Senior Government-to-Government Award Specialist at Panagora Group

Position Summary

• The Technical Support Services (TSS) Activity helps USAID/Southern Africa and Regional Health Office (RHO) to address technical priorities and develop creative, innovative solutions to strategically allocate resources, strengthen connections with partners, and replicate best practices and effective program models. Through the TSS contract, Panagora Group augments capacity by providing technical, operational, and administrative support to USAID’s largest health portfolio. TSS deploys advisors in response to USAID requests for priority work with government stakeholders, implementing partners, and/or other entities. TSS supports Health Office staff and teams to integrate creative solutions into routine work. TSS also provides international and local expertise for surge support, as needed, for USAID Program Cycle requirements, planning, development, outreach, communications, and Health Office human resource functions.  
• Panagora Group requires a Senior Government-to-Government (G2G) Award Specialist to support the National Treasury International Development Cooperation (IDC) Chief Directorate in ensuring the smooth administration of G2G awards in South Africa. While focused on filling immediate capacity needs for the National Treasury IDC Chief Directorate, this consultant would also be responsible for helping to build the capacity of the staff eventually hired by IDC to sustainably fill these functions in the long-term. 

In line with the Biden Administration’s priorities around localization and transformative partnerships, the USAID/Southern Africa (SA) Bilateral Health Office has prioritized the development of awards that directly fund South African Government (SAG) entities to address shared priorities. To date, USAID/SA has active awards with the following implementing government entities via the Government-to-Government (G2G) modality: 

• The Department of Basic Education 
• The Department of Social Development 
• The Western Cape Provincial Department of Health 

More subnational units are in the planning and risk assessment stages and will require greater engagement with the National Treasury to ensure compliance and alignment with local policies and processes for donor relations of this nature. 

Each award is designed with a fixed-fee payment structure paid based on the achievement of costed milestones agreed upon by USAID, the implementing government entity, and the South Africa National Treasury, through the IDC Chief Directorate. Milestones are defined across a range of programmatic issues such as services rendered for caring for children living with HIV, number of students reached with comprehensive sexuality education, and innovative programs established to reach clients with HIV and TB services.  

While technical priorities are negotiated between USAID and the implementing government entity, the National Treasury’s IDC Chief Directorate is responsible for officially approving financial agreements with USAID, validating that milestones completed by the implementing government entity are in line with financial agreements of the G2G, and that each implementing government entity meets the South African requirements for accepting and utilizing donor funds.  

Primary Responsibilities

In direct support to the Chief Director for International Development Cooperation, Senior Government-to-Government Award Specialist will be responsible for supporting the National Treasury IDC to: 

• Serve as a point of contact for implementing government entities (i.e., Departments and subnational units) on matters related to business case approvals and other financial management procedures as required by National Treasury. 
• Supporting the appropriate involvement of the National Treasury in the design, review, and eventual approval of new G2G awards. This includes maintaining communication channels to keep stakeholders sensitized of risk assessment procedures, scope design, and other policy procedures relevant to the National Treasury. 
• Ensure the alignment and compliance of G2G award milestones to National Treasury standards and policies. This includes coordinating across points of contact within USAID, the implementing government entities, and the National Treasury to ensure the efficient negotiation and development of milestones that address the shared priorities of the SAG and USG.  
• Develop, agree, and institutionalize standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the review of milestones and deliverables as agreed upon in the G2G awards. This should also include developing standard templates that the Chief Director may use for milestone approvals. This includes supporting the National Treasury IDC with training of new staff and establishment of these SOPs as required.  
• Establishing and maintaining knowledge management and archival systems required by the National Treasury to appropriately record the implementation of G2Gs. 

The consultant may be required to fulfill other duties as required by the IDC CD of National Treasury in addition to ensuring the proper administration of G2G awards with USAID. 

Requirements

• Master’s degree in finance, economics, international development or related field. 
• At least 3 years of experience supporting the South African National Treasury or similar government entity in the establishment and management of G2G awards with the United States Government.  
• A track record of at least 3 years working collaboratively with the South African National Treasury IDC and USAID in a fast-paced and highly regulated environment. 
• Expertise on financial management procedures and policies for G2G engagements from the perspective of the South African Ministry of Finance Government.  
• Excellent verbal and written English language skills. 
• Proven capacity to take initiative and willingness to learn new skills as needed.  
• Strong work ethic and the ability to work well independently and as part of a team.