USAID – Investment Officer, Prosper Africa

Position description

USAID provides operational resources and staff for the Prosper Africa Executive Secretariat (PAES), which supports the Prosper Africa Coordinator and its 17 interagency partners. Through the Africa Trade and Investment platform, the Agency works to reduce regional trade barriers, promote trade under the African Growth and Opportunity Act, and attract investment that drives inclusive economic growth. AFR/SD supports Missions in building the capacity of governments, civil society, and the private sector to make informed decisions about their choice of development partners on their journey to self-reliance; promoting clear and transparent policies and procedures that can ensure a stable, low-risk environment for trade and investment; leveraging public and private partnerships to facilitate the free flow of goods across Africa’s borders; and engaging the private sector by building the capacity of USAID staff to identify opportunities for shared value and mobilize private resources that can address development challenges.

 

The Bureau for Africa (AFR) is the USAID/Washington operating unit charged with managing USAID development and trade programs in Africa. 

 

PROSPER AFRICA:   Prosper Africa is a U.S. Presidential-level, national security initiative to strengthen the economic partnership between the United States and Africa and increasing two-way trade and investment. This includes trade and investment flows from the United States to Africa, as well as from Africa to the United States. Prosper Africa mobilizes and amplifies the resources of 17 U.S. federal agencies  to more effectively facilitate deals and shape future market opportunities. The initiative brings together services and resources from across the U.S. Government to empower businesses with market insights, deal support, financing, and solutions to strengthen business climates. Prosper Africa helps prioritize and align actions – including new programs and existing efforts that will complement and reinforce progress – along three lines of effort: (1) Facilitating Investment Transactions and Trade Opportunities; (2) Transforming the Landscape for Increased Trade and Investment Flows; and (3) Expanding Engagement in the U.S.-Africa Partnership. 

 

The Prosper Africa Executive Secretariat (PAES), supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) within AFR, seeks an Investment Officer to provide support for the Investment Team as it coordinates, synchronizes, convenes, monitors, and reports on Prosper Africa’s efforts to substantially increase two-way investment between the United States and African countries. As a critical member of the Investment Team, the Investment Officer, under the guidance of the Investment Team Lead will undertake a range of investment-related tasks, including technical writing, such as drafting and providing technical input on briefing documents, monitoring ongoing programs, maintaining learning and knowledge communities, and coordinating with the private sector, the interagency and regional offices.

 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES, include but are not limited to:  

• Supports development of overarching strategy for Prosper’s foundation and family office work and how it coalesces with the broader institutional investment practice area.

• Meets and conducts key outreach to foundations, family offices and other institutional investors to promote Africa as an investment destination.

• Develops and provides technical input into papers, briefing materials, communication products, speeches, etc. as needed by the Investment Team Lead.

• Assists in the logistics and technical aspects of key convenings, trips, and conferences for the Investment Team, ensuring that all aspects of events are covered.

• Manages institutional investor relationship databases, ensuring that they are continually updated and kept current.

• Monitors the status of current and ongoing investment program activities and provides written and oral briefings and reports as needed.

• Coordinates with existing programs and mechanisms, such as the Africa Trade and Investment Program.

• Serves as PAES’s principal advisor to working groups and meetings in areas of responsibility.

• Helps develop and continuously update timeline with key actions necessary for developing and implementing Prosper Africa’s investment strategy, operational, and implementation plans, taking into account funding, staffing and administration/interagency priorities. This  includes stocktaking to identify information gaps and review processes.

• Other related duties as assigned.

 

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.

 

Qualifications

Required Skills

• A bachelor’s degree in a field such as international relations, economics, finance, trade, business, international development, public policy or similar, plus 10 years experience, or

• A master’s degree in related discipline plus five years of relevant experience.

• Experience working and/or collaborating with the US foundation community, the family office community, private investors, U.S. government agencies and other private sector organizations, including officials with international organizations, foreign and domestic government officials, and development partners.

• Strong expertise in written and oral communication, with a particular fluency in the foundation space and investment related subject matter.  

• Knowledge of relevant disciplines including private sector development, international development and global finance.

• Ability to work collaboratively with team members as well as inter-agency colleagues in the United States and Africa, U.S. and African government officials, donors, private sector officials, and implementing partners.

• U.S. Citizenship and the ability to obtain a Secret security clearance.

 

Desired Skills

• Demonstrated ability to work with teams, often with high pressure and time constraints.

• Proficiency in Google (Docs, Drive, etc.) and Microsoft (MS Word, Excel, etc.) applications.

• Strong written and oral communication skills in the global investment space; capable of presenting information through reports and discussions to effectively support senior level officials responsible for providing guidance and direction to the private sector and across the interagency and to work across teams and with various levels of leadership.

Application instructions

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