Location: Kathmandu, with travel to other locations within the country as required.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Public Investment Mobilization Manager will be responsible for leading the management and implementation of policy research, advocacy, and reform initiatives at the sub-national level to mobilize public investment in the targeted sectors, especially in Tourism infrastructure upgradation and development. The Manager, in consultation with the Objective 3 Lead and other team members, will foster inclusive and transparent reforms by collaborating with the private sector as well as government agencies, including sub-national governments, to prioritize reforms and make the policy-making process more inclusive and transparent by involving women, minority groups, and other concerned stakeholders of the targeted sectors in the reform process.

The Manager will perform an assessment to identify and address key reform requirements that are hindering trade and investment in the targeted sectors in the targeted geographic areas and help devise appropriate interventions and reforms that will contribute to make it attractive for doing business and increasing investment into the priority sectors and geographic areas. The Manager will be responsible for the implementation of the technical work to increase evidence for reforms aimed towards improving the investment climate and creating a conducive business environment by designing and executing strategies to support the Activity’s interventions. 

The Manager will help to strengthen private sector advocacy and facilitate more inclusive public-private dialogue (PPD) and stakeholder consultations at sub-national levels to unlock trade and investment opportunities. The Manager will also be responsible for strengthening the monitoring and evaluation of reform initiatives.

The Manager is responsible for establishing and maintaining constructive working relationships with stakeholders spanning the public sector including sub-national governments, the private sector, and civil society in Nepal and with other development partners and USAID implementers.

The Manager will work with the rest of the technical teams of USAID Trade and Competitiveness to leverage policy reforms relevant to the constitutional mandates of sub-national governments in improving the investment climate and creating a conducive business environment of the targeted sectors and geography, thus enhancing productivity and competitiveness of SMEs and value chains as well as promoting the export of the Activity’s priority sectors. This position will report directly to the Objective 3 Lead and is a full-time position.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

• Conduct an assessment to identify and prioritize the reform agenda both related to trade and investment of the targeted sectors (Agriculture, Tourism and Digital Services) in the priority geographic areas.
• Work closely with government agencies especially sub-national governments to bring them on board regarding the respective reform requirements to mobilize public investment and facilitate trade in the targeted sectors, including to upgrade and develop tourism infrastructure.
• Undertake a rapid assessment of reform priorities relevant for sub-national governments of priority geographical areas via existing literature and consultation and facilitate to make appropriate reforms to reduce barriers to trade and investment as well as enhance competitiveness.
• Map the stakeholders to identify Champions to lead advocacy at the sub-national level and support/advise them to be more inclusive and transparent by ensuring participation of women, minority groups, and others in the policy reform initiatives.
• Consult within the private sector/Champions and subsequently with the respective GON agencies, including sub-national governments and other stakeholders to prioritize and validate reform agenda.
• Coordinate with sub-contractors/partners and PPD platforms to conduct detailed policy analysis to increase the evidence base for reforms required to unlock trade and investment opportunities.
• Facilitate discussions at the sub-national level of reform agenda through meetings, workshops, PPDs, etc.
• Coordinate and support key stakeholder agencies including PPD platforms and coalitions at sub-national level in their on-going initiatives (PPDs, seminars, events) regarding policy advocacy in line with project objectives.
  
• Coordinate and facilitate

1. With Managers of Objective 3 to advance reforms at the federal level, including reforms to be addressed through fiscal and monetary policies
2. With Managers of Objective 1 and 2 to identify sector/sub-sector specific policy, regulatory and administrative procedural reform requirements.
3. With Managers deputed from Subcontractors to identify and advocate for reform.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manage and supervise the project activities, resources, and personnel as per the strategic direction provided by the lead of Objective 3.
• Assist the Objective 3 Lead in overall leadership, management oversight, and technical direction in relation to improving the investment climate and business enabling environment.
• Act as a key point of contact and liaison for all the stakeholders (Government counterparts including sub-national governments, Private Sector Organizations, Local Partners, Beneficiaries, Collaborators etc.) in relation to the activities related to ‘improvement of the investment climate and business enabling environment.’
• Collect and report on relevant data for reporting to USAID and the relevant project partners in close coordination with MEL, GESI and other relevant Managers.
• Contribute regular inputs for USAID Trade and Competitiveness’ bi-weekly, quarterly, and annual reporting, in addition to creating success stories as required.
• Carry out additional tasks in relation to ‘improvement of investment climate and business enabling environment’, as per the request of the Objective 3 Lead.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Advanced degree such as Master’s in economics, finance, public policy, business administration, law or related field.
• Minimum of 8 years of experience related to policy reforms and advocacy, investment climate and business climate reforms, research on economic issues including experience working with sub-national government agencies.
• Strong interpersonal, written, oral communication, and presentation skills in Nepali and English language.
• Willing to work beyond work hours and or on the weekends if required (allowed flexibility on the other days)
• Nepalese nationality.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience in implementing donor-funded projects involving multiple partners and host country counterparts is preferred.
• Prior knowledge about reform requirements in sectors such as agriculture, tourism and digital services preferred.
• Experience of private sector-led policy advocacy initiatives.
• Experience working with government agencies including sub-national governments and mobilizing public investment.

Please ensure resume/application DOES NOT INCLUDE personal information such as gender, age, marital status, ethnicity, religion. DCOP LLC is an equal opportunity employer.  This position is open to Nepali nationals only.