Position Title: Partner Engagement Specialist

Grade-level Equivalent: ~GS 14

Clearance Requirement: Secret

Period of Performance (o/a): Three years with an optional one year extension

Place of Performance: Remote telework

Closing Date: February 1, 2023 at 12:00 pm EST

Expected Travel: 3 TDY trips annually

BACKGROUND:

The Africa Bureau’s Office of Sustainable Development (AFR/SD) provides strategic guidance and intellectual leadership to the Africa Bureau, conducts economic, social and political analyses critical to the development of AFR policies, strategies, budgets and activities, and supports, coordinates, and facilitates technical and budgetary priorities and personnel considerations for the field. AFR/SD’s Education and Youth Division (ED) works across multiple sectors related to education, including early childhood development, primary school, higher education, and leadership development. The Division directly manages activities that support capacity development of African regional institutions and that provide analysis and data to assess regional needs, identify trends, and inform project designs. The Education and Youth Division works in close collaboration with other USAID Bureaus, including the Bureau for Economic Growth, Education & Environment, to integrate programs and coordinate strategic and technical support to staff and programs in USAID Missions in Africa.

The Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) is an interagency effort led by USAID and the State Department to invest in the next generation of African leaders as they foster economic growth, enhance democratic governance, and strengthen the civil society structures that will help the continent sustainably grow and prosper. There are three main components of YALI: 1) YALI Regional Leadership Centers (RLCs); 2) the Mandela Washington Fellowship, and 3) the YALI Network. To date, tens of thousands of young African men and women have increased their skills, enhanced their professional networks, and resolved to drive positive change in Africa. YALI is providing opportunities for young Africans to enhance their leadership skills and create meaningful ties with American citizens, businesses, organizations, and each other.

(1) YALI RLCs: These centers, located at four higher education institutions in sub-Saharan Africa, offer experiential leadership training programs to young leaders between the ages of 18 and 35. Through short-term training offered in-person and online, professional development opportunities, and networking, the RLCs provide a platform for regional collaboration driven by young leaders. The RLCs are supported by a number of public-private partnerships managed out of Washington, DC or at an RLC. Partnerships with the private sector enhance the ability of the RLCs to provide exciting learning opportunities, entrepreneurship support, and access to technology to RLC participants.

(2) Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders: This flagship YALI exchange program is led by the State Department and brings 700 young Africans to the United States each year for six weeks of academic coursework, leadership training, networking, and mentoring. The academic coursework takes place at top U.S. colleges and universities throughout the United States where Fellows focus on one of three tracks: Business and Entrepreneurship, Civic Leadership, or Public Management, followed by a three-day Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C. Approximately 100 of the Fellows each year also participate in six-week professional development experiences in the United States with American NGOs, private companies, and governmental offices.

(3) The YALI Network: Managed by the State Department, the YALI Network is a growing community of over 700,000 young leaders across sub-Saharan Africa. YALI Network members have access to virtual resources and online courses to advance their skills in leadership, business and entrepreneurship, civic leadership, and public management. YALI Network members have access to free educational materials, virtual events and face-to-face interactions created exclusively for young African leaders.

Success and sustainability of YALI hinges, in large part, on the development of alliances and strategic partnerships between USAID YALI and private businesses, foundations, NGOs, bilateral and multilateral partners, social impact investors and other groups, both in the United States and sub-Saharan Africa. The Administration is particularly interested in partnerships between YALI and the Diaspora as well as HBCUs and other higher education institutions. The Partner Engagement Specialist will help support USAID programs in sub-Saharan Africa.

AFR/SD is seeking a Partner Engagement Specialist for long term technical assistance beginning January 2023 for three years with an optional one-year extension. The incumbent will work with AFR/SD/ED, the YALI team, and AFR leadership and participate in YALI strategic planning and alliance building with the private sector, public sector and civil society, including facilitating increased capacity of USAID staff to build and promote alliances. The incumbent will report to the YALI Coordinator or his/her designee.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The specific duties will include, but are not limited to, the following:

Partner Engagement and Relationship Development (50%)

• Facilitate overall YALI strategic planning and alliance building with the private sector, public sector and civil society
• Identify, develop, and drive potential alliance partnerships and relationships in key areas of priority to YALI. Conduct due diligence research on proposed alliance partners.
• Enhance close partnership relationships with a target goal of raising $75 million for in-kind or direct financial support for YALI. Collaborate with YALI staff to determine specific areas where partners can support.
• Collaborate with current Partnership Engagement staff and support the Senior Communications Specialist to develop and implement a communication strategy for external partners.
• Guide and possibly expand, the implementation of YALI’s Stakeholder Engagement Plan in coordination with Regional Coordinators, the DC-based YALI team, and other entities as appropriate.
• Foster ongoing relationships with multiple public and private sector partners, e.g., corporations, financial institutions, major foundations, and/or international organizations.

Technical support to Missions, Leadership Centers and YALI Africa (30%)

• Work with field-based YALI Regional Coordinators and the YALI implementing partners, AFR/SD, USAID Missions, and the forthcoming YALI Africa contractor to construct alliances that support program goals.
• Increase the capacity of USAID and implementer staff to build and promote alliances.
• Coordinate, advise and support YALI Africa and Leadership Centers in developing robust partner engagement strategies.
• Work with Regional Coordinators and Leadership Center Partnership Builders to operationalize partnerships.
• Work with RLCs to develop plans for monitoring and evaluating partner contributions and overall health of the relationship.
• Advise Regional Coordinators and RLC partnerships teams in calculating and reporting leverage.

USG Coordination (10%)

• Work with the Department of State and USAID missions to coordinate efforts and best practices on alliance-building.
• Engage on partnership development with USAID MBIOs interested in partnering with YALI.
• Develop champions within the USG for YALI.

Other (10%)

• Develop talking points on private sector engagement for senior leadership.
• Other duties as assigned.