Senior Associate at the Health Strategy and Delivery Foundation (HSDF)

The Health Strategy and Delivery Foundation (HSDF) is a not-for-profit foundation incorporated in 2013 with a mission to improve the quality of decision making and execution in the health sector through a focus on results at scale, providing analytical support, driving innovation, and substantive engagement with key stakeholders. HSDF is a platform for the implementation of effective ideas and innovative solutions and strives to address complex health systems and developmental challenges through a focus on evidence, rigor and continuous improvement whether in line with or diverging from the status quo.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Senior Associate

Location: Senegal
Employment Type: Contract

Background

• The use of local solutions is critical for promoting sustainability of U.S. investments in partner countries. USAID is now focused on working with new and underutilized partners, especially the private sector and locally established partners, to support and help finance their sustainability via direct assistance via direct assistance.
• Over the past decade, USAID/WA has worked to establish or support several private sector associations organized around specific sectors, commodities, or issue areas. One area that has not been sufficiently prioritized has been organizational capacity and management for these associations to be member-driven and financially self-reliant to sustain their core operations. The typical grants/training interventions, USAID, and other donors have caused these organizations to shift their priorities to attract donor funding versus appropriately representing the evolving needs of their membership. Many of these associations have become project implementers for donors, establishing new positions and compensation policies. Often these expenses cannot be supported through locally mobilized resources such as membership dues or fees for goods and services. USAID-initiated and donor-funded organizations have also often been developed with ineffective governance and management structures. Rather than focusing on sustainable strategies to support member-driven needs through smart growth, donor-funded organizations make decisions based on the expectation of continued donor funding.
• USAID/WA has identified the following priority issue areas facing associations in the region: access to finance, input supply, marketing, production and technology, and capacity strengthening. This Local Works activity will look to pilot activities that address the above issues with the goal of increased sustainability and commercial viability of private sector associations. Activities may include any locally owned solution that has the potential to increase an association’s commercial viability, long-term sustainability, or ability to meet the evolving needs of their members. The development and implementation of a learning agenda that captures the continuous learning and adaptation that will happen over the course of the activity to build a knowledge base on building sustainable private sector associations in West Africa is required.

Objectives

• The main objective of this scope of work is to develop a solid build the evidence base for best practice in developing sustainable, private associations that are multi-country, transboundary, and/or regional in nature.
• This evidence base will be adapted for multi-country, transboundary, and/or regional associations to (i) address obstacles preventing long-term financial and programmatic sustainability and (ii) increase member engagement and economic participation in private associations to ensure long-term financial viability.

Responsibilities

• Support data collection, support research and evidence generation on how best to improve, membership, services, communications, and fundraising and financial viability of private associations in associations in three West African countries. Data collection methods may include surveys, key informant interviews, and other participatory methods.
• Map how selected private associations execute specific functions (i.e., communicate information, identify new/upcoming trends in the industry, share best practices, iterate in the face of external factors, etc.).
• Develop Learning agendas and set up a learning network to enhance learning between private sector associations.
• Developing a curriculum and customized trainings to support financial sustainability and membership retention of private sector associations.
• Organize and facilitate exchanges and learning among private associations on how best to improve membership, services, communications, and fundraising, and financial viability.
• Develop knowledge products and reports including audiovisuals based on learning gaps/identified needs of private sector associations.
• Organize quarterly meetings and annual convenings to disseminate learnings and evidence and facilitate linkages to enhance collaboration and learning between private sector associations.
• Provide advisory/mentoring & coaching services on association management and governance for sustainability via learning labs.
• Design and implement performance management and monitoring plans to evaluate and report on progress with selected private sector associations.
• Support other HSDF activities in-country and carry out any other responsibilities that may be assigned.

Your Experience & Expertise

• We are looking for a wide range of experience in supporting evidence generation, knowledge management, capacity development, and collaborative learning processes that create better spaces for private sector associations to reflect on and learn from each other’s experiences and best practices.

In particular, the ideal candidate should have:

• At least 6 years of experience and demonstrated capacity to design performance management plans and participatory data collection methods and protocols.
• At least 6 years of experience of professional interaction with private organizations and ability to provide consulting services, mentorship, and coaching to analyze problems, devise and adopt solutions.
• Experience managing complex stakeholder relationships especially within the private sector.
• A Graduate Degree in the field of Business / Management / Financial Management, or a related field, or sufficient comparable experience in building capacity, as well as strategic and financial planning.
• A demonstrated expertise in research, learning, and applied analysis background employing diverse methods of knowledge production, knowledge management, and knowledge dissemination, including but data analysis, data visualization, data storytelling, gap mapping, use and maintenance of knowledge management software, etc.
• Strong background in project management, organizational development, and monitoring and evaluation to ensure adequate liaison with the USAID Mission
• Technical expertise in knowledge management and learning; understanding of USAID Capacity development 2.0.
• Prior experience in a high-paced environment with strong multi-cultural, interpersonal, and supervision skills.
• Demonstrated expertise in designing and implementing effective, long-term solutions which have led to organizational growth.
• Strong communications skills to enable working across geographic and language barriers to ensure learning is communicated and can be adapted within private associations to support changes in the implementation of prioritized activities.
• Experience working in private sector associations will be an asset.

Languages:

• Candidate must be bi-lingual possessing written and oral fluency in English and French (with the ability to write clear and compelling narratives in English and French languages).
• Fluency in local dialects will be an asset.

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note: HSDF is an equal opportunity employer and encourages individuals of all backgrounds to apply. We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in our hiring practices and workplace culture.