Roads Maintenance and Improvement Consultants, Juba, Sudan

Management Systems International (MSI) is a global international development firm based in Washington, D.C. providing specialized short- and long-term technical assistance. MSI is part of Coffey International Development, a global international development consulting firm. Together with Coffey ID, MSI now has more than 1,500 development professionals worldwide, a corporate presence in 11 countries and manages more than 200 projects worldwide. It currently manages more than 20 long-term projects in countries, including Iraq, Sudan, Colombia and Russia. Broadly, MSI implements a range of analytical and field projects in its core technical areas, including democracy and governance, strategic management and performance improvement, organizational capacity building, human development and natural resource management. For more information on MSI, please visit our website at www.msiworldwide.com.

Project/Proposal Summary:
USAID/South Sudan’s Office of Transition and Conflict Mitigation (OTCM) manages USAID’s transition and conflict mitigation programming in South Sudan. Through an innovative in-kind grant-making platform, OTCM provides small grants in support of increased stability to improve the immediate prospects for longer term development in South Sudan. A recent deterioration in South Sudan’s security threatens both the integrity of the newly emergent nation-state and the stability of the region, both of which are critical foreign policy priorities of the United States in Africa. OTCM’s small grants programs are currently implemented by AECOM International South Sudan through local communities and stakeholders in remote and volatile regions of the country that are most prone to destabilizing conflict.

Position Summary: MSI SUPPORT is looking to contract a road maintenance and improvement consultant. S/he will be a senior expatriate road expert with extensive experience in community-based and other approaches to road maintenance and management, to be contracted for 36 working days, immediately. A local consultant, with in-depth knowledge of South Sudan’s conditions will be hired after the senior expert is fielded. The consultants will report directly to OTCM’s Team Leader. MSI SUPPORT will provide logistical support to the team. Period of performance will be from o/a early February 2012 to o/a early-March 2012.

Responsibilities: The consultants will have 2 key worksites: Juba and Bor (capital of Jonglei state). Field visits will take place in various locations in Jonglei, security conditions permitting. The consultants will:

1. Conduct rapid review of the status of road maintenance/improvement situation in Jonglei state, including efforts of government, NGOs and donors to support road maintenance/improvement in the region. a. Review documents related to the Mission’s and others’ programs; b. Interview government officials and donor staff to develop understanding of conditions and challenges in South Sudan. c. Interview Jonglei government leadership and communities in Bor to better define road needs and possible approaches to addressing these needs.

2. Based on the rapid review, draft 15-30 page final report providing the consultants’ views on: a. The current situation of road maintenance and improvement in Jonglei, including the opportunities and constraints for utilizing road maintenance and improvement for addressing the state’s development and conflict/security challenges; b. Description of efforts being invested in road maintenance and improvement; c. Options for sustainable and cost effective road maintenance and improvement in Jonglei, including state, private and community-driven approaches, d. Recommendation(s) on how USAID might move forward with support for road maintenance/improvement in Jonglei.

3. Based on the options/costs associated with each option, the Mission may request consultant to develop and present draft Program Description /Scope of Work to form basis of future Mission-funded work in support of road maintenance/improvement programs in Jonglei.
4. In South Sudan, the senior consultant will organize at least two presentations for stakeholders to inform decision-makers’ thinking about cost effective, participatory, democratic and sustainable approaches to road maintenance. These workshops will draw from consultant’s experiences from other regions and present lessons learned. Qualifications:
5. Senior-level advisor with 15+ years of field experience developing community-based approaches for road improvements and maintenance. Preferably with experience in establishing rural institutional capacity including assisting local governments and citizens to work together to manage and sustain roads in remote and isolated areas.
6. Field experience in conflict areas highly preferred.
7. Minimum a bachelor’s degree in a relevant social science discipline (anthropology, geography, political science, rural economics, organizational development, international development, etc).
8. Strong English writing skills required.
9. Excellent presentation skills.
10. Ability to work in difficult conditions with minimal amenities.
11. This is a field-based assignment where the candidate is expected to travel to remote areas. Overnight in Bor, capital Jonglei state, at the World Food Program camp, likely..

Only candidates who have been selected for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls, please.

How to apply:

To apply, please visit our website: www.msiworldwide.com