Donor Engagement Lead

TITLE: Donor Engagement Lead

Reports To: Executive Director

Supervisory Capacity: Communications Insights Associate

Time Commitment: 40 hours per week

Who We Are

ALIGHT is and always has been about amazing global citizens taking action to change our world. Today, we’re facing challenging global humanitarian crises that require 21st Century solutions. But we’ve found that co-creating together with impassioned, dedicated people, limited only by their own imaginations, remains the key to designing new solutions that resonate. We still believe that ALIGHT should exist, first and foremost, as a platform for realizing the goodwill of everyday people – people from Sweden to Somalia, Minnesota to Malaysia, and Uganda to the U.S.

We’ve found that something incredible will result as long as we begin the journey with amazing people, agree on a destination and move together towards it transparently and open to possibility. The Development & Communications department ambitiously advances the work of the ALIGHT by engaging people from around the world in authentic and resonant way. One way in particular that we do that is through the Change maker community Ideation in Nakivale Refugee Settlement, Uganda.

About the Position

The Donor Engagement Lead will see opportunity and package a customer-centered, well thought-out, and quality product every time– whether it is a new communications document, a proposal, donor meeting, or grant portfolio coordination. This position is responsible for the development of new external communication documents and project proposals in accordance with the Country Strategic Plan (CSP), and responsible for supporting, advising and backstopping grants management functions across the projects lifecycle, including project start-up, monitoring and management (tracking expenditure and program progress against project documents, project review meetings, donor reporting, processing grants modifications), and close-out, to ensure that projects are implemented in compliance with ALIGHT and donors’ rules and regulations, as well as meet internal standards. This position holder brings people together and involves others, while also sharing knowledge in order to develop and build a team around them. Donor Engagement Lead will work closely with the Global team and Uganda Head of Programmes to work toward these goals.

Roles and Responsibilities

Business Development

Support development of ALIGHT Business Development strategy in Uganda and ensure coordination with overall program development strategy, to include the following;

Donor/ Partnership Development 30%

• Lead on the review of the current partnerships within ALIGHT, identify gaps and opportunities and develop a partnership/ fundraising strategy.
• Map out the existing fora and work with the Programme Management Team (Head of Programmes, Protection Technical Lead and the Programme Coordinator) to confirm the staff attendance of the fora to increase ALIGHTs presence.
• Maintain regular engagement with donors, international organizations, national governments, foundations, etc., to track donor trends and priorities and inform the ED of upcoming program priorities.
• Represent ALIGHT to the donor community as needed and inform donors on Alight Uganda efforts; attend relevant meetings and networking events.
• Maintain outreach with relevant international and local NGOs as well as private sector firms in order to facilitate partnerships needed for program development opportunities; and,
• Develop, capture, plan and conduct completion analysis on upcoming priority proposals.
• Broadly, ensure careful focus on generation and follow-up of priority funding ‘leads’ including linking with like-minded agencies / those sharing ALIGHT objectives, with a mind to consortia development to broaden Alight funding eligibility to currently non-accessible donors (e.g. DFID, ECHO).
• Develop ALIGHT ‘pitch’ presentation/ documents and work with staff to ensure effective pitch presentations to prospective partners/ donors.
• Coordinate and maintain current existing partnerships working with HoP and project leads by coordinating key partnership meetings with relevant project staff, ensuring MoUs are up to date and ensuring regular communication with the partners i.e Every Shelter, We Share Solar, Kuja Kuja, ORAM, CVT, Makarere University, Uganda Law Society, Kijani Forestry, Artolution

