Call for Applications: Liberia Technical Partner

Deadline: 28-Jul-23

The United States African Development Foundation (USADF), an independent agency of the United States Government, invites submissions from Monrovia based not-for-profit organizations and for-profit firms who have the experience and expertise to partner with USADF to provide technical assistance and support to grassroots community groups seeking or receiving USADF funding.

Program Objectives

Objective 1: Build self-supporting, sustainable local community development agencies that provide technical assistance and support to grassroots groups.
- While grassroots groups are in the best position to identify problems they encounter in improving their economic and social status, they require assistance in developing and managing activities, particularly in formulating solutions to problems, designing project budgets, work plans and other technical components, monitoring and evaluation plans, and meeting acceptable accountability standards. An important objective of USADF is to help build sustainable indigenous capacity to provide assistance in these areas to grassroots groups. To this end, USADF helps local development organizations strengthen their technical, organizational, and fiscal capacity to effectively promote grassroots economic and social development.
- Results to be Achieved
  - As a result of the partnership with USADF, the Partner organization’s capacity of the will be enhanced in the following areas:
    - utilization of participatory development methodologies (PDM);
    - community outreach and standing;
    - ability to counsel and nurture indigenous organizations in the planning, development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of their activities;
    - acquisition of specialized knowledge and expertise in key development issues of concern in Liberia;
  - Specific results to be achieved through the efforts of the Partner include the following:
    - strong project proposals (that include sound financial analysis) that meet the Foundation’s Project funding application requirements fully developed for USADF review;
    - improved grantee skills and resources as measured by successful implementation of project plans, including timely completion of activities and deliverables specified in the grant agreements and evidence of re-evaluating business plans as needed;
    - effective implementation of projects as demonstrated by a portfolio with the majority of grantees meeting or exceeding project targets;
Objective 2: Establish strategic linkages with national and local governments, other donor agencies, and the local private sector to support sustainable grassroots development.
- National and local governments, other donors, and the local private sector are often important stakeholders in USADF-funded activities. Applicants should discuss their ability to consult with and influence these important stakeholders.
- Results to be Achieved
  - increased awareness by government, donors, and private sector entities of the socio-economic development opportunities at the grassroots and USADF’s role in supporting those opportunities;
  - increased public-private linkages in local development and appreciation by the private sector of its philanthropic role in local development and the returns to business of charitable giving, as demonstrated by an increase in funding or other support for small-scale, indigenous initiatives; and
  - expanded participation of grassroots entities in the private sector and national and local policy dialogue.
Objective 3: Encourage the utilization of participatory development “best practices.”
- Wider use of participatory development “best practices” is essential to empowering grassroots groups and helps them to find viable solutions to their problems. The Partner will take on a leadership role in promoting these “best practices.” The Partner will take on a leadership role with African governments and donors where possible.
- Results to be Achieved
  - expanded and diversified resource base for community development activities;
  - increased utilization of local resources;
  - increased capacity for communities to leverage external funding;
  - increased level of volunteerism in the community; and
  - increased potential for community self-sufficiency in specific areas.

Type of Award

USADF plans to make an award for one (1) year duration, which may be renewed annually for up to an additional four (4) years without competition, depending on performance during the initial year and each subsequent year of the cooperative agreement. Subject to the consent of the Recipient, USADF may negotiate additional cooperative agreements or grants, known as associate awards.

Program Activities

The Partner will assist grassroots groups and organizations by working collaboratively with such entities in the promotion, design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of their projects. Program Activities will include the following:
- initiating and maintain contact with Private Voluntary Organizations (PVOs), Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), other donors working with grassroots groups in Liberia, and relevant host government ministries and services; comparing best practices; sharing lessons learned; and coordinating assistance;
- gathering and maintaining information on the development opportunities in Liberia that are appropriate for support by USADF and other donors. This includes remaining current on the development activities and priorities of the broader development community in Liberia and reaching out to local communities and representatives of marginalized and underserved segments of the country’s population;
- preparing sector or value chain analyses to assist USADF applicants in developing and documenting the need and opportunity for proposed projects and to assist USADF grantees in executing approved projects;
- assisting grant applicants to design sustainable development projects placing particular emphasis on: development of long-term strategies; necessary analyses and feasibility studies to assess project viability; design of technical components, budgets, management and implementation plans; gathering baseline data; and assessing training needs;
- providing appropriate technical assistance and training to grassroots entities in the development and implementation of their activities;
- promoting cooperative principles and effective financial and administrative management practices and ethical values, including: transparency, separation of responsibilities, and equitable distribution of benefits;
- assisting grantees to assess the quality of work by prospective vendors and to achieve cost-savings in negotiating rates with prospective vendors;
- overseeing consultants and other parties providing technical assistance to grantees in order to ensure adherence to participatory development principles and provision of timely, effective and comprehensive service to the grantee;
- providing counsel on business, income generation and community development planning;
- facilitating links between producers, suppliers, and local and regional markets for producer groups and small businesses;
- identifying and facilitating links to other sources of funding, as needed;
- assisting grantees in meeting their reporting and other obligations under their grant agreements with USADF and advising on technology choices and techniques;

