Job Openings at Abt Associates

Project Description

The USAID RISE IDIQ Cross-border Resilience (CBR) Program aims to support efforts across multiple borders in East Africa in the journey towards establishing resilience in the Moyale, Karamoja, and Mandera regions. The Cross-border Resilience project will be structured to strengthen regional systems and institutions that expand resilience through strengthening individual households and livelihoods, and lead to increased flow of affordable and safe food, transforming and improving short- and long-term capacity to respond to shocks and stresses. The program’s activities are expected to build systems- level resilience to drought, climate change and conflict; strengthen livelihoods in relation to agriculture. farming, and food systems, contribute to reducing humanitarian needs; and build the capacity of governments in the region to prepare for, respond to, and recover from shocks and stresses, both natural and man-made.

This engagement with resilience is aimed to be achieved through 1) implementing integrated, complementary, and mutually reinforcing activities across the region, 2) sharing and scaling best practices in resilience across the region, and 3) identifying and promoting shared measurement of resilience across the region. Resilience efforts will work with a variety of stakeholders (regional and member state institutions, private sector, civil society and implementing partners) to address regional issues, such as: harmonizing policies, promoting regional integration, increasing economic opportunities, and facilitating trade and cross-border activities that promote resilience. These resilience activities will focus on efforts that increase cross border trade and access to safe, nutritious food and will complement other USAID and donor initiatives.

Job Summary

Abt Associates seeks a qualified Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) to manage program operations and administration and support technical tasks for the USAID RISE Cross-border Resilience (CBR) Program. The DCOP will assist the COP in overseeing and managing individuals with the technical team and assist in collaborations with multiple partners and staff in the field with support from the headquarters office. The DCOP will oversee financial and administrative activities and must ensure overall compliance with USAID rules and regulations, financial management, international and local personnel recruitment and management, subcontractor management, and project start-up and close-out. The position will be based in Nairobi, Kenya, and is contingent upon project award.

Key Roles and Responsibilities

• Work directly with and support the COP on all tasks including liaising with USAID, senior government officials and counter parts, the donor community, and other USAID programs
• Provide important technical expertise and oversight of technical personnel
• Provide oversight for implementation of program activities, with responsibility (in collaboration with the COP) for the development of high-quality and timely deliverables, management, compliance, and reporting according to USAID and Abt Associates requirements
• Provide leadership, management and support strategic direction for the program
• Provide oversight of collaboration between staff and partners across the regions specified
• Provide management and oversight for all cross-cutting deliverables and reporting

Preferred Qualifications

• A Master’s degree relating to resilience, livelihood programming, policy, climate, food security, famine, and/or community engagement
• 10 years of experience managing international development projects as a senior manager, especially in resilience, livelihood programming, climate, food security, famine, and conflict
• Prior USAID DCOP experience preferred
• Knowledge of and experience working in crisis/fragile areas, preferably in East Africa
• Knowledge of and experience with food market systems in East Africa and good understanding of regional organizations working in food security, early warning and resilience (IGAD, FEWSNET, EAC)
• Good understanding of the regional economic and political context
• Excellent interpersonal, diplomacy, and leadership skills, including the ability to manage high-level relationships and motivate subordinates
• Fluency in English required

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree + Twelve years of relevant experience, or Master’s Degree + Ten years of relevant experience, or PhD+ Eight years of relevant experience

Abt Associates is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse workforce. Abt Associates provides market-competitive salaries and comprehensive employee benefits. Local candidates strongly encouraged to apply.

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Abt Associates seeks a qualified Chief of Party (COP) to lead the USAID RISE Cross-border Resilience Program. The COP will be responsible for collaboratively creating and implementing a strategic, long-term programmatic vision and for providing overall technical leadership and management for the program. The COP will directly manage several individuals and oversee the implementation of the program with multiple partners and staff in the field with support from the headquarters office. S/he will be the main point of contact with USAID, public and private sector partners, other international organizations working in the resilience and livelihoods sector, and Abt Associates’ home office. The position will be based in Nairobi, Kenya, and is contingent upon project award.

