Position location: Benin: Contounou, Parakou

 Background:

Creative Associates International is a fast-growing, social impact company that specializes in the areas of education, economic growth, democratic transitions, and stabilization in post-conflict environments. Based in Chevy Chase, Maryland, this global development organization has a field presence is more than 25 countries and a strong client portfolio of that includes the U.S. Agency for International Development and the State Department. Since its founding in 1977 by four enterprising women, Creative has earned a solid reputation among its clients and is well-regarded by competitors and partners alike.

 Position Summary:

Creative Associates International (Creative) is seeking a Chief of Party (COP) to lead the anticipated USAID-funded Northern Economic Livelihoods for Youth (NELY) Activity in Benin. NELY will improve economic livelihoods for youth and women in violent extremist (VE) moderate and high-risk areas in the north. The COP will be responsible for overall vision and management of the project and serve as the primary liaison with USAID.

Primary Responsibilities: 

• Serve as the primary point of contact with USAID/Benin regarding day-to-day implementation and management matters relating to the contract.
  ● Facilitate communication and close coordination with all stakeholders.
  ● Ensure activities and results are implemented efficiently and effectively within the approved
  budget.
  ● Quality control of all activities and deliverables performed under the contract.
  ● Provide strategic leadership and vision for the contract to make sustainable progress while
  balancing the interest of various stakeholders and ensuring benefits of the interventions reach
  the target populations in the selected areas.
  ● Ensure compliance with USAID regulations, guidelines, and standards.

Required Skills & Qualifications: 

• Graduate degree in a relevant technical field such as conflict resolution or CVE.
• Minimum 10 years of experience managing complex development programs, including previous experience in Francophone West Africa. 
• Technical expertise in countering violent extremism, conflict prevention, economic development, public-private partnerships, resilience, sustainable rural development, peacebuiding, and/or good governance.
• Demonstrated experience leading similar programs building resilience to violent extremism or conflict through economic-growth and climate change adaptation, and experience forming effective and productive relationships with relevant stakeholder counterparts, both public and private. 
• Proven experience integrating Gender Equality, Female Empowerment, and Social Inclusion (GESI) and Positive Youth Development (PYD) into development projects.
• Demonstrated track record leveraging partnerships and creating synergies with counterparts.
• Ability to successfully manage and develop staff in a diverse, multicultural setting as
  demonstrated by past work experience.
• Previous experience working in conflict-affected zones and knowledge of the current West
  African context.
  
  
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Fluency in French and English, written and spoken.

Position contingent upon donor funding. 

Only final candidates will be contacted.