Job Description

Title: Development Program Specialist (External Liaison), FSN-10

Company Name: USAID Bangladesh

Vacancy: 01

Job Location: Dhaka

Employment Status: Full-time

Educational Requirements:
∎ Bachelor of Social Science (BSS)

Experience Requirements:
∎ At least 5 year(s)
∎ The applicants should have experience in the following area(s): Development Assistanc, Goverment liaison

Job Responsibilities:
∎ 1. External Liaison: 60%
∎ The incumbent is the Mission’s primary liaison with the Government of Bangladesh (GOB). The incumbent is responsible for developing and maintaining positive and effective working relationships and fostering collaborative implementation of development assistance between the USG and the Ministry of Finance/ERD, the government unit responsible for coordinating and overseeing foreign assistance to Bangladesh and Program Office's primary GOB counterpart. S/he assists in negotiations on the Mission’s bi-lateral and other agreements with the GOB and is expected to provide insight into government processes and political relationships to inform decision making with regard to USAID’s foreign assistance strategy. Within the Mission, the incumbent is responsible for coordinating and facilitating communications related to on- going projects between technical offices and the Ministry of Finance/ERD. In addition, the incumbent is expected to serve as a senior advisor to the Mission Director and the Program Office Director on GOB relations, providing critical insight into how the GOB functions and ensuring that proper protocol is maintained. The incumbent is responsible for facilitating donor partner coordination and aid effectiveness between technical offices (TOs), the Program Office (PRO), the USAID Front office, other donors, and GOB entities. On behalf of the Mission, s/he coordinates and disseminates key policy messages to the GOB when appropriate. The incumbent is expected to rely upon independent judgment and personal initiative to complete tasks with minimal supervision.
∎ As part of the incumbent’s External Liaison responsibilities, s/he manages the Mission’s ongoing Local Currency Portfolio. S/he serves as Mission Local Currency expert on funding streams that provide direct support GOB development initiatives. S/he is also substantially involved in the program formulation stages of project design, consulting simultaneously with and facilitating discussions between technical staff and GOB counterparts to ensure maximum coordination in the use of these funds. S/he coordinates with USDA, OFM and the ERD on local currency matters and serves as Local currency expert on Mission Local currency matters.
∎ The incumbent plays an advisory role to the entire USAID Mission on appropriate Mission and GOB procedures and protocols; guides Mission in ensuring constructive relations with GOB contacts; advises the Mission on appropriate contacts; drafts and/or reviews official correspondence to the GOB; drafts and/or reviews agreements with the GOB; drafts and/or reviews budget materials related to agreements or other procurements with the GOB; attends appropriate meetings with GOB counterparts related to USAID programs and advises technical and support staff on GOB meetings.
∎ The incumbent also acts as a Mission liaison with implementing partners by advising implementing partner staff—including Chiefs of Party—on GOB development policies, strategies, and procedures particularly during the activity design and start-up phases. The incumbent facilitates implementing partner relations with the GOB and provides valuable advice to implementing partners on key logistics issues related to the GOB.
∎ S/he provides support to Embassy colleagues including the Political/Economics section and the Ambassador’s office on GOB development issues including policies, strategies and procedures, as appropriate.
∎ 2. Donor Coordination: 20%
∎ The incumbent supports the Mission's Donor Coordination Lead to help facilitate the Mission's engagement with the Local Consultation Group of Donors and Government of Bangladesh counterparts to enhance aid effectiveness. The incumbent regularly represents USAID with high level officials from the GOB, international organizations, and other donor agencies, assisting in consultations and negotiations over international donor coordination documents and coordination initiatives of the donor community and the Government of Bangladesh. In the Mission donor coordinator’s absence, s/he is expected to conduct preparatory and follow up work to facilitate USAID’s effective participation in this forum.
∎ 3. Participant Training, Visa Certification, Local Capacity Development, and Administrative Mission Support: 20%
∎ Provides guidance and expert advice on all matters pertaining to USAID participant training policies, procedures and requirements to all USAID staff. Confers with USAID/Washington on policies and procedures and implementing modifications to the Mission’s participant training regulations or procedures, as needed. Guides the processing of all USAID- funded trainees by coordinating, registering and reporting on all USAID-funded participant training activities. Interfaces with Consular staff and trainees on visa matters. Manages the Security Risk and Fraud Inquiry process (SRFI) which is the primary process for mitigating the risk of fraud and/or non-returning participant trainees. Interfaces with Pol/Econ staff on training issues. Directs the Mission's TraiNet operators and manages all TraiNet Data. Helps guide technical offices in the selection of participants and follow-up steps to ensure that the training efforts achieve results and contribute to the strategy. Makes recommendations to improve the effectiveness of the Mission’s training programs and ensures that USAID-funded training activities and results have been adequately documented, including preparing or contracting evaluations of training impacts and costs, as requested. Responds to public inquiries on USAID participant training-related matters. Provides advisory support to technical and support offices in issues related to local capacity development in various areas including, but not limited to general training, participant training, visa issues, pre-award surveys and post-award orientations, administrative and managerial capacity development. As needed, coordinates Mission participation in local partner capacity development to ensure constructive responses and to reduce redundancies. Advises PRO staff on working with local partners in the areas of Outreach and Monitoring and Evaluation. Attends key meetings related to local capacity development including, but not limited to, subject matters related to new procurements, ongoing capacity development, outreach, GIS development, monitoring and evaluation, etc. Responds to unsolicited requests and general public inquiries received through idhaka@usaid.gov and supports Mission response to FOIA inquiries. Serves as GLAAS requester for Program Office actions, such as Outreach & Communications and GIS procurements, and Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning, and Adapting activity award actions.
∎ The contractor is eligible for temporary duty (TDY) travel to the U.S., or to other Missions abroad, to participate in the "Foreign Service National" Fellowship Program, in accordance with USAID policy.

Salary: Tk. 2585595 - 4664016 (Yearly)

Compensation & Other Benefits:
∎ T/A, Mobile bill, Tour allowance, Medical allowance, Provident fund, Weekly 2 holidays, Insurance, Gratuity
∎ Salary Review: Yearly
∎ Festival Bonus: 2

Application Deadline: March 27, 2020

Company Information:
∎ USAID Bangladesh
∎ Address : US Embassy, Baridhara, Dhaka
∎ Web : www.usaid.gov/bd
∎ Business : The largest US agency in the US Embassy, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Category: NGO/Development