Municipal Strengthening Lead - Ecuador Local Service Delivery Activity

Job Description

Research Triangle Institute (RTI) has over 30 years’ experience assisting governments, communities, and the private sector. As a not-for-profit, independent research institute based in North Carolina, USA, RTI has roughly 6,000 employees with global experience implementing international development projects. RTI’s Sustainable Growth & Resilience (SG&R) technical unit within the International Development Group brings together RTI experts and capabilities across food security, agriculture, energy, environment, water, governance, and economic opportunity. SG&R will leverage RTI’s experience designing and delivering multisectoral programming and technical solutions to respond to climate change, build resilience, and promote economic growth around the world.?

SG&R’s Water portfolio has delivered innovative, breakthrough solutions in key development sectors globally, including water sector governance, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services, water resources management, community engagement, urban resilience, and institutional capacity building.

Project Description

The purpose of the USAID/Ecuador Local Service Delivery “Tu Municipio Responde” (TuMUNI) is to expand citizens’ access to critical public services, including to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), by strengthening the capacity of local governments for the effective, transparent, and citizen-responsive provision of local services in no more than 30 municipalities. Through the provision of local services, this Activity will demonstrate that democratic governance produces results and, at the same time, catalyze progress in other sectors such as economic growth, education, digital connectivity, and child nutrition. The anticipated program will be based in Quito, Ecuador.

Position Description

RTI is seeking a Municipal Strengthening Lead for USAID TuMUNI. The Municipal Strengthening Lead will be responsible for delivering Objective 1 - More Effective and Accountable Local Governance in the targeted municipalities with a focus on improving community participation in municipal governance and more efficient and transparent revenue collection. This position will be expected to travel extensively among the targeted municipalities to assess baseline capacity for municipal service delivery; promote open government practices; help municipal governments to develop and implement Integrated Financial Management Systems; coordinate with public, private, and community stakeholders; integrate the perspectives of women, Indigenous, and minority voices into municipal policy making and planning; build the capacity of local government actors; and drive the day-to-day work on the ground related to improving municipal service delivery, reliability, and coverage.

This position will report to the Chief of Party and will be based in Quito, Ecuador.

Position is contingent upon award and funding.

• Enhance service delivery systems and capacities in targeted municipalities.
• Improve information systems within local government.
• Increase municipal revenues.
• Support municipal governance training to increase efficiencies in municipal services delivery.

• Support gender equality and female empowerment in the public and private sector and in legal instruments.
• Support system upgrades to increase tax and fee collection.
• Work with women community leaders to demonstrate increased leadership in policy and decision making.
• Improve citizen perception in service delivery.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the project.

• Bachelor’s degree and 15 years of experience, Master’s degree and 12 years of experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience in municipal strengthening, public finance, democracy and governance or other related fields including urban planning or public administration.
• A minimum of 5 years of experience with government development and strengthening, preferably with a focus on municipal services strengthening in Ecuador and/or other countries in the region.
• Experience working with municipal governments in Ecuador.

• Experience working in local governance operations, public policy and engagement and public financial management.
• Knowledge of municipal water and sanitation services, digital connectivity, nutrition, education, and/or economic reactivation.
• Knowledge of e-governance practices and other practices of engaging communities in municipal governance.
• A demonstrated track record of managing projects with success improving local governance and local public service provision.
• A demonstrated ability to engage with multiple stakeholders, including local civil society and Indigenous groups, at the local and national levels.

• Fluent written and oral communication skills in Spanish and proficiency in English. Ability to communicate in other languages spoken in target municipalities is a plus, but not required.

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