Reference: DFIDJOB-0217
Closing date: 06 June 2012
Interview date: Not Specified
Number of vacancies: 1
Salary: Rwf31,645,930 - Rwf60,939,968 per annum
Location: Kigali, Rwanda
Appointment Terms: Permanent
Working Arrangements: Full-time
Specific requirements:
Brief description: This is an exciting time to be working on private sector development in Rwanda. The Government in Rwanda shares DFID’s view that private sector-led economic growth is critical for long term and sustainable poverty reduction. It is committed to creating a strong investment climate, and this commitment is born out in Rwanda’s recent rapid rise through the ranks of the World Bank’s Doing Business Index.
The UK Government Department for International Development (DFID) is responsible for delivering the British Government’s development and poverty eradication programmes around the world. For more details please go to www.dfid.gov.uk.
DFID is strengthening its support to private sector development in Rwanda. This includes targeted contributions to the regional integration programme Trade Mark East Africa; leading the Access to Finance Rwanda Programme; and private sector development policy issues relating to foreign direct investment, low carbon and climate resilient growth, land ownership, agriculture, education, health and social protection. DFID Rwanda is looking for an experienced Private Sector Development Adviser to lead and expand this process.
Background
Post:
This is an exciting time to be working on private sector development in Rwanda. The Government in Rwanda shares DFID’s view that private sector-led economic growth is critical for long term and sustainable poverty reduction. It is committed to creating a strong investment climate, and this commitment is born out in Rwanda’s recent rapid rise through the ranks of the World Bank’s Doing Business Index.
However, some key challenges remain to convert this into increased investment, trade and private sector-led growth. A number of growth diagnostics have highlighted Rwanda’s poor skill levels, limited access to financial services, high trade, transport and energy costs due to being landlocked, and the physical constraints to higher agricultural productivity as key impediments to economic growth. In addition, economic space for small and medium sized enterprises remains constrained.
DFID Rwanda is looking for an exceptional individual to help support the Government and private sector in Rwanda to meet these challenges head on.
As the successful candidate you will join our Economic Growth Team (EGT). The EGT is responsible for developing and implementing programmes to support economic growth in Rwanda in line with DFID Rwanda’s Operational Plan. This portfolio includes some of DFID’s most innovative programmes including a nation-wide Land Tenure Reform initiative, supporting trade and regional integration through Trade Mark East Africa, a Sector Budget Support programme in Agriculture and an innovative Financial Sector Deepening Trust programme called Access to Finance Rwanda. The EGT is also responsible for leading on the General Budget Support programme for DFID Rwanda, which currently comprises approximately 45% of our overall spend.
The EGT team comprises 6 posts, including a livelihoods advisor, climate change advisor, assistant economist, programme coordinator, programme officer and senior economic advisor. Reporting to the team leader/senior economic adviser, you would also work closely with the other DFID Rwanda teams including the social sector team, governance team and the Deputy Head of Office, who leads on statistics and results.
Country
Rwanda is pushing for, and achieving, exceptionally fast development. The past decade has brought macroeconomic stability and strong economic growth, averaging 8% over the past five years. Recent household surveys conducted in Rwanda reveal that the poverty rate has decreased by almost 12 percentage points in the last five years. Poorer households particularly benefitted from recent economic growth, resulting in reduced inequality in Rwanda. This is coupled with progress across many of the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) indicators, including towards achieving universal primary education and significantly reducing child mortality.
However, despite remarkable progress, the development challenge in Rwanda remains significant. 45% of Rwandan population are poor and 24% live in extreme poverty and key challenges remain in nutrition, maternal mortality and water and sanitation. The Government is determined to address this through policies to improve agriculture (40% of the economy, 85% of livelihoods) and investment. Basic services are strongly supported and a comprehensive social protection programme is being scaled up nationwide. The government also has an ambitious programme to improve access to finance and service provision – and to integrate more fully into the East African Community. DFID Rwanda has a portfolio of programmes supporting all aspects of the Government of Rwanda’s current Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS).
Rwanda’s recovery from genocide and conflict over the last 16 years – and its current EDPRS - are underpinned by a remarkable development vision. In pursuit of this vision, the government uses development finance well, both in terms of the results achieved and accountability for its use. The development environment is vibrant and fast-paced, and has a high international profile. The government owns and leads the development agenda, and – increasingly - the processes. There are relatively well-functioning mechanisms for government / development partner planning and policy dialogue. As the largest bilateral donor to the Rwandan budget, DFID plays a significant role in these – as will you.
Job Description/duties
As Private Sector Development Adviser you will be expected to:
1. Effectively lead the DFID Rwanda Private Sector Development programme by:
- a) Driving the successful implementation of the Access to Finance Rwanda Programme
- b) Ensuring effective delivery of the Trade Mark East Africa (TMEA) programme in partnership with DFID’s regional team in Nairobi. This includes representing DFID on the TMEA’s National Oversight Committee.
- c) Working closely with Government, private sector and development partners to improve trade and investment policy.
- d) Working with GoR to ensure that private sector development is mainstreamed in the 2013 to 2017 National Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS)
- e) Providing support to GoR, in partnership with the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, for international trade negotiations where necessary.