Proposal Development 50%

• Lead on the scoping of potential funding opportunities and share these timely within ALIGHT.
• Lead and / or contribute to research and development of proposals, concept notes, proposals, assessments, studies and similar for the country program, in close collaboration with Head of Programmes, Technical Coordinators and Programme Coordinator / Site Leads.
• Engage in needs assessment for project proposals as necessary.
• Coordinate the planning and preparation of project proposals, providing guidance in the interpretation of funding agency regulations and requirements.
• Serve as a liaison between the Head of Programmes, donor agencies, and the HQ in the budgeting and preparation of project proposals.
• Prepare and compile all components of each grant submission, ensuring that the proposal is formatted, packaged, and submitted in accordance with donor agency requirements, within submission deadlines.
• Coordinate across key staff members in the proposal development process to ensure collaboration in the proposed project design.
• Where proposals are pending with donor agencies, meet with donor officers to ensure program plans represent a good fit with donor objectives.
• Develop and maintain a track of reference documentation, including such information as donor agency requirements and forms, abstracts and reference literature, and other pertinent material.
• Contribute to program design, for solicited and unsolicited programs, and for pilot and full-scale programs.

External Communications Lead 20%

• Support the development of an external communication plan and lead the development of external communication documents to showcase ALIGHT Uganda’s achievements and impact to external audiences.
• In line with the business development plan, develop an external communications plan with the primary aim of communicating externally on ALIGHT’s achievements and impact for potential partnerships and funding.
• In line with the business development plan, work with the Programme Management Team and MEL Technical Lead on the development of standard ‘pitch’ documents that staff can utilize in pitch meetings with prospective donors and partners.
• Work closely with the Head of Programmes and MEL Technical Coordinator to develop ALIGHT sector summaries to provide an overview of what interventions ALIGHT is delivering per sector and the key achievements to date.
• Work closely with the Head of Programmes and MEL Technical to develop ALIGHT Annual Fact Sheets, a short engaging communique showcasing ALIGHT’s impact and greatest achievements across its sectors in line with its strategy.
• Ensure standard ALIGHT branded templates are utilized for all external reports for donor funded projects.
• Build the capacity of staff in producing high quality communications and reports.
• Reviewing external communication documents and providing feedback to the staff.
• Work with the global team in the development of a package of ALIGHT Uganda communication templates
• Build the capacity of staff in general communications externally i.e. how to pitch ALIGHT, dos and don’ts
• Review staff engagement in communication platforms and provide recommendations and encourage/ guide staff on their engagement.

Provide any key information for external communications as requested by the ALIGHT Uganda Leadership Team, Programme Management Team and Global Team i.e. contribution for ALIGHT website or social media platform

Qualifications: Education/Knowledge/Technical Skills and Experience

• Master’s degree in project management, Development, International Relations, Social Sciences or any related field from an accredited university.
• Significant and sustained experience (Min 7 Years) in complex global development and/or humanitarian settings; experience with refugees, returnees, displaced, and other conflict affected populations is a must.
• Experience working with multi-donor, multi-grant sites for 5 years or more.
• Proven pattern of success in grant management, project design, and proposal development (program narratives and budgets).
• Demonstrated ability to write clearly, insightfully and persuasively on tight deadlines.
• Experience in production of high-quality external communication templates and documents on project achievements/ impact.
• Experience in building the capacity of staff in external communications.
• A strong network of international donor contacts and relationships preferred.
• An outstanding ability to track donor trends that contribute to business development outcomes.
• Proven success in grant writing, networking and liaising with field and Global staff when necessary.
• Familiarity with multilateral donor requirements and working procedures; previous work experience with USAID, UN, DFID, EU, ECHO and Private Donors / Foundations is required.
• High proficiency in English, both written and spoken.
• Proficiency in the use of computers and standard applications; as well as experience in utilizing software for the creation of external facing documents.

Qualities top candidates will possess:

• Strong analytical, written and verbal skills.
• High level of integrity, accountability and responsibility.
• Good interpersonal skills and ability and inclination to work in / with teams.
• High level of self-drive, discipline and desire to achieve.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision, hit deadlines, and produce high-quality outputs.
• Willingness to travel and stay for extended periods in remote refugee sites to support workflows.
• Open heart and open mind with the willingness to show (not tell) and the humility to learn from others.

