(Multiple Positions, Varying Periods of Performance)

United States Agency For International Development (USAID)

USAID/Namibia

1.  SOLICITATION NO.: SOL-673-13-000006

2.  ISSUANCE DATE:  May 22, 2013

CLOSING DATE/TIME FOR RECEIPT OF FIRST ROUND OF APPLICATIONS:  June 14, 2013 (12:30 p.m.) 

4.  POSITION TITLE: Technical Assistance Advisor(s)

5. SALARY LEVELS: Based on salary history

6.  PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE:  varying periods of performance (will range from a few weeks to several weeks)

7.  PLACE OF PERFORMANCE:  Namibia

8.  STATEMENT OF WORK AND BACKGROUND:

Background/Introduction

In the years since independence in 1990, Namibia has made impressive gains in economic, political, and social development.  A stable, open country with considerable natural resources and a well-developed infrastructure, Namibia is potentially one of Africa’s leading models of successful development. However, huge income disparities exist, poverty remains a serious problem, and the country’s human resource base has been devastated by the HIV and AIDS epidemic.  The U.S. Government through USAID began its HIV and AIDS program in early 2001 with a set of prevention activities (primarily behavioral change, working with youth and in the workplace) that sought to slow, and ultimately reverse, the progression of the AIDS epidemic in Namibia. 

Soon thereafter, additional programs to provide for the support and care of orphans were added.   USAID further expanded its programs in 2003 under the Presidential Initiative for the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV and again in 2004 when Namibia was chosen as one of 14 countries to benefit under the President`s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).  Under PEPFAR USAID rapidly scaled up its efforts and now assists in Provide Namibians with a broad range of programs.

In 2010, USAID embarked on a reform agenda, USAID Forward.  USAID Forward is an effort to make the Agency more effective by changing the way we partner with others, embracing a spirit of innovation and strengthening the results of our work, saving money and reducing the need for U.S. assistance over time.

As a result, we are striving to work with more local organizations and individuals in developing countries to improve capacity and build new and effective long-term partnerships, reducing the need for foreign aid over time.  By building capacity, not dependence, increased partnership with the private sector, civil society, and foreign governments will spur investment and growth while improving transparency and accountability.

In an effort to strengthen our work with host-country persons and entities, this solicitation is for senior and mid-level technical advisors in Namibia.  The USAID/Namibia Mission is seeking senior and mid-level technical advisors (i.e., individual contractors or individuals from institutions, universities, or other organizations) in a number of technical areas as stated in Section 9 of this solicitation.

Position Description

This solicitation is for senior and mid-level technical advisors.  Senior technical positions require a minimum of 10 years of directly relevant prior experience.  Mid-level technical positions require a minimum of 5 years of directly relevant prior experience.  In additional to technical skills, individuals must have outstanding communication skills in English, effective oral communication and listening skills, and a demonstrated capacity to author reader-friendly, high-quality technical products/publications.  Contractors are required to have, at a minimum, a Bachelor’s Degree, and preferably a Master’s Degree, or a combination of work experience/technical training that clearly demonstrates the contractor has the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform and complete the Terms of Reference in each Task Order.

Applicant is Namibian or has relevant documentation to work in Namibia.

9.  TECHNICAL ADVISORS: CORE FUNCTIONAL AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY:

Advisors Functional Title and Terms of Reference

STRATEGY/BUSINESS PLANNER:

• Build and enhance development of long and short-term integrated strategy and business analysis and planning;
• Utilization of data and information to develop sound strategies, anticipate trends and articulate future needs;
• Develop strategic performance metrics and targets;
• Integration of the strategic plan across the organization;
• Facilitate  strategic dialogue with leading partners/providers to identify best practices and opportunities;
• Build, enhance, and lead core competencies of strategy, planning and innovation. 

