Activity Manager Irrigation Infrastructure Development – Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) Lesotho II
About MCA
The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) is a U.S. government corporation focused on assisting countries dedicated to good governance, economic freedom, and investing in people. In May 2022, MCC signed a five-year agreement (“compact”) with the government of Lesotho (GoL) aimed at poverty reduction through inclusive and sustainable economic growth in the country.
The Millennium Challenge Account (MCA- Lesotho), is an entity established by the Government to act as the accountable entity to implement the Compact, with the authority to bind the Government with regard to all Program activities.
Lesotho Compact
The Lesotho Health and Horticulture Compact aims to benefit 2.5 million people by growing, strengthening, and organizing the private sector in Lesotho and improving the government’s coordination to deliver critical services necessary to support private sector development.
It will achieve this goal through investments in Health System Strengthening, strengthening of the business environment and Market Driven Irrigated Horticulture, providing sustainable income for smallholders and increasing climate resilience by replacing rain-fed subsistence farming with irrigated commercial horticulture in select locations.
The GoL is committed to passing several key reforms that will help make this compact successful, including reforms that address gender equality, working conditions and worker safety, as well as land and water rights. All of the compact’s projects focus on overcoming barriers to the economic inclusion of women, youth, and the rural poor.
MARKET-DRIVEN IRRIGATED HORTICULTURE (MDIH) PROJECT
The MDIH Project objective is to increase rural incomes related to commercial agriculture, including for women, youth, and the rural poor, and establish a sustainable and inclusive model of irrigation, water resource, and land management. The project provides extensive technical assistance and investments in institutional reforms and capacity building of both the GOL and beneficiaries of the project’s investment in irrigation infrastructure to develop a successful and sustainable horticulture industry. The budget for this project is $118 million.
Objective of this position
The Irrigation Infrastructure Development (IID) Activity Manager will be responsible for the successful implementation of the $67.3 Million Irrigation Infrastructure Development Activity, which is one of three activities within the Market Driven Irrigated Horticulture Project (MDIH). The other two activities are the Institutional Reform (IR) Activity and the Irrigated Horticulture Support Services (IHSS) Activity. Each of these activities will be separately managed; and overall leadership of the project will be provided by the Market Driven Irrigated Horticulture Director, whom the three activity leads will report to.
The IID manager will be responsible for the activity from initiation of the design, resettlement and environmental assessment work, through to RAP and construction contract implementation. The Activity Manager will be responsible for coordinating the IID activity with the IR and IHSS activities of MDIH, building collaborative relationships with project stakeholders, and overseeing the activity budget. The Activity Manager will also be responsible for ensuring alignment of the activity with the overall objectives of the MDIH Project and Compact and with judicious management of assigned resources.
Primary responsibilities
Lead the Irrigation Infrastructure Development Activity in line with the Compact requirements, ensuring that cross-cutting requirements (e.g. Gender and Social Inclusion, Environmental and Social Performance, and Monitoring and Evaluation) are implemented in accordance with MCC guidelines and in accordance with infrastructure consultants’ TORs.
- Manage finalization of the design build procurement documents and participate in contract negotiations, manage project engineering design, implementation of construction and post-construction defects liability period including inspections, and contract closeout activities.
- In collaboration with ESP and GSI, ensure that engineering designs and construction contracts have incorporated requirements documented in relevant ESIA/ESMP and RAPs, and in the MCA-Lesotho II Social and Gender Integration Plan (SGIP)
- In collaboration with ESP, GSI and Land, ensure that infrastructure consultant/contractor activities are well-coordinated with IHSS contractor activities.
- Develop and utilize an activity work plan/schedule to track progress and ensure MCA-Lesotho II’s ability to implement the program while managing risks and delays against the established work plan/schedule using data driven monitoring tools.
- In coordination with the other MDIH Activity Managers, the MDIH Project Lead and MCA-Lesotho II’s Deputy CEO for Programs, develop a cohesive management framework, including tools, that integrate project technical and cross-cutting areas.
- Oversee recruitment of the Irrigation Infrastructure Development Activity team as well as training, development, and performance management of these staff to ensure capacity to deliver the IID Activities objectives.
- Represent the IID Activity to the MDIH Project Lead, to the MCA-CEO and, as requested, to MCC and the MCA Board of directors to ensure a common understanding of activity progress with a focus on significant changes to infrastructure designs and implementation issues including those involving schedule and budget.
- Represent the IID Activity to MDIH project stakeholders (e.g. with national/local government counterparts, civil society, project beneficiaries, aligned funders, etc.) and identify, develop and manage potential partnerships that can advance the MDIH project.
- In coordination with the other MDIH Activity Leads, introduce tools to communicate the process and progress of the MDIH project milestones.
- Create and optimize approaches and build consistency in the quality of MDIH project outputs, implementation and assessments of the MDIH project.
- Track (in collaboration with MCA-Lesotho II procurement and finance officer(s)) project financial reporting.
- Track (in collaboration with MCA M&E officer(s)) the implementation of the project activities, reporting regularly on relevant indicators and progress toward MDIH project logic.
Required Competencies
- Four (4) year university degree in Civil Engineering is required
- Graduate level degree in Civil Engineering or related field is an advantage
- Minimum ten (10) years of broad program management experience encompassing cross program oversight and development and management of significant resources, including:
- Experience managing design and construction of irrigation projects.
- Experience managing multi-disciplinary technical teams.
- Stakeholder engagement experience.
- Experience with IFC Environmental and Social Performance Standards or similar international health and safety and environmental and social safeguard measures
- Prefer: Experience implementing FIDIC Red and Yellow Book contracts.
- Experience with planning; budget, schedule, and document controls for infrastructure projects, including those of similar size and scope as this project; Project Management certifications, preferred
- Demonstrated work experience in Southern Africa (previous work experience in Lesotho is preferred)
- Proficiency in English (writing and speaking) is required. Proficiency in Sesotho (writing and speaking) is preferred.
- Must be able to effectively use Google and MS Office applications and learn any specific applications related to work.
How to apply
Applications must be submitted on-line, on or before the application deadline 29 September 2023.
Applications should be accompanied by the following documents:
- Curriculum vitae containing detailed work experience;
- Cover letter confirming interest and availability;
- Soft copies of higher education and professional certificates (if available);
Only applications that come in before or on the application deadline will be considered.
- We thank all applicants. However, note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Submit your application online via: https://lesotho-jobs.tenderwell.app