TITLE: Donor Engagement Lead| Kampala

Reports To: Executive Director

Supervisory Capacity: Communications Insights Associate

Time Commitment: 40 hours | November 2023

Who We Are

ALIGHT is and always has been about amazing global citizens taking action to change our world. Today, we’re facing challenging global humanitarian crises that require 21st Century solutions. But we’ve found that co-creating together with impassioned, dedicated people, limited only by their own imaginations, remains the key to designing new solutions that resonate. We still believe that ALIGHT should exist, first and foremost, as a platform for realizing the goodwill of everyday people – people from Sweden to Somalia, Minnesota to Malaysia, and Uganda to the U.S.

We’ve found that something incredible will result as long as we begin the journey with amazing people, agree on a destination and move together towards it transparently and open to possibility. The Development & Communications department ambitiously advances the work of the ALIGHT by engaging people from around the world in authentic and resonant way. One way in particular that we do that is through the Change maker community Ideation in Nakivale Refugee Settlement, Uganda.

About the Position

The Donor Engagement Lead will see opportunity and package a customer-centered, well thought-out, and quality product every time– whether it is a new communications document, a proposal, donor meeting, or grant portfolio coordination. This position is responsible for the development of new external communication documents and project proposals in accordance with the Country Strategic Plan (CSP), and responsible for supporting, advising and backstopping grants management functions across the projects lifecycle, including project start-up, monitoring and management (tracking expenditure and program progress against project documents, project review meetings, donor reporting, processing grants modifications), and close-out, to ensure that projects are implemented in compliance with ALIGHT and donors’ rules and regulations, as well as meet internal standards. This position holder brings people together and involves others, while also sharing knowledge in order to develop and build a team around them. Donor Engagement Lead will work closely with the Global team and Uganda Head of Programmes to work toward these goals.

Roles and Responsibilities

Business Development

Support development of ALIGHT Business Development strategy in Uganda and ensure coordination with overall program development strategy, to include the following;

Donor/ Partnership Development 30%

• Lead on the review of the current partnerships within ALIGHT, identify gaps and opportunities and develop a partnership/ fundraising strategy.
• Map out the existing fora and work with the Programme Management Team (Head of Programmes, Protection Technical Lead and the Programme Coordinator) to confirm the staff attendance of the fora to increase ALIGHTs presence.
• Maintain regular engagement with donors, international organizations, national governments, foundations, etc., to track donor trends and priorities and inform the ED of upcoming program priorities.
• Represent ALIGHT to the donor community as needed and inform donors on Alight Uganda efforts; attend relevant meetings and networking events.
• Maintain outreach with relevant international and local NGOs as well as private sector firms in order to facilitate partnerships needed for program development opportunities; and,
• Develop, capture, plan and conduct completion analysis on upcoming priority proposals.
• Broadly, ensure careful focus on generation and follow-up of priority funding ‘leads’ including linking with like-minded agencies / those sharing ALIGHT objectives, with a mind to consortia development to broaden Alight funding eligibility to currently non-accessible donors (e.g. DFID, ECHO).
• Develop ALIGHT ‘pitch’ presentation/ documents and work with staff to ensure effective pitch presentations to prospective partners/ donors.
• Coordinate and maintain current existing partnerships working with HoP and project leads by coordinating key partnership meetings with relevant project staff, ensuring MoUs are up to date and ensuring regular communication with the partners i.e Every Shelter, We Share Solar, Kuja Kuja, ORAM, CVT, Makarere University, Uganda Law Society, Kijani Forestry, Artolution