MARKETING/ADVOCACY ADVISOR/SPECIALIST:

• Develop long and short term integrated marketing/advocacy plan;
• Ensure the utilization of data and intelligence to develop sound marketing/advocacy strategies, anticipate trends and articulate future marketing/advocacy needs;
• Develop market and customer segment opportunities to create campaigns that meet revenue goals;
• Analyze publicly available competitive intelligence and incorporate in plans;
• Develop strategic plans and budgets;
• Monitor progress toward plans throughout the year to assure accomplishment of goals. 

RESOURCE MOBILIZATION:

• Develop and implement a diversified resource mobilization strategy to increase financial resources (organizational fundraising and leveraging of funds from the private sector); 
• Develop tools for mobilizing resources, for example user fees, training charges, volunteers, events, and donor funding. 

MONITORING AND EVALUATION:

• Development of systems and approaches to strengthen performance monitoring and evaluation capacities;
• Design and conduct effective performance and impact evaluations;
• Assist in developing and tracking performance management plans, choosing appropriate indicators and data collection methods, data quality assessments, designing and implementing baseline studies, surveys, impact and  performance evaluations, assessments including cross-cutting;
• Develop and use electronic based tools (spreadsheets, dashboards, etc.) to facilitate performance monitoring and evaluation tracking. 

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT:

• Develop and improve financial planning, budgeting, analysis, reporting and annual planning processes;
• Analyze of (and provide reports and recommendations for) the organizational systems that perform financial operations management, strategic planning (as related to financial management), financial reporting, accounting and financial controls, investments, payroll administration, travel management, audit management, revenue distribution, insurance and risk management, purchasing and procurement. 

PROJECT MANAGEMENT:

• Assist with accomplishing project objectives by planning and evaluating project activities in accordance with established requirements, schedules and budgets;
• Provide assistance with prioritization of resources to meet project deliverables;
• Coordinate efforts with other offices and organizations to ensure activities are implemented in a timely and cost-effective manner;
• Contribute information and recommendations to strategy plans and reviews;
• Prepare and complete action plans; productivity, quality and customer-service standards;
• Complete audits; identify trends; determine system improvement; implementing change. 

CAPACITY BUILDING ADVISOR:

• Provide technical assistance in design, implementation, and evaluation of host government/country capacity Build strategies;
• Develop, implement, and analyze capacity Build program outcome evaluations; Assist in the design, implementation, and evaluation of a range of learning activities;
• Assist in the development and implementation of country specific strategic plans aimed at improving the performance of individuals and organizations working in governmental and non-governmental organizations;
• Provide technical guidance to USAID country partners (including ministries, non-governmental organizations, private sector, etc.) in their efforts to strengthen country capacities in governance, service delivery, strategy and public policy;
• Develop new relationships and strengthen existing relationships for Develop sustainable country capacities for improving access to government services.

ECONOMIST:

• Provide  economic analysis relevant to country development challenges;
• Provide  (individually or as part of a team) sector assessments and policy dialogue in key economic sectors;
• Assist in monitoring and Analyze macroeconomic, social and sector developments;
• Assist in the assessment of macroeconomic, social and sectoral developments with a focus on the development of strategies and programs, including policy reforms, institutional improvements and investment programs;
• Assist in the economic, sector and thematic work to prepare economic/programming and/or macroeconomic management related studies and periodic reports on specific economic/sectoral issues;
• Participate in the development (and/or leading the development) of strategic plans and management plans in economic areas;
• Develop and implementing economic components into existing and future government and other institutional policies and programs;
• Monitor international developments, trends and country experience in economics and in order to provide authoritative advice and guidance to government ministries and USAID partners.

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST/ADVISOR:

• Assist with the creation/development and management of database and websites, training, and other communication, program and technical support as needed;
• Assist in the development of strategic and coordinated management information systems (MIS) strategies and programs to support the government’s strategies, programs, and policies;
• Assist with management oversight and technical assistance in support of MIS strengthening; Provide  strategic, programmatic and technical leadership to the government to strengthen MIS within the health and social sectors;
• Develop recommendations for improving and management information systems to ensure cost-effective and developmentally appropriate MIS at every level in the system.

POLICY/GOVERNANCE ADVISOR:

• Advise on the development of policies, regulations and institutional arrangements, particularly those in the health and social services sector;
• Provide  policy advice and technical assistance to host government and USAID partners to support the implementation of on-going reforms;
• Liaise with key stakeholders to identify linkages between governance reforms, capacity Build initiatives  and processes (particularly in the health and social services sector);
• Facilitate  dialogue between government and social partners; promote national ownership of policy solutions and programs;
• Liaising with development partners, capacity-Build providers, and civil society on strategic issues on the governance reform agenda;
• Provide strategic guidance and substantive input that ensures governance and capacity development issues are taken into account in formulating/implementing the planning instruments to achieve host government/country objectives.

GIS MAPPING SPECIALIST/ADVISOR:

• Provide  geospatial expertise, advise, and services in support of improving program management, analysis, and planning;
• Communicate the geographic operating picture of partner/government programs through the acquisition, production, and provision of geo-spatial data;
• Develop web-mapping capabilities that allows users to customize and explore views, and conduct basic analysis and filtering of information;
• Assist the development and implementing  geographic information sharing strategy;
• Provide mentoring and technical assistance to enable the acquisition of basic skills for managing geographic information systems.

TRAINING SPECIALIST:

• Provide  assistance and expertise in the design and/or delivery of
• Train, including continuous training/training programs, for a variety of learning needs and through flexible, cost-effective approaches, based on knowledge of best practices and in coordination with technical experts who develop content)

PROCUREMENT SPECIALIST (Senior Level Only):

• Provide extensive expertise and technical assistance in the areas of procurement acquisition (contracts) and/or assistance (grants/agreements) to organizations, either governmental or non-government involved in procurement of goods and services to implement their organizational objectives and/or themselves serve as services/commodity providers.

10. SUPERVISORY RELATIONSHIP/OVERSIGHT:

The Technical Assistance Advisor will take direction from and will report to the USAID/Namibia Health Office Director or his/her designees.  As needed, the USAID/Namibia Health Officer Director (or his/her designee) will develop a more detailed terms of reference along with a set of deliverables for each required task or work to be carried out by a Technical Assistance Advisor.   The Technical Assistance Advisor and the Health Office Director (or designee) together will develop the deliverable deadlines for task/work to be accomplished.  The Advisor is expected to take initiative, act independently, and manage his/her tasks with minimal supervision.

11.  WORK ENVIRONMENT

The task/work to be performed may be carried out in an office setting (either within USAID, GRN, civil society, or private sector office facility).  However, it is envisioned that the location of the task/work performed by the Advisor will often be at his/her discretion, unless otherwise specified by USAID/Namibia in the Task Order.    

12.  SELECTION FACTORS

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE REQUIRED TO SERVE AS A TECHNICAL ADVISOR

Applicants who do not meet all of the education and experience factors are considered NOT qualified to serve as A Technical Assistance Advisor under this solicitation.

Mid-Level:  Bachelor’s degree with significant study in or pertinent to the specialized core functional areas noted in Section 9.  Five (5) years of relevant experience working in that core functional technical area. 

OR

Senior-level: Master's degree with significant study in or pertinent to the specialized core functional areas noted in Section 9.  Ten (10) years of relevant experience working in that core functional technical area. 

SELECTION FACTORS (Quality Ranking Factors – QRFs)

• Applicant is Namibian or has relevant documentation to work in Namibia;
• Complete resume submitted;
• Supplemental document specifically addressing the Quality Ranking Factors (QRFs) submitted.

BASIS OF RATING: Applicants who meet the Education/Experience requirements and Selection Factors will be further evaluated based on scoring of the Quality Ranking Factor (QRF) responses.  Those applicants determined to be competitively ranked may also be evaluated on interview performance and satisfactory professional reference checks.

