Malcolm Rivera
Chiefs of Party are some of the most powerful players in the world of development, serving as the chief executive of an individual project. The role is complex and requires a mix of tenacity, technical know-how, and a big heart. The Chief of Party is responsible for managing multiple stakeholders, including the client, the head office of their organization, the government of the country or region, local suppliers, their team in the field, and the beneficiary population. They must also have the strategic vision to understand what the project is trying to achieve and how to get there. The role can be demanding, often requiring work on a project-by-project basis, large teams, budgets, and strategies to manage, and sometimes requiring work abroad and away from loved ones.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Working style | Project-by-project basis, often abroad |
| Leadership | Directly responsible for the strategic direction of the project, providing guidance to the entire team |
| Management | Managing large teams, budgets, and strategies |
| Skills | Tenacity, technical know-how, soft skills, high energy, enthusiasm, and a big heart |
| Experience | Managing development projects and handling similar-sized budgets |
| Personal attributes | Staying true to your core strengths, surrounding yourself with people who know things you don't, and are better than you at certain things |
| Innovation | Experimentation and innovation are important, rather than focusing on compliance |
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What You'll Learn
- Chiefs of party must have the ability to manage large teams, budgets, and strategies
- They are responsible for preparing bids and fundraising
- They must be able to adapt to an unstable working environment
- They must have the strategic vision to understand what the project is trying to achieve
- Chiefs of party are some of the most powerful players in the world of development
Chiefs of party must have the ability to manage large teams, budgets, and strategies
Chiefs of party are some of the most powerful players in the world of development, serving as the chief executive of an individual project. The role is far from a typical development job, and it requires a mix of tenacity, technical know-how, and a big heart.
Seraphine Olanya Ramto, a development expert who has held several deputy chief of party and chief of party roles across projects in Africa, describes the role as follows:
> "You're a project team leader, directly responsible for strategic direction of the project, providing guidance to the entire team, managing resources, liaising with different donors financing the project so you need to be an all-round individual."
As such, chiefs of party must have the ability to manage large teams, budgets, and strategies. They are responsible for managing multiple stakeholders, including the client, the head office of their own organization, the government of the country or region where they work, local suppliers, their team in the field, and the beneficiary population.
Additionally, chiefs of party must have the technical knowledge to understand what the project is trying to achieve and the skills in design and management to implement successful solutions. They must also have the strategic vision to understand how to get there and the ability to adapt to a potentially unstable working environment, which could include pandemics, civil unrest, and climate-related challenges.
The role of a chief of party can be complex and unusual, often requiring working on a project-by-project basis, sometimes abroad and away from loved ones.
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They are responsible for preparing bids and fundraising
Chiefs of Party are responsible for preparing bids and fundraising. This involves working on a project-by-project basis, often abroad and away from loved ones, with large teams, budgets, and strategies to manage. The role requires a mix of tenacity, technical know-how, and a big heart.
Seraphine Olanya Ramto, a development expert who has held several deputy chief of party and chief of party roles across projects in Africa, explains that a chief of party is "a project team leader, directly responsible for strategic direction of the project, providing guidance to the entire team, managing resources, and liaising with different donors financing the project."
The role of a chief of party is complex and can vary depending on the project. They must have the strategic vision to understand what the project is trying to achieve and how to get there. This includes having the technical knowledge and skills in design and management to implement successful solutions.
Additionally, chiefs of party must be able to adapt to potentially unstable working environments, including pandemics, civil unrest, and climate-related challenges. They are some of the most powerful players in the world of development, serving as the chief executive of an individual project. As such, they play a crucial role in preparing bids and fundraising, as they are responsible for driving the project's success and ensuring it receives the necessary funding.
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They must be able to adapt to an unstable working environment
The role of a chief of the party is an unusual one, requiring them to work on a project-by-project basis, often abroad and away from loved ones. They are responsible for managing multiple stakeholders, including the client, the head office of their organization, the government of the region or country where they work, local suppliers, their team in the field, and the beneficiary population.
The role is complex and demanding, requiring a mix of tenacity, technical know-how, and the ability to manage large teams, budgets, and strategies. They must be able to adapt to an unstable working environment, which could include civil unrest, climate-related challenges, and even pandemics. For instance, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant disruptions to businesses and organizations worldwide, and a chief of party would need to be able to lead their team and adapt their strategies to effectively navigate such a crisis.
A chief of party must possess the strategic vision to understand the project's goals and how to achieve them. They are responsible for providing guidance to their entire team, managing resources, and liaising with different donors financing the project. They must be able to manage and motivate a large team, tap into proper process management, and innovate to deal with unforeseen circumstances.
The role of a chief of party is not solely about technical expertise but also about leadership and management skills. They must be able to drive a project forward and make quick decisions in a dynamic and unpredictable environment. This may involve managing risks, resolving conflicts, and adapting strategies to ensure the project's success.
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They must have the strategic vision to understand what the project is trying to achieve
Chiefs of Party are the most senior members of key personnel in the projects funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development. They are responsible for the strategic direction of the project, providing guidance to the entire team, managing resources, and liaising with different donors financing the project.
To be successful, Chiefs of Party must have the strategic vision to understand what the project is trying to achieve and how to get there. This involves having the technical knowledge to understand the project's goals and the skills in design and management to implement successful solutions. They must be able to manage and lead a team effectively, and tap into proper process management.
The role is complex and often involves working abroad and managing large teams, budgets, and strategies. Chiefs of Party must be able to adapt to potentially unstable working environments, including pandemics, civil unrest, and climate-related challenges. They must also be able to manage multiple stakeholders, including the client, the head office of their organization, the government of the country or region, local suppliers, their team in the field, and the beneficiary population.
To qualify for the role, candidates need to have extensive experience in managing development projects and handling similar-sized budgets. Chiefs of Party must be well-rounded individuals with a mix of tenacity, technical know-how, and a big heart. They should also be open to innovation and experimentation, rather than focusing solely on compliance and prescribed skill sets.
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Chiefs of party are some of the most powerful players in the world of development
Chiefs of party are responsible for the strategic direction of a project, providing guidance to the entire team, managing resources, and liaising with different donors financing the project. They are also responsible for managing multiple stakeholders, including the client, the head office of their organization, the government of the country or region where they work, local suppliers, their team in the field, and the beneficiary population.
To be successful, chiefs of party need a mix of tenacity, technical know-how, and "a big heart." They must be able to adapt to potentially unstable working environments and have the strategic vision to understand what the project is trying to achieve and how to get there.
While technical expertise is important, the ability to manage a team and tap into proper process management is even more critical. Chiefs of party should also be open to innovation and experimentation, rather than focusing solely on compliance and prescribed skill sets.
Chiefs of party often work on a project-by-project basis, which can involve working abroad and away from loved ones, managing large teams, budgets, and strategies. It is a complex and demanding role, but one that offers the opportunity to have a significant impact in the world of development.
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Frequently asked questions
The term chief of the party is inherited from the U.S. Agency for International Development nomenclature and refers to the most senior member of key personnel in the projects it funds.
A chief of the party is responsible for managing multiple stakeholders — the client, the head office of their organization, the government of the country or region where they work, local suppliers, their team in the field, and the beneficiary population. They must also have the strategic vision to understand what the project is trying to achieve and how to get there.
A mix of tenacity, technical know-how, and a big heart. A chief of the party must also have the ability to drive a particular project and manage a team.
Chiefs of the party are some of the most powerful players in the world of development, serving as the chief executive of an individual project. The success of a project is driven by a chief of party’s ability to get the best out of a team.
