Democracy Fellow, Sub-Saharan Africa
Washington, DC
Introduction
The Institute of International Education (IIE) seeks applications from qualified individuals for a Democracy Fellow to be based in USAID’s Bureau for Africa; Office of Sustainable Development; Conflict, Peacebuilding, and Governance Division (AFR/SD/CPG). Eligible applicants will be specialists in democracy, human rights, and governance (DRG) issues in the sub-Saharan African region. The Democracy Fellows and Grants (DFG) Program is funded by USAID and implemented by the Institute of International Education (IIE). The Fellow will be hired as a full-time, salaried IIE employee, with benefits, but will support AFR/SD/CPG. Initial appointment is for two years, with the second year, and any additional years, if exercised, contingent upon available funding and acceptable performance.
Background
AFR/SD/CPG is responsible for improving the overall effectiveness of USAID’s Bureau for Africa programming in DRG, counter-terrorism, counter-narcotics, and conflict mitigation. AFR/SD/CPG guides the conduct of country-level political sector assessments and the development of country program strategies. AFR/SD/CPG regularly analyzes regional trends and continually assesses individual country initiatives to identify “best practices” in DRG/conflict programming in the sub-Saharan Africa region which might be replicated elsewhere. Such information and practices are then disseminated to USAID staff across sub-Saharan Africa. AFR/SD/CPG provides remote and on-site guidance and technical assistance to field missions and maintains specialized grants, cooperative agreements, interagency agreements and contracts in support of country and regional programs.
Duties and Responsibilities
Duties and Responsibilities
The Democracy Fellow will:
• Conduct analysis of and closely track political developments and USAID missions’ DRG programming, primarily in Southern Africa and the Mano River and coastal countries of West Africa.
• Analyze and aggregate information to identify regional trends that inform and guide budgeting and programming decisions of other Africa Bureau staff.
• Through country teams, topical working groups, or other forums, engage in regular intra- and inter-agency policy and programmatic discussion related to political developments and programming needs or opportunities in the region, particularly in the assigned countries.
• Liaise regularly with colleagues in USAID/DCHA/DRG; the Department of State’s Bureau of African Affairs; and the Department of State’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor.
• Explore opportunities for research; develop concept papers for research activities; and guide research and analysis efforts related to DRG trends, challenges, and responsive approaches.
• Provide technical assistance, expert opinions and guidance, and analytical support in response to requests from USAID Headquarters and field missions in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Adapt best practices or guidance from USAID’s Center of Excellence on Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance (DRG Center) or other functional bureaus for application in Africa-based DRG programs.
• Support efforts to disseminate results of USAID-supported research on DRG programs to specific targeted audiences (e.g., USAID DRG officers, senior USAID leadership, relevant academic communities, etc.). Assist with development and possible delivery of technical trainings for Africa-based USAID field officers.
• Perform other tasks as assigned to support the ongoing work of AFR/SD/CPG. For example, the Fellow may be required to coordinate and attend meetings with other USAID and US government (USG) units, brief senior staff, draft summaries for a generalist audience highlighting the work of AFR/SD/CPG or democracy offices in USAID field missions, report out on seminars or briefings attended on behalf of the Division, and respond to ad hoc information requests or taskers. The Fellow will be required to attend the weekly AFR/SD/CPG staff meeting and other activities such as retreats, portfolio reviews, annual planning sessions, and other events as they are identified.
• Analyze and aggregate information to identify regional trends that inform and guide budgeting and programming decisions of other Africa Bureau staff.
• Through country teams, topical working groups, or other forums, engage in regular intra- and inter-agency policy and programmatic discussion related to political developments and programming needs or opportunities in the region, particularly in the assigned countries.
• Liaise regularly with colleagues in USAID/DCHA/DRG; the Department of State’s Bureau of African Affairs; and the Department of State’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor.
• Explore opportunities for research; develop concept papers for research activities; and guide research and analysis efforts related to DRG trends, challenges, and responsive approaches.
• Provide technical assistance, expert opinions and guidance, and analytical support in response to requests from USAID Headquarters and field missions in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Adapt best practices or guidance from USAID’s Center of Excellence on Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance (DRG Center) or other functional bureaus for application in Africa-based DRG programs.
• Support efforts to disseminate results of USAID-supported research on DRG programs to specific targeted audiences (e.g., USAID DRG officers, senior USAID leadership, relevant academic communities, etc.). Assist with development and possible delivery of technical trainings for Africa-based USAID field officers.
