Job Description
RTI International is an independent nonprofit research institute and leading development organization headquartered in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA. Since 1958, RTI has worked in over 150 countries and designed and implemented cutting-edge solutions in the sectors of economic growth, governance, education, and health. A cornerstone of RTI•s work is strengthening the capacities of localpartners and systems in order to increase local ownership and ensure that host country individuals and organizations have the skills and resources to achieve their missions and sustain their services in the long term. • Position Summary • RTI International is currently accepting applications for a Lead Organizational Strengthening Specialist to be based in Nairobi, Kenya for an anticipated USAID-funded Regional Intergovernmental Organizational (RIGO) Strengthening System project. The goal of the project is to strengthen the capacity of key RIGOs in East Africa so that they can improve leadership and better fulfill their mandates to lead the development agenda within the region. Target RIGOs under this project include the East African Community (EAC), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). Areas of capacity strengthening include institutional governance, strategic planning, data for decision-making, and the ability to meet the needs of their member states. To strengthen local capacity, we will utilize USAID•s Human and Institutional Capacity Development (HICD) approach that emphasizes continuous performance improvement through customized solutions, monitoring, learning, and adaptation. • The Lead Organizational Strengthening Specialist will oversee three Organizational Strengthening Specialists embedded within the respective Secretariat offices of targeted RIGOs. She/he will be responsible for leading organizational development (OD) approaches, leading the
development of OD resources and their delivery, managing the three Organizational Strengthening Specialists and the quality of their work, evaluating overall success, and adapting approaches as necessary. • The Lead Organizational Strengthening Specialist for the project will be based out of Nairobi, Kenya, and may be expected to occasionally travel to Djibouti, Tanzania, and Zambia where other Organizational Strengthening Specialists will be located. The project is expected to be five years in duration. This position is contingent upon receipt of
donor funding. Nationals of East Africa are strongly encouraged to apply. • Primary Responsibilities • The responsibilities of the Lead Organizational Strengthening Specialist are as follows: - Help design and delivery institutional capacity assessments that will consult the various RIGO staff on their key strengths, challenges, needs, and priorities and will establish a baseline in which to measure progress. This assessment will also form the basis for a customized performance solutions package for each RIGO. • - Lead the implementation of the performance solutions package by mentoring IGAD staff in a wide range of areas helping increase their capabilities to perform their duties and achieve their institutional mandate. Although the support will be determined after the assessment
and in consultation with the respective RIGOs, illustrative areas may include leadership, strategic planning, institutional governance, data collection and reporting, communication, fundraising, donor coordination, and HR. • - Develop creative approaches to strengthening the institutional capacity of key RIGOs that align with USAID•s HICD approach so that solutions are customized to the unique needs of each RIGO. Approaches should be highly participatory, hands-on, and learner-focused. • - Be an integral member of each RIGO Working Group and help to maintain momentum, ownership, and motivation of senior RIGO management and Working Group members in implementing actions identified within the
performance solutions package. • - Manage the Organizational Strengthening Specialists and provide guidance and support in designing and delivering OD resources and approaches. Oversee the quality of all OD materials. • - Seek continuous feedback from the RIGOs in order to ensure their satisfaction and improve the delivery of the solutions package. • - Coordinate with project partners providing OD support and ensure that efforts are streamlined and sequenced appropriately. •
- Continuously monitor the results of project activities, evaluating progress against project targets and identifying course-corrections that may be needed in order to improve impact. • Required Skills and Qualifications • The successful applicant will be a seasoned professional with extensive experience in strengthening institutional capacity in a wide range of areas. The applicant will also possess strong leadership and consensus-building skills to motivate and unite the various RIGO staff around OD goals. The ideal candidate will possess significant experience
in working with and/or strengthening the institutional capacity of complex national institutions in the East Africa region. Candidates that have experience in working with RIGOs are strongly preferred. • Applicants should possess: - A minimum of a Master•s degree in international development, public administration, public policy, finance management, economic policy, or related field. • - A minimum of 12 years of experience, with at least 5 years in organizational development of national or regional institutions. • - Successful experience in non-traditional approaches to capacity development, such as peer-to-peer learning and mentoring and coaching. • - Broad expertise across capacity development areas: leadership, strategic planning, change management, human resources, fundraising, M&E, communications, and coordination. • - Experience in working with RIGOs, ideally within East Africa, is
highly desired. • - A track-record in adaptive approaches and, ideally, familiarity or experience in utilizing USAID•s HICD model. • - Exceptional cross-cultural, verbal, and written communication skills so that she/he is able to create a shared vision on project objectives and activities among diverse stakeholders. • - Collaborative team-player that is proactive in identifying challenges, proposing solutions, and is results-driven. • - An ability to resolve sensitive and complicated work issues with senior high-level country counterparts, donor representatives and senior-level staff. • - Experience in managing staff (including staff that may be working remotely) and building teams. • - Fluency in English. • - CPT or HPI certification strongly preferred. •
- USAID experience a plus. #LI-IF1
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