Research and Institutional Support Services Activity (RISSA)

Long Term Technical Advisor (LTTA)

STATEMENT OF WORK

Position Title: Prosper Africa Executive Secretariat (PAES)

Trade Program Specialist

GS Level Equivalent: GS 14/13 equivalent

Requesting Mission/Office: Prosper Africa

Clearance Requirement: Secret

Period of Performance (o/a): Commencing early 2023

Place of Performance: Washington, DC

Telework Eligible (3-8 days/pp)

Anticipated Travel: 1-2 trips per year to African continent

Background:

The Prosper Africa initiative is a whole-of-U.S. Government effort to substantially increase trade and investment between the United States and Africa. Prosper Africa will mobilize and coordinate the U.S. Government’s full range of capabilities, influence, and assistance to substantially increase trade and investment while supporting jobs at home and abroad. The initiative aims to improve the U.S. government’s ability to encourage and facilitate engagement by U.S. businesses in Africa, accelerate African economic competitiveness and the growth of the continent’s middle class, and improve the business environment in promising African economies. Importantly, while Prosper Africa is a strategic investment by the U.S. Government, it will be responsive to the interests and direction of the private sector.

The Prosper Africa Executive Secretariat (PAES, or Coordinator’s team), supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) seeks a program specialist to provide support for the PAES as it coordinates, synchronizes, convenes, monitors, and reports on interagency members’ Prosper Africa-related trade and investment efforts to substantially increase two-way trade between the United States and African countries.

As a critical member of the PAES, the specialist, under the guidance of the Executive Secretariat, and specifically the Senior Policy and Program Officer, will support the Coordinator, Deputy Coordinator and PAES staff with a range of program and operational tasks. The individual must develop a working knowledge of USG and USAID communications systems and applications; USG interagency programming, communications, and budget, particularly focused on trade and investment in the United States and in African countries; a range of USG programmatic and management processes and procedures related to materials development, inter- and intra-agency clearances; planning and conducting high-level events, meetings, and other activities for senior USG and African government and non-government officials and executives.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include, but are not limited to:

• Develops papers, briefing materials, speeches, etc. as needed by leadership, the front office, and the Administrator’s office.
• Drafts policy memoranda and position papers for senior PAES officials to use in meetings, which include all levels of the USG, the private sector and representatives of other countries.
• Monitors the status of program activities and achievements; provides written and oral briefings and reports as needed;
• Liaises with other offices within the AFR to synchronize unity of effort and ensure Prosper Africa views and interests are represented and promoted.
• Works with other AFR Bureau offices to draft requisite Congressional Notifications, program allocation, apportionment memoranda, and helps develop responses to queries from posts, the public and Congress concerning PAES activities. Facilitates and tracks clearance of Prosper Africa memos, reports and other action items.
• Supports PAES representation to working groups and meetings in areas of responsibility.
• Tracks and coordinates taskings from intra-agency and inter-agency working groups, develops summaries/evaluations of options and due-outs; works with leadership to follow-up.
• Receives requests from other Agency members for information concerning the USG Prosper Africa Initiative efforts. Assembles requested information from available background data or follows up to ensure that points of contact submit the required answers within the specified time.
• Helps develop and continuously update timeline with key actions necessary for developing and implementing Prosper Africa strategy, operational, and implementation plans, taking into account funding, staffing and Administration/Interagency priorities. Key actions should include stocktaking to identify information gaps and review processes.
• Provides support for PAES management and operations functions, including recruitment and onboarding of new personnel and developing and updating standard operating procedures for PAES.
• Other related duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE SKILLS, EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

• A bachelor’s degree is required in a field such as international relations, economics, finance, trade, business, international development, or public policy with a minimum of 5-6 years of relevant work experience.
• Experience working and collaborating with U.S. government agencies and private sector organizations, including officials with international organizations, foreign and domestic government officials, and development partners.
• Excellent interpersonal skills; ability to work in a dynamic team environment with a diverse set of partners and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated proficiency in written and oral communication involving coordinating, negotiating and motivating individuals to take action.
• Strong written and oral communication skills; ability to write in a collaborative process and meet deadlines; capable of presenting information through reports and discussions to effectively support senior level officials responsible for providing guidance and direction across the interagency and to work across teams and with various levels of leadership.
• Knowledge of relevant disciplines such as trade, private sector development, and investment required.
• Demonstrated ability to work with teams, often with high pressure and time constraints.
• 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.
• Outstanding organizational and planning abilities.
• Proficient in Google (Docs, Drive, etc.) and Microsoft (MS Word, Excel, etc.) applications.
• U.S. Citizenship and the ability to obtain a Secret security clearance required.

PREFERRED:

• Master’s degree in international relations, economics, finance, trade, business, international development, or public policy with 5-7 years of relevant work experience.

This position is based in Washington DC, but is telework eligible, which allows regular telework but also requires regular presence at the physical office(s) as needed for work and meetings.