• Perform other tasks as assigned to support the ongoing work of AFR/SD/CPG. For example, the Fellow may be required to coordinate and attend meetings with other USAID and US government (USG) units, brief senior staff, draft summaries for a generalist audience highlighting the work of AFR/SD/CPG or democracy offices in USAID field missions, report out on seminars or briefings attended on behalf of the Division, and respond to ad hoc information requests or taskers. The Fellow will be required to attend the weekly AFR/SD/CPG staff meeting and other activities such as retreats, portfolio reviews, annual planning sessions, and other events as they are identified.
Qualifications and Skills
Required qualifications include:
• US citizenship.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret-level security clearance.
• B.A. degree. Advanced degree in public or business administration, law, political science, economics, or community development preferred.
• Substantive knowledge in at least one DRG subsector field, which could include democratization, voter and civic education, civil society strengthening, electoral behavior, decentralization, human rights, or government accountability/transparency in developing and/or transitional countries.
• Experience in developing or transitional countries, which could include living and working in a developing country for field research, short-term assignments, or long-term residential postings. Experience or expertise in southern and/or west Africa is preferred.
• Excellent English writing skills. French and/or Portuguese foreign language skills are preferred.
• Knowledge of USAID policies, procedures, rules, regulations, and/or strategies (preferred).
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work well on a team. Demonstrated leadership skills to effectively manage a multi-country development program. Ability to exhibit tact, diplomacy, and resourcefulness in dealing with high level officials of international organizations and other foreign and domestic development partners. Skill in coordinating, negotiating and motivating individuals to take action.
• Ability to prioritize and define objectives and to weigh various approaches to achieve objectives.
• Knowledge of international donor efforts to promote improvements in DRG in developing and transitional countries.
• Understanding of the dynamics of political change and the development of the institutions and decision-making processes essential to democratic systems is required.
• Knowledge of the principles, concepts, and methodology involved in the design, development, implementation, management, and evaluation of technical assistance programs/projects. Ability to apply experimental theories to problems not susceptible to treatment by traditionally accepted methods.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret-level security clearance.
• B.A. degree. Advanced degree in public or business administration, law, political science, economics, or community development preferred.
• Substantive knowledge in at least one DRG subsector field, which could include democratization, voter and civic education, civil society strengthening, electoral behavior, decentralization, human rights, or government accountability/transparency in developing and/or transitional countries.
• Experience in developing or transitional countries, which could include living and working in a developing country for field research, short-term assignments, or long-term residential postings. Experience or expertise in southern and/or west Africa is preferred.
• Excellent English writing skills. French and/or Portuguese foreign language skills are preferred.
• Knowledge of USAID policies, procedures, rules, regulations, and/or strategies (preferred).
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work well on a team. Demonstrated leadership skills to effectively manage a multi-country development program. Ability to exhibit tact, diplomacy, and resourcefulness in dealing with high level officials of international organizations and other foreign and domestic development partners. Skill in coordinating, negotiating and motivating individuals to take action.
• Ability to prioritize and define objectives and to weigh various approaches to achieve objectives.
• Knowledge of international donor efforts to promote improvements in DRG in developing and transitional countries.
• Understanding of the dynamics of political change and the development of the institutions and decision-making processes essential to democratic systems is required.
• Knowledge of the principles, concepts, and methodology involved in the design, development, implementation, management, and evaluation of technical assistance programs/projects. Ability to apply experimental theories to problems not susceptible to treatment by traditionally accepted methods.
Supervision and Guidance
The Fellow will serve as a member of AFR/SD/CPG and will be supervised on a day-to-day basis by the CPG Division Chief or his designee. The Fellow will be a full-time IIE salaried employee and will report for administrative purposes to the Democracy Fellows and Grants (DFG) Director at IIE. Fellow will participate in relevant working groups in other parts of USAID, as required. Fellow is expected to exercise the highest degree of individual initiative, resourcefulness, responsibility, and authority, consistent with USAID’s overall policy and procedural framework.
Location
Pending a background investigation for secret-level security clearance, the Fellow will be located at IIE headquarters in Washington, DC. Upon receiving a facility access badge, the Fellow will be based at USAID headquarters in Washington, DC. International travel may be required.
Duration of the position
Initial appointment is for one year and will begin as soon as possible. The second year is contingent upon available funding and acceptable performance during the first year.
Compensation
The salary for this fellowship will be competitive and commensurate with the candidate’s salary history and experience. The salary will not exceed $97,000/year.
The deadline for applications is 11:59 pm (Washington, DC) on Friday, August 30. Only complete applications will be considered.
Democracy Fellow, Sub-Saharan Africa
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