Country Director, Haiti, Clean Cooking Alliance

The Clean Cooking Alliance

The Clean Cooking Alliance works with a global network of partners to build an inclusive industry that makes clean cooking accessible to the three billion people who live each day without it. Established in 2010, the Alliance is driving consumer demand, mobilizing investment to build a pipeline of scalable businesses, and fostering an enabling environment that allows the sector to thrive. Clean cooking transforms lives by improving health, protecting the climate and environment, empowering women, and helping consumers save time and money. 

The Haiti Cookstoves and Clean Energy Market Project  

The Haiti Cookstoves and Clean Energy Market Project (the “Project”) will set the foundation for a long-term, sustainable market transformation for cleaner and more efficient cooking solutions. Our efforts will entail a combination of sector-wide, market development activities to increase sales of cleaner and more efficient cookstoves and fuels by Haitian businesses, driving consumer demand to use cleaner, more efficient stoves and fuels; and policy and advocacy to enable the continued growth of the clean cookstoves and fuels market. The Project will be led by the Alliance, in close collaboration with the Government of Haiti, local stakeholders, practitioners, the private sector, donors, civil society organizations, and UN agencies.

Position Summary

The Country Director – Haiti, Clean Cooking Alliance is responsible for providing overall strategic direction, operations management, technical leadership, and financial and administrative compliance to ensure program activities meet desired outcomes, are completed on-time and within budget. The Country Director will report directly to the Clean Cooking Alliance Chief Program Officer (CPO).

The Country Director will provide vision, leadership, and direction to ensure the strategic, programmatic, technical, and financial integrity for the Haiti Cookstoves and Clean Energy Market Project. The Country Director will have the overall responsibility for leadership, management, and reporting of all Project activities. She/he will be responsible for making key decisions and solving problems promptly while ensuring operational and Project quality and integrity. She/he will manage long -and short-term technical expertise across all technical areas and ensure the Project meets the stated goals and requirements. S/he will also ensure effective organizational management and communication with all levels of the Haitian government across multiple Ministries and stakeholders such as the private sector, other NGOs, and diaspora organizations. S/he will be responsible for the execution of the Project Implementation Plan, day-to-day management of the Project, donor relations, and continued development and leadership of the Alliance-based Haiti team.

Essential Functions

• Provide overall leadership, support, and direction to the Project’s staff, subcontractors, and consultants to ensure effective project implementation across deliverables;
• Oversee the financial and administrative implementation of the project, including budget management and ensuring compliance with project work plans and Alliance policies, and donor regulations;
• Design and implement a government engagement strategy at both the political and technical levels with annual priorities to support the development of an effective enabling environment for the clean cookstoves and fuels market;
• Work in close coordination with members of the Haiti Project Team based at the DC headquarters office, particularly the Chief Program Officer and the Haiti Project Leads (Project Manager, Project Coordinator, Project Budget Manager and, Project M&E Manager) to ensure alignment of all efforts in Haiti;
• Prepare and submit semi-annual and annual reports on the progress of activities and achievement of project results to the donor in collaboration with the Haiti Project Team (HQ);
• Prepare and monitor implementation of annual work plans and progress reports in coordination with the Haiti Project Team (HQ);
• Oversee monitoring of project indicators, evaluation of results, and advise on improvements in Project implementation in coordination with the Haiti Project Team (HQ) and the M&E Manager;
• Serves as the Alliance’s senior representative in Haiti, fostering close collaboration with key stakeholders, including Canadian and foreign diplomats and donor agencies, host-country government representatives, and Project partners active in the clean cooking value chain in Haiti (e.g. Government of Haiti, clean cooking enterprises, NGOs, Micro Finance Institutions, UN agencies, donors, and investors), and keep the Alliance abreast of new developments in the regional market;
• Work with Alliance staff to define roles and engagement priorities for the Alliance, Alliance partners, local and national government actors, and other critical stakeholders, and cultivate national champions/ambassadors;
• Manage relationships with the Government of Canada Project leads stationed at the Embassy of Canada and with complementary donor projects;
• Represent the Alliance at meetings and events as required and keep the Alliance staff informed regarding new opportunities in the country and region;
• Participate in regular field visits to the Project’s target areas to ensure Project progress towards activity objectives and goals;
• Analyze Project impact and challenges, including identifying and mitigating project risks, to adaptively manage the project to meet or exceed results;
• Ensure women are integrated into the Project’s implementation as beneficiaries; and
• Monitor, analyze, and report on political and related developments.

Core Competencies 

Leadership – Demonstrate executive maturity, confidence, ability to enable international collaboration and organizational agility; ability to attract talent and build organizations/teams and develop people; demonstrate a commitment to the Clean Cooking Alliance; drive impact by defining and refining strategy to discern priorities, hold others accountable, mobilizing resources and influencing at scale. Develop business and organizational vision by implementing a strategic roadmap for the country program, starting with this anchor project. 

Problem-solving - Ability to effectively scope problems, anticipate and pre-empt emerging issues and make decisions with conviction even in highly ambiguous contexts; use strategic influencing strategies to gain support for a solution, involving others early and often to enlist strong commitment. Demonstrate perseverance in the face of setbacks. 

Project Execution/Drive for Results - Can be counted on to exceed goals successfully; is constantly and consistently one of the top performers; very bottom-line oriented; steadfastly pushes self and others for results. 

Technical expertise – Uses knowledge and previous experience executing related projects to serve as both a technical expert when needed as well as a successful project manager. Leverages experience to cultivate confidence in peers, partners, and donors. 

Adaptability – Proactively monitors the external and internal environment to explore options and define new opportunities.

Selection Criteria

• Proven exceptional leadership as Country Director, Project Director, or Chief of Party for a multi-million, multi-year project with expertise in the design, management, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of a similar project.
• Advanced degree preferred in Economic Development, Business Administration, Public Policy, Environmental Policy, Energy, Governance, Forestry/Natural Resource Management, or relevant fields of study related to the project.
• Minimum 8 years of professional experience in a similar position with a focus on results and impact.
• Significant operations management experience related to (1) complex project development and management, particularly in Haiti ; (2) grant-making, including review, monitoring, and evaluation of grants; (3) fund-raising, including development of proposals and budgets, monitoring and reporting; and (4) development and oversight of budgets.
• Ability to diplomatically supervise staff and coordinate programs with partners from a broad range of backgrounds and experiences.
• Ability to build coalitions and networks that can provide synergies and sustainable solutions.
• Ability to frequently travel within Haiti and internationally.
• Must be comfortable in the high-level representational role as well as interacting with beneficiaries.
• Strong communication skills, both interpersonal and written, to effectively coordinate stakeholders.
• Proven ability to develop and communicate a common vision among diverse public and private partners and the ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams.
• Knowledge of the political, social, cultural, environmental, and development context of Haiti required.
• Technical understanding of forestry, energy access, agriculture, and climate change issues, as well as managerial experience in Haiti, is desired.
• Personal commitment to Clean Cooking Alliance and the UN Foundation’s vision.
• Knowledge of Global Affairs Canada policies and procedures as related to project management is preferred.
• Fluency in written and oral English, French and Haitian Creole is required.
• Haitian nationals urged to apply.

December 2019 update: The Alliance is continuing to review and assess applications for this position.

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