UKAID : Economic Development Team, DFID DRC; and Cabinet of the DRC Prime Minister

1. BACKGROUND

The DRC country office of the Department for International Development (DFID) will be providing up to £100 million over a five year period (2014 – 2019) to stimulate private sector development (PSD) in DRC. By strategically targeting key constraints the aim is to empower the private sector to be an engine of growth, firm and job creation, and poverty alleviation in DRC.

Up to £35m of this programme will be channelled through a Flexible Facility which will, on an as needed basis, design and implement interventions on business environment reform, improving financial intermediation, and anti-corruption. These interventions will commence with a programme of support to the Ministry of Justice and National OHADA Commission (CNO) for the implementation of OHADA (subject to final confirmation by the Minister of Justice). This will include the following activities:

• The establishment of a fully OHADA-compliant system for business registration including a commercial and movable asset registry (RCCM).
• Capacity-building of the Government of DRC (in particular the CNO) to ensure the effective implementation of OHADA laws, practices and institutions.
• Awareness-raising amongst private sector operators (including MSMEs, banks, microfinance institutions, lawyers, accountants, auditors, etc.) to allow them to respond to the benefits of OHADA.
• Monitoring and evaluation of the progress and impact of OHADA implementation in DRC.

Subsequent interventions to be undertaken by the Flexible Facility will be selected in collaboration with the Government of DRC – in particular the Cabinet of the Prime Minister (Primature). Potential interventions are yet to be determined, however, as examples these may include:

• Support for the establishment of Single Windows for international trade transactions at various border points.
• Support for the development of a capital market/deposit guarantee scheme/credit history bureau/etc.
• Support for the implementation of an anti-corruption pact between the public, private and civil society sectors
• Support for the strengthening of land registration systems.
• Advocacy activities to support passage of key business environment reform legislation through the DRC National Assembly (e.g. bills to reform the electricity and insurance sectors, and a bill to remove legal impediments to women’s participation in business).

A procurement process is underway for a Service Provider who will manage this Flexible Facility. DFID DRC is now looking for an experienced individual to provide technical advice on business environment reform to both DFID DRC and the Primature in order to guide the selection and oversight of interventions which will be taken forward by this Service Provider.

This is a joint position shared approximately 40:60 between DFID DRC and the Primature. Within DFID DRC the BER Adviser will join the Economic Development Team and report to the Team Leader. Within the Primature, the BER Adviseor will report to the Principal Adviser on business environment reform (Conseiller Principal au Collège Climat des Affaires).

The BER Adviser will spend 60% of their time seconded to the Primature and 40% working within DFID DRC. They will be expected to:

• Horizon-scan for opportunities/risks related to business environment reform
• Work directly with the Government of DRC to design and draft Terms of Reference for new interventions to be taken forward by the Flexible Facility (subject to DFID DRC approval)
• Provide technical advice on all interventions related to business environment reform
  • Notably by sitting on the technical steering group of the OHADA support programme and other technical steering groups related to subsequent Flexible Facility interventions.
• Assist DFID in managing its PSD programme by contributing to the drafting of Annual Reviews, briefings, and business cases for Flexible Facility interventions.
• Assist DFID in the role as Chef de File du Groupe Thématique Climat des Affaires Partenariat Public-Prive, Promotion des Investissements et de l’Emploi.

The BER Adviser will provide weekly update reports to both DFID DRC and the Primature. Written reports will be provided quarterly.

The successful applicant will need to display the following:

• familiarity with the Doing Business indicators (required)
• experience working on government systems (required)
• familiarity with OHADA (required)
• a legal background (desirable)
• Ability to operate fluently in French (required) with at least a working knowledge of English

The post holder is also expected to demonstrate the following competencies:

• Collaborating and partnering
  • Ability to build trustful and productive working relationships with a range of stakeholders, including DFID, the Primature, others within the Government of DRC, and the Flexible Facility Service Provider,
• Delivering at pace
  • Ability to operate to tight deadlines whilst maintaining quality.
• Making effective decisions
  • Ability to make autonomous decisions following high-level strategic objectives set by DFID/Primature
  • Ability to use sound judgement, evidence and knowledge to provide accurate, expert and professional advice in a range of areas.
• Changing and improving
  • An ability to be responsive, innovative and seek out opportunities to create effective change.

This is a Kinshasa-based, 2 year fixed-term post (with the possibility of an extension by a further 2 years. Appointment will be under local terms and conditions and is subject to security clearance (by both DFID and the Primature). A competitive monthly salary will be offered (depending on skills and experience), plus transport (fuel costs relating to work travel – see below requirement to be independently mobile), leave, 13^th month, family and housing allowances.

• Mobility. The post holder should be independently mobile. It is expected that the successful candidate will have use of their own vehicle. Fuel costs will be reimbursed.

• Hours. Given that this post will involve secondment into the Primature to provide advisory work, the post holder will be required to work more than 45 hours per week. The post holder will be expected to be available for work from 0730 to 1930 (with a 1 hour lunch break) Monday – Friday, and 0800-1400 on Saturday.

• Travel
  The post holder may be required to travel within DRC to monitor project implementation.

If you believe you are the right candidate for this position, please complete the application form and submit a letter of motivation setting out why you are  applying for the job, and showing evidence of the required competencies and skills expected, and how you would contribute to the Business Environment Reform component of the DFID Private Sector Development programme.

Interview and Assessment Centre dates

Short listed candidates will be invited to an initial interview currently scheduled to take place on 04 July 2014.

Equal Opportunities

DFID is an Equal Opportunities Employer.  Applications are welcomed from all parts of the community, and we actively encourage interest from women, ethnic minority groups and those with disabilities.  Selection is on merit.

NB: We do not need CVs at this stage. Complete the Application Form in English and email it to the following email address ([email protected]) by 22 June 2014