Scope of Work

USAID Sustainable Food Entrepreneurship

Chief of Party (COP) 

Antananarivo / Fort Dauphin, Madagascar (TBD)

1.    Background

DAI seeks a Chief of Party (COP) for an upcoming USAID-funded opportunity in Madagascar entitled Sustainable Food Entrepreneurship. This new activity will focus within the Feed the Future Zone of Influence (ZOI), specifically within the ZOI in Anosy, Androy, and Toliara, and will layer with other donors and USAID projects, particularly Harena, USDA Food for Progress, Harena, Riake, and Rano WASH. The activity will have two components:

1.     Increasing sustainable production of diverse and nutritious foods: addressing the low productivity and vulnerability of local food crops, livestock, and fisheries, increasing food security and strengthening value chains by focusing on a diversified, climate-sensitive approach; and

2.    Strengthening resilient market systems: strengthening the private sector and entrepreneurship to create opportunities and build resilience of Madagascar’s food systems, and encouraging, facilitating, and mobilizing private sector investment and financial services to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

2.    Position Purpose

The Chief of Party (COP) will be responsible for overall strategic and operational implementation of the program, as well as providing overall project leadership, management, and quality control. The COP will be the main point of contact to liaise with USAID on matters related to program management and technical activities. The COP will ensure the effective, efficient, and timely implementation of all project activities, in addition to building and maintaining relationships with all project partners, including but not limited to USAID and other donors.

3.    KEy Duties & Responsibilities

·       Provide overall technical direction and leadership to the project and responsible for ensuring that the project meets and exceeds results.

·       Serve as main point of contact to USAID COR, ensuring high-level of engagement and frequent communication.

·       Supervise and empower program staff to ensure quality compliance and timeliness of activities and deliverables.

·       Oversee the participatory planning process to produce a strategic work plan for project deliverables; lead development of work plans for project activities.

·       Ensure participatory processes and adaptive management are employed across the program’s activities for a consistent atmosphere of learning.

·       Coordinate program activities with those of other USAID and donor initiatives.

·       Oversee the development and implementation of the Monitoring, Evaluations, and Learning Plan.

·       Ensure successful collaboration between partners and USAID.

·       Oversee the development of all program deliverables while ensuring quality and timely submission.

·       Ensure timely implementation of all technical activities.

·       Mentor, lead, and oversee all staff, consultants, and subcontractors in achieving program results.

·       Oversee all financial and administrative matters for the project.

·       Liaise with DAI home office on program technical progress and overall management as needed.

4.    Minimum Qualifications

·       A master’s degree in agriculture, natural resource management, environmental policy, or a related field is required.

·       At least 15 years of professional experience with international development programs.

·       At least 10 years of experience with successful implementation of food security, sustainable agriculture, agribusiness, and/or agricultural value chains and market systems programs.

·       Demonstrated experience mentoring and retaining staff in complex environments.

·       Demonstrated experience leading and managing donor-funded international development projects in sub-Saharan Africa; experience in Madagascar is preferred.

·       Demonstrated understanding of challenges and opportunities in Madagascar regarding diverse and nutritious food production; vulnerabilities of local crops, livestock and fisheries; sustainable agricultural practices and natural resource management; local agro-processing; value chains for climate-resilient staples; private sector investment; and financial support for MSMEs.

·       Experience coordinating with a variety of stakeholders including donors, private sector actors, government entities, NGOs and community-based organizations (CBOs).

·       Professional-level oral and written fluency in English and French required; professional-level oral and written fluency in Malagasy highly preferred.

Equal Employment Opportunity

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or status as a protected veteran.

DAI and its employees are committed to confronting discrimination in all forms, nurturing respect for our interpersonal relationships, and holding ourselves accountable for positive change within the company and in the communities, cultures, and countries in which we live and work.  DAI is committed to attracting and retaining the best employees from all races, ethnicities, and backgrounds in our continued effort to become a better development partner.

DAI upholds the highest ethical standards. We are committed to the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment as well as other ethical breaches. All our positions are therefore subject to stringent vetting and reference checks.

DAI Organization and Values

DAI is a global development company with corporate offices in the United States, the United Kingdom, EU, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Palestine and project operations worldwide. We tackle fundamental social and economic development problems caused by inefficient markets, ineffective governance, and instability. DAI works on the frontlines of global development. Transforming ideas into action—action into impact. We are committed to shaping a more livable world.

DAI and its employees are committed to confronting racism and holding ourselves accountable for positive change within the company and in the communities, cultures, and countries in which we live and work. DAI is committed to attracting and retaining the best employees from all races and backgrounds in our continued effort to become a better development partner. DAI upholds the highest ethical standards. We are committed to the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment as well as other ethical breaches. All of our positions are therefore subject to stringent vetting and reference checks.

DAI is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer with a commitment to diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.