Nepal: Resident Director for Political Party Programs

The National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI) is seeking an individual to direct its political party development assistance program in Nepal. The Resident Program Director would oversee a broad-ranging training and assistance effort designed to help political parties develop internal governance and policymaking structures, better connect with voters and constituents, and improve their electoral competitiveness. The Resident Program Director reports directly to the Senior Resident Director (chief of party) in Nepal and would be supported by staff in Kathmandu and Washington, D.C. The Resident Director is based in Kathmandu.

A commitment of at least two years is expected for this position.

Background

NDI has been working in Nepal since 1994 to strengthen the country’s democratic processes. In recent years, the Institute has conducted voter education programs to promote citizen involvement in the political sphere, supported anti-corruption efforts, carried out nationwide public opinion polling, and conducted programs to increase the political participation and effectiveness of local women leaders and activists. The Institute has also implemented programs to promote consensus building between parties, strengthen political party leadership and governance, and encourage civil society and media oversight of the political process.

The Institute received a five-year grant from USAID in August 2010, to assist political parties and the Constituent Assembly/Parliament in Nepal. The four years left in the program involve a comprehensive program to help political parties develop their organizational capacity and strengthen their electoral competitiveness.

NDI is currently working with Nepal’s political parties and supporting them with capacity-building for their internal training units, as well as devising reform strategies for key areas they identified for change and reform. The Institute’s programs have been designed following a political party baseline assessment conducted in year one of the grant, and the first 12 months of the assistance package is outlined in individual political party training plans and memoranda of understanding. The Institute is also facilitating inter party dialogue through the Inter Party Alliance, and promoting citizen access information about the political process through a media component that builds journalists’ capacity in the investigative journalism area.

Responsibilities:

• Oversee the design and implementation of NDI’s political party development program in Nepal;
• Provide training and consultation to program partners in areas related to organizational capacity building, including: internal governance, internal and external communications, membership and recruitment, and resource mobilization,
• Provide training and consultation to program partners in areas related to electoral competitiveness, including: campaign strategy and planning, message development, candidate and campaign staff training;
• Develop specific initiatives to promote the role of women as leaders within parties and as political candidates;
• Provide day-to-day management and oversight of local program staff;
• Oversee the in-country program budget and projections;
• Establish and maintain close working relationships with political parties, election and government officials, women’s groups and civil society organizations;
• Report on political developments in Nepal that may affect program outcomes to the Washington, DC-based staff on a regular basis;
• Manage the development, review and timely submission of program-related materials, including regular reports that measure and evaluate program results;
• Assist in the representation of NDI to Nepali election and government officials, political party leaders and candidates, the US Embassy, USAID and other donors, and local and international non-governmental organizations.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in a field of study related to international development; graduate degree in political science, international relations, public policy, law, or related field preferred;
• A minimum of fourteen (14) years relevant work experience as a political party trainer or working with non-governmental organizations, legislatures or political parties at the state/provincial or national level;
• Ability to live and work in a challenging political environment;
• Experience in results-oriented program design, strategic planning, and program evaluation;
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with senior political leaders, as well as members of the donor and diplomatic community;
• Robust training experience and workshop facilitation skills;
• Exceptional interpersonal and managerial skills and cultural sensitivity to effectively interact with all levels of staff, U.S. and foreign government personnel, members of donor organizations, funders, and policymakers;
• Proven capacity to meet program goals while managing financial and administrative responsibilities;
• Proven capacity to communicate skills and experience to others as a trainer and advisor;
• Sound political and negotiation skills, and extensive experience in working on political issues;
• Superior oral and written communications skills to effectively present information in a clear and persuasive manner in English;
• Exceptional analytical skills for interpreting complex program and political issues;
• Ability to adjust programmatic activities based on changing political circumstances and in response to needs articulated by local partners and program stakeholders;
• Experience in implementing large USAID-funded international development programs strongly preferred; and
• Working knowledge of PC-based word processing and spreadsheet applications.

No phone calls please.

NDI is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, marital status or any other characteristic protected by law.

Please apply directly at:

http://hostedjobs.openhire.com/epostings/submit.cfm?fuseaction=app.dspjo...