Government-to-Government Risk Management Specialist

Government-to-Government Risk Management Specialist

7 locations available

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Job available in these locations:

Pretoria, South Africa

Botswana

Ethiopia

Mozambique

Malawi

Rwanda

Eswatini

Government-to-Government Risk Management Specialist

Position Title: G2G Risk Management Specialist (short term consultant)

Location: Botswana & Eswatini (one consultant) / Ethiopia / Malawi / Mozambique / Rwanda

Contract Period: 6 months

Level of Effort: 6 months

Location: South Africa

Reports To: Director, Foreign Assistance Africa Finance Hub (Pretoria)

Security Clearance: Facility Access

1. BACKGROUND

The Department of State, through the Bureau of Global Health Security and Diplomacy (GHSD), is developing government-to-government (G2G) mechanisms to strengthen health capacity and advance development objectives. G2G approaches enable direct collaboration between U.S. Government (USG) agencies and host government counterparts, fostering local ownership, sustainability, and institutional strengthening. G2G assistance relies on a partner government's systems and institutions for implementation. Using a partner government's systems and institutions to implement development assistance involves a degree of risk that requires additional due diligence to assess the threats and opportunities of such systems and institutions.

The G2G Risk Management Specialist directs and oversees ministry-level risk assessments in their assigned country/countries, ensuring the engagements are executed with technical precision, standardized evidence, and the strategic oversight necessary to meet GHSD's country-specific deadlines. The Specialist serves as a vital bridge between the Foreign Assistance Africa Financial Management Hub (located in Pretoria, South Africa) and country-level partners, specifically country-level audit firms executing the assessments and the country-based GHSD team.

2. OBJECTIVES

• Direct the performance of multiple, concurrent G2G Ministry-level (Stage 2) Risk Assessments in the country.
• Provide on-site or virtual guidance and direction to the contractor assessment team to finalize the scope of each risk assessment, draft the risk assessment report, prepare risk mitigation plans for chief of mission approval, and monitor the implementation of the financial management aspects of the G2G activity, including corrective actions on the risk mitigation plan.
• Ensure the appropriate use of applicable standardized G2G tools and templates for the planning, field work, and reporting stages of ministry-level risk assessments.
• Participate in country-level fiduciary oversight, risk management support and measurement, and evaluation and learning activities.
• Prepare memos, reports, presentations or other analyses for GHSD and the Pretoria Financial Management Hub director to support the design, implementation, and oversight of G2G in the assigned country.
• Perform other duties assigned by GHSD or the Pretoria Financial Management Hub director to support the design, implementation, and oversight of G2G in the assigned country.

3. SCOPE OF SERVICES

3.1 GHSD G2G Guidance and Policies.

The Specialist shall:

• Participate in the preparation of key State Dept./GHSD framework documents on G2G, including overall guidance, G2G risk management and implementation guide, risk appetite statement, G2G risk assessment process flowchart, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and other documents that may be required by GHSD.
• Develop standard templates, including workpaper templates, quality assurance checklists, and risk assessment report templates.
• Develop standardized risk assessment tools and instruments, including questionnaires and risk assessment methodology checklists.
• Collaborate with the Bureau of the Comptroller and Global Financial Services (CGFS) and the Foreign Assistance Africa Financial Management Hub payments team to establish SOPs and payment process workflows for G2G disbursements to partner government implementing entities. The payments will include milestone payments, advances, and cost reimbursements, including a workable.
• Collaborate with relevant State Department stakeholders to establish guidelines for the annual audit of G2G awards, consistent with GHSD G2G policies.

3.2 G2G Risk Assessment (Planning Phase)

The Specialist shall:

• Directly oversee the in-country contractor assessment team in performing all G2G risk assessments in the country.
• Work with the in-country GHSD Risk Management specialist and the assessment team to revise, update, and validate the scope of work for each G2G risk assessment for approval by the GHSD and/or the Foreign Assistance Africa Financial Management Hub Director, as required.
• Ensure that the scope of each risk assessment is tailored to and directly supports the G2G activity, avoiding scope creep (a focused scope will maximize time efficiency, reduce costs, and is crucial to executing a successful and efficient risk assessment).
• Guide the assessment team to identify and build on existing assessments completed by other USG actors, donors, or stakeholders (if these are relevant and up-to-date, and there have been no major changes in the government's systems and institutions since the assessments were conducted).
• Hold a post-award meeting with the successful CPA firm bidder in the assigned country.

3.3 G2G Risk Assessment (Field Work Phase)

The Specialist shall:

• Guide, direct, and support assessment teams during fieldwork.
• Liaise with embassy teams, partner country government counterparts, and other stakeholders to identify and eliminate any barriers to timely, efficient and successful completion of all planned risk assessments.
• Provide quality assurance on assessment engagement by ensuring consistent interpretation and application of GHSD risk assessment guidance.
• Track fieldwork progress to support timely completion of assigned assessments.
• Review interim and final working papers from the assessment team to confirm the adequacy of the nature, timing, and extent of assessment procedures, including tests performed.

