Program Development Officer( PDO)

I. Overview

USAID/Ethiopia Support Program (ESP) goal is to advance the conditions necessary for peace processes to take root and succeed in local communities. This will be accomplished through community cohesion and stabilization activities so communities can better cope with challenges associated with post- and ongoing conflict environments. These community-led efforts address the immediate needs of the people, shore up local agents and institutions that remain able to respond to community needs while making time and space for higher-level political processes to evolve. Dexis Consulting Group is USAIDs implementing partner for ESP.

Dexis will provide the personnel, systems, and technical capacity needed to ensure that the USAID Ethiopia Support Program is operational, grant-ready, and active in activity implementation. Dexis Field Team brings the USAID experience, relevant field experience, and operations savvy necessary for Dexis to quickly research, identify, and develop grants for activities with local organizations.

Dexis is seeking a Program Development Officer (PDO) - Amhara to support ESP. This is a full-time position based in Bahir Dar, Amhara Region.

II. Summary

The PDO is required to closely work with other program and operations team members with the basic task of contributing to ESPs strategic objectives through introducing innovative activities that foster successful translation of priorities within different stakeholders. Towards this, the ideal PDO should have excellent contextual understanding of affected regions and proven track record of project management working with CSOs in identifying, developing, and implementing conflict-sensitive grants. Contextual understanding requires past and existing engagement in areas like Bahir Dar, Dessie, and Alamata.

III. Responsibilities

Identification of Innovative and Relevant Activities (30%)

Monitor and report on contextual developments in target areas.

Track and update program and client staff on program progress.

Identify and develop relationships with potential grantees and local partners.

Develop project concepts into fundable projects.

Present activity ideas at weekly activity design meetings and refine activity concepts for green light/activity clearance.

Enter activity concepts in the activity database upon initial client approval; ensure appropriate documentation is saved to the internal Dexis file structure.

Activity Development (15%)

Work with selected partners/grantees to complete full-scale activity design including implementation plan and other deliverables required to achieve activity objectives.

Support the development of an accurate and compliant budget for activity implementation, working closely with relevant staff.

Support the development of a Monitoring and Evaluation plan for the activity, working closely with relevant staff.

Liaise with partners /grantees to ensure timely and complete inputs to ensure every new activity is ready for award within the expected timeframe.

Work with the RPM to secure final internal and client approvals of preliminary cleared activities.

Ensure required documentation is uploaded to internal and external file management systems.

Activity Implementation (40%)

Ensure timely execution of approved programs and activities.

Oversee activity implementation and ensure compliance with grants management policies and procedures.

Monitor the progress with implementing partners and facilitate all the required services per the approved grant mechanism.

Supervise consultants hired to support specific activities.

Collect relevant documents and continuously update internal monitoring systems

Ensure successful implementation of programs/activities and confirm completion per the approved plan

Closely work with M&E and other teams for effective documentation, report and evaluation.

Supports Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning efforts and uses feedback and lessons-learned from activity implementation to inform future activity design.

Activity Closeout (15%)

Draft final evaluation reports to document activity completion and lessons learned.

Confirm successful completion of each activity to proceed to closeout.

Facilitate closeout requirements as dictated by the grant and/or activity mechanism.

IV. Reporting

The PDO will directly report to the Amhara Region Program Manager (or designee) based in Bahir Dar field office. In addition, the PDO is expected to closely coordinate and work with the program and operational teams in the region, as well as other functional line managers in Addis Ababa.

IV. Qualifications

Bachelors degree or equivalent university degree in a relevant field (social sciences including political science, social work, sociology, project management etc.)

Proven understanding of local and political context, with the ability to think creatively in conceptualizing relevant activities to support program objectives.

At least 5 years of relevant experience in project design, development, and management of relevant donor-funded community development projects in Ethiopia.

Demonstrated experience working with community-based organizations and groups in participatory program development and implementation.

Strong organizational, management, and administrative skills; preferably in report writing and monitoring and evaluation.

Demonstrated analytical ability

Strong written and oral communication skills.

Experience working under pressure and in difficult context.

Experience working in environments experiencing political transition.

Experience with USAID-funded projects preferred.

Fluency in written and spoken English and Amharic.