Position Summary

Urban institute seeks a dynamic Senior Policy and Research Specialist for the USAID-funded Nepal Sajhedari STF project, a six-year technical assistance project, which aims to support the Government of Nepal in the transition from a unitary state to a federation of provinces and enhance citizen participation in and oversight of local governance through the following objectives:

• Objective 1: The Government of Nepal (GoN) creates sound policies and legislation that empower, finance and regulate provincial and municipal governments
• Objective 2: Provincial and municipal governments in Province Five or Seven are more responsive, accountable, transparent and effective
• Objective 3: Citizens and civil society organizations in the target municipalities are more involved in local decision-making and oversight

This person will be managed and technically supported by Urban Institute Headquarters in Washington, DC, while also working in Nepal under the supervision of Sajhedari STF’s Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP), and also coordinating with program and monitoring and evaluation teams. The location for the Senior Policy and Research Specialist is in the Kathmandu offices with regular travel to the project provinces and municipalities.

The Senior Policy and Research Specialist will drive and implement the key activities under Objective 1 of the project. He/she will have the following responsibilities:

• Operationalize policy development activities relevant to federalization in conjunction with the DCOP; other technical specialists; government representatives at the national, provincial and local levels; civil society organizations and other stakeholders
• Collate and analyze lessons learned during project activity implementation, and closely work with the DCOP to ensure this feeds into policy and research priorities and translates across program objectives and through all levels of government.
• Keep abreast of governance and federalization policy issues in Nepal such as the evolving dynamics in the institutional structure of federalism, intergovernmental relations, citizen engagement and accountability mechanisms and, conflict mediation.
• Be aware of donor priorities and activities on governance and federalization issues and engage with key government agencies at the federal level, USAID Implementing Partners, and other stakeholders involved in and supporting to policy process of federalization. 
• Identify and support partnership and capacity building opportunities with Nepali institutions and think tanks involved in policy research and formation.
• Advise full-time staff and short-term experts supporting the management and implementation of federalization policy activities
• Provide quantitative and qualitative inputs to Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Manager regarding the implementation of federalization policy development activities
• Provide inputs regarding federalization policy development activities to quarterly and annual reports and support in the presentations to USAID, the Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development (MoFALD), relevant parliamentary committees and provincial and local governments
• Participate and contribute in regular team meetings to ensure team understanding of program strategy/approach, and strong internal coordination and collaboration

Reporting 

The Senior Policy and Research Specialist will report directly to Urban Institute but work in-country under the day to day supervision of the Deputy Chief of Party of the project. He/she will provide technical oversight to 2 field-based staff, as well as consultants engaged for tasks under Objective 1. 

Level of Effort

This is a 1-year consultancy beginning from November 2020 and is renewable based on performance and project needs. The expected level of effort for the role is 20 days per month for the duration of the consultancy.