DEMOCRACY FELLOWSHIP - SOCIAL SECTORS GOVERNANCE SPECIALIST

Democracy Fellowship – Governance Division

Social Sectors Governance Specialist

Washington, DC

Background

In an effort to improve and strengthen linkages within global social services and governance programs, World Learning’s Democracy Fellows Program (DFP), funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Bureau for Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance (DCHA), in partnership with the Bureau for Global Health (GH) and the Bureau for Economic Growth, Agriculture and Trade (EGAT) will recruit a Social Services Governance Fellow.  The Fellow will provide the Office of Democracy and Governance (DG) with programmatic and technical expertise focused on identifying, developing and strengthening governance and social services linkages in USAID programs. 

Purpose

Experience around the world has demonstrated that effective governance is important to the ability of government social service systems to provide essential services and effective policies. Governance of social service systems such as health and education concerns the institutions and linkages that affect the interactions among citizens/service users, government officials and health and education service providers. There is general agreement that the effective management and governance of health or education systems is characterized by responsiveness and accountability; an open and transparent policy process; participatory engagement of citizens; and operational capacity of government to plan, manage, monitor and regulate policy and service delivery. Yet, linkages between democracy and governance programs and social services governance programs have been neglected in USAID’s practice. Therefore, it is important for USAID to develop and build its knowledge and expertise around how to effectively incorporate and support governance and social services linkages within USAID programs.

In the near future, USAID is expected to adopt implementation reforms that could significantly change how USAID delivers assistance.   These reforms could result in USAID increasing its utilization of partner country systems and institutions to implement assistance programs.   This will require USAID to work much more directly with government ministries, departments, agencies and representative bodies to build the capacity of those institutions to effectively plan, implement, manage and monitor government programs and services.    This will place an additional emphasis on governance programs directed at building the institutions of the state including, but not limited to, policy reform and implementation; civil service reform and capacity building; public financial management; public administration and management; program implementation; accounting and auditing; procurement; and program monitoring and evaluation.  

This new approach will require that governance strategies and programs be integrated much more directly into social service sector programs.  Improving the capacity and ability of partner countries to deliver essential public social services in areas such as health and education will be a key component to long-term sustainable development.    

The Fellow will provide guidance in the development, implementation, evaluation, and dissemination of innovative approaches that incorporate a governance perspective into social services focused programs with an emphasis on social services systems strengthening.  S/he will act as the main point of contact (lead DCHA/DG technical resource) on all issues relating to governance and social services programs and activities.

This position will be administratively assigned to DCHA, but will work directly and cooperatively with the Global Health Bureau (specifically the Health Systems Division, Office of Health, Infectious Disease and Nutrition (GH/HIDN/HS)), EGAT/ED), and other offices in the DCHA Bureau. 

Duties and Responsibilities

It is envisioned that the incumbent will:

• Provide guidance, leadership, and training in the development, implementation, evaluation, and dissemination of evidence-based approaches that incorporate a governance perspective into social services programs and provide similar guidance and leadership with respect to incorporating good social services governance practices into USAID democracy and governance programs, where relevant. It is anticipated that a major emphasis of the position will be focused on identifying, developing and strengthen these evidence-based, cross-cutting approaches to governance improvement.
• Work as an active member of the USAID Governance Team, in cooperation with GH/HIDN/HS and EGAT/ED, as well with other relevant working groups in the Agency.
• Establish and maintain cooperative relationships and liaison with relevant USAID/W bureaus and offices, with USAID Field Missions, with relevant USG agencies (e.g. OGAC, State, HHS), and with the broader development community (e.g. WHO, PAHO, UNDP, the World Bank), as required. 
• In full coordination with GH/HIDN/HS and EGAT/ED, where and when evidence is convincing, prepare relevant policy documents, handbooks, guidance, and other publications for Agency and/or USG consideration.
• Participate in, prepare papers for, and make presentations at internal and external professional meetings and policy forums addressing social sectors governance issues.
• Contribute to preparation of procurement plans, scopes of work, budgets, program reviews and other documents related to relevant USAID program activities, as consistent with fellowship guidelines and requirements.
• Priority governance focus areas for this work will include transparent policy planning and budgeting; effective, transparent and accountable financial management; public administration and management; program implementation and monitoring; and information creation, management and use in social sectors service systems.

Deliverables

• Develop new, or refine existing, USAID assessment tools focusing on strengthening governance linkages to social sector strategies and programs.
• Participate in two cross-sectoral country assessments intended to help inform the design of strategies, programs, and activities that focus on strengthening the governance of host-country social sector systems.  
• Develop a handbook or other document which provides education, technical leadership, guidance, best practices and other relevant information on how to develop strategies, programs and activities that more closely links governance interventions with the strengthening of host-country social sector systems.   

Supervision and Guidance

The incumbent will serve as a member of both the DCHA/DG Governance Division and the GH working group on Health Systems Strengthening. The incumbent will also participate in relevant working groups in other parts of the Agency as relevant.  S/he will be supervised by the DCHA/DG Governance Division Chief.  The incumbent is expected to exercise the highest degree of individual initiative, resourcefulness, responsibility, and authority consonant with the overall policy and procedural framework of USAID.

Qualifications and Skills

• US citizenship is required.
• Experience in developing/transitional country cultures, i.e., living and working in a developing country, either through a minimum of several short-term assignments or long-term residential postings.
• Previous publications on health and/or education systems governance in relevant peer-reviewed professional journals are desirable.

• A doctoral degree in a relevant social, policy or administrative science; international development; or a related field is desired.
• A minimum of 3 years experience in international development programs, including experience in designing, implementing and/or evaluating governance, health and/or education systems strengthening programs.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the principles, concepts and methodologies of health and/or education systems governance, management, analysis, change and/or evaluation.
• Excellent English writing skills are required.

Location

The incumbent will be based at USAID headquarters in Washington DC.   Extensive international travel may be required.

Duration of the position

Initial appointment is for one year, with possibility of renewal.

Applications are available from our website at: 

Interested candidates should send a complete application to:

Democracy Fellowship – Governance

Social Sectors Governance Specialist

World Learning
1015 15th Street, NW
7th Floor
Washington, DC 20005
Fax: (202) 408-5397
Email: http://wlid.usaid.gov/apply.html