Chief of Party, USAID Nepal Agriculture Transformation

Chief of Party, USAID Nepal Agriculture Transformation

Abt Associates

Kathmandu, Nepal

The Opportunity

Abt Associates seeks a Chief of Party (COP) to lead the anticipated 5-year USAID-funded Agriculture Transformation activity. The purpose of the activity is to catalyze a transformation in Nepal’s agricultural sector that will lay the foundation for broad based and inclusive economic growth. The program objectives include: 1) Agricultural productivity, competitiveness, and diversification increased; 2) Enabling environment for private sector investment in agriculture and equitable access to market systems improved; 3) Climate and economic resilience of women, youth, and marginalized communities enhanced; and 4) Capacity of national agricultural research institutions and extension systems strengthened. The activity will focus on fine rice, industrial maize, lentils, high-value vegetables, and goat value chains and will focus implementation in four provinces: Bagmati Province, Lumbini Province, Karnali Province, and Sudurpaschim Province.

This position is contingent upon award of the Nepal Agriculture Transformation Activity to Abt Associates.

Core Responsibilities

• Provide strategic managerial and technical leadership for the program to ensure quality and timely delivery of all activities and deliverables.
• Oversee a multi-disciplinary team of experts.
• Serve as the primary liaison with USAID, other key US Government stakeholders and initiatives, private sector institutions, and the donor community.
• Ensure that all project staff, personnel, and subcontractors understand their roles and responsibilities and comply with USAID and Abt policies and procedures.
• Supervise the project’s technical team to ensure a focus on core results, achievements of annual work plan and targets, and timely/effective implementation.
• Monitor the progress and pace of project implementation, assuring that the full potential of the program is realized through the promotion of high-quality work and internal control.
• Provide strategic technical direction and guidance to staff in relevant areas, including agricultural productivity; enabling environment for private sector investment in agriculture; equitable access to market systems for women and youth; climate and economic resilience; and agricultural research and extension systems.
• Ensure the submission of timely and accurate program, financial, and procurement reports.
• Oversee establishment of a framework for monitoring, evaluation, learning and adapting in response to results achieved.
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with USAID and local counterparts to ensure effective coordination of project activities with relevant ministries and agencies, civil society, private sector actors, other project stakeholders, and complementary USAID and U.S. government-funded initiatives.
• Serve as the main point of contact with Abt Associates’ U.S. office.

What We Value

• Master’s degree in business, agriculture, agribusiness, economic growth, international development, or related field.
• Excellent interpersonal, diplomacy, and leadership skills, including the ability to manage high-level relationships and motivate project team.
• Minimum of 10 years progressively responsible experience in project management and implementation, with at least 5 years in a senior supervisory capacity overseeing projects or initiatives similar in size and scope.
• USAID project management experience at COP or senior management level (highly preferred).
• Demonstrated technical expertise in a combination of the following: agricultural development and market systems development; enabling environment for private sector investment in agriculture; equitable access to market systems for women and youth; climate and economic resilience; and agricultural research and extension systems.
• Demonstrated experience in adaptive management and program design.
• Ability to establish and maintain working relationships with U.S., foreign government counterparts.
• Knowledge of Nepal’s agricultural markets and the obstacles inhibiting competitiveness, resilience, and inclusion (highly preferred) or successful track record in a similar environment.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English required, knowledge of Nepali desired.
• Nepali nationals are encouraged to apply.

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