Center for Development Policies IDEAS DePo

USAID Strengthening Resource Mobilization Activity (SRMA)

For the USAID’s North Macedonia Strengthening Resource Mobilization Activity in North Macedonia, implemented by DT Global International Development USA, Ltd ( formerly Cardno Emerging Markets USA, Ltd.) Center for Development Policies IDEAS DePo is seeking candidates for the position of

Component Lead Aimed to Enhance the Decentralization Process

USAID/ North Macedonia Strengthening Resource Mobilization Activity is a five-year Project (start date January 2021) awarded to DT Global International Development USA, Ltd ( formerly Cardno Emerging Markets USA, Ltd.) to  work with North Macedonia’s local governments to measurably increase municipal own-source resources and external funds and increase their budget execution rate in compliance with the Government of North Macedonia’s (GoNM) budgeting and reporting requirements. The Project will work with the local governments, the GoNM, and the key stakeholders to: 1) enhance the quality of municipal tax and fee collection systems; 2) increase Local Government Units (LGUs)’ capacity to access external resources from the national government or international organizations’ funds and/or capital markets and banks; 3) improve LGUs’ ability to plan, manage and implement public sector revenues in compliance with Government of North Macedonia’s regulations; and 4) enhance the decentralization process.

 

Duties and Responsibilities

Governance

• Supported by respective project management staff and under the direct supervision of the COP and DCOP, oversee the effective, transparent, and accountable implementation of the decentralization activities under the Objective 4, including strategy setting, planning, activity design, financial and personnel management
• Coordinate activities with other Project’s objectives and its teams to properly address issues where national level government authorities are involved
• Establish and maintain professional and sound working relations with main Project’s stakeholders on national level, primarily Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Local Self Government and other relevant bodies and agencies, as well as ZELS
• Design specific project’s activities under the Objective 4, including preparation of specific SOW and TOR for STTAs and monitor their implementation
• Initiate, lead and support the design of related initiatives at local level, such as program design in the area of decentralization and development
• Further strengthen project activities and position as a credible and technically sound partner with national counterparts and international actors in the local governance field
• Ensure coordination with other local governance and decentralization projects
• Ensure anchoring of results in national structures and build sustainable partnerships with relevant local partners
• Promote networking and knowledge sharing
• Advocate for good local governance, social inclusion and co-ordination of results and implementation
• Play an active role in policy advice and strategic thinking on decentralization, local governance, urban and rural development and service delivery
• Providing inputs for relevant Project’s reports

Leadership

• Provide leadership, oversight, and management of the SRMA’s decentralization activities, ongoing and forthcoming programs under the joint program of the local governance portfolio. This will include advice and support to other projects and Government(s) in North Macedonia on specific priorities in the area of local governance and decentralization, including
• Support and guide the continuous process of refinement of local governance activities in the area of policy and legal framework reform, institutional development and capacity building, and investments for local development
• Development of policy documents for local governance and decentralization,
• Introducing effective service delivery techniques and accountability mechanisms
• Identify needs for additional technical support and expertise to support the ongoing local governance project activities as well as leading/supporting the process of designing and operationalizing new activities in the sector.
• In close cooperation with the other Project Management staff and other component leaders and in consultation with international multi- and bi-lateral donors, preparing and assisting in the implementation of resource mobilization and partnership strategies in the area of local governance reform, more specifically, the incumbent will:
• Assess donor and national interventions,
• Identify potential gaps
• Ensure greater programmatic coordination
• Engage in additional resource mobilization as required by program development.

Requirements

• University degree in Law, Economy, Finance, Business or public administration, political sciences, or related field.
• At least 7 years of substantive experience working on or directly related to project/ program managements and development or coordination of complex / multi sectoral
• Previous experience with programming in the governance
• Previous experience in North Macedonia in leading complex projects as well as thorough understanding of the political environment is a strong asset.
• Prior experience and familiarity with governance issues in North Macedonia is
• Proven communication and advocacy skills, and ability to work in an environment requiring liaison and collaboration with multiple actors including government representatives, donors and other stakeholders.
• Excellent inter-personal, negotiation and team leading skills
• Experience with complex USAID and/or USG or other international donor programs preferably in the area of Governance is an asset.
• Experience in use of computers and office software packages

Decentralization Lead top skills & proficiencies

Professionalism

• Proven record of knowledge and practical experience in area of governance and experience in management of donor’s projects.
• Solid analytical and communication skills and ability to lead effectively project
• Ability to work to tight deadlines and to handle multiple concurrent projects
• Good understanding of the North Macedonia situation in general and the status of local governance and governance reform in North Macedonia

Proactive Leadership

• Ability for developing of strategies to accomplish project objectives and to empower others to translate vision into results
• Capacity to anticipate and resolve conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions
• Ability and skills to establish and maintain relationships and mobilize active engagement by national authorities, donors, local authorities and civil society within the process of reform of North Macedonia governance system and for the introduction and dissemination of best practices in the design of policies, institutional structures, functions and capacities.
• Good judgment and ability to identify key issues in a complex situation based on appropriate, balanced information gathering and ability to take decisions in appropriate time with an eye to the impact on goals of the project and the Organization
• Commitment to improve programs or services by taking interest in new ideas and new and creative ways of service delivery and improvement of performance

Vision

• Ability to identify strategic issues, opportunities, and risks with regards to the area of local governance in North Macedonia.
• Capacity to guide the strategic positioning of the program within the national administrative and political context and to function as a resource person for the project and the Government with a view to strengthen local governance in North Macedonia

Communication

• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to convey complex concepts and recommendations, both orally and in writing, in a clear and persuasive style tailored to match different audiences, including at senior level

Teamwork

• Ability to interact, to establish and maintain effective working relations with a culturally diverse team, both as a team member and as a team leader, to build trust, and to manage in a deliberate, transparent and predictable way
• Ability to interact appropriately with national partners and stakeholders, the donor community, local authority personnel and beneficiaries in a widely varied cultural, political, religious and economic setting

 

Please apply by sending your CV and Cover Letter in English no later than October 26, 2022 by 05:00PM on e-mail:  [најави се за да го видиш е-маилот]  with subject: Job application for Component Lead

Incomplete applications will not be considered for evaluation.