Specialist in grant management and donor reporting

Based in Ouagadougou, DRC country office in Burkina Faso, the Grants Management Specialist will support the development and quality review of project proposals, project modifications and donor reports produced by the mission. He/she provides the program and support teams with advice on compliance with internal DRC deadlines and rules and donor rules and will support them in improving the monitoring of the project cycle. He/she will also contribute to the creation of communication products and help organize events internal and external to the program. The Grants Specialist will work with the programs department and will interact with support services, country-based offices, the regional office and headquarters.

Responsibilities: (most important points)

• The responsibilities listed are not exhaustive and could be readjusted according to operational needs identified at the time as long as they remain consistent with the general responsibilities of the position.
• Under the direction of the External Relations Manager, and in collaboration with all sector coordinators/specialists and members of the program teams, the Grants Specialist will have the following activities and tasks:
• Coordinate the development, review and timely submission of concept notes, project proposals, and amendments, in coordination with program teams and in accordance with priorities defined with the External Relations Manager and the Director of Programs.
• Ensure the revision and guarantee the quality of programmatic or contractual reports, in compliance with donor deadlines and rules, based on the priorities and needs of the program team.
• Support sector teams and DRC partners to ensure that the contractual elements of projects are respected.
• Maintain a broad and in-depth understanding of donor policies, regulations, and procedures and establish this knowledge among programs, operational team members, and DRC partners.
• Work with project managers, technical coordinators/specialists and monitoring & evaluation staff to improve project monitoring: organize key events (meetings) of the project management cycle and contribute to the systematic use of tools project monitoring.

Suggestions:

• Coordinate the development of proposals for new projects by working with program staff, partners, support functions and ensuring appropriate review at regional and headquarters level.
• Develop and monitor back-planning for the development of project proposals.
• Liaise with the Copenhagen and Dakar offices to ensure that proposals meet internal standards and are consistent with donor requirements.
• Organize and participate in all internal project intervention strategy framing meetings prior to the development of new proposals.

Reports :

• Ensure that reports (narrative, financial and logistical) are submitted to donors on time.
• Control and guarantee the quality, consistency and accuracy of all narrative reports (monthly, quarterly, interim or final reports) before their submission to donors.
• Provide technical support to the Reporting and Partnership Officer for the verification and monitoring of partner reports within the framework of the consortia led by DRC.

Compliance with donor rules:

• Review donor agreements/contracts and coordinate their validation with other DRC departments.
• Ensure that grants are implemented in accordance with DRC procedures and donor requirements
• Support and train DRC teams and partners on donor requirements.
• Support the Partnership and Location Specialist in the contractual monitoring of partners, in compliance with DRC internal requirements and lessor requirements.
• Support, if necessary, the partnership and localization specialist in the development of grant contracts for partners.

Monitoring the project management cycle:

• Support the preparation and organization of grant opening and closing meetings, as well as monthly/quarterly/annual grant monitoring meetings, which include representation from each unit (finance, programs, logistics) as well as partners if applicable.

Internal and external communication:

• Ensure the regular updating and sharing of internal Grants monitoring tools.
• Maintain and update all grant files (electronic copies) related to donor proposals and reports.
• Share with all DRC staff all documentation (grant proposals, reports, budget, etc.) related to their specific programs.
• In conjunction with the external relations manager, ensure compliance with donor communication requirements.
• Support local and national partners in their on-demand project development process.

Technical experience and skills

Required

• At least 2 years of experience in grant management and project proposal development in the humanitarian sector;
• Strong command of writing and editing with particular attention to detail;
• Proven experience in developing projects with humanitarian aid and development donors;
• Good command of English (spoken and written);
• Very strong organizational skills;
• Ability to manage multiple and competing priorities, meet demanding deadlines and work under pressure in volatile security environments;
• Excellent computer skills (MS Office, Internet) and advanced mastery of Excel are required;
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and influencing skills, with a well-developed ability to motivate and persuade at high levels;
• The ability to work in a team ;
• Proactivity, with a cooperative and collaborative approach;
• Flexibility to adapt to changing requirements.

Training: (including certificates, permits, etc.)

• A Master’s degree in international development/development studies, international relations, economics, political science/public affairs, business administration or management, or other relevant field is required.
• Another degree combined with relevant professional experience may also be considered.

Languages : (indicate level of proficiency)

• Perfect command of the French language
• Fluency (written and spoken) in the English language

Source: https://candidate.hr-manager.net/ApplicationInit.aspx?cid=1036&ProjectId=171066&DepartmentId=19021&MediaId=5