Governance and Accountability Advisor, USAID Zambia with Security Clearance

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Job description

Job Description Position Title: Senior Governance and Accountability Advisor Grade-level Equivalent: GS 14 Requesting Mission/Office: Zambia, Democracy, Rights & Governance (DRG) Office Clearance Requirement: Top Secret Period of Performance (o/a): January 2025-January 2027 Place of Performance: USAID/Zambia (Lusaka) BACKGROUND: Governance and accountability remains central to sustainable development in Zambia. Since being elected in 2021, the current government has initiated a number of key reforms to advance accountable governance and combat corruption. This includes passage of the Public Debt Management Act, Access to Information Act, and the Anti Corruption Policy as well as expanded focus upon asset forfeiture and improved public financial management. USAID supports these efforts across its portfolio of programming, engaging with key government institutions, private sector, and civil society partners to help advance broad government accountability. The DRG team seeks a Senior Governance and Accountability Advisor to advance USAID Zambia's anti corruption and accountability approaches. The Advisor would sit on the DRG Team and support the team's programming efforts as well as serve as the point of contact and technical lead for other USAID Offices as they advance accountability in their work streams and programs. This includes providing technical advice to USAID leadership and staff, supporting program design and evaluations, engaging with stakeholders and counterparts, supporting donor coordination, and assisting with communications and events. The Adviser will also support coordination and information sharing across the USG interagency on the issue of anticorruption and accountability. The Senior Governance and Accountability Advisor works under the day-to-day supervision of the DRG Office Director (or her/his designate). Assignments are made orally and in writing. The Advisor will carry out most tasks independently, but will determine situations that must be coordinated with the supervisor and/or other Mission staff as appropriate. The supervisor provides a review of the assignment, the goals, and objectives to be achieved, and the results expected. Basic Function The incumbent's primary role will be to serve as in-house adviser to USAID/Zambia on strengthening government accountability and combating corruption across technical teams. The incumbent's secondary role will be to support the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ), as requested, in promoting its anti-corruption and public sector reform agenda. The individual will provide analysis and advice on appropriate systems-wide anti-corruption approaches, and adaptations suited to USAID's sector interventions primarily in health, economic growth, environment and education sectors. They will provide advisory services to design and project management teams, including Government to Government awards, to identify and mitigate risks, and to incorporate governance systems strengthening interventions as appropriate to the activity. For selected activities focused on government reforms and cross-cutting anti-corruption initiatives they will support USAID technical teams in the design of programs, represent USAID in stakeholder discussions, and perform a broad range of duties as assigned by the Democracy, Rights and Governance Office Director. Primary Duties and Responsibilities include but are not limited to: Technical Leadership and Strategic Planning (50%) Provide technical leadership to the USAID Mission in the areas of anticorruption and accountability systems strengthening. Provide technical and policy advice to other USG agencies at post, donor agencies, local partners, and GRZ counterparts as needed.
Support the anti-corruption thematic area and apply deep technical knowledge, policy expertise, personal experience, and state-of-the-art knowledge of anti-corruption to the formulation of USAID's strategies.
Develop internal capacity development approaches, including the development/adaptation of tools and guidance on anti-corruption.
Support, as required, GRZ counterparts in developing and implementing anti-corruption and accountability policies and mechanisms, and monitoring government performance. Program Support (25%) Provide technical leadership and support to new and existing USAID projects and technical teams to enhance the government's institutional accountability and capability to detect, deter and sanction corruption. Design and contribute to program activities to meet Mission strategic objectives. This includes preparing or contributing to new program designs, Congressional Notifications, inter-agency agreement letters, and other documentation related to program development or implementation.
Coordinate closely across USAID technical offices, ensuring a coordinated approach to anti-corruption and accountability reforms as a cross-cutting issue across the Mission's portfolios.
Develop assessment/evaluation documents. The Advisor may participate in, coordinate, and manage assessments that are conducted in conjunction with other USG agencies, international organizations, or other donors. Coordination with External Partners (25%) Develop a strong working relationship with host country government counterparts and key stakeholders to further shared priorities.
Serve as a USAID advisor in donor and government coordination forums. Provide briefings to U.S. and foreign officials and other donors on USAID programming, as necessary. Contribute to briefers or testimony for high level U.S. Government staff. Maintain contact with USAID/Washington staff on latest anti-corruption policy and technical issues.
Provide expert technical and programmatic representation in key national fora on the subject matter and engage leading thinkers, academics, and high-level government functionaries in this field. This may include meetings with senior USAID staff, GRZ officials, senior representatives from donor agencies and non-governmental organizations.
Negotiate with stakeholders to identify opportunities and give recommendations for USAID to strategically leverage and coordinate investments with other multilateral, bilateral, national partners, or other resources.
Coordinate with GRZ counterparts, donors, technical and financial partners, and other stakeholders to identify, prevent, and solve bottlenecks and underlying issues and dissemination of lessons learned. NOTE: The incumbent will not perform other inherently governmental functions or duties (e.g. will not serve as AOR/COR or supervise staff), but rather will advise, mentor, and facilitate as appropriate on the performance of inherently governmental functions on the part of the Office or Mission. Required Skills Education : Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in a field relevant to the duties described above such as public administration, public policy, economics, finance, law, management, or other related discipline. Work Experience : Minimum of seven (7) years of recent project management or advisory experience with an accountability entity, international assistance organization, private sector or non-governmental organization working on anti-corruption, accountability or oversight related work. This may include experience in justice/rule of law/prosecution, anti-corruption investigations, anti-corruption systems improvements, public financial oversight, or other core accountability activity. During this time, demonstrable experience in contributing to strategy and/or program management in anti-corruption and open government, and /or public financial management.
Knowledge : Demonstrated expert knowledge of anti-corruption, with an advanced understanding of at least one of the following areas: justice/rule of law, public financial management, illicit finance, public procurement reform, or anti-corruption policy. Skills and Abilities: Ability to independently manage activities and deliver quality, timely products that require minimal review and oversight.
Exceptional interpersonal skills including cross-cultural communications.
Excellent writing skills; ability to write in a collaborative process.
Excellent analytical, critical reasoning and problem-solving skills.
Demonstrated ability in dealing effectively and diplomatically with stakeholders from a variety of organizations.
Ability to effectively identify, mobilize, and draw upon the expertise of USAID personnel, and to develop and maintain an extensive range of contacts with both senior and working level staff in USAID, other USG counterparts, as well as host country officials and other cooperating partners.
Facility in developing outreach strategies and delivering formal briefings and presentations.
Flexible workstyle and ability to work well on a team. US Citizen, ability to achieve Top Secret Clearance
Language Proficiency: Fluent (Level IV) verbal and written English communication skills. Desired Skills Significant practical experience in developing countries.
Knowledge and understanding of geopolitical realities in sub-Saharan Africa.

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