Inactive 8(a) Set-Aside (FAR 19.8)

INTRODUCTION The Senior Development Advisor (SDA) will oversee and participate in the development, management, and reporting of USAID activities implemented in Gabon. The SDA, supervised and receiving... INTRODUCTION The Senior Development Advisor (SDA) will oversee and participate in the development, management, and reporting of USAID activities implemented in Gabon. The SDA, supervised and receiving direction from the Regional Deputy Mission Director based in Kinshasa, will lead USAID’s efforts in Gabon, including activity coordination and oversight, providing administrative, technical, and executive-level representational support. The position will be USAID’s senior ranking position in Gabon. The incumbent will be an integral member of the U.S. Embassy Libreville country team, working closely with colleagues to implement U.S. foreign policy objectives in Gabon. The incumbent will be the senior USAID program representative to the Gabonese government. The SDA will be responsible for providing guidance on USAID activities (including technical guidance to implementing partners in line with designations from Contract/Agreement Officers) and sharing reporting on USAID’s activities. The SDA will provide in-country oversight for one Cooperating Country National (CCN) staff supporting CARPE (who will be supervised by the CARPE Office Director or their designee in Kinshasa) and may potentially provide in-country oversight for one CCN supporting Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance (DRG) activities (who will be supervised by the DRG Office Director or their designee in Kinshasa). The SDA will be based in Gabon, filling a critical USAID role to meet Congressional expectations for effective and coordinated USAID program implementation. The SDA will work closely with other U.S. government partners and maintain close communication and strong relations with the Government of Gabon to ensure that all USAID investments in the country are coordinated and in line with the U.S. government’s strategic vision. Additionally, the SDA will lead future USAID activities in Gabon, which could include programming in the DRG sector, such as assistance to the current transitional government and a subsequent democratically elected government, and health. As the senior USAID program representative in Gabon, the incumbent will be expected to liaise appropriately and represent USAID’s in-country efforts, as needed. Representation and information sharing may be at high-level meetings and events, both within the Embassy and the broader interagency, and with external audiences, including the host government, other embassies, development partners, civil society, etc. Funding for development activities in Gabon is programmed through USAID’s Central Africa Regional Program for the Environment (CARPE), a distinct portfolio under USAID’s Central Africa Regional Operating Unit (CAROU), comprising various regional programs and activities managed by USAID/Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) under the overall guidance of the USAID/DRC Mission Director. DRG activities are managed by the USAID/DRC DRG Office in Kinshasa, with oversight from the USAID/DRC Regional Deputy Mission Director. 2. CARPE BACKGROUND CARPE is a long-term USAID initiative to mitigate threats to key Central African landscapes and ensure that human and environmental wellbeing are mutually reinforcing. CARPE supports sustainable forest protection and management, biodiversity conservation, and climate change mitigation through partnerships that diversify and expand the constituency for environmental action while increasing local, national, and regional natural resource management capacity. Activities in Gabon include efforts to assess and promote ecotourism opportunities and timber traceability systems, build the capacity of Gabon’s National Parks Agency, and promote strategies to mitigate human-wildlife conflict. 3. DRG BACKGROUND USAID recently conducted a joint assessment of the current political environment in Gabon and transitional processes with its Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening (CEPPS) partners, including the International Republican Institute, National Democratic Institute, International Foundation for Electoral Systems, Internews. If current fiscal year funds are identified, USAID intends to support related activities, including an expected National Dialogue, constitution and electoral legal framework revisions, a constitutional referendum, and transitional elections. General Statement of Purpose of Contract The objective is to provide USAID leadership and representation in Gabon with a focus on CARPE and DRG program development and implementation. Successful completion will require working with a wide array of U.S. government partners, Gabonese government ministries, other donor partners, regional economic bodies, international organizations, non?governmental organizations (NGOs), and implementing partners. The SDA, working with the CARPE and DRG teams in Kinshasa, will provide USAID management, coordination, and representational expertise with a key focus on achieving results under USAID’s CARPE portfolio. The SDA is the senior USAID representative at Post. The responsibilities of this position may include: 1) Overseeing implementation of CARPE and DRG activities in Gabon 2) Leading or participating in development dialogue at all levels with country stakeholders; 3) Coordination with the U.S. Embassy interagency and the Government of Gabon on policy and administrative reform efforts impacting USAID programs; 4) Working in close coordination with the USAID/CAROU/CARPE and USAID/DRC/DRG to identify and address technical programmatic, or other support needs for the country team and relevant programs; 5) In-country oversight of designated USAID?funded staff, under the discretion of the Regional Deputy Mission Director in Kinshasa; 6) Serving as the primary USAID liaison for donor coordination. The SDA reports to the Regional Deputy Mission Director in Kinshasa. The SDA, on behalf of CAROU/CARPE and DRC/DRG, has the responsibility to ensure that all administrative and accountability requirements related to USAID operations are conducted in compliance with Agency Regulations, policies, and procedures. The Advisor will consult with Financial Management, Contracting, Executive Office and Legal Officers of USAID as needed to ensure compliance.