- f) Co-chairing the GoR sector working group on Financial Sector Development, and participate in the GoR Private Sector Development working group.
- g) Developing and maintaining strong high level relationships with GoR and private sector counterparts involved directly or indirectly with private sector development issues.
2. Lead on cross cutting private sector development advisory support to DFID Rwanda and provide input into the DFID Private Sector Development cadre:
- a) Oversight and engagement on areas relating to the private sector on all programmes and across all sectors in the EDPRS - Ensuring that all programmes under the DFID Rwanda Operational Plan support where relevant DFID’s approach to private sector development - http://www.dfid.gov.uk/Documents/publications1/Private-sector-approach-paper-May2011.pdf .
- b) Undertaking private sector appraisals for the DFID Rwanda programme particularly in relation to new business cases.
- c) Constructive and timely inputs in response to all requests from DFID’s Africa Division, Policy Division, Results and Evidence Division, the cadre, DFID’s new Private Sector Department and Top Management Group on key private sector development issues.
3. Contribute to effective leadership, strategic direction and management of DFID Rwanda by:
- a) Supporting the implementation of key DFID Rwanda programmes including close engagement with the Results Team.
- b) Ensuring DFID’s successes are effectively communicated to the public and our development partners
- c) Ensuring that the British High Commission team is supported in actively contributing to UK-Rwanda development dialogue on private sector issues.
- d) Maintaining productive working relationships with other donors (particularly those who fund private sector development programmes).
4. Perform line management duties as required within the Economic Growth Team
Personal Qualities and Skills Required (Person Specification)
All PSDAs are required to have a minimum of a Masters degree or equivalent level of academic and professional experience in business administration, accounting, finance, economics or development studies. Applicants should have experience in providing policy advice to the public and / or private sectors.
Applicants will be required to provide examples of written work as evidence of their technical skills as part of a selection process.
To qualify for this post you will need to demonstrate that you meet the requirements of DFID’s Private Sector Development technical competency framework, available on the DFID website - http://www.dfid.gov.uk/Documents/recruitment/Advisers/technical-competencies-private-sector-dev.pdf
In summary all Private Sector Development Advisors are expected to have a strong understanding of the following technical competences:
- The Role of Government in Private Sector Development
- Role of Private Sector in Growth and Poverty Reduction
- Knowledge and Experience of Private Business (Local and International)
- Trade (for example regional trade agreements and trade preferences, non-tariff barriers to trade, strategies necessary to strengthen export capabilities, trade facilitation including customs reform and reducing red tape at border posts, determinants of the level and benefits of foreign investment)
Understanding of the following competencies would be an advantage
- Knowledge and Experience of Private Business (Local and International)
- Market Development (in land, labour or capital/financial product or service)
- Public / Private Partnerships
As related to this post, applicants will be expected to be able to demonstrate experience and a sound understanding of:
- a sound understanding of regional and trade issues relating to the East African Community specifically, but also to the tripartite of EAC/COMESA/SADC
- current progress and key issues relating to international trade negotiations and current UK trade policy position with specific reference to the UK Africa Free Trade Initiative.
- working on private sector development in developing countries.
All DFID advisors are required to have a strong understanding of the following shared technical competences;
- Knowledge and understanding of international aid
- Collating, analysing and presenting evidence/research using statistical and wider analytical skills
- Economic concepts, appraisal and value for money
- Evaluation and results
Candidates with experience in the private sector as well as in private sector development policy will be at an advantage.
Experience of working with and coordinating multilateral and bilateral partners, along with broad understanding of key aid instruments used by DFID and the international community is highly valued.
Leadership of complex multi stakeholder processes and ability to influence strategically across Government at a senior level is essential.
Experience in line management would be an advantage
DFID core competency framework
Finally you will need to provide examples that show that you have the following core competencies at the levels assigned. DFID core competency framework is available on the DFID website at the following link: http://www.dfid.gov.uk/Documents/recruitment/competency-framework-external.pdf.
Core Competency 1 - Working with Others
Level required – 4
Core Competency 2 - Planning and Delivery of Work
Level required – 3
Core Competency 3 - Analysis and use of information
Level required – 3
Core Competency 4 - Influencing
Level required – 3
Core Competency 5 - Organisational awareness
Level required – 3
To apply
You will need to submit a supplementary paper explaining in no more than 1000 words the reasons why you are the best candidate for this post.
Send your CV, covering letter and the supplementary paper specified above by 10:00 am (central African time) on 6th JUNE 2012 (include your phone number, but no copies of certificates or qualification are needed at this stage) to the HR Officer, DFID, P.O Box 576, Kigali, Rwanda. Or deliver by hand at our office opposite the Umubano Hotel on Blvd De L’Umuganda. Or by email (max 0.5MB) to: DFID-Rwanda@dfid.gov.uk with the subject ‘recruitment: Private Sector Development Advisor’.
Your application should clearly demonstrate and provide evidence for the role requirement above. Referees (at least three) should be included but will not be contacted without applicant’s permission.
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