Project Overview and Role:

The New Partnerships Initiative (NPI) Expanding Health Partnerships (NPI EXPAND) project is a global five-year (2019-2024) U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) funded project that supports locally-driven efforts to increase the availability and utilization of high-quality health and education services. In line with USAID's localization agenda, NPI EXPAND invests in new and underutilized local partners (NUPs) and strengthens their capacity to strategize, plan, and implement programs with USAID funds. Enhanced participation of capable local organizations to increase demand for and to deliver high-quality, high impact services will enable governments to meet crucial goals equitably and sustainably. NPI EXPAND also catalyzes opportunities to scale up innovative interventions by strengthening the capacity of NUPs with varying levels of capabilities and exposure to USAID.

NPI EXPAND in Pakistan

In Pakistan, NPI EXPAND is implementing USAID Pakistan's Human Development Activity (HDA) to advance development, education, and health aims in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province. Pressing issues in these areas include low access to and use of high-quality education and health services, limited qualified personnel, equipment and supply shortages, security-related restrictions, and gender inequity. Through HDA, NPI EXPAND will support creative, locally driven solutions to improve education and health (FP/MNCH) in the border areas. The primary beneficiaries include the most disadvantaged women, girls, children, and newborns living in these areas. The project will provide grants and tailored assistance to local organizations in line with the following results:
Intermediate Result 1: Access to basic health and education services increased
Intermediate Result 2: Quality of basic health and education services improved

Position Description

The NPI EXPAND Pakistan Capacity Strengthening Advisor will work as a member of the NPI EXPAND Pakistan country team on strengthening the organizational capacity of NPI EXPAND grantees in Pakistan. S/he will be responsible for implementing NPI EXPAND’s capacity strengthening strategy in in Pakistan including activity management and coordination, implementing organizational capacity assessments, capacity strengthening planning for grantees, and performance measurement across all the NUPs targeted for capacity strengthening. S/he is also responsible for coordinating with the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Manager in-country and the global MEL team to ensure that NPI EXPAND’s capacity strengthening efforts in Pakistan are captured appropriately at the global level.

This position will report administratively, on a day-to-day basis, to the Pakistan Country Team Lead, and will work closely with the programs team as well as with relevant individuals at the head office, including NPI EXPAND’s Capacity Building Director.

 Primary Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Specifically, the Capacity Strengthening Advisor will be responsible for the following tasks:
• Manage the capacity strengthening support for all the NUPs in the NPI EXPAND/HDA project in Pakistan.
• Design and adapt organizational assessment tools, facilitate capacity assessments, and support NUPs to create and drive capacity strengthening and performance improvement plans.
• Support development, adaptation and implementation of effective, innovative capacity strengthening approaches, tools, and methodologies for grantees.
• Support development, adaptation, and implementation of effective, innovative capacity strengthening approaches, e-learning tools, and methodologies.
• Ensure that capacity strengthening approaches lead to performance change; troubleshoot and advise or provide guidance as needed to help ensure project delivery goals are achieved in a timely manner.
• Interact with internal and external resources and other experts to bring new and cutting-edge ideas to project approaches.
• Ensure the development or finalization of high-quality, standardized, capacity strengthening materials for use and adaptation across the project.
• Manage, implement, and document project activities through writing project reports, reporting results achieved, and present outcomes and lessons learned online, on social media, and in conferences and meetings.
• Contribute to the development of annual work plans and quarterly reports.
• Contribute to new business development and proposal writing, as requested.
• Other duties as assigned under the NPI EXPAND project.

 Period and Location of Performance

Period of performance is 1 year, 4 months, from September 1, 2022-December 31, 2023, with the possibility of extension. Location for this engagement is Peshawar, Pakistan with extensive travel throughout KP Province where this project is implemented, as well as frequently to Islamabad. Only Pakistani nationals currently residing in Pakistan will be considered for this position.

 Required Qualifications:

• Master’s degree (or its international equivalent) in international development, program management, social science or other relevant field from an accredited university.
• At least 10 years of relevant, demonstrated experience in capacity strengthening.
• Master trainer and facilitator with exceptional skills in designing and conducting skills-building workshops and implementing other capacity strengthening approaches with a variety of stakeholders, from government officials, program managers, and implementers to civil society organizations, representatives of diverse community groups, and the private for-profit sector.
• At least 5 years of experience conducting organizational capacity assessments and supporting organizations with various levels of performance to create and drive capacity strengthening and performance improvement plans, to include achieving readiness for NUPAS.
• Experience working in Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health, Family Planning/Reproductive Health, and/or education.
• In-depth knowledge of best practices in sustainable capacity development design, methodologies and performance measurement.
• Excellent people skills with the ability to impart knowledge and experience in an accessible and clear manner according to stakeholder needs.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills. Experience working with diverse and multicultural teams necessary.
• Experience working on USAID-funded projects is highly desired.
• Written and spoken fluency in English and Urdu is required.

Company Overview:

About Palladium - Palladium is a global leader in the design, development and delivery of Positive Impact – the intentional creation of enduring social and economic value.  We work with governments, businesses, and investors to solve the world's most pressing challenges. With a team of more than 3,000 employees operating in 90 plus countries and a global network of over 35,000 experts, we help improve economies, societies and, most importantly, people's lives.

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Should you require any adjustments or accommodations to be made due to a disability or you are a neurodivergent individual or for any other circumstance, please email our team at [email protected] and we will be in touch to discuss.

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