On January 12, 2010 an earthquake registering over 7.0 on the Richter scale struck the Republic of Haiti killing more than 200,000 people, displacing over a million and affecting a total of 3,000,000. The epicenter of the quake was close to Haiti’s capital city, Port-au-Prince, destroying and heavily damaging homes, schools, churches, and critical infrastructure. The Government of Haiti (GoH) was also devastated by the earthquake, which destroyed most public buildings and records and took the lives of many key staff. All government functions have been significantly affected and it faces tremendous challenges in carrying out the most basic of operations, including providing security and paying government employees.

As part of the post-earthquake response in Haiti, USAID/OTI is working with Chemonics under the Haiti Recovery Initiative (HRI) (Ann Leve Kanpe) to fund short- and medium-term activities to prevent political instability that would hamper the recovery effort and worsen the humanitarian situation. These activities are aimed at restoring the GoH’s operational capacity and target additional stabilization priorities as they arise. Specifically, HRI is focused on four components:

1.) Enabling the Government of Haiti to Function
2.) Community Stabilization through Temporary Employment/Debris Management
3.) Enhancing Citizen Participation in Relief and Recovery

HRI is an 18-month project that began on January 17, 2010.

Position Purpose:

The Program Development Specialist is responsible for identifying potential grantees and designing and developing grants and other programmatic activities. S/he will work with representatives from relevant GoH representatives, local and international NGOs, community-based organizations, media outlets, and other organizations through transparent consultative processes to design grants, STTA, and direct procurements. S/he will be required to work independently or as part of a team to prioritize multiple work assignments in an extremely fast-paced environment to meet deadlines, and to exercise good, professional judgment that reflects positively on the image and communicates the established program message of HRI. In collaboration with OTI, the chief of party, and other staff, the program development specialist will also engage in on-going strategic and political context analysis required to design effective and relevant activities. The Program Development Specialist will report to the Chief of Party.

Tasks:

Specific tasks to be completed under this SOW are as follows:

• Identify potential grantees, and work with them to design and develop grant concepts and activities, through networking and outreach, under the overall strategic guidance of the OTI Country Representative and the supervision of the Chief of Party.
• Proactively identify and conceptualize potential activities that respond to the post-earthquake political situation in Haiti and HRI’s established program objectives.
• Analyze and evaluate proposals and grant applications to ensure consistency with program goals and objectives.
• Develop and write grants and technical activities in the OTI Activity Database. Develop budgets in accordance with standard templates.
• Provide technical assistance to grantees and potential grantees during the program development process and in the implementation process, as required.
• Analyze the rapidly changing political environment and contribute to HRI’s rolling assessments and strategy review sessions, under the overall guidance of the OTI Country Representative.
• Use the OTI Activity Database for grant writing and monitoring, and liaise with Grants Manager(s), Procurement Manager(s), and M&E Specialist, on grant implementation, compliance, procurement, and monitoring and evaluation.
• Other duties, as assigned by the Chief of Party, to ensure the overall efficient development and implementation of HRI programmatic activities.

• University degree required, advanced degree preferred.
• At least five years of demonstrated experience in project design, development, and management of development-type projects.
• Strong written and verbal communications skills.
• Knowledge of local politics and previous work experience involving interfacing with the GoH.
• Ability to creatively design grants and other technical activities that bring together the GoH and beneficiaries.
• Proven knowledge of local and international NGOs and community-based organizations implementing relevant activities and programs in Haiti.
• Experience working with local organizations on project design and assessing technical and programmatic capacities.
• Ability to work in a professional and cordial manner with fellow staff members, visitors, partner institutions including international and local NGOs, governmental entities, and the general public.
• Ability to effectively use computer software including the Microsoft Access-based OTI Activity Database and the Microsoft Office Suite.
• Experience working on USAID-funded projects preferred.
• French and Creole required; English proficiency strongly preferred.

The employee will report to the Chief of Party. Chemonics may amend the SOW for this assignment in consultation with the employee.

2010-07-08