Grants Manager

WHO ARE WE?

The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunities for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and – whenever possible – for the fulfillment of the wish to return home. The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956 and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced. All our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, honesty, and transparency.

ABOUT THE JOB

The overall purpose of the role:

The Grants Manager (Business Development and Partnerships) is responsible for ensuring ‘quality’ throughout relevant designated parts of the project cycle. In close coordination with Head of Programme (HoP) and the Deputy Country Director (DCD), the Grants Manager plays an essential role in country fundraising efforts and leads and coordinates proposal development.

The Grants Manager is in charge of leading on business development, including maintaining updated records of donor engagement, remaining abreast of Afghanistan donor priorities, and identifying new donors in line with DRC Afghanistan’s fundraising strategy. During the grant cycle, the Grants Manager is responsible for the coordination, finalization, and submission of high-quality concept notes, proposals, budgets, and donor and Government reports, in close collaboration with the programme and support services departments. During implementation, the Grants Manager is responsible for providing guidance and advice to programme teams on donor compliance and contractual obligations and facilitating Grants Review Meetings in coordination with the HoP.

The Grants Manager is also responsible for overseeing partnerships with national and international organizations, including management of sub-grantees throughout the project cycle (from identification of the partner and due diligence assessment to the management of the sub-award).

Finally, the Grants Manager – together with the HoP – is responsible for overseeing communication and visibility outputs for the country programme, keeping track of media approaches, activities, etc.

Main Responsibilities:

Business Development

• Develop DRC Afghanistan fundraising strategy, in close coordination with the Head of Programme and in line with DRC Afghanistan Strategy
• Keep abreast of Afghanistan donor priorities to inform DRC engagement and positioning for funding
• Identify new fundraising opportunities, in line with DRC Afghanistan fundraising ambitions and programmatic scope
• Maintain updated record of DRC Afghanistan engagement with donors
• Act as a focal point between the Afghanistan Country Office, the Business Development Coordinator in the Regional Office, and DRC Business Development unit in HQ
• Liaise with donor representatives and coordinate donor visits to programme sites, in support to the CD, the DRC and the HoP

Proposal development

• Serve as the lead writer/coordinator/editor for concept notes and proposals, as needed. Project proposals will be designed in collaboration with HoP, Technical Coordinators, DCD, and Area office teams (Area Manager and Area Program Manager), ensuring alignment with donor strategies and requirements and that DRC’s programme handbook guidelines are incorporated into proposal design.
• Ensure streamlined and clear communication between all departments (finance, program, and area operations) in the drafting of budgets.
• Contribute (alongside relevant colleagues and especially the MEAL Manager) to the development of strong logical frameworks and monitoring & evaluation plans that are in line with the logic of intervention and clearly described within each proposal.

Grants management

• Ensure development and submission of specific reports alongside relevant colleagues. This includes following reporting/proposal development deadlines and planning. As well as, but not limited to, communicating with relevant staff members to ensure timely and quality inputs, verifying data, and donor compliance.
• Provide guidance on and ensure compliance with donor and DRC rules, regulations, and guidelines and raise issues affecting external/ internal compliance Oversee grant management processes, including proposal amendments, grant extensions, etc.
• Coordinate Grants Management Meetings in line with established methodology, ensuring that project management tools are updated.
• Ensure quality information management related to grants (including managing the DRC Grants Management System (GMS) and in-country documentation and trackers) and promote timely and efficient communication to all relevant focal points regarding important Grant information impacting implementation, including any amendment to scope of the intervention, budget and targets.
• Lead application process and ensure compliance regarding (no-)cost extensions, amendments, top ups, reallocations.

Grant management support to local implementing partners (subgrantees)

• Lead on the development and updating of DRC Afghanistan Partnership Strategy
• Support in the partnership capacity assessment to local implementing partners
• Lead on the development of sub-grant agreement and management of sub-grants to DRC national and international partners
• Provide technical support, guidance, and tools to implementing partners during the proposal development process
• Collaborate in designing capacity building plans including grants management support

Capacity development

• Provide technical guidance and deliver trainings on DRC and donor guidelines and proposal development and reporting to DRC staff

DRC Dynamics ERP System

• Ensure DRC Dynamics is used to its full capacity
• Ensure proper application of ERP grants and projects processes in the country
• Apply reports and data analytics from ERP system to improve performance in the country
• Ensure that Country ERP support is in place (i.e. super users)

Communication and Media

• Work closely with programme teams to develop a comprehensive media and communications strategy, ensuring smooth flow of information, good relations with high profile visitors and the media, and high-quality reporting to showcase DRC Afghanistan activities and achievements.
• Review/finalize and sign-off of all comms materials prior to external dissemination.
• Ensure that all external communications align with donor requirements and internal guidelines.