Personnel and Responsibilities

Program Coordinator
- Qualifications:
  - Host country national required;
  - Bachelor’s Degree required, preferably in management, business administration, agricultural economics, finance, developmental studies or other relevant field. Master’s Degree preferred. Will accept at least 10 years of relevant work experience in lieu of degree;
  - Knowledge of and experience working with marginalized people and the design and implementation of self- help development activities, particularly in Liberia; Five (5) or more years of work experience in project/program development, management, monitoring, evaluation, and financial analyses, related to income generation, small business development including agrobusiness, community development or other self-help development initiatives;
  - At least ten (10) years of management experience in a role that required the ability to manage professional staff effectively and meet tight deadlines in a results-oriented organization;
- Major responsibilities:
  - The Program Coordinator is responsible for the overall management of the Partner’s program, including: assisting Applicants in the development of project proposals; support to grantees in implementation, performance assessment, and remediation of projects; management of any Community Reinvestment Grants generated by USADF awards; and management of the Partner professional and support staff.
  - The Program Coordinator is to effectively lead the Partner team to achieve and sustain team motivation and performance to ensure success at all stages of program management. The incumbent will coordinate the efforts of his/her team to ensure work is completed consistent with established timeframes and quality specifications and in compliance with USADF policies and procedures.
Project Development Officer
- Qualifications:
  - Host country national;
  - University degree in business administration, economics, agriculture, finance, community development or other relevant areas of development preferably at the master’s level; an MBA, or a high-level academic training in analysis and planning activities of SMEs would be an asset;
  - Five (5) or more years of professional experience in project development, program management, monitoring, evaluation and financial analysis, particularly related to small business development;
  - Demonstrated experience in developing, designing and implementing business development projects, including knowledge of the opportunities and challenges, particularly Liberia;
- Major responsibilities:
  - Assist organizations seeking USADF funding in preparing assessments to determine the best use of grant funds for project goals and long-term sustainability, including development of business plans;
  - Evaluate the social and economic environment of a potential investment, to support the feasibility, profitability and visibility of its activities;
  - Assist applicants in conducting market research, costing and selling prices of their products prior to funding to help companies supported by USADF and community groups to remain profitable;
  - Perform financial analysis and full economic potential of a project; Assist applicants to prepare financial projections prior to funding, including cash flow projections to determine the profitability and financial viability of proposed projects; evaluation of cash flow needs.
  - Assist applicants to develop financial goals and performance indicators and targets that will be used in measuring and validating project progress and results;
  - Summarize the different analyses of a project document, and makes recommendations on the viability of proposed investments;
Financial Officer
- Qualifications:
  - Host country national;
  - University degree in accounting, financial management or related business discipline, preferably at the master’s level, or CPA/CA equivalency;
  - Five (5) years or more of professional work experience in an accounting or financial management position;
  - Demonstrated skill and experience conducting financial analysis of projects;
  - Demonstrated ability to formulate and manage budgets, including maintenance of accounts, report generation, and account reconciliation;
  - Demonstrated ability to respond to the needs of grassroots groups, including training and assisting with bookkeeping and timely submission of financial reports;
  - Knowledge of institutional capacity of small-scale enterprises and farmer groups, as demonstrated by prior accounting, auditing, and financial management work experience with such groups;
- Major responsibilities:
  - Assist the Program Coordinator in formulating the annual budget for the Partner office and operations;
  - Prepare and maintain all required accounting journals, ledgers, receipts and related financial records and the quarterly financial reports to be submitted to USADF;
  - Assist applicants to prepare pre-funding financial analyses, including cash flow and profit/loss assessments to determine the potential profitability and financial sustainability of proposed projects;
  - Assess grantee financial management capacity and practices and develop plans to ensure that grantees meet financial certification requirements for grant management;
  - Provide accounting and financial management training to USADF grantees;
Monitoring and Evaluation Officer
- Qualifications:
  - Host country national;
  - University degree in community development, adult education, management, economics, sociology or other relevant areas of development, preferably at the master’s level;
  - Three (3) years’ or more experience in the development, design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of investments at the community level, preferably with programs that help grassroots groups in income generating activities or community development activities;
  - Experience in using and evaluating tools and techniques for data collection;
  - Experience in measuring socio-economic impacts;
- Major responsibilities:
  - Help grantees in the preparation and submission in a timely manner all required documents;
  - Train grantees in the preparation of quarterly reports, monitors the quality of reports, verifies their accuracy, and ensures that grantees maintain adequate information to support their reports;
  - Review all performance reports and quarterly financial reports of the beneficiaries, to assess progress and achievement of objectives, recommendations for remediation if needed, and answer questions and concerns USADF-Washington;
  - Provide and/or organize training and technical assistance to recipients of USADF;
  - Work with recipients to develop systems to track grantee activity against grant implementation and record the progress of grantees compared to performance measures of the grant;

For more information, visit USADF.