General Statement of Purpose of the Contract

USAID’s regional Office of Food for Peace and Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance in Nairobi came together under a unitary team under the new Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) in June, 2020.  Together, BHA supported approximately $4 billion of food and non-food humanitarian assistance in Fiscal Year 2022, partnering with public international organizations and non-governmental organizations on relief, nutrition, livelihoods and resilience-oriented activities. Staff in the office monitor the regional and country-specific emergency situation; directly oversee food and non-food assistance programs in countries where there are no BHA staff present; provide technical support to USAID Missions in countries that have BHA staff in-country; represent BHA in regional coordination forums; provide formal and informal training and mentoring for BHA staff in the region; provide surge capacity to respond to new emergencies or cover staffing gaps; and provide program logistics and commodity management support. 

The BHA Office works closely with other offices within the USAID/Kenya and East Africa mission, particularly the economic growth and health offices, to ensure that programs are coordinated and effective.  Staff also regularly liaise with inter-agency partners such as the State Department and U.S. Department of Agriculture, as well as other humanitarian donors, and United Nations (UN) and non-governmental organization (NGO) partners. 

The Project Management Specialist - Humanitarian Assistance (PMS/HA) is responsible for monitoring and reporting on all aspects of BHA programs within his/her area of responsibility in order to inform decision makers in relevant USAID Missions and BHA/Washington so that they can ensure effective management and targeting of BHA resources.  

The PMS/HA will collect information from households, partners’ field staff, and local leadership in his/her geographic zone of responsibility about factors that affect their food security, evidence of oncoming natural and manmade shocks and their impacts on lives and livelihoods, the need for emergency assistance, and the effectiveness and quality of implementation of BHA-funded emergency and resilience programs in his/her assigned geographic zone of responsibility, including whether resources are being targeted and distributed effectively and equitably in order to combat hunger and malnutrition and save lives. S/he will prepare reports and verbally brief BHA and other U.S. Government (USG) personnel on conditions of vulnerable communities and individuals.  S/he will also engage with partners in the field to identify ways to resolve operational challenges.

The PMS/HA will work under the direction of the BHA Director, or his/her designee, such as the BHA Kenya Team Leader for his/her area of responsibility. This position requires regular coordination with other BHA team members, representatives from other USAID offices, the humanitarian donor community, and the UN, and therefore requires a highly collaborative work style.

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.: 22-189

2. ISSUANCE DATE: October 27, 2022

3. CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: November 9, 2022 (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: USAID Project Management Specialist (Humanitarian Assistance).

6. MARKET VALUE: Equivalent to FSN-10 Step 1 (3,341,686 KSH per annum) to Step 13 (5,680,858 KSH per annum). In accordance with AIDAR Appendix J and the Local Compensation Plan of USAID/Kenya and East Africa. 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. The base period will be for one year with the commencement date based upon successful medical clearance and security certification. Contingent on Agency needs, the Contracting Officer may exercise four additional option periods from the contract commencement date.

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 Government 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 to be Performed

The PMS/HA responsibilities will include the following:

Program/Project Management and Related Duties (80%)

1. Devises, in collaboration with BHA colleagues, an annual monitoring plan outlining the sites to be visited and timeline, and conducts regular field monitoring visits, in accordance with the monitoring plan, spending approximately 40% of time in the field, often in austere conditions, collecting data on the implementation of BHA programs. Advises on any issues arising that need to be addressed, including immediate reporting of any actual or suspected diversions of USG resources, missed implementation targets, and non-compliance with USAID regulations. Makes recommendations for addressing and solving any problems that are discovered, provides feedback to the implementing partner and concludes with follow-up to ensure improvements.  
2. Identifies and reviews technical reports and documents related to humanitarian assistance and resilience to remain current about general knowledge and advances in the fields of emergency assistance and resilience in general, and others’ findings related to his/her geographic zone of responsibility.
3. Participates in multi-agency assessments of food security, nutrition, markets and emergency assistance and other humanitarian needs, and assists in the development of funding and programmatic recommendations for BHA and USAID Missions.                        
4. Recommends to the BHA team the appropriate response for initiating or adjusting emergency and resilience assistance programming based on field findings about food and nutrition needs, environmental concerns, health and WASH issues, market conditions, transportation requirements, and the cultural and political situation.
5. Reports on all field monitoring trips, assessments, etc.  Provides information for additional reporting to the BHA Director, USAID Mission Director, and BHA Washington, as necessary.

Technical Specialist and Representational Duties (20%)

1. Represents BHA in working group meetings and other fora with UN, NGOs, and other humanitarian donors. Represents USAID to a wide range of government officials at the provincial/district level and representatives at the technical and administrative levels. Engages with beneficiaries, community members and leaders related to BHA’s emergency and resilience programs.  All representation is performed in line with the overall direction of the BHA/Nairobi office and specific country team.
2. Exchanges information with Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWSNET) and reviews and provides feedback on FEWSNET reports prior to their release.
3. The PMS/HA will be required to assist in creating a supportive work environment that values diversity and elicits the highest possible level of performance from all team members, including accomplishment of all other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Relationship

The incumbent will report to the Kenya Team Leader, or his/her designee. Supervisor will set overall objectives and will work with the PMS/HA to determine deadlines and work priorities. The incumbent is expected to take the initiative, act independently, and perform duties.

Supervisory Controls

Supervision of other staff is not contemplated.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: 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 //www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far.

• Job Knowledge (60 points)

The incumbent must have operational level understanding of humanitarian assistance programs and modalities, qualitative monitoring methods, and reporting information systems. 

• Skills and abilities (40 points)

The incumbent must have excellent verbal and written communication skills in both English and Kiswahili and a strong working knowledge of MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, and be able to manage databases. The incumbent must also have:

• Good interpersonal skills 
• Ability to work collaboratively with a wide range of staff and representatives.
• Ability to review, evaluate and apply complex policies and regulations.
• Ability to provide rapid, concise, accurate reporting, both verbally and in written English.
• Ability to grasp and theorize the complexities of humanitarian assistance and food security, the wide variety of dynamic influencing factors and the potential influence of international assistance.
• Experience collecting and analyzing qualitative and quantitative data to assess the complexity of factors contributing to food security.
• Ability to work cooperatively in a multicultural team. 
• Willingness to regularly undertake extensive field work assignments, spending weeks at a time in often austere conditions, and routinely spending approximately 40% of the time in BHA project areas.
• A solution-seeking attitude

Total possible points:  100

Prior Work Experience

Minimum of three years of progressively responsible experience related to emergency and/or resilience program management, including at least one (1) year of on-the-ground field experience in humanitarian needs assessment and assistance and one (1) year in implementation of humanitarian and/or resilience programs. This experience must show significant engagement with rural communities and the application of qualitative and/or participatory methods of inquiry.  

Language Proficiency

Level (IV) English and Kiswahili Level 4 fluency.

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 as one attachment 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 as one attachment 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.

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 //www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/aidar_0.pdf.
2. Contract Cover Page form AID 309-1 available at //www.usaid.gov/forms. Pricing by line item 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 //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 //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 provide clarity on their specific contract with the agency. Please visit our page for additional information: //www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/personal-service-contracts-ombudsman.

The PSC Ombudsman may be contacted via: [email protected].