Deputy Chief of Party – Zimbabwe

Background

SoCha LLC is preparing a response to provide Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) and technical services to the USAID/Zimbabwe Mission. The project has the following objectives:

1. Enhance USAID/Zimbabwe’s capacity to gather evidence and use it in strategic planning, project and activity design, and activity implementation.
2. Improve USAID/Zimbabwe’s performance monitoring, reporting, and communication to support informed program decision making and ensure compliance with USAID Program Cycle operational policy.
3. Enhance USAID/Zimbabwe’s inter- and intra-sector collaboration and integration.
4. Build the capacity of USAID/Zimbabwe staff and implementing partners in program cycle processes like monitoring, evaluation, learning, collaborating, and adapting.

SoCha is seeking a qualified individual to fill the role of Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP). The DCOP position will be full-time and based in Harare. This role is for a proposal position and is contingent on award and funding.

Scope of Work

The DCOP will provide senior technical and managerial leadership, ensuring effective implementation of the MEL platform. S/he will assume overall responsibility for the platform in the absence of the COP and will contribute to strategic knowledge management and communications, capacity strengthening of local partners, and coordination with stakeholders. The DCOP will manage the overall delivery of work requests within the project team. The DCOP is also expected to provide guidance and direction to the technical project staff.

The DCOP will have the following responsibilities:

• Be the primary person tasked with ensuring the oversight of the MEL plan, ensuring that its design is in line with the objectives of the project.
• Develop and execute a comprehensive institutional learning strategy that aligns with USAID’s development objectives.
• Design and facilitate collaborative processes, fostering cross-sector collaboration and knowledge sharing among the Mission, implementing partners, and stakeholders.
• Ensure the application of adaptive management principles to the MEL platform.
• Lead engagement with implementing partners.
• Oversee the design of and deliver training programs and capacity-building initiatives effectively.
• Ensure that the Mission remains compliant with USAID policies, procedures, and reporting requirements related to institutional learning and collaboration.
• Serve as acting COP when appropriate.

Minimum Qualifications and Experience

• Minimum of a master’s degree in a relevant field such as monitoring and evaluation, international development, or a related field.
• A minimum of eight (8) years of demonstrated experience in institutional learning, adaptive management, and collaboration within international development organizations.
• Demonstrated ability to design and deliver training programs and capacity building initiatives effectively.
• Demonstrated experience conducting program evaluations and impact assessments to inform adaptive strategies and program enhancements.
• Experience supporting the USAID Program Cycle or similar project design, implementation, or learning models.
• Demonstrated experience liaising with high-level private and public sector representatives.
• Strong interpersonal and oral presentation skills.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.

Location

Harare, Zimbabwe with travel in the country at times.