Duties and Responsibilities
General Statement of Purpose of the Contract
A. Program Operations and Coordination: 50%
The incumbent serves as the Cooperating Country National (CCN) Program Officer in the Program and
Resource Management (PRM, or Program) Office. The Program Office is responsible for broad
program support related to U.S. assistance to Zimbabwe, including strategic and activity level planning,
budget allocation, program monitoring and evaluation, donor and interagency coordination, reporting and public outreach. The Development Program Specialist provides expert advice to USAID staff
(USDH, CCN, Personal Services Contractors) up to the Mission Director level in all aspects of
monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) and has a full range of consultative, advisory, program
performance, and information-gathering roles of a broad scope and complexity. This includes primary
responsibility for the Program Office’s MEL activities such as preparation of performance reports and
conducting data quality assessments; portfolio reviews; and compliance with USAID environmental
regulations. S/he serves as a key liaison with senior government officials at national and local levels on
project monitoring and evaluation; with the Ministry of Environment in carrying out Supervisory
Mission Environmental Officer duties; and with other donor officials and nongovernmental entities as
needed on programmatic issues. The incumbent reports to the Program Office Director or his or her
designee and is called upon on a delegated basis to represent the Program Office in program operations matters. The incumbent supervises the FSN Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning /Mission
Environment Officer Specialist.
2. Statement of Duties to be Performed
The specific duties and responsibilities include the following:
(1) Strategy Development and Reporting: Supports preparation of the Country
Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS), the mid-term CDCS stocktaking exercise,
annual Operational Plan (OP) and Performance Plan Reports (PPR), Congressional
Notifications, and other reporting and outreach documents, particularly but not solely as
related to MEL.
(2) Project Design: Serves as an expanded member of one or more technical teams and
provides other PRM backstopping functions, including:
(a) Provides consultative and advisory services to all technical offices in the Mission on program
mattersand USAID program regulations and procedures.
(b) Facilitates the availability and use of evidence for all project design teams, evaluations, and
supports the preparation of project design and authorization documentation.
(c) Reviews and clears Statements of Work and Project Descriptions for technical integrity and
compliance with Agency and Mission MEL and environmental policies; serves on technical selection
committees.
(3) USAID Management Controls: Coordinates orsupportsthe preparation of internal control
assessmentsfor the Program Office and tracks/supervises the completion of corrective actions
as delegated.
Cross-sector Policies and Actions: Coordinates the implementation of cross-cutting actions or agency
initiatives as required, USAID policy directives, and special initiatives, as required, e.g., USAID’s
policies on Gender, Youth, and Evaluations, Global Development Alliances (GDA), and the
International Visitors Program. Prepares maps and other documentation to support Mission
operations.
(4) Resource Allocation: Participates in quarterly financial reviews as relevant and assists
the technical office(s) in planning the allocation of resources, procurement, and follow-on
activities in conjunction with preparation ofthe Operational Plan.
(5) External Representation: Represents USAID, as required, in meetings with the
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Government of Zimbabwe, and other donors on matters relating to program design,
implementation, monitoring, and evaluation. Secures host country stakeholder input into
program design, implementation, monitoring, andevaluation as needed, and seeks direct
feedback from beneficiaries to inform program learning and adaptation.
(6) Local Capacity Development: Leads the development and tracks implementation of
Mission plans and programs for local capacity development; provides technical assistance,
leadership, and coordination as needed to Mission staff; and serves asthe point of contact with
USAID headquarters on Agency-wide capacity-building initiatives and efforts to broaden use
of local partners to achieve sustainable development goals.
B. Implementation Support and Monitoring: 40%
(1) Performance Monitoring and Reporting: Collects, analyzes, and maintains data and
information relatedto USAID-funded activities including:
(a) Oversees the preparation of all required performance reports.
(b) Leads development and management of the Mission’s Performance Monitoring Plan.
(c) Leads or directs technical office staff in carrying out mandatory Data Quality Assessments.
(d) Prepares briefs on USAID programs for senior personnel in Washington, the Embassy and
USAID.
(e) Leads the Mission’s semi-annual Portfolio Reviews, including the identification of focal
issues, development of agendas and templates, reviewing technical office submissions, and
conducting thesessions with Mission leadership.
(f) Manages performance data as a system administrator for FACTS INFO and system manager for
the Development Information System (DIS) for the Zimbabwe Mission. Trains Mission and
partner staff inthe use of these data systems, troubleshoots and rectifies user issues, and ensures
proper use of performance data systems for Mission and Washington reporting.
(g) Collects, stores, and uses Geospatial Information System (GIS) data to produce analyses and
maps toinform Mission monitoring, evaluation, reporting, and planning.
(2) Performance Evaluation and Collaboration, Learning and Adapting (CLA): Serves as
Mission Evaluation Officer and leads the Mission’s learning agenda, including the following:
(a) Plans and manages all Mission evaluations, coordinating with the technical offices in the
selection ofevaluation questions, development of Scopes of Work, selection of evaluation
teams, and incorporation of evaluation findings into programming.
(b) Leads the development and implementation of the Mission’s evaluation plan and supports
technicaloffices in the development of MEL plans for new programs.
(c) Ensures that evaluation findings are shared widely within the Mission and the Agency,
including withthe Agency’s Development Experience Clearinghouse.
(d) Leads Mission CLA planning and activities to use evidence and integrate learning into
strategy and program design and implementation.
(h) Collects, stores, and uses Geospatial Information System (GIS) data to produce analyses and
maps toinform Mission monitoring, evaluation, reporting, and planning.
(i) Provides work guidance to all other MEL staff in the Mission.
C. Environmental Compliance 10%
(1) Serves as the Supervisory Mission Environmental Officer (MEO), ensuring Mission
compliance with Regulation 216 and Government of Zimbabwe environmental laws.
(2) Provides guidance and technical support to technical offices in preparing Initial
Environmental Examinations (IEE), Pesticide Evaluation Report and Safer Use Action
Plans (PERSUAP), and other required documentation.
(3) Monitors compliance with established plans.
(4) Trains USAID staff and Implementing Partners on Regulation 216.
(5) Supervises the Mission Environment Specialist.
The contractor is eligible for temporary duty (TDY) travel to the United States, or to other Missions
abroad, to participate in the "Foreign Service National" Fellowship Program, in accordance with
USAID policy.
1) Supervisory Relationship: The incumbent will report to the PRM Deputy Office Director. The
incumbent will work frequently with the other Office Directors and Team Leads and the Front
Office as necessary. The incumbent must be able to work independently, informing his/her
supervisor of important issues as necessary.
2) Supervisory Controls: The incumbent supervises up to two staff members. However, the incumbent
leads teams and provides work guidance and oversight to other team members in meeting deadlines.
