Chief of Party (COP)/Project Manager – Improving Land Access for Women (ILAW) Activity – Cote d’Ivoire

ECODIT is an international development firm working with governments, businesses, and local communities to advance environmentally- and socially-responsible development around the world. We provide technical assistance services ranging from quick-turnaround assessments and evaluations to design and implementation of long-term multi-million-dollar projects. Since its founding in 1993, ECODIT has provided professional services through more than 250 projects/contracts to diverse clients in more 50+ countries. Building on our track record of success, we have continuously expanded the depth and breadth of our expertise in the water, energy, environment, and urban and local governance sectors.

Overview

The Chief of Party (COP) will oversee all strategic, technical and operational aspects for the anticipated Improving Land Access for Women (ILAW) Activity. It is expected that this activity will address, strengthen and transform women’s participation in land administration and land tenure processes in Cote d’Ivoire. The COP will act as the main point of contact between USAID, ECODIT and partner organizations, ensuring timely communications and collaborations on a range of highly complex deliverables, and ensuring timely and accurate submission of high-quality deliverables that respond to USAID’s priorities and expectations.

The COP will be a strategic thinker and thought partner with expert problem-solving skills, strong verbal and written communication skills, and high attention to detail. S/he will ensure prompt delivery of high-quality deliverables, and strong client satisfaction. The project’s intended period of performance is three years. The COP will be based in/around Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire.

Specifically, the COP will:

• Assume overall technical, financial, and administrative leadership of the Activity, ensuring that all tasks are implemented effectively and that all deliverables are submitted on time, within budget, and in compliance with applicable United States Government (USG) regulations and ECODIT policies;
• Identify and execute strategies to build viable relationships with key stakeholders, including USAID, the private sector, civil society and other important actors in the land governance, tenure and administration sector;
• Provide thought leadership at the nexus of gender, women’s empowerment and land access; and advocate for women’s rights and issues in land tenure;
• Liaise regularly with USAID to ensure the timely production and submission of high-quality deliverables, including annual work plans, quarterly and annual reports, and monitoring and evaluation plans, reports, and data;
• Work with the ECODIT Home Office to coordinate technical and editorial review of project deliverables prior to submission to USAID;
• Supervise technical and administrative/finance personnel; and
• Perform other tasks and duties as necessary for the success of the project.

Minimum Qualifications

• Masters’ Degree in International Development, Economics, Public Administration, Environmental and Natural Resource Management (NRM), Public Policy, Women’s or Gender Studies or a related area;
• A minimum of 10 years of prior technical and management expertise leading and supervising programs focused on land tenure, NRM, gender and women’s empowerment, or other similar programs;
• Experience leading donor-funded activities to include managing and/or supporting USAID projects;
• Demonstrated prior experience leading, and supervising teams, subcontractors and consultants;
• Demonstrated prior experience in delegating authority to other team members to enhance performance;
• Demonstrated prior ability to establish and maintain productive working relationships with a wide network of partners and stakeholders in an international development context; and
• Strong oral and written communication skills in English and French.

Additional Qualifications

• Strong understanding of land tenure issues in West Africa; prior experience working in Cote D’Ivoire preferred;
• Demonstrable experience linking land access, land tenure and related issues to gender equity and women’s empowerment;
• Proven experience in assembling and/or managing diverse teams to effectively execute tasks;
• Highly developed interpersonal skills, analytical and problem-solving skills; and
• Willingness and ability to live and work in challenging contexts.