TITLE: Senior Advisor, Inclusive Development and Partnerships
UNIT: Programs
REPORTS TO: Program Director 
SUPERVISES: Relevant staff and consultants

1.  SUMMARY OF JOB RESPONSIBILITY

The Senior Advisor, Inclusive Development and Partnerships of The Asia Foundation (the Foundation) is responsible for ensuring the Civil Society Media (CSM’s) program activities are reaching the targeted beneficiaries (i.e., Women, Youth, and Marginalized (WYM)) groups across program activities in Kathmandu and targeted provinces (Lumbini and Madhesh). The Advisor will formulate Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) and Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) strategies to target support for the WYM groups. They will monitor the civic space actors and service providers at local, provincial, and federal levels and coordinate with outreach and “talent scouts” within the provinces to improve existing partnerships and find new opportunities for engagements. They may also prepare training materials and orientations with provincial teams and local partners as they are onboarded. They will also ensure appropriate models of partnerships are developed and used by the CSM team, using standards and approaches developed through Partnership Brokering. They will collaborate with donor agencies in program development, preparation of implementation plans, coordination, and support. They will assist in maintaining relations with government offices and programs. The Senior Advisor will travel up to 30% of the time to Lumbini and Madhesh provinces

2. RELATIONSHIPS

Internal

• Regular contact with the Program Director, Country Representative, Deputy Country Representative, and other Program staff of the Foundation Nepal Office.

External

Frequent contact with senior and mid-level government officials of Federal, Provincial, and Local Government, mainly the Ministry of Women Children and Senior Citizens (MOWCSC), National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Parliamentary Committees/secretariats, Provincial Chief Ministers/Cabinet members and members of Planning Commission, Mayor/Deputy Mayors of local governments and CSO representatives; and development partners.

3. REQUIREMENTS

Education

• Master’s degree, or advanced degree in development studies, political science, economics, international development, or a relevant field.

Experience

Minimum ten years of working experience in management or technical position, with demonstrated experience managing politically informed programming. In-depth knowledge of Nepal's political, economic, and social context including governance, gender, inclusion, and civic space. A proven track record of successfully managing development programs, including finance and grants management and budget control. Experience managing remote field-based teams and working outside Kathmandu, specifically in Madhesh and Lumbini provinces are desirable.

Other

Demonstrated executive interpersonal skills, and excellent communication skills, including language proficiency (verbal and written) in both Nepali and English. The ability to speak other Nepali local languages is preferred. An experience championing inclusivity through diverse programming, the ability to independently interact at professional levels with people from a variety of cultural and professional backgrounds. Proven analytical and research skills, with strong problem-solving abilities. They will have the ability to prioritize and critically analyze information. Display an open-minded and demonstrated learning approach to embrace new models for sound development programming.

4.  JOBS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Program

• Provide high level technical advice and analytical inputs on the overall design and implementation of the Civil Society and Media program.
• Provide technical guidance and support to Senior Program Officers, Program Officers and thematic managers of the sub-national governance program to ensure quality and accessibility of their interventions.
• Support CSM to establish high level strategic partnerships with government at Federal, Provincial and Local level, civil society, academic and research institutions, business institutions and development partners through intensive relationship building and frequent liaison with stakeholders.
• Contribute to Challenge Fund selection processes to create opportunities for WYM to access resources. 
• Lead on developing partnership strategies for CSM targeting non-traditional USAID partners, and organizations of any type led by or representing WYM.
• Seek out talented organizations, individuals or ideas to join civil society, education, and media networks and activities.
• Lead the team in identifying and updating skill-gaps and needs among Challenge Fund participants and other CSM partners; create a strategy for meeting needs.
• Identify and establish partnerships with local (Nepali) resource partners for CSM and develop an accessible network for participants in Lumbini and Madhesh provinces.
• Provide technical inputs to implement targeted activities for promoting Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GESI) in sub-national governance processes in Nepal.
• Guide the team to understand unconscious bias, self-awareness, and psychosocial safety in the workplace; and incorporate these into CSM activities.
• Take the lead to contemporary research, study, and prepare briefing notes, presentations, and other relevant materials, as needed.
• Conduct facilitation and technical presentations on issues of inclusion and diversity in civil society, education, and media in different forums, as needed.
• Support the design and production of high-quality knowledge products through analytical inputs, advice, and critical reviews.
• Provide technical guidance and support to the program team and short- to a long-term technical advisor in planning and organizing networking opportunities, learning, sharing, and round table events related to DEIA.
• Ensure the design and delivery of quality knowledge products and their dissemination to the appropriate audience using accessible channels.
• Conduct frequent field visits to program locations and analyze trends in the program, identifying issues/challenges, and recommending solutions to Country Representative and program team.
• Manage sub-awards and partnerships with organizations focused on GEDSI in Kathmandu.

Financial Management

• Provide guidance to  the  program  and  finance team  in  partner  spending projections, compliance, and fiduciary risk mitigation following the Foundation’s policies and practices.
• Ensure Program budget and expenditures are on track and ensure the timely submission of financial reports to USAID.

Other

• Advise and assist in organizing strategic meetings, and dialogues with different stakeholders in connection to the implementation of the CSM’s Program;
• Assist in drafting concept notes, the scope of work, terms of reference, and other relevant documents for research, assessments, consultancies, etc. commissioned by the program.
• Provide inputs in the preparation of progress reports, work plans, result framework/monitoring, evaluation plans, and narrative reports.
• Monitor and keep track of issues that may significantly affect programming. Conduct field visits to the program sites to monitor program implementation and identify challenges and opportunities and recommend solutions.
• Meet regularly with the Program Director to brief emerging issues of the program implementation.
• Report to Program Director, working closely with all team members within the Foundation’s Kathmandu Office;
• Supervise and mentor Program Officers, Field Coordinators, and other program staff in the Foundation as designated by the Governance Director, Deputy Country Representative, and Country Representative;
• Perform other tasks as required consistent with these responsibilities and as assigned by the Country Representative or designate.