Proposal Development 50%

• Lead on the scoping of potential funding opportunities and share these timely within ALIGHT.
• Lead and / or contribute to research and development of proposals, concept notes, proposals, assessments, studies and similar for the country program, in close collaboration with Head of Programmes, Technical Coordinators and Programme Coordinator / Site Leads.
• Engage in needs assessment for project proposals as necessary.
• Coordinate the planning and preparation of project proposals, providing guidance in the interpretation of funding agency regulations and requirements.
• Serve as a liaison between the Head of Programmes, donor agencies, and the HQ in the budgeting and preparation of project proposals.
• Prepare and compile all components of each grant submission, ensuring that the proposal is formatted, packaged, and submitted in accordance with donor agency requirements, within submission deadlines.
• Coordinate across key staff members in the proposal development process to ensure collaboration in the proposed project design.
• Where proposals are pending with donor agencies, meet with donor officers to ensure program plans represent a good fit with donor objectives.
• Develop and maintain a track of reference documentation, including such information as donor agency requirements and forms, abstracts and reference literature, and other pertinent material.
• Contribute to program design, for solicited and unsolicited programs, and for pilot and full-scale programs.

External Communications Lead 20%

• Support the development of an external communication plan and lead the development of external communication documents to showcase ALIGHT Uganda’s achievements and impact to external audiences.
• In line with the business development plan, develop an external communications plan with the primary aim of communicating externally on ALIGHT’s achievements and impact for potential partnerships and funding.
• In line with the business development plan, work with the Programme Management Team and MEL Technical Lead on the development of standard ‘pitch’ documents that staff can utilize in pitch meetings with prospective donors and partners.
• Work closely with the Head of Programmes and MEL Technical Coordinator to develop ALIGHT sector summaries to provide an overview of what interventions ALIGHT is delivering per sector and the key achievements to date.
• Work closely with the Head of Programmes and MEL Technical to develop ALIGHT Annual Fact Sheets, a short engaging communique showcasing ALIGHT’s impact and greatest achievements across its sectors in line with its strategy.
• Ensure standard ALIGHT branded templates are utilized for all external reports for donor funded projects.
• Build the capacity of staff in producing high quality communications and reports.
• Reviewing external communication documents and providing feedback to the staff.
• Work with the global team in the development of a package of ALIGHT Uganda communication templates
• Build the capacity of staff in general communications externally i.e. how to pitch ALIGHT, dos and don’ts
• Review staff engagement in communication platforms and provide recommendations and encourage/ guide staff on their engagement.

Provide any key information for external communications as requested by the ALIGHT Uganda Leadership Team, Programme Management Team and Global Team i.e. contribution for ALIGHT website or social media platform

Qualifications: Education/Knowledge/Technical Skills and Experience

• Master’s degree in project management, Development, International Relations, Social Sciences or any related field from an accredited university.
• Significant and sustained experience (Min 7 Years) in complex global development and/or humanitarian settings; experience with refugees, returnees, displaced, and other conflict affected populations is a must.
• Experience working with multi-donor, multi-grant sites for 5 years or more.
• Proven pattern of success in grant management, project design, and proposal development (program narratives and budgets).
• Demonstrated ability to write clearly, insightfully and persuasively on tight deadlines.
• Experience in production of high-quality external communication templates and documents on project achievements/ impact.
• Experience in building the capacity of staff in external communications.
• A strong network of international donor contacts and relationships preferred.
• An outstanding ability to track donor trends that contribute to business development outcomes.
• Proven success in grant writing, networking and liaising with field and Global staff when necessary.
• Familiarity with multilateral donor requirements and working procedures; previous work experience with USAID, UN, DFID, EU, ECHO and Private Donors / Foundations is required.
• High proficiency in English, both written and spoken.
• Proficiency in the use of computers and standard applications; as well as experience in utilizing software for the creation of external facing documents.

Qualities top candidates will possess:

• Strong analytical, written and verbal skills.
• High level of integrity, accountability and responsibility.
• Good interpersonal skills and ability and inclination to work in / with teams.
• High level of self-drive, discipline and desire to achieve.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision, hit deadlines, and produce high-quality outputs.
• Willingness to travel and stay for extended periods in remote refugee sites to support workflows.
• Open heart and open mind with the willingness to show (not tell) and the humility to learn from others.