As Manager the post-holder is responsible for the following:

• Line Manager of DRC Afghanistan Program Support Unit, including three Grants Specialists working from DRC Country Office in Kabul and one Grants Specialist supporting remotely
• Accountable for achieving DRC’s strategic goals and objectives within the area of responsibility
• Accountable for making significant decisions on what the unit does: its purpose, functions and role, and for making commitments and decisions that require the expenditure of significant unit resources.
• Accountable for people management of direct reports (min 3 employees). This includes hiring & termination, objective setting, probation, performance appraisal, development of staff, managing performance, including poor performance, etc.
• Accountable for making sound decisions based on DRC policies, MOPs, standards, and the advice of technical experts in DRC

Key Deliverables:

• Development and maintenance – in conjunction with HoP – of a fundraising strategy (including updated donor mapping and outreach plan)
• Development and updating – in conjunction with HoP – of DRC Afghanistan Partnership Strategy
• Effective proposal writing in coordination with relevant DRC team members
• On time submission of high-quality reports and similar products to management, donors, government in coordination with relevant DRC team members
• On time engagement with programme teams and donors for project revisions
• Efficient follow up on partnerships with national and international actors, including inputs in DRC Afghanistan partnership strategy and effective management of sub-grant agreements and support to sub-grantees
• Streamlined and effective organization and coordination of project kick-off and close out meetings and grants review meetings
• Development/update of Strategies and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) relevant to the Grants Manager’s scope of work

Responsibilities:

ABOUT YOU

• Master’s degree in international relations, humanitarian or development studies, business administration, or other relevant field
• At least 5 years’ experience in proposal, project, or programme development, reporting, or grants management in an INGO
• At least 3 years’ experience with people management
• Excellent knowledge of donor rules, regulations, and procedures including but not limited to US and European donors, EU funding mechanisms, and UN agencies.
• Proven experience in successfully applying for institutional donor funding
• Previous proven experience in programmes implemented through local partners or in remote management
• Proven experience in capacity building and training of national staff and local partners
• Ability to design, develop and implement processes
• Excellent computer skills, including Microsoft office
• Full professional proficiency in English (written and orally)

DRC core competencies:

• Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process
• Collaboration: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback
• Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
• Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.
• Demonstrating integrity: You act in line with DRC-DDG vision and values.

To be successful in this role you must have:

Experience and technical competencies:

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in emergency/complex contexts, with a focus in humanitarian operations
• Experience in accessing hard-to-reach locations and hard-to-reach groups
• Experience with training on humanitarian negotiations
• Experience with conducting humanitarian negotiations in complex emergencies and contexts
• Experience with mainstreaming conflict sensitivity and gender across capacity-building initiatives and implementation
• Experience working in advocacy and communication on humanitarian issues, refugee / IDP rights, human rights
• Exceptional, proven writing and editing skills (English); ability to summarise and repackage technical information in clear, compelling language
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with an ability to engage with diverse audiences
• Experience working with diverse teams in high-stress, complex, fast-changing environments.
• Previous experience in Afghanistan and/or the region; Good understanding of the political and
• humanitarian context in the country, including familiarity with key stakeholders from authorities, UN, NGOs, and Civil Society
• Verbal and written competency in English; Dari and/or Pashtu is a plus

Education/Qualifications:

• University degree in a relevant field, with 5 years of experience or
• School Diploma with 5 years of UN/NGO experience.
• Fluency in written and spoken English

Other skills:

• Ability to communicate diplomatically and effectively with the team, colleagues, and stakeholders
• Proven experience in working effectively in complex security environments
• Strong analytical skills
• Strong interpersonal communication and writing skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of the team
• Cultural sensitivity and adaptability

We Offer:

DRC will offer the successful applicant a one-year Contract, extendable depending on funding availability and performance.

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with the Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Expatriate staff. This position will be placed at salary M.F

Availability: As soon as possible.

Duty station: Country Office Kabul.