Application Deadline: 27-04-2017
Description
Job Description
RTI International is an independent nonprofit research institute and
leading development organization headquartered in Research Triangle
Park, North Carolina, USA. Since 1958, RTI has worked in over 150
countries and designed and implemented cutting-edge solutions in the
sectors of economic growth, governance, education, and health. A
cornerstone of RTI’s work is strengthening the capacities of local
partners and systems in order to increase local ownership and ensure
that host country individuals and organizations have the skills and
resources to achieve their missions and sustain their services in the
long term.
Position Summary
RTI International is
currently accepting applications for an Organizational Strengthening
Specialist to be based in Arusha, Tanzania for an anticipated
USAID-funded Regional Intergovernmental Organizational (RIGO)
Strengthening System project. The goal of the project is to strengthen
the capacity of key RIGOs in East Africa so that they can improve
leadership and better fulfill their mandates to lead the development
agenda within the region. Target RIGOs under this project include the
East African Community (EAC), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern
Africa (COMESA), and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development
(IGAD). Areas of capacity strengthening include institutional
governance, strategic planning, data for decision-making, and the
ability to meet the needs of their member states. To strengthen local
capacity, we will utilize USAID’s Human and Institutional Capacity
Development (HICD) approach that emphasizes continuous performance
improvement through customized solutions, monitoring, learning, and
adaptation.
The Organizational Strengthening Specialist will be
one of three Specialists embedded within the respective Secretariat
offices of targeted RIGOs and will be responsible for leading
organizational development (OD) with EAC staff to build in-house
knowledge in a broad range of areas. The EAC Organizational
Strengthening Specialist will not conduct work on behalf of the
institution, but will help to support them by providing technical
assistance, facilitating broad buy-in, motivating staff, ascertaining
challenges and opportunities, connecting departments or units within the
Secretariat, and identifying specialized technical expertise that may
be needed to complement her/his work.
The Organizational
Strengthening Specialist for the EAC will be based out of Arusha,
Tanzania, and may be expected to occasionally travel to Nairobi, Kenya,
where the project office will be located. The project is expected to be
five years in duration. This position is contingent upon receipt of
donor funding. Nationals of East Africa are strongly encouraged to
apply.
Primary Responsibilities
The responsibilities of the Organizational Strengthening Specialist for the EAC are as follows:
Help to lead an institutional capacity assessment that will consult EAC
staff on their key strengths, challenges, needs, and priorities and
will establish a baseline in which to measure progress. This assessment
will also form the basis for a customized performance solution package
for the EAC.
Lead the implementation of the performance solution
package by mentoring EAC staff in a wide range of areas helping increase
their capabilities to perform their duties and achieve their
institutional mandate. Although the support will be determined after the
assessment and in consultation with the EAC, illustrative areas may
include leadership, strategic planning, institutional governance, data
collection and reporting, communication, fundraising, donor
coordination, and HR.
Develop creative approaches to strengthening
the institutional capacity of key RIGOs that align with USAID’s HICD
approach so that solutions are customized to the unique needs of the
EAC.
Be an integral member of the EAC Working Group and help to
maintain momentum, ownership, and motivation of senior EAC management
and Working Group members in implementing actions identified within the
performance solution package.
Liaise regularly with the project’s
lead Organizational Strengthening Specialist to provide updates,
collaborate on deliverables, and consult on approaches.
Continuously
monitor the results of project activities, evaluating progress against
project targets and identifying course-corrections that may be needed in
order to improve impact.
Required Skills and Qualifications
The successful applicant will be a seasoned professional with extensive
experience in strengthening institutional capacity in a wide range of
areas. The applicant will also possess strong leadership and
consensus-building skills in order to motivate and unite EAC staff
around OD goals. The ideal candidate will possess significant experience
in working with and/or strengthening the institutional capacity of
complex national institutions in the East Africa region. Candidates that
have experience in working with RIGOs are strongly preferred.
Applicants should possess:
A minimum of a Master’s degree in
international development, public administration, public policy, finance
management, economic policy, or related field.
A minimum of 9 years
of experience, with at least 4 years in organizational development of
complex national or regional institutions.
Successful experience in
non-traditional approaches to capacity development, such as peer-to-peer
learning and mentoring and coaching.
Broad expertise across
capacity development areas: leadership, strategic planning, change
management, human resources, fundraising, M&E, communications, and
coordination.
Experience in working with RIGOs, ideally within East Africa, is highly desired.
A track-record in adaptive approaches and, ideally, familiarity or experience in utilizing USAID’s HICD model.
Exceptional cross-cultural, verbal, and written communication skills so
that she/he creates a shared vision on project objectives and
activities among diverse stakeholders.
Collaborative team-player that is proactive in identifying challenges, proposing solutions, and is results-driven.
An ability to resolve sensitive and complicated work issues with senior
high-level country counterparts, donor representatives and senior-level
staff.
Fluency in English.
CPT or HPI certification is a plus.
Application Instructions
Online application, click APPLY NOW below