Job Opportunities at Abt Associates

The Opportunity 

• Abt Associates seeks a qualified Chief of Party (COP) to lead the upcoming USAID-funded Kenya Feed the Future (FTF) Private Sector Activity. The purpose of the activity is to accelerate agriculture-led growth in Kenya through partnerships with large agricultural sector firms (such as processors and off-takers) and through the expansion of smallholder farmer out-grower schemes. The anticipated activity will focus on creating jobs and generating large scale increases in sales/exports in the agriculture sector cost-effectively and sustainably through private sector development and by mobilizing finance and investment. The activity will have the flexibility to support opportunities with high job creation potential across the country, with a primary focus on counties within the Feed the Future Zone of Influence (ZOI). These counties include: Taita Taveta, Makueni, and Kitui in southeastern semi-arid areas; Turkana, Marsabit, Isiolo, Garissa, Samburu, and Wajir in the northern arid areas; and Kakamega, Busia, Migori, Homa bay, Kisumu, Vihiga, Bungoma and Siaya. This position will be full-time, based in Nairobi, Kenya, and is contingent upon award.

Core Responsibilities

• Provide strategic managerial and technical leadership for the program to ensure quality and timely delivery of all activities and deliverables; 
• Oversee a multi-disciplinary team of experts;
• Serve as the primary liaison with USAID, other key US Government stakeholders and initiatives, private sector institutions, and the donor community.  
• Ensure that all project staff, personnel, and subcontractors understand their roles and responsibilities and comply with USAID and Abt policies and procedures;
• Supervise the project’s technical team to ensure a focus on core results, achievements of annual work plan and targets, and timely/effective implementation;
• Monitor 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 control; 
• Provide strategic technical direction and guidance to staff in relevant areas, such as on agricultural markets and developing diversified financial products and services tailored to SMEs
• Ensure the submission of timely and accurate program, financial, and procurement reports;
• Oversee establishment of a framework for monitoring, evaluation, learning and adapting in response to results achieved;
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with USAID and local counterparts to ensure effective coordination of project activities with relevant ministries and agencies, civil society, private sector actors, other project stakeholders, and complementary USAID and U.S. government-funded initiatives; and 
• Serve as the main point of contact with Abt Associates’ U.S. office.

What We Value

• Master’s degree in business, agriculture, agribusiness, economic growth, international development, or related field;
• Excellent interpersonal, diplomacy, and leadership skills, including the ability to manage high-level relationships and motivate subordinates;
• Minimum of 15 years progressively responsible experience in project management and implementation, with at least 5 years in a senior supervisory capacity overseeing projects or initiatives similar in size and scope;
• Demonstrated technical expertise in a combination of the following: small and medium enterprise (SME) development, SME access to finance, agribusiness development, impact investing, financial advisory services, financial markets, financial sector inclusion, banking, business development, economic growth, and high-value employment opportunities;
• Knowledge of Kenya’s agricultural markets and the obstacles inhibiting SMEs and the financial service sector to drive innovation, economic growth, and create jobs; 
• Demonstrated experience in adaptive management and program design;
• Ability to establish and maintain working relationships with U.S., foreign government counterparts and experience with USAID is preferred; and
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English required; knowledge of Kiswahili preferred.
• Kenyan nationals are strongly encouraged to apply.

go to method of application »

Contracting Authority:

• The Contracting Authority for this projectis the development partners supporting the EAC Health Department.They will officiate the contract on behalf of EAC, a regionalintergovernmental organisation that promotes economicintegration and cooperation among its Partner States.

Relevant Countries Background:

• The project will be implemented at the East African Community Headquarters in Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania, which serves as the primary administrative centre for the EAC Secretariat, Court, and Legislative Assembly.
• Introduction to the Current State of Affairs:
• The East African Community (EAC) Secretariat, through the EAC health department, has been implementing different digital health systems since its establishment, and ever since, these digital platforms have provided linkages and interoperability with counterpart systems in the EAC Partner States:
• The developed EAC regional digital health initiatives are meant to promote Research and Development (R&D) and capacity building in digital technologies.
• The mandate to implement the digital health interventions is drawn from the communique of the 14th Ordinary Summit of the EAC Heads of State that directed the EAC Secretariat and Partner States to promote accountability for results and resources, innovative interventions and improved access to health data, information and knowledge sharing for better results, better tracking and stronger oversight of results and resources nationally and regionally.

