Senior Technical Advisor, Enhancing Development through Energy in Southern Africa
Senior Technical Advisor, Enhancing Development through Energy in Southern Africa
At Chemonics, we promote meaningful change around the world, helping people live healthier, more productive, and more independent lives. From our founding in 1975, we have worked in more than 140 countries to help our clients, partners, and beneficiaries face difficult challenges, from political instability to limited healthcare to a lack of market infrastructure. We have helped them overcome those challenges by working together to find and implement innovative projects that achieve development impact. We are committed to living our values of caring, excellence, innovation, integrity, and opportunity to implement efficient and effective programs that build a better future for those we serve.
Chemonics International seeks Senior Technical Advisor(s) for the anticipated USAID-funded Enhancing Development through Energy in Southern Africa program (EDESA). The purpose of the program, part of the Power Africa initiative, is to increase the availability of and access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and clean energy in Southern Africa in order to reach measurable economic growth, development outcomes, such as reducing poverty, improving livelihoods and increasing inclusive access to electricity enabled services in such areas as health, education, sanitation and food security.
The overall objectives of the activity are to:
- End energy poverty by increasing access to affordable, reliable energy which can support increased economic activity and improved living standards.
- Increase the supply of electricity in Southern African countries through clean energy solutions.
- Remove constraints to investment in Southern African energy sectors and to increase innovation.
The Senior Technical Advisor(s) (STA) will provide technical leadership and guidance across a wide range of program objectives. The STA shall review and develop technical deliverables, ensuring high quality and technical excellence. The STA will report to the COP and provide technical advisory support to all elements of program implementation. They will perform both an internally-facing and externally-facing role. They will guide the EDESA technical team in identifying and prioritizing country-specific activities and will regularly liaise with the Power Africa coordinator’s office and other USAID missions and office. This position could be based in Pretoria, South Africa or elsewhere in the region, based on regional priorities.
Key responsibilities:
- Provide technical leadership in delivery of expected results.
- Manage, supervise and coordinate technical services, prioritize the activities in country, and provide thought leadership and technical support as needed to accelerate a supported activity.
- Regularly liaise with the Power Africa Coordinator’s Office, USAID missions, and other USG agencies, as appropriate.
- Maintain strong relationships with relevant regional organizations, such as the African Development Bank, and with private sector companies and host country governments.
- Perform ad-hoc requests.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree
- Minimum 10 years experience implementing energy programs. Southern Africa work experience is preferred.
- Deep expertise in at least one program objective area; experience with both on- and beyond the grid energy programming strongly preferred.
- Excellent analytical abilities, written and oral communications skills.
- Demonstrated ability to promptly address ad hoc requests
- Prior experience supporting USAID/Power Africa programs in an advisory capacity strongly preferred.
- Regional experience in Southern Africa (Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia)