Private Sector Development Task Order Team Lead - USAID IGPA/Takamul Ninewa Investment Facilitation Initiative

Job Description

IRAQ GOVERNANCE AND PERFORMANCE ACCOUNTABILITY PROJECT (IGPA)

Ninewa Investment facilitation initiative (NIFI) Task Order 4

Position Title: Private Sector Development Task Order Team Lead (TOTL)

Job Classification: Full Time, Long Term Technical Assistance

Reporting to: Chief of Party, IGPA

Estimated Start Date: ASAP

Estimated End Date: On/about April 23, 2022

Duty Station: Erbil, Iraq (Required)

Project Background:

The purpose of the Iraq Governance and Performance Accountability (IGPA) project is to advance effective, accountable, and transparent governance in Iraq. This USAID effort, implemented by DAI, works with the Government of Iraq (GOI) at all levels to better respond to citizen needs by supporting reform initiatives and Iraqi change agents on inclusive governance and public sector transparency, accountability, and economy.

Established under a separate task order, the IGPA Ninewa Investment Facilitation Initiative (NIFI) aims to increase employment through demand-driven private sector-led economic growth in Iraq, with particular focus on Ninewa Province. The objective is to increase employment and economic opportunities by helping the private sector, including small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as well as larger, developed businesses, attract investment.

NIFI works with existing USAID funded programs, government institutions, and the private sector to promote increased competitiveness and investment opportunities for Iraqi businesses. Helping Iraqi businesses generate new investments requires an approach that bridges information gaps with potential investors, as well as builds the capacity of Iraqi businesses to increase their investment readiness. In Iraq, information asymmetries or mismatches between investor requirements and business investment readiness hinder investment capital from flowing. NIFI helps develop, promote, and publicize Iraqi business investment opportunities in order to expand employment opportunities.

During its current expansion, NIFI seeks to work with regional and national investment commissions to introduce strategic plans to implement legislative and regulatory reform, conduct market assessment maps for select value chains, and develop sustainable firm level technical assistance programs. Investment commission strategic plans will serve as road maps for transforming the commissions to play a proactive role promoting investments and creating jobs.

Increased focus will be given to larger firms and projects that fill gaps in value chains or address a significant unmet need in the market, including greenfield projects that will attract interest from impact investors, local and regional investors, and business groups. Firm level technical assistance will provide support to expand and grow market share.

In order to achieve these objectives, NIFI seeks a Task Order Team Lead (TOTL) who will incorporate innovative approaches to private sector investment, targeted technical assistance, utilization of investment commissions, investor outreach, and modernization of banking and legislative approaches to private sector development.

Purpose:

The TOTL will be extensively involved in the technical application of the project in addition to overall administration and management. Specifically, the TOTL will:

1) Support and leverage investment commissions to increase direct investment of Iraqi businesses,

2) Provide firm-level assistance to medium and large enterprises,

3) Build the capacity of the private banking sector to support private sector growth,

4) Maintain direct responsibility of approximately 10 local staff members as well as intermittent international experts as required.

5) Communicate the strategy, activities, successes, and program challenges directly to USAID in close coordination with IGPA’s Chief of Party or designate.

6) Interact daily with local business leaders, national and provincial government officials, international investors, and investment commission staff.

7) Train local staff to implement private sector development initiatives independently.

Responsibilities and Key Tasks:

The TOTL shall:

• Oversee reporting requirements for task order, including annual work plan, weekly briefs, monthly performance reports, semi-annual progress report, annual report, investment conference report, and final report.
• Lead the establishment and expansion of one or more Business Development Centers.
• Review existing analysis on the Ninewa Province business and investment environment.
• Revise and reevaluate business selection and evaluation criteria guided by the overarching goal of becoming investment ready.
• Maintain and expand a database of SMEs and, as appropriate, larger, developed businesses.
• Identify and cultivate potential investors including alternative and non-traditional investors such as crowdsourcing investment platforms, individuals, faith-based organization, donors, international financial institutions, etc.
• Formalize referral and match-making mechanisms with international investment institutions and capital lending entities.
• Facilitate outside investors’ interest in Ninewa - particularly U.S. based investors.
• Work with both the public and private sectors to mitigate systemic - i.e. policy and institutional - constraints to business growth and investments.
• Maintain and expand an online database of potential investment opportunities.
• Facilitate strategic planning with investment commission staff, inclusive of managing regional coordinators and establishing client-relationship management systems for commissions.
• Develop and expand a list of barriers to investment actually experienced when connecting investors to businesses.
• Serve as thought leader on investment landscape of Iraq and proactively promote opportunities for investment.
• Develop value chain analysis and systems maps to identify opportunities for sectoral growth and expansion; coordinate sector-specific experts to conduct value chain analyses.
• Develop, innovate, and disseminate marketing materials for each selected business to inform investors of potential opportunities.
• Develop formal referral networks (i.e., Memoranda of Understanding, MOU) with investment institutions and investors, particularly for larger enterprises.
• Coordinate IGPA/NIFI activities with IGPA Objective Leads and Macroeconomic Advisors to ensure integration and maximum impact of activities.
• Ensure IGPA/NIFI activities are reviewed by IGPA’s Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Director as well as IGPA’s Change Agent and Inclusion Director to ensure proper strategy for achieving targets for indicators and ensure equity and inclusion in overall task order activities.

Qualifications and Experience

The Minimum Requirements for the Task Order Team Lead are:

· Master’s degree in international development, business, economics, or related field of study or equivalent work experience

· A minimum of ten (10) years or more of progressively responsible international work experience implementing private sector development programs with demonstrated strong management and coordinating skills, including in a supervisory role with projects of similar size and complexity.

· A minimum of five (5) years of management experience, including direct supervision of professional and support staff and assembling teams working on multi-faceted international development programs.

· Expertise in implementing large economic development programs, and developing and managing alliances with governments and the private sector.

· Familiarity with the socio-economic landscape of Iraq and Middle East/North Africa region.

· Professionally proficient and fluent in written and spoken English.

· Ability to work full time in Erbil, Iraq.

The following qualifications are highly preferred:

· Professionally proficient and fluent in written and spoken Arabic.

· Extensive professional experience in Iraq.

· Demonstratable experience of proactive project implementation.

Equivalent combination of education, experience, and military service will be considered.

Location, and Reporting:

This scope of work will be conducted primarily in the IGPA project office in Erbil with routine travel into Ninewa Province. The position will report to the IGPA Chief of Party or designate. Housing and meal costs are covered by the project in addition to post-specific allowances.

About the Organization

DAI is a global development company with corporate offices in the United States, the United Kingdom, EU, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Palestine and project operations worldwide. We tackle fundamental social and economic development problems caused by inefficient markets, ineffective governance, and instability. DAI works on the frontlines of global development. Transforming ideas into action—action into impact. We are committed to shaping a more livable world.

DAI and its employees are committed to confronting racism and holding ourselves accountable for positive change within the company and in the communities, cultures, and countries in which we live and work. DAI is committed to attracting and retaining the best employees from all races and backgrounds in our continued effort to become a better development partner.

DAI upholds the highest ethical standards. We are committed to the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment as well as other ethical breaches. All of our positions are therefore subject to stringent vetting and reference checks.