Enabling Environment Component Lead

Overview

Creative Associates International is a dynamic, fast-growing global development firm that specializes in education, economic growth, democratic institutions and stabilization. Based in Washington, D.C., Creative has a field presence in more than 25 countries with a strong client portfolio that includes the U.S. Agency for International Development and the State Department, among others. Since its founding in 1977, Creative has earned a solid reputation among its clients and is well-regarded by competitors and partners alike. In keeping with donor requirements, Creative strives to ensure that all its projects promote inclusive development by meaningfully integrating gender and social inclusion at each level of programming. Creative also seeks to ensure that its projects engage and respond to the needs of all members of the communities they serve in accordance with USG directives and Creative’s own Gender and Social Inclusion Policies.

Creative Associates seeks an Enabling Environment Component?Lead?for an upcoming USAID-funded?program?in Afghanistan focusing on?women’s economic development through the creation of business enabling environments?which enable women to thrive in?the formal economy. The project?will?focus on building systems to support services for female job seekers and business-owners including improving women’s knowledge and skills and overcoming the practical, social and legal barriers that inhibit women’s access to finance and job markets.

Responsibilities

The Enabling Environment Component Lead supports the Technical Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP), manages a team of advocacy outreach and enabling environment experts, and carries out any other tasks assigned by the Technical DCOP to ensure proper management of the Contract.

Creative Associates employs an overarching, conflict-sensitive approach to gender sensitization and gender inclusion throughout its programming and implementation. The Enabling Environment Component Lead is expected to ensure all component staff uphold the values demonstrated in the gender integration framework and ensure activities and team members are in line with its components.

The Enabling Environment Component Lead works under the leadership of the Technical DCOP and supports the Technical DCOP in appropriate technical and coordination aspects of program.

Expected Outcomes:

• In line with USAID Afghanistan expectations, the project will increase the proportion of female participants with access to productive economic resources, private sector engagement and income-generating activities.
• Gender norms that inhibit women’s full and equal participation in the paid economy are transformed in participating areas.
• Female workers and business owners have access to the skills they need to advance in the economy.
• Female business-owners and entrepreneurs have increased access to finance.
• Women’s business and trade organizations as well as organizations that focus on women’s economic participation have the skills to effectively analyze Afghan laws and policies that may negatively impact women’s ability to succeed in the marketplace, and have the advocacy skills to address them.

The Enabling Environment Component Lead will oversee the Contract’s Enabling Environment component implementation through direct supervision of its target group experts, as directed by the Technical DCOP.

• Manages the team of advocacy outreach and business enabling environment experts and oversees the Contract’s Enabling Environment component implementation including finances, human resources, security, procurement, local subcontractors, grants (if required) and results in compliance with Creative and USG policies and procedures;

• Formulates work plan sections that aim to achieve the Contract’s business enabling environment goals, in cooperation with the Technical DCOP, other project staff, USAID, and the GoIRA;

• Oversees and approves sub-grantees, sub-contractors, and short-term consultants’ implementation of the project in relation to enabling environment activities and uses the grants process to leverage positive change for women;

• The Enabling Environment Component Lead will provide support to the Technical DCOP in programmatic, strategic development and quality control duties; and liaise with USAID and government stakeholders to respond to their informational, data and monitoring requirements;

• Strong technical contributions to business enabling environment activities and results;

• Develop and deliver reports and written documentation related to technical activities to be reported to USAID, including weekly, quarterly and annual reports, and all relevant project deliverables; and

• Respond to requests from donor and supervisors as needed.

• Ensures the component activities reflect best practices in gender and that gender sensitive approaches are integrated into all component activities.

• Ensures the components activities are implemented in compliance with USAID’s regulations and directives including USAID ADS directives as well as its Policy on* *Gender Equality and* *Women’s *E**mpowerment*; and

• Maintains the internal integrity of component activities from proposal win to implementation by working with HQ staff during project start up.Qualifications

• Law degree or graduate degree in business, economics, international development, agriculture, trade, or other relevant field (or, alternatively, a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and five (5) additional years of relevant experience) highly desired;

• Minimum five (5) years of experience in creating business enabling environments for labor force participation and business ownership;

• Previous experience in the private sector, particularly in enabling environments, agriculture, agribusiness, export, trade, marketing, or other related sectors highly preferred;

• Experience effectively integrating gender programming into development programs;

• Experience working collaboratively with host country governments and the local private sector, and coordinating activities with those of other donors;

• Experience managing culturally diverse teams and working with counterparts from other cultures;

• Pashto and/or Dari fluency;

• Excellent oral and written English language communication skills; and

• Ability to travel internationally or domestically for up to 20-25% of the time.

Position contingent upon donor funding.

Only finalists will be contacted. No phone calls, please.

Creative Associates International Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Disability/Veteran.

PI128653498

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