Grants Manager-Afghanistan, BRAC International

Career with BRAC International

BRAC is an award-winning international non-governmental development organisation, with the vision of a world free from all forms of exploitation and discrimination, where everyone has the opportunity to realise their potential. BRAC is a leader in developing and implementing cost-effective, evidence-based programmes to assist poor and disadvantaged communities in low-income countries, including in conflict-prone and post-disaster settings. It is an organisation of and for the people of the Global South, pioneering new development and social enterprise approaches to equip communities to achieve prosperity. As well as being the world’s biggest NGO by number of staff and people directly reached, BRAC has regularly been ranked the number one NGO in the world by the Geneva-based NGO Advisor, an independent organisation committed to highlighting innovation, impact and governance in the non-profit sector. BRAC retained the top spot in 2020 among the top 500 NGOs for the fifth consecutive year.

BRAC was founded in Bangladesh in 1972 by Sir Fazle Hasan Abed. It started its first programme outside of Bangladesh in Afghanistan in 2002, and has since reached millions of people in 11 countries in Asia and Africa. BRAC has a holistic approach to development that uses a wide array of programmes and social enterprises, including in microfinance, education, health, agriculture, gender and human rights. BRAC believes that every person has inherent potential, and when an enabling environment is created and that potential is unleashed, even the poorest can become agents of positive change in their own lives, for their families and their communities.

BRAC International (BI) is seeking application from competent, dynamic and self-motivated individuals to fill the following position:

Grants Manager-Afghanistan, BRAC International

The Grant Manager will support the Country in strategic and operational stewardship over donor resources by applying a set of relevant systems, policies, procedures and tools to ensure that grants and contracts are donor compliant and best serve the organizational mission. Under the direction of a Country Director while receiving technical support from the HQ Grant Management team, the Grant Manager will be responsible for ensuring that the country program adheres to all its grant management obligations internally within BRAC and externally with donors. This position is empowered to make recommendations for improvements needed within Country Office systems to support donor compliance.

This role will work closely with Fundraising/Program Implementation/Operations and Finance on proposals, financial and narrative reporting, monitoring and analysis, and compliance processes. In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, the role holder will be expected to work outside the normal role profile and be able to vary working hours accordingly.

Key Responsibilities:

Coordinates and negotiates the drafting process for financial and narrative reports among different teams, ensuring submission deadlines are met and reports of high quality

• Liaises with the donor/Affiliates regarding any clarifications on reporting dates or changing donor requirements and inform teams accordingly; update tracking systems
• Facilitates Kick Off meetings with a diverse stakeholder group
• Facilitates monthly Grant Review Meetings with a diverse stakeholder group, notes action commitments and follows up to ensure completion;
• Facilitates Close Out meetings and actions
• Participates in Global Grant Management community of practice calls and trainings on behalf of Country Office and applies relevant information and learning internally
• Lead and coordinate Due Diligence of Downstream partners during grant implementation as needed
• Communicates with Affiliates and SMT/CMT regarding donor related issues that require escalation
• Proactively analyses issues and resolve through collaboration with other teams/partners/Affiliates

Compliance

• Supports adherence to BRAC Grant Management procedures and policies
• Supports adherence to BRAC Sub-Grant Management procedures and policies
• Supports adherence of complex donor compliance requirements across the Country Office and downstream partners through regular communication of compliance elements and training
• Supports the Rapid Assessment process by reviewing all calls for proposals with a compliance lens
• Supports the Donor Contract review process by reviewing contracts with a compliance lens;
• Support teams across Country to ensure all opportunities, proposals, contracts and amendments follow BRAC processes
• Ensure vetting of all partners complete and evidenced
• Draft sub-grant agreements using endorsed template packages and ensuring that all donor compliance requirements are passed down

Portfolio Management

• Use Grant Management System and tools and monitor Country Office portfolio and performance in grant management
• Lead regular grant reviews and other monitoring across allocated portfolio
• Provide regular management information to the SMT/CMT on the performance of the active portfolio (Key Performance Indicators)
• Identify issues in active grant portfolio and apply problem solving skills to resolve these
• Support the SMT/CMT to develop action plans to address issues highlighted by grant metrics and indicators and implement those actions

Systems

• Maintain grant files in accordance with BRAC procedures
• Act as Country Office super user and lead on the BRAC Grant Management System, its reporting functions, and ensuring adherence to system guidelines to promote data quality
• Develop expert knowledge of Grant Management System & dashboard functionality, maintain up to date data and use GMS data for decision making

Safeguarding

• Ensure the safety of team members from any harm, abuse, neglect, harassment and exploitation to achieve the programme’s goals on safeguarding implementation. Act as a key source of support, guidance and expertise on safeguarding for establishing a safe working environment.
• Practice, promote and endorse the issues of safeguarding policy among team members and ensure the implementation of safeguarding standards in every course of action.
• Follow the safeguarding reporting procedure in case any reportable incident takes place, encourage others to do so.

Educational Requirements:

Masters or equivalent degree in International Development or Business and Administration or Finance

Required Competencies

• Proven track record of active contribution to Country Senior Management Team direction, and providing strategic support across multiple sectors and/or regions
• Extensive experience with NGOs with increasing responsibilities including proven experience of establishing and running the grant management function in the field
• Intimate knowledge of DEVCO and ECHO as donors
• Knowledge of the requirements of major institutional donors including budgeting, eligibility issues, compliance management, and reporting; experience of engaging with donors at a strategic level (UNHCR, USAID, GAC, DFAT, FCDO)
• Proven coaching and capacity building skills
• Understanding of the financial aspects of grant management, ability to work with Finance Departments on grant management issues
• Strong attention to detail, problem solving skills, and ability to analyze trends
• Computer literate (i.e. Google Suite/ Word, Excel, Outlook, Internet Explorer, financial systems)
• Patient, adaptable, able to improvise, and communicate clearly and effectively under pressure
• Fluent communication (written and spoken) in English (French desirable)
• Demonstrated ability to manage change in complex organizations
• Experience working within hardship countries

Experience Requirements:

• More than 7 years of experience in development or related field; Hands on experience in grants management;
• Experience in change management using global standard grant management tools and procedures.
• DEVCO & ECHO donor compliance knowledge specifically
• UNHCR, USAID, GAC, DFAT, FCDO other donor compliance knowledge generally

Employment type: Contractual

Salary: Negotiable

Job Location: Afghanistan