Policy & Regulatory Coordinator at J.E. Austin Associates, Inc.: (Deadline 8 October 2021)

Policy & Regulatory Coordinator at J.E. Austin Associates, Inc.: (Deadline 8 October 2021)

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Feed the Future Facilitate Investment Required For Sustainable ExporT (FTF FIRST) Activity is a five-year USAID-funded program that aims to boost economic growth by increasing export of the country’s high-value agricultural crops such as coffee, tea, horticulture and spices, and livestock products. The program is expected to drive sales, create jobs, increase incomes, and increase participation of women, youth, and persons with disabilities (PWDs) to access productive economic resources in support of Rwanda’s journey to self-reliance.

RTI International, an independent, nonprofit research institute, supported by a consortium of partners – J.E. Austin Associates, Dalberg Advisors, LixCap, and Vanguard Economic will implement the Activity in a targeted area of intervention spanning 13 districts of Rwanda (Bugesera, Kayonza, Ngoma, Gatsibo, Burera, Gakenke, Rubavu, Nyabihu, Ngororero, Rutsiro, Karongi, Nyamagabe and Nyasheke), which make up the FTF FIRST Activity Zone of Influence (ZOI). Under this consortium, J.E. Austin Associates Inc., a registered U.S. small business and expert in strengthening enabling environments, will support the implementation of Objective 1: Facilitate inclusive and resilience-focused policy reforms that promote agricultural export growth using evidence-based analysis and strengthened advocacy capacity of the private sector organizations.

OVERALL RESPONSIBILITIES

The Policy and Regulatory Coordinator shall be responsible for coordinating and facilitating the implementation of the policy and regulatory reforms activities of the FTF FIRST Activity, with the aim of driving agricultural export growth and increasing investment promotion. She/he will be responsible for coordinating and overseeing FTF FIRST activities that support the GOR (Government of Rwanda) to modernize the policy and regulatory environment through evidence-based identification of the policy, legal, and regulatory reforms needed to inform policy development with a special focus on harmonizing national policies with regional standards and regulations.

The Policy and Regulatory Coordinator reports to the FTF FIRST DCOP/Senior Enabling Environment Advisor.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Identify, prioritize, and analyze gaps in existing agri-export and investment promotion policies, guidelines, and procedures.
•  conduct policy analysis to identify national policy and regulatory reforms necessary to be harmonized with relevant regional agricultural export-related policies and standards.
• Evaluate and recommend necessary improvements to strengthen public-private dialogue (PPD) relating to agri-export and investment promotion.
• Facilitate policy reforms necessary to drive agricultural export growth and increase investment promotion by organizing and facilitating PPDs.
• Facilitate implementation of harmonized agricultural export related policies and standards and facilitate scale up of technologies and best practices in agricultural trade and investment.

• Generate, in collaboration with the private sector and GoR’s entities, evidence-based policy analysis supporting necessary subsequent reforms by GoR entities.
• Help GoR build capacity to develop its own evidence and use the third party generated evidence for policy reform.
• Work with government and private sector institutions involved in policy, regulatory oversight, and service provision for the agriculture sector to assess their capacity and performance, particularly in the areas of export and investment, and assist them in necessary improvements.
•  Facilitate government and private sector counterparts to apply global best practices in facilitating policy reforms, increasing agriculture exports, and investment promotion.
• Across all policy analysis, consider the impact of policies on vulnerable groups including women, youth, and PWDs.
• Help GoR and private sector institutions collaborate with civil society and bring their viewpoint into policy reform
• At the DCOP’s delegation, manage international and local STTAs.
• Collaborate with the Institutional Strengthening Specialist and other FTF FIRST team members.
• Contribute to FTF FIRST program deliverables (e.g., work plans, quarterly reports).
•  Contribute to FTF FIRST program monitoring, evaluation, and learning.

Minimum Required Education and Experience:

• Master’s degree and 6 years of experience; or, Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and 8 years of experience.
• At least five years relevant professional experience supporting public policy development and/or reforms in related fields, including agricultural exports, public and private sector investment promotion, investment readiness.
• Demonstrated ability to assess policy environment and identify gaps in laws, regulations, and their implementation.
• Demonstrated ability to provide policy advisory services to governments seeking to reform, refine and/or develop a more clearly defined policy direction.
• Demonstrated ability to build relationships and facilitate collaborative learning, including Government of Rwanda counterparts, that feeds into the ability to unite around a common policy and investment agenda
•  Demonstrated knowledge about the GoR’s policy development and/or reform processes.
• Demonstrated good knowledge of global best practices in both facilitating policy reforms, increasing agriculture exports (on the policy side), and investment promotion.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the Rwanda’s export sector and markets.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
•  Experience organizing and facilitating dialogue on policy reform and other issues.
•  Experience assessing and improving institutional/organizational performance.
•  Previous experience supporting USAID funded projects or other development organizations on projects and programs preferred.
• Ability to work well in a team and with minimum supervision.
• Rwandan citizen.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communications skills with fluency in English required.

How to apply

Interested candidates should send their application file (CV, Academic certificate, and cover letter) by email: info@jeaustin.com​ button not later than the 8th October 2021.