The USAID Development Assistance Specialist (Mission Environmental Officer/Climate Integration Lead) serves as a technical resource in strategic planning, program and activity design, budgeting, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the entire Mission portfolio for environmental compliance and for climate integration. The Specialist is officially designated as Mission Environmental Officer (MEO), and as Climate Integration Lead (CIL). As MEO, the Specialist ensures all Mission programs/projects/activities are in compliance with Title 22 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulation (22 CFR 216 or “Reg. 216”).

As CIL, the Specialist ensures all Mission programs/projects/activities meet ADS 201mal and USAID Climate Risk Management guidelines.

The Specialist serves as environmental climate advisor to Mission management and to Technical Offices and Implementing Partners (IPs) on Climate Risk Management, and in identifying and analyzing climate vulnerabilities and developing mitigation measures.

The Specialist contacts and collaborates, at technical level, with counterparts and staff in the host government, with the private sector, with other donor and international organizations, and with other USG entities. The Specialist exercises extensive judgment in planning and carrying out tasks, in resolving problems and conflicts, and in taking steps necessary to meet deadlines. In addition, it is anticipated that the Specialist will be in a travel status to remote areas of the host country and/or the Region at least 25% of the Job Holder’s time.

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.: 23-21
2. ISSUANCE DATE: February 15, 2023
3. CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: March 1, 2023 (4:30 PM East Africa Time).
4. POINT OF CONTACT: USAID Kenya and East Africa and Somalia Human Resources, e-mail at[email protected].
5. POSITION TITLE: USAID Development Assistance Specialist (Mission Environmental officer/Climate Advisor (MEO/CIL).
6. MARKET VALUE: Equivalent to FSN-11 Step 1 (4,792,523 KSH per annum)) to Step 13 (8,147,267 KSH per annum). In accordance with AIDAR Appendix J and the Local Compensation Plan. 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 period 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, Third Country Nationals and Current locally hired employees of the US Mission in Kenya. Employees presently on probation are ineligible to apply.

Third Country Nationals will be hired under the U.S. Embassy Nairobi Local Compensation Pay Plan and paid in Kenyan Shillings. This position offers medical benefits to the employee and his/her immediate family - spouse and children only. Third country nationals will not receive a pension plan. Relocation to Kenya (including Entry Visa/Pass) is at the employee’s expense and will not be reimbursed by the U.S. Government.

10. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Security certification issued by the US Embassy RSO.

Statement of Duties to be Performed

a. Mission Environmental Officer (MEO)                                             50% 

The Specialist serves as technical advisor to the Mission ensuring its portfolio of programs/projects/activities is in compliance with Reg. 216, USAID Environmental Procedures, and with host-country government environmental and social safeguard regulations.

The Specialist provides substantive guidance to the Front Office, Technical Offices, Agreement Officer’s Representatives/Contracting Officer’s Representatives (AORs/CORs), and IPs on environmentally sensitive work, such as agricultural development, tertiary roads, land restitution, and protected areas management. The Specialist facilitates efficient program/project/activity implementation in all sectors, by ensuring the high-quality documentation for environmental compliance; reviewing and approving environmental compliance aspects of Project Appraisal Documents (PAD), scopes of work, and activity descriptions; and, by identifying environmental compliance USAID/HCTM/OHCI/DS-298 DS-298, USAID Version 10-2019 concerns, with suggested approaches to achieve compliance.

The Specialist reviews environmental analyses and documentation (Initial Environmental Examinations [IEEs], Requests for Categorical Exclusions [RCEs], Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plans [EMMPs], Environmental Assessments [EAs], etc.), from all Teams for quality, rigor, and adherence to USAID regulations, policies, procedures, and guidance. The Specialist is the primary liaison between the Mission and the Regional Environment Advisor (REA), the regional Bureau Environment Officer (BEO), and the Agency Environmental Coordinator (AEC) on all environmental matters leading communication and facilitating approvals by USAID/Washington for all procurement actions under the Mission’s portfolio. The Specialist provides strong team membership in the review, approval, and monitoring of Mission activities compliance with Reg. 216, reviewing and approving all sub-activities and quarterly reports in the information system.

The Specialist leads the review of Multilateral Development Bank, Global Environment Fund, and similar environmentally significant projects in the host country, coordinating the environmental and social reviews with Mission and Embassy staff, and ensuring reviews are timely and technically sound, that the reports are of high quality, and that they meet USAID policy and guidance and relevant external mandates, including the International Financial Institutions Act, Title XIII. As required, the Specialist may serve as AOR/COR, and/or Activity Manager for programs/projects/activities and oversight of analytical work to inform strategy development, such as the Tropical Forest and Biodiversity Analysis required under the Foreign Assistance Act Sections 118/119.

b. Climate Integration Lead (CIL)                                                        30%   

The Specialist serves as the Mission Climate Integration Lead, ensuring compliance with USAID climate risk management processes, as detailed in relevant ADS mandatory references. The Specialist is a technical advisor to Mission staff and IPs, working to identify and analyze climate vulnerabilities, and develop mitigation measures by monitoring, identifying, and sharing opportunities to integrate climate change adaptation and mitigation into Mission strategies, programming, and operations. The Specialist assures an appropriate level of climate risk screening is considered throughout the program cycle, including at the strategy (Country Development Cooperation Strategy), project (Project Appraisal Document), and Activity levels, providing guidance to design teams and AORs/CORs/Activity Managers to properly identify, mitigate, and document climate risks.

The Specialist works within the Mission information system, and with other tools, to document and manage compliance with USAID climate risk requirements and contributes climate risk expertise to the management and improvement of existing information systems. The Specialist is the designated Mission point of contact with USAID/Washington for all areas of climate risk management needs.

c. Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E)                                                      15% 

The MEO/CIL works with Mission staff to support regular and effective monitoring of the environmental and social compliance aspects of development activities, periodically monitoring programs/projects/activities through office reviews and field visits and supports staff and IPs to carry out their activity monitoring responsibilities.

The Specialist ensures development of, and effective oversight of, Mission document tracking information systems, including all environmental compliance (IEEs, RCEs, EMMPs, EAs) and climate integration documentation. The Specialist supports proper and timely reporting, e.g., the environmental compliance reports required in the Operation Plan, by regular monitoring of information systems, noting the need for new documents, status of pending documents, and any outstanding issues, e.g., projects where no environmental compliance field monitoring is being conducted.

The Specialist participates directly with Mission staff to remedy outstanding issues and keeps Mission management and the regional BEO informed of issues and resolution. The Specialist travels to all areas of the host country and/or the Region to conduct field visits, in order to support USAID technical leads to monitor environmental compliance, effectiveness of mitigation measures, and evaluate the overall environmental impact of the implementation of programs/projects/activities. The Specialist acts as an advisor, providing feedback to IPs to identify problems, and to offer technical recommendations and potential solutions for full compliance.

d. Capacity Building                                                                                  5% 

The Specialist leads assessments of capacity building shortfalls and identifies effective and efficient training delivery approaches to build the capacity of USAID and IP staff, and of host-country counterparts; assists staff to identify and obtain additional environmental expertise and resources to meet environmental and social compliance needs; and, serves as activity manager for obtaining additional environmental expertise and resources to provide needed capacity building. The Specialist develops training methodologies and/or serves as a lead trainer for formal courses and workshops; and provides mentoring and on-the-job training to staff, particularly to AOR/CORs and IPs, to ensure environmental compliance and climate integration requirements, policies, and procedures are known and followed.

The Specialist develops networks and shares best practices with other Mission and Regional MEOs and Environmental Officers; and provides MEO and climate risk technical support to other Missions as needed. The Specialist works closely with the USAID/HCTM/OHCI/DS-298 DS-298, USAID Version 10-2019 regional Bureau Environmental Officer to communicate requirements, policies, procedures, guidance, best practices, and changes and updates, and supports development of and improvement to various communications tools, such as Webinars, newsletters, websites, etc.

Supervisory Relationship

The USAID Development Assistance Specialist (Mission Environmental Officer) works under the very general supervision of the Director of the Mission Program Office, Technical Office or Front Office, and/or his/her designee. Regardless of the location of the position in the organization, the MEO is formally designated by, and accountable to, the Mission Director, consistent with ADS 204. The supervisor makes assignments in terms of overall USAID/HCTM/OHCI/DS-298 DS-298, USAID Version 10-2019 objectives and resources available. Completed work is reviewed in terms of achievement of Mission and USG Environmental and Environmental Integration goals, effectiveness in meeting host-country and USAID objectives, and integration with other initiatives in the Office and Mission portfolio. Some technical direction may come from other professionals in the Office; in general, however, the Specialist will be expected to exercise considerable autonomy, with support from other MEOs, the REA and BEO and best judgment in discharging the duties of the assignment.

Supervisory Controls

Supervision of other Mission staff is not contemplated.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The work requested does not involve undue physical demands.

Prior Work Experience

A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in an area involving application of environmental impact assessment or closely related regulations, standards, policies and best practices in a developing-country setting is required. This experience must demonstrate the ability to prepare and/or review environmental scoping statements, environmental impact assessments, and implementing environmental management plans. In addition, an understanding of climate risk management is required.

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 https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far

-     Job Knowledge (55 points)

The Specialist must have in-depth professional-level knowledge of development principles, concepts, and practices, especially as they relate environmental impact assessment, environmental policies, host country regulations, and environmental best practices and international standards in international development; and, the problems and policies of the host country from the business, political, civil society, and social perspectives.

The Specialist must have knowledge and understanding of the economic, political, social, and cultural characteristics of the host country and the region; development problems in the environmental sector in the host country and the region; an understanding of the resources, resource constraints, and overall development prospects and priorities of the host country and the region; and, knowledge of, or the potential to quickly acquire knowledge of, USG legislation, policy, and practice relating to USAID and USG Environmental and Environmental Integration activities, of USAID programming policies, regulations, procedures, and documentation, and of the objectives, methodology, and status of assigned activities. The Specialist must have knowledge and understanding of the organization and respective roles of the different levels of the host government, in order to enhance effective communication and to develop consensus on USAID strategy and program/project/activity implementation.

-     Skills and abilities (45 points)

The Specialist must have a good knowledge of, and demonstrated experience in, the role of Environmental and Environmental Integration activities within the broad context of international development programming. The Specialist should possess strong interpersonal and teamwork skills, and proven ability to work independently, with minimal supervision or guidance; and, proven ability to communicate quickly, clearly, and concisely, both orally and in writing, including in the preparation of substantive environmental reports. The Specialist must be able to obtain, evaluate, and interpret factual data, to prepare precise, accurate, and complete reports using computer software applications, and to develop and present briefings; and apply this knowledge to complex problems in the host country and the region.

Total possible points:  100

 

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 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 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 https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/aidar_0.pdf
2. Contract Cover Page form AID 309-1 available at https://www.usaid.gov/forms
3. Acquisition & Assistance Policy Directives/Contract Information Bulletins (AAPDs/CIBs) for Personal Services Contracts with Individuals available at http://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 https://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: https://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/personal-service-contracts-ombudsman

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