3.4 G2G Risk Assessment (Reporting Phase)

The Specialist shall:

• Propose solutions to address risks that are identified in the financial management systems to ensure they are robust, transparent, and capable of supporting performance-based, milestone-based, and cost-reimbursement award mechanisms.
• Serve as a liaison between USG and partner country counterparts to finalize all risk assessment reports and risk mitigation plans, resolve any issues that arise, and address any challenges during the reporting phase.
• Review deliverables and weekly reports from each assigned risk assessment to ensure quality and compliance with approved GHSD templates; secure approval of GHSD and the Pretoria Financial Management Hub.
• Participate in developing comprehensive risk mitigation and corrective action plans tailored to address identified weaknesses in financial management, internal controls, and compliance processes.
• Review draft and final country risk assessment reports and risk mitigation plans; secure approval of GHSD and the Pretoria Financial Management Hub.
• Support the embassy GHSD team to secure chief of mission approval on the risk mitigation plan.

3.5 G2G Implementation Support and PFM Systems Strengthening

The Specialist shall:

• Advise on the establishment of oversight mechanisms, including independent audits, spot checks, and third-party verification, to strengthen accountability and transparency.
• Providing technical assistance and hands-on training to partner government staff to enhance their understanding and application of financial controls, accurate financial reporting, and audit readiness, with a focus on the requirements of USG-funded G2G awards.
• Provide technical advice and support to resolve any policy, procedural, and/or documentation issues that are identified as part of the risk assessment.
• Analyze compliance with USG regulations, relevant partner government laws, and award-specific terms and conditions, highlighting areas of potential vulnerability.
• Provide regular updates to embassy leadership on risk assessment findings, mitigation progress, and any critical issues requiring immediate attention.
• Stay informed about partner country public financial management (PFM) reform efforts and support PFM strengthening activities funded by USG and/or other donors.
• Support the development of partner government-led processes and systems that contribute to the successful implementation of the G2G award.

3.6 Stakeholder Engagement and Relationship Management

The Specialist shall:

• Establish and manage effective working relationships with the audit firm, GHSD, the G2G risk management core team (Pretoria), and embassy staff.
• Provide regular updates to GHSD, embassy leadership, and the Pretoria Financial Management Hub on risk assessment findings, mitigation progress, and issues requiring immediate attention.
• Manage stakeholder expectations and maintain transparent communication.
• Successfully navigate political sensitivities and institutional dynamics.

3.7 Training and Knowledge Management

The Specialist shall:

• Deliver training sessions (remote and/or in-person) to State Department employees, partner government implementing agencies, and third-party firms supporting the G2G award.
• Maintain a repository of G2G guidance materials and toolkits.
• Facilitate knowledge transfer, peer learning among government agencies, and capacity-building workshops to promote best practices in financial management, risk mitigation, and compliance.

4. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• A bachelor's degree in accounting, business administration, auditing, economics, or a relevant field is required.
• A Certified Public Accountant, Certified Internal Auditor, or the country equivalent (CPA/ACA/ACCA) is required.

Experience:

• Minimum of seven (7) years' professional experience in accounting, auditing, or financial management.
• Minimum of five (5) years of demonstrated experience in fiduciary risk/internal control assessments or internal audits is required.
• Demonstrated experience with G2G mechanisms, public sector strengthening, or institutional capacity development.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in international development or working on international development projects is required.

Technical Knowledge:

The Consultant must possess knowledge of:

• U.S. professional accounting (GAAP) and auditing (GAGAS/Yellow Book) principles and standards.
• OMB Circular A-123 (Management's Responsibility for Internal Control) and COSO Internal Control Framework.
• Fiduciary risk assessments, financial oversight, risk management, internal controls, internal audit, and organizational capacity assessments.
• Donor-partner government direct funding arrangements, implementation practices, oversight, reporting and compliance practices.
• PFM systems strengthening and institutional capacity building.
• The full suite of Microsoft Office applications (e.g., Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook).

Skills and Abilities:

• Demonstrated ability to plan, prioritize, and execute work under tight timelines and high-pressure environments.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (oral and written), with demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and effectively with partner government officials, U.S. embassy leadership, grantees and USG staff across all employment categories and levels.
• Strong skills in interpreting and applying risk management concepts and internal control frameworks to perform rigorous, evidence-based analyses.
• Strong leadership, decision-making, team management, and coaching skills.
• Excellent ability to independently oversee multiple, concurrent, and complex assessments.
• Ability to translate risk findings into practical risk mitigation measures and corrective action plans.
• Ability to operate with high professional integrity, discretion, and confidentiality.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.

Preferred

• Direct work experience in Africa.
• Language proficiency in the assigned country's local language(s).

5. WORK ENVIRONMENT AND TRAVEL

Primary Location: Country of assignment/domicile

Travel Requirements:

• The consultant may be required to accompany the assessment team on in-country travels.

Work Schedule:

• Full-time position with flexible hours to accommodate partner government counterpart schedules.
• Occasional evening or weekend work for workshops and events.

6. MANAGEMENT AND COORDINATION

Supervisor: Charles Egu, Director, Foreign Assistance Africa Financial Management Hub, Pretoria.

Key Coordination:

• Weekly check-ins with the G2G risk management core team in Pretoria.

7. TERMS AND CONDITIONS

• Position contingent on funding availability.
• Subject to USG background check and security requirements.
• Compliance with all applicable U.S. and partner country laws and regulations.
• All work products are property of the USG.
• Confidentiality of sensitive information required.
• Equal opportunity employer.

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