates keen judgment and emotional intelligence, in addition to a successful  track record of achieving results through persuasion, influence and collaboration rather than explicit  reporting relationships.  

The incumbent must also possess analytical and critical thinking skills, using logic and reasoning to identify  strengths and weaknesses in relationships, and have the ability to seek alternative solutions, conclusions,  and approaches to problems. The job holder must have the ability to flawlessly manage significant amounts  of detail and a successful track record managing multiple complex projects simultaneously. The job holder  must exercise discretion, sound judgment, and the highest professional ethics and confidentiality. The  incumbent must have the ability to weigh issues in an unbiased manner. The job holder must be flexible  and highly organized. Demonstrated success in protocol management at all levels, information gathering  and analysis, and professional reporting is essential. 

Work Experience (30 points) 

A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in development or diplomatic work in  building partnerships, protocol management, communications, public relations, or journalism in an English language work environment is required. Three of the five years’ experience should be within a donor agency  or international organization at a senior level. The incumbent must have working experience in a position  with responsibilities similar to the duties outlined. Prior administrative management knowledge and/or  experience, either within the USG or with an international organization is required. Solid experience of Host  Country Operational environment, particularly in the areas of protocol management, developing and  fostering relationships, political framework, socio-cultural activities is required.  

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. 

Offerors must provide a list of minimum three (3) professional references who are not family  members or relatives, with complete name, title, organization where he/she works, description of  relationship, with working/accurate telephone numbers and email addresses. The offeror’s  references must be able to provide substantive information about his/her past performance and  abilities. 

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 

The Contractor must observe Kenyan laws including those concerning income and related tax obligations. VIII. USAID REGULATIONS, POLICIES AND CONTRACT CLAUSES PERTAINING TO PSCs USAID regulations and policies governing CCN and TCN PSC 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/sites/default/files/documents/1868/aidar_0.pdf. 
2. Contract Cover Page form AID 309-1 available at https://www.usaid.gov/forms. Pricing by lineitem  is to be determined upon contract award. 
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/OGE%20Regulations.
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 provideclarity 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].