Key Roles and Responsibilities

• Overall leadership, management and strategic direction for the program
• Serves as the primary liaison with USAID, other key US Governments organizations, private sector institutions, senior government officials and counterparts, and the donor community
• Supervise the project’s technical team to ensure a focus on core results, achievements of annual work plan and targets, and timely/effective implementation
• Leads collaboration with partners and staff in the field in the regions specified
• Monitors the progress and pace of project implementation, assuring that the full potential of the program is realized through the promotion of high-quality work and internal controls
• Responsible for all project deliverables and reporting
• Serve as the main point of contact with Abt Associates’ home office

Preferred Qualifications

• A Master’s degree relating to resilience, livelihood programming, policy, climate, food security, famine, and/or community engagement
• 15 years of experience managing international development projects as a senior manager, especially in resilience, livelihood programming, climate, food security, famine, and conflict.
• Prior USAID COP or DCOP experience preferred
• Knowledge of and experience working in crisis/fragile areas, preferably in East Africa
• Knowledge of and experience with food market systems in East Africa and good understanding of regional organizations working in food security, livelihoods, early warning, and resilience (IGAD, FEWS NET, EAC
• Good understanding of the regional economic and political context
• Excellent interpersonal, diplomacy, and leadership skills, including the ability to manage high-level relationships and motivate subordinates
• Fluency in English required

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree + Fifteen years of relevant experience, or Master’s Degree + Twelve years of relevant experience, or PhD + Ten years of relevant experience

Abt Associates is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse workforce. Abt Associates provides market-competitive salaries and comprehensive employee benefits. Local candidates strongly encouraged to apply.

go to method of application »

Job Summary

Abt Associates seeks a qualified Regional Trade Policy Director to lead trade policy activities within the USAID RISE TO Cross-border Resilience (CBR) Program. The Regional Trade Policy Director will be responsible for oversight of the trade policy plan, regional trade plans, and trade policy team. This oversight will include the design, implementation, and technical oversight of all team activities and this position will be the lead and main contact for trade policy activities and communications with government entities and stakeholders at the national, and regional level. The position will be based out of Nairobi, Kenya, and is contingent upon project award.

Key Roles and Responsibilities

• Work directly with and support the COP and DCOP on tasks related to governance, trade policy design, communications, and trade policy implementation
• Provide important technical expertise and oversight of technical personnel in relation to trade policy activities
• Provide oversight for implementation of trade policy activities, with responsibility (in collaboration with the COP) for the development of high-quality and timely deliverables, management, compliance, and reporting according to USAID and Abt Associates requirements
• Provide leadership, management, and support for the trade policy team

Preferred Qualifications

• A Master’s degree relating to governance, trade policy, resilience, food security, climate, hunger studies, conflict, and/or livelihoods
• 10 years of experience with business development, partnerships, agriculture, and livelihoods
• Experience managing international development projects as a senior manager, especially in trade policy, resilience, and/or livelihood programming.
• Prior USAID technical director experience preferred
• Knowledge of and experience working in crisis/fragile areas, preferably in East Africa
• Knowledge of and experience with food market systems in East Africa and good understanding of regional organizations working in food security, early warning and resilience (IGAD, FEWSNET, EAC)
• Understanding of components of the trade system in the regions specified, especially agriculture, livestock, cross-border trade, food systems, and local industry
• Good understanding of the regional economic and political context
• Excellent interpersonal, diplomacy, and leadership skills, including the ability to manage high-level relationships and motivate subordinates

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree + Twelve years of relevant experience, or Master’s Degree + Ten years of relevant experience, or PhD+ Eight years of relevant experience

Abt Associates is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse workforce. Abt Associates provides market-competitive salaries and comprehensive employee benefits. Local candidates strongly encouraged to apply.