Grants Assistant

The USAID Uganda Feed the Future Water and Food Systems for Resilient Communities Activity (FTF WFSRCA) is a five year activity (2023-2028) that aims to inclusively and equitably improve food and water security in the Kyoga Basin in northeastern Uganda, specifically three watersheds – Lokok, Awoja, and Lokere, by empowering individuals and communities to mitigate and adapt to shocks and stressors in order to improve livelihoods, maintain nutrition and health wellbeing, address drivers of conflict, and reduce reliance on humanitarian assistance. This area is home to nomadic pastoralists whose livelihoods are at risk due to violent cattle raiding and the effects of climate change (drought and flooding). This part of Uganda also suffers from fragmented markets, chronic underinvestment in public services, and a lack of private sector investment. This Activity is aligned with the Water and Development II (WADI II) scope to access critical technical services in support of the U.S. Government’s Global Water Strategy, Global Food Security and Strategy Refresh, Agency Climate Strategy, and the President’s Emergency Plan for Adaptation and Resilience; and is a cornerstone of the USAID Uganda (2022) Country Development Cooperation Strategy Development Objective (DO) 2, Resilient Growth Enhanced. The activity aims therefore aims to achieve results under the following development objectives:

1. Improve water supply and integrated water resource management.
2. Increase equitable access to sanitation and hygiene services for households and schools.
3. Improved agriculture-based livelihoods.
4. Increased consumption of nutritious foods among women and children.
5. Expanded access to financial resources for women, men, youth, indigenous people, and marginalized groups.
6. Improve local capacity to manage shocks and stressors.

FtF WFSRCA will enhance market systems, strengthen relevant institutions, expand access to climate-resilient services, and—in two of the most vulnerable of the 20 districts covered by the activity—employ “graduation” approaches to assist the ultra-poor. These initiatives will incorporate conflict sensitivity, local leadership, climate change adaptation, and approaches inclusive of women, youth, the elderly, persons with disabilities, and indigenous groups.

Role’s Purpose:

The Grants Assistant will support the project’s grants portfolio. The Grants Assistant will support help the design and management of the grants funds. S/he will be responsible for adherence to the project’s Field Operations Manual (FOM), USAID regulations, contract requirements and limitations, grant policies, procedures, controls, and reporting systems. The individual will proactively coordinate with all staff on planning and implementing grants through open communication, proactive market research, and price analysis.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Supports the evaluation and selection committee process for grantees and participate without vote in the Grants selection committee.
• Drafts the required approvals to ensure compliance with internal and external contract and policy requirements.
• Conducts all due diligence processes for verification of the information submitted by possible grantees.
• Supports the preparation of grant agreements and amendments, explaining terms, conditions, roles, and responsibilities. Ensures that identified weaknesses in initial grantee assessments and related requirements are incorporated into the agreements explicitly/clearly with the required monitoring and actions on the part of the grantee.
• Supports post award grant management in accordance with relevant regulations and generates reports of status of grant activities, such as forecasting payment, inventory, amendments, close outs, and sector specific data (i.e. monthly and quarterly reporting).
• Supports the Grants Manager in implementing the grants monitoring system that, at minimum, tracks the following: 1) number of funded activities and dollar amounts; 2) type of organization; 3) activity type; 4) cost-sharing; and 5) development impact among others.
• Reviews grants for completeness and appropriateness with the work plan.
• Ensures all required documentation is uploaded in the grants database TAMIS and SharePoint.
• Reviews grant milestones and requests for payments against grant agreements to ensure compliance.
• Works with the procurement department to compete and purchase goods and services for in-kind grantees.
• Ensures the files are audit ready.
• Troubleshoots grant related issues with the other grant staff.
• Other tasks as assigned by Grants Manager and/or COP.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree plus 2 years of relevant experience in relevant field.
• Prior experience in USAID project grants is a plus.
• Professional proficiency in English is required, and proficiency in local languages is preferred.

Skills

• Highly organized.
• Strong problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication written and oral communication skills.

Reporting

The Grants Assistant will report to the Grants Manager.