The developed EAC regional digital innovations provide a platform for getting evidence-based data and information for planning and policy guidance. 
The objective of the Assignment

• The overall objective of the assignment is to develop the overarching EAC regional health data governance framework, together with the EAC Health Enterprise Architecture Blueprint, and this will mark an important milestone in the continued strengthening and deepening of regional cooperation and integration in the health sector in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Treaty for the establishment of the East African Community and its vision in relation to technology agenda. Science and public health benefit enormously from sharing and reusing health data. Sharing data allows stakeholders to have the fullest possible understanding of health challenges, to develop new solutions, and to make decisions using the best available evidence for the well-being of East Africans.
• This is achieved through developing overarching regional standards and frameworks on Health and health data against which different data-sharing stand operating procedures (SOPs) or guidelines can be developed as and when needed, and Partner States can benchmark their response, strengthen programming, monitoring, and reporting of progress with regard to the use and sharing of health data for policy, planning and intervention purposes. 
• This consultancy will aim to support the EAC Region and especially the health sector to develop the overarching EAC Regional Health Data Governance framework and EAC Health Enterprise Architecture Blueprint aligned to global, continental, and regional commitments in partnership with the EAC Partner States.

Scope of the work

• The consultant will be based at the East African Community headquarters in Arusha, but working remotely is also acceptable, provided the targets are reached on time. The consultant is expected to work with the health experts, digital health experts, and other professionals at the EAC HQs and in the EAC Partner States to establish the framework and its supporting components. 

The consultant will be responsible for undertaking the following tasks:

• Perform an extensive literature review and situational analysis that outlines the data related to health issues in the EAC, relevant global health, continental and regional frameworks, and programme evaluations undertaken by the EAC Region and its implications for the draft framework and blueprint
• Collect primary and secondary data both physically and virtually 
• Participate in consultation missions with Partner States and key stakeholders to review and enrich the draft documents
• Incorporate changes, revise, and submit the final version to partners and relevant EAC structures for final validation and approval
• Outline the process for the development of the EAC Regional Overarching health data sharing framework emanating from the EAC regional health data governance frameworks and other sources such as AU, WHO, CDC etc
• Outline guiding principles such as data-related commitments, confidentiality, integrity, authenticity, security, and privacy issues, etc
• Undertake an institutional and partnership review of the EAC Structures, key stakeholders are required to strengthen regional Health outcomes and make recommendations to strengthen the institutional and partnership arrangements for the implementation of the framework on health data. 
• Develop the EAC regional health data governance framework, together with the EAC Health Enterprise Architecture Blueprint (refer to key deliverables) under the guidance of the EAC Secretariat and in consultation with Partner states and relevant stakeholders that outline the key focus areas and strategic objectives for achieving through engagements. 
• Develop a Results, Monitoring, and Evaluation Framework for the planned period.
• Define the Indicators to be agreed upon, if necessary

Methods and Tools

• The consultant will identify the most appropriate methodology for undertaking the assignment.

Key deliverables of the consultant

• EAC regional health data governance framework (1st deliverable), and
• The consultant should submit the following key deliverables,
• EAC Health Enterprise Architecture blueprint (2nd deliverable)
• The Inception report outlining the process for the development of the two deliverables that demonstrates how the consultant will deliver on the scope of work, with a Gantt chart showing timelines. 

Timeline

• The consultant is expected to develop the first deliverable within 90 days, ready for validation and approval processes and the second deliverable will be later on.
• The consultant is expected to indicate the breakdown of the timeline for other deliverables.

