Consultant Writer

Search for Common Ground (Search) is seeking a consultant able to provide temporary support through March 2023 to two of its transition countries (Guinea and Tunisia). The consultant’s main responsibilities will be supporting program development efforts, including leading fundraising on conflict transformation in these countries, and ensuring that quality and innovative concepts and proposals are developed and marketed, in line with Search’s legacy strategy. In addition, the consultant will facilitate the finalization and implementation of actionable fundraising strategies for the new local entities created in each of the transition countries: Talking Drum Studio (TDS) in Guinea and the Ifrikya Center for Common Ground (ICCG) in Tunisia. The consultant may be requested to support additional program support tasks for the transition countries, such as contributing to communications and visibility, capacity statements, country overviews, thematic or strategy documents.

The consultant will report to the Sr Manager, Program Development Africa and Sr Manager, Program Development MENA/Asia and will work closely with other members of the regional Program Development teams, as well as with the relevant country teams, in a manner that consistently builds capacity and enables creativity and country program strategies to be funded.

Key Responsibilities

• The consultant may be required to undertake other duties that are broadly in line with the above key responsibilities

  • Lead the design, development, and submission of strategic concept notes and proposals (in English and/or Arabic/French), both solicited and unsolicited, ensuring compliance with donor rules and regulations, alignment with Search’s or the local entities’ policies and processes and sub-regional strategic priorities. This includes, as required, providing proposal development support for Guinea and Tunisia.
  • Support transition country teams as they design new proposals (including on budget preparation), providing technical support, ensuring capacity building and cross-fertilization.
  • Support transition country teams in the development and finalization of their fundraising and donor strategies, ensuring alignment with organization-wide priorities.
  • As required, support partnership negotiations for proposals submitted as members of consortia.
  • Be a focal point where delegated on donor communications, working together with the team to clarify information, follow-through on requests.
  • Coordinate with country programs to create opportunities for strategic visibility as part of capture planning and positioning efforts.
  • Provide input into communications and strategic documents, such as capacity statements, country overviews, thematic or strategy documents and others.

Key deliverables

• Timely development and submission of strategic concept notes and proposals for the transition countries, as prioritized and decided upon with the Sr Manager, Program Development Africa and Sr. Manager, Program Development MENA/Asia.
• Regular capacity building and feedback to the transition country teams on key program development and fundraising processes.
• Substantial input into and finalization of the fundraising strategies and timeline in each of the transition countries.
• Substantial input into capacity statements, country and/or project overviews for the transition countries, as relevant for positioning and visibility efforts.

Terms

• The consultant will report to the Sr Manager of Program Development Africa and the Sr Manager of Program Development MENA/Asia
• The work objectives will be undertaken on the basis of 8 hours per day, an average of 2-3 days per week, with flexibility to work on the weekend to support specific tasks, upon agreement with the consultant.
• The consultant will work remotely.
• The consultancy is expected to begin in July 2022 and end on 31 March 2023.
• Either side may terminate the consultancy by informing the other party in writing with a month’s notice.

Qualifications

• Education

  • Master’s Degree in the relevant field.

• Experience​​​​​​​

  • Minimum of 5 years of experience in working in business/program development for international organizations, with a preference for a focus on conflict transformation and/or international development
  • Specific experience with a range of donors, including for USG (USAID and Department of State), European Commission, United Nations, and the various European Member States is necessary.
  • Demonstrated knowledge of various funding mechanisms and donor rules and requirements.
  • Substantial experience designing projects which include the essentials of Monitoring & Evaluation.
  • Experience in the relevant region desired and/or in transition and localization processes

• Skills and Competencies

  • Master’s Degree in the relevant field.
  • Minimum of 5 years of experience in working in business/program development for international organizations, with a preference for a focus on conflict transformation and/or international development
  • Specific experience with a range of donors, including for USG (USAID and Department of State), European Commission, United Nations, and the various European Member States is necessary.
  • Demonstrated knowledge of various funding mechanisms and donor rules and requirements.
  • Substantial experience designing projects which include the essentials of Monitoring & Evaluation.
  • Experience in the relevant region desired and/or in transition and localization processes.
  • Demonstrated ability to effectively work with a diverse team, with attention to mentorship and professional development of staff;
  • Excellent written and oral communications skills in English and French and/or Arabic required;
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills.