DRC2024.07 Technical Design Lead

Please visit our website https://www.crs.org/about/bid-opportunity for full scope of work and attachments.

I. Purpose
CRS DRC has identified the need for an experienced consultant for the role of Technical Design Lead to support the USAID FtF Value Chain and Market Linkages Activity (https://www.usaid.gov/node/519401) throughout the proposal development process for a period of approximately 3-4 months starting in September 2024.

III. Objectives
1.Lead engagement and communication with opportunity team members and contributors in the key technical components during capture and proposal design.
2.Lead research efforts, supported by the opportunity team in preparation for and during the proposal design.
3.Provide analysis and insight into the perceived strengths and vulnerabilities of the respective agriculture and market systems, and planning based on literature review and stakeholder interviews/assessments.
4.Guide country-level engagement and technical coordination between consortium members, local partners, government, and technical staff, with support from the opportunity team.
5.Lead coordination of these actors, marshalling distinct opinions, innovations, and solutions to ensure a technical solid and feasible program approach.

IV. Main Activities
Capture planning/Pre-design phase
1.Guide ongoing capture activities, evaluate findings and give feedback for enhancement.
2.Provide analysis and insights into the perceived strengths and gaps of existing agricultural, and market systems and services based on assessments, stakeholder interviews and literature research.
3.Identify key areas of interest and priorities for USAID DRC and alignment with respective local Government strategies.
4.Lead pre-design sessions and work with the opportunity team to define a program strategy considering cross-cutting areas (gender, youth, localization, climate change, etc.)
5.Assist Cost Manager to cost out technical elements of the budget and to ensure consistency between technical and cost components of the proposal.
6.Ensure adequate consideration and incorporation of cross-cutting themes such as gender, sustainability, institutional and local partner capacity strengthening, climate change, etc.
7.Support opportunity team with the identification of key personnel for the project.
Proposal development phase
8.Lead the design workshop, upon the release of the solicitation, informing the technical design of activities.
9.Lead project design, including Proframe, strategy development with opportunity team, partners and technical experts, and Theory of Change development.
10.Develop a results framework and visualization for the project (including cross-cutting themes).
11.Work with the Lead Writer to articulate an overall concept and technical approach.
12.Incorporate known lessons learned from other agriculture programs in the DRC and other countries into the proposal design to ensure that the proposed design aligns with current best practices and trends in this sector and USAID programming.
13.Promote alignment of program strategies and activities with the priorities outlined in relevant national strategies and policies.
14.In consultation with the decision-making team, ensure that the consortium includes appropriate technical expertise to implement all aspects of the solicitation.
15.Collaborate with proposal coordinator to ensure technical review is conducted and comments incorporated, respecting the timeline in the proposal production plan.
16.Coordinate with lead writer to ensure that the country team’s inputs have been considered.
17.Ensure that the MEAL component is aligned with donors’ expectations and CRS MEAL policy.
18.Ensures that the final technical application meets CRS standards and USAID FtF expectations for quality, responsiveness, completeness, and competitiveness.

V. Deliverables
1.Leadership of pre-design sessions and strategy planning document.
2.Leadership of design workshop planning and facilitation.
3.Provision of feedback and inputs to Detailed Implementation Plan, MEAL Plan, and complete proposal (depending on requirements of solicitation).
4.Written first draft inputs of proposed agriculture and market systems technical approach that incorporates partners’ technical input and including theory of change and results framework.
5.Discuss comments on technical section with Lead Writer and provide second draft of inputs to technical approach.
6.Review final suite of annexes to ensure alignment with technical design.