Duration
EAC regional health data governance framework (1st deliverable): 
The Contract Period will be as follows: 

• 90 (ninety) working days from the day of award
• EAC Health Enterprise Architecture blueprint (2nd deliverable)
•  90 (ninety) working days from the day of award
• Place of assignment
• EAC Secretariat, Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania, or remotely.

Payment

• Payment will be made per deliverable according to development partners' Financial Rules immediately after full delivery of the delivery against the presentation of an original invoice that lists the provided services in detail (e.g., Schedule, timelines, deliverable). Each deliverable should be quoted separately in USD.

Intellectual Property

• All contents pertaining to this project (source codes, documentary, audio, digital, cyber, project documents, etc) belonging to the client, which the Consultant may come into contact with in the performance of his/her duties under this consultancy, shall remain the property of the Client who shall have exclusive rights over their use. Except for purposes of this assignment, the contents shall not be disclosed to the public nor used in whatever without the Client's written permission in line with the national and International Copyright Laws applicable. In this context, the client may be the EAC Secretariat, Partner States or any other EAC Stakeholder.

Contractual arrangements and Supervision

• The Consultant will be hired under either EAC or development partners' terms of contract and supervised by the EAC Health department solely for the purpose of delivering the above outputs within the agreed time frame.
• The consultant will contractually work under the supervision of the EAC Principal Health Officer / Head of the EAC Health department, EAC Secretariat with technical support from the EAC Senior Health Informatics Officer and collaborating development partners.
• EAC Secretariat shall provide the necessary support to the Consultant in order to execute the assignment during the duration of the consultancy. These shall include: 
• The EAC Health department in collaboration with the different partners will provide access to relevant documentation, support, and guidance for the execution of the duties under this consultancy.
• Assist in arranging appointments for discussion with either EAC Secretariat, Ministry officials in Partner States and other stakeholders within and outside the EAC region
• The consultant is expected to travel to attend the stakeholder workshop(s) at a venue determined by the EAC Secretariat in consultation with its regional partners.

Submission of the Consultancy Proposal 
Applicants are required to submit the following: 

• A Technical Proposal: Letter of Interest stating why the consultant considers to be suitable for the assignment, availability, and experience in similar assignments.
• Financial proposal indicating consultancy fee and a breakdown of expenses (unit price together with any other expenses) related to the assignment. 
• Detailed methodology on the approach and implementation of the assignment for each deliverable mentioned above (THIS IS VERY KEY ASPECT FOR CONSIDERATION)

Personal CVs

• At least two work references - contact details (e-mail addresses) of referees for whom the consultant has produced similar assignments. 
• The proposals must be submitted separately (the technical proposal alone and the financial proposal alone
• The consultant must submit evidence of tax registration.
• Expected Profile of the Consultant 
• The consultant is expected to have the following competencies, experience, academic and technical background:

CRITERIA    
PERSONAL PROFILE AND QUALIFICATION

• Digital Health Expert with Information Systems
• Expertise and Information Systems or Engineering Management Expertise    
• Academic Qualifications: Preferably a Master’s degree in Medica/Health Informatics, Computer Science/Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Engineering Management or related. A Ph.D. degree in this area will be an added advantage. Demonstrated experience in Business Process Re-engineering (BPR) with institutional information systems strengthening, configuration management, capacity assessments and development is an added advantage

Experience: 

• At least 15 yearsworking in Public Health or Health Sciences, understanding health management processes and Health Information Systems developments. 
• Having at least 15 years of experience in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry.
• Provide evidence of developing or contributing to the development of at least ten (10) ICT-related policies, strategies, guidelines, frameworks, blueprints or similar assignments.
• Provide evidence of possessing at least 20 peer-reviewed publications in ICT
• Provide evidence of developing or contributing to the development of regional instruments or frameworks at EAC or other Regional Economic Communities (RECs)

Qualifications and skills:

• Demonstrated skills in institutional strengthening related to Digital Health Systems, Capacity assessments, Training and development;
• Full Membership of the ICT Professional or Engineering bodies 
• Excellent communication and analytical reporting skills;
• Strong communication skills - Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English is desirable; fluency in Swahili or French is an added advantage
• Computer literacy.