Technical Lead USAID BHA Uganda Resilience and Food Security at Action Against Hunger | ACF-International

Purpose and Objectives:

• The Technical Lead will guide the proposal development process, ensuring that the project design, strategic approach, and interventions are aligned with the RFSA's objectives. The Technical Lead will coordinate with the proposal team lead, cost lead, global technical lead, country teams, other ACF network member teams, partners, and other stakeholders to create a cohesive and compliant technical narrative. The Technical Lead may also contribute as appropriate and feasible to the cost application development by reviewing budgeted activities and costs. The Technical Lead will work closely with the Action Against Hunger's Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning Lead to ensure project design is cohesively and coherently represented in the MEAL Plan. The Technical Lead will contribute to the design of the Management and Staffing Plan to ensure proper implementation of the project design.

Key Responsibilities:

Project Design Leadership:

• Lead the development of the technical approach to ensure it aligns with USAID RFSA's priorities and donor requirements
• Conduct background research and identify necessary information to strengthen the project design, integrating lessons learned from past RFSA projects
• Facilitate design workshops, theory of change discussions, and stakeholder consultations, engaging country, regional, and global technical teams, partners, local NGOs, and government actors as needed
• Lead the design process, ensuring all stakeholders contribute to a cohesive and strategic approach that reflects the opportunity details
• Collaboration and Coordination:
• Work closely with the Proposal Team Lead to define partner roles, budget allocations, and project timelines
• Contribute to negotiations of partner roles and ensure feedback on missing partners is provided, fostering a collaborative teamwork approach
• Ensure strategic alignment with resilience, food security, and livelihoods interventions, while coordinating with the MEAL Lead to ensure that the project design is fully captured in the MEAL Plan and budget
• Provide feedback on the proposal development calendar and validate budget marks for different sections
• Participate in preparatory calls, workshops, meetings, and technical discussions as needed

Technical Narrative Development:

• Lead the development of the technical narrative in collaboration with technical team members and the Technical Writer, ensuring clarity, cohesion, and alignment with project/program objectives
• Coordinate inputs from team members, partners, and other stakeholders, delegating writing assignments where appropriate
• Ensure the technical design is fully captured in the logical framework and MEAL plan, and work closely with the Cost Lead to align the detailed budget with the technical narrative
• Complete writing assignments as needed. Delegate writing assignments to Technical Team members, including partners
• Support drafts to the Proposal Team Lead to coordinate the review and support the Proposal Team Lead in assigning technical team members for draft reviews
• Review and incorporate inputs and subsequent revisions with the Technical Writer and Technical Team members

Final Review and Submission:

• Together with the Proposal Team Lead, review the full draft proposal and make final revisions to ensure alignment across all sections and with donor requirements
• Make final approvals on technical content in coordination with country and global technical leads, ensuring compliance with donor requirements before submission
• Assist with post-submission revisions, BAFO responses, and any additional revisions requested by USAID, as needed
• Location of Assignment: Remote, with potential travel to Uganda for design workshops with Action Against Hunger staff and partner

Requirements
Qualifications:

• Extensive experience designing programs for USAID, preferably in RFSA or Economic Growth (Feed the Future)
• Strong understanding of food security, livelihoods, cash and voucher assistance, and resilience approaches, including the Graduation Model
• Familiarity with United States government rules, regulations, and policies
• Experience working cross-culturally, with demonstrated effectiveness as a team leader
• Excellent leadership, verbal, and written communication skills
• Familiarity with the operational context of Uganda or similar regions is preferred

Duration and Level of Effort:

Dates of Assignment: October 1, 2024 - May 31, 2025