Applicants are required to address each of the QRFs in a separate document describing what experience, training, education and/or awards they have received that are relevant to each factor.  Be sure to include your name and the announcement number at the top of each additional page.  Failure to address the selection and/or Quality Ranking Factors may result in your not receiving credit for all of your pertinent experience, education, training and/or awards.

The Applicant Rating System is as Follows:

QRFs have been assigned the following points:

QRF #1 – 15 points

QRF #2 – 10 points

QRF #3 – 10 points

QRF #4 – 10 points

Interview Performance – 25 points

Satisfactory Professional Reference Checks – 30 points

Total Possible Points: 100

APPLYING:

Applications must be received by the closing date and time at the address specified in the cover letter.

Qualified individuals are required to submit:

1.      Complete resume. In order to fully evaluate your application, your resume must include:

(a) Paid and non-paid experience, job title, location(s), dates held (month/year), and hours worked per week for each position. Any experience that does not include dates (month/year), locations, and hours per week will not be counted towards meeting the solicitation requirements.

(b) Specific duties performed that fully detail the level and complexity of the work.

(c) Names and contact information (phone and email) of your current and/or previous supervisor(s).

(d) Education and any other qualifications including job-related training courses, job-related skills, or job-related honors, awards or accomplishments.

Your resume should contain sufficient information to make a valid determination that you fully meet the experience requirements as stated in this solicitation. This information should be clearly identified in your resume.  Failure to provide information sufficient to determine your qualifications for the position will result in loss of full consideration. 

2.      Supplemental document specifically addressing the following Quality Ranking Factors (QRFs):

1. QRF #1           Describe your proven knowledge and experience  in performing the general terms of reference noted in Section 9 for the core functional technical area of interest. 

2. QRF #2           Describe experience in dealing with foreign and domestic governments, international organizations, and non-governmental organizations and the private sector in your technical field of expertise.

3. QRF #3           Describe hands on experience in providing technical assistance services in regards to design and policy implementations of issues related to development in Namibia, particularly in the health sector (or if applicant does not have direct experience in the health sector, then he/she should describe hands on experience in other sectors).

4. QRF #4           Discuss your demonstrated skills in oral and written communication, preparing and presenting analyses, and advising of recommendations and ways forward.

Additional documents submitted will not be accepted.

By submitting your application materials, you certify that all of the information on and attached to the application is true, correct, complete, and made in good faith. You agree to allow all information on and attached to the application to be investigated. False or fraudulent information on or attached to your application may result in you being eliminated from consideration for this position, or being terminated after award, and may be punishable by fine or imprisonment.

To ensure consideration of applications for the intended technical advisor position, please reference the solicitation number on your application, and as the subject line in any email.

NOTE REGARDING GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS FOR THIS SOLICITATION

This solicitation in no way obligates USAID to award a Personal Service Contract (PSC) , nor does it commit USAID to pay any cost incurred in the preparation and submission of the application.

NOTE REGARDING DATA UNIVERSAL NUMBERING SYSTEM (DUNS) NUMBERS

All individuals contracted as Personal Services Contractors (PSCs) are required to have a DUNS Number.  Thus, as Technical Assistance Advisors (i.e., PSCs), USAID will provide you a generic DUNS Number (PSCs are not required to register with CCR).

For general information about DUNS Numbers, please refer to Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Clause 52.204-6, Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number (10/2003)

https://www.acquisition.gov/far/current/html/52_200_206.html

DOCUMENT SUBMITTALS

Hand delivered to:  The Procurement Office, USAID/Namibia, 39 Post Street Mall, 6th Floor Channel Life Build, Windhoek.  Mail to:  The Procurement Office, United States Agency for International Development, Private Bag 12028, Ausspannplatz, Windhoek.  Or email to:  windhoekprocurement@usaid.gov