Programme Development and Grants Manager - Kenya

Danish Refugee Council

Background

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) has been providing relief and development services in the Horn of Africa since 1997.

DRC aims at integrating its Somalia activities within a wider regional mixed migration programme, comprising the existing programmes in Kenya, Somalia (South Central, Puntland and Somaliland), Ethiopia and Yemen.

DRC Somalia programme operates within a regional framework (East Africa and the Horn) and incorporates three major components namely, long term community driven development, emergency urban/rural humanitarian interventions and protection/advocacy.

DRC Somalia implements both emergency and longer-term interventions targeted to the development of the economic and institutional capacities of selected communities in rural and semi-urban districts affected by displacement.

Internally displaced people, returnees and other groups who are living in settlements in abject poverty and with considerable protection gaps are assisted though emergency humanitarian interventions in water and sanitation as well as through livelihood and protection activities.

Purpose

Under the supervision of the Programme Director, the Programme Development and Grants Manager assists in providing oversight and management to key programme processes, particularly to provide the conceptual and writing skills needed to secure funding for DRC Somalia and assists with final editing of reports and communication documents.

Responsibilities and Tasks

• Supervision of field based international staff (Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinator and Information, Documentation and HAP coordinator) to ensure coherence in the data collection and analysis to support programme development.
• Regularly track Request for proposals (RFAs), solicitations and proposal opportunities globally and within the region checking the relevance, competency and strategic positioning to Somalia programming.
• Work closely with the Country Director, Programme Director, Field Managers and Technical Advisors to transform content and conceptual designs into competitive final proposals that are not only based on the assessment outcomes, but also responsive to the donor guidelines.
• Coordinating and oversight of all aspects of the proposal development process from the development of a writing guide, proposal calendar through to delivery and timely submission of proposals and reports.
• Ensure regular updates to the Grant Management system and Insite Intranet as required for Somalia programme.
• Quality - control of proposal documents, rapidly revising, updating and expanding concept papers into full project proposals as recommended by donors.
• Review proposals for consistency with the requirements of solicitations, requests or calls for proposals, predicting or preventing bottlenecks in the proposal development process and securing the necessary information to complete process.
• Ensure the proposal development process takes into consideration the mainstreaming of HAP, global cross cutting themes such as Age, Gender and Diversity, and lessons learnt from previous programming.
• Ensure that all project proposals adhere to DRC programme handbook and relevant operational standards including the Sphere handbook.
• As assigned, research and provide writing expertise to other assignments as deemed necessary.

Key Internal Contacts

In close collaboration with the Somalia Senior Management team, Finance Manager, Area Managers, Technical Coordinators, Regional Grants management department, and others.

Key External Contacts

When appropriate, donors and other agencies relevant for programme development

Conditions

Availability: September 2012

Duty station: Nairobi with travel to DRC programme locations in Somalia

Contract: One year contract with possibility of extension. Terms and conditions in accordance with DRC terms for National staff in Kenya.

General

Commitments: DRC has a Humanitarian Accountability Framework, outlining its global accountability commitments. All staff are required to contribute to the achievement of this framework (http://www.drc.dk/HAF.4265.0.html)

Qualifications

Core Competencies

• Master’s Degree in International Development, development Studies or related field of expertise.
• Communication Skills: Excellent written and well developed oral communication skills.
• At least 4 years grants management or programme development experience with International NGOs
• At least three years management experience
• High accuracy and attention to detail
• Resilience/Adaptability and flexibility: Ability to operate effectively under strict deadlines.
• Work style: Well planned and organized and has a capacity for initiative and decision making with competent analytical and problem solving skills.
• Knowledge of DRC policies and procedures, Sphere and the Red Cross/ NGO Code of Conduct. Requires general finance, administration, information management, Monitoring and Evaluation expertise, writing and research skills, and proficiency in information technology/ computer skills.
• Ability to work independently and as a team player with demonstrated leadership and participatory manner.
• Willingness to travel frequently to Somalia

Technical Competencies

• Minimum of four years of UN/INGO experience in proposal writing, including conceptualizing and technical writing under strict deadlines with demonstrated success.
• Good knowledge and skills in quality control and compliance issues
• Ability to work rapidly with staff in the field directly and remotely in writing and where necessary revising concepts, proposals and reports.
• Capacity to work in a multi-sector team, including coordinating technical input into proposals
• Familiarity with requirements of key humanitarian donors and ability to work in a multi-donor environment, including DANIDA, EU/ECHO, OFDA, DFID, CHF, UNHCR among others.
• Good relief and development programing skills, including capacity to prepare logical, coherent and consistent documents including log frames.
• Significant, relevant field experience is an added advantage.

How to apply:

Application and CV

Applicants should send a 1-page cover letter that clearly states how they are qualified, and why they are interested in the post, together with their CV (not longer than 4 pages) to: drcjobs@drchoa.org

Please indicate “Programme Development and Grants Manager” as the subject heading. The deadline for applications is July 24, 2012.

This position is open to Kenyan nationals or Nairobi based internationals who already have permission to work in Kenya