Grants Manager Eastern & Southern Africa

Overview

• Work Location: Nairobi
• Application Close Date: May 29,2022
• Estimated Start date: July 1,2022
• Department: Eastern & Southern Africa Regional Hub
• Reports to: Regional Director -Eastern & Southern Africa
• Terms: Full-time, one year fixed term, subject to renewal
• Travel: Regional (frequent) and international (occasional) travel.
• Level: 7

About HOT

Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT) is a US-based NGO and global community of thousands of volunteers working together to use maps and open data for humanitarian response and the Sustainable Development Goals. As the world’s preeminent participatory mapping NGO, HOT has fostered a global mapping community composed of more 270,000 people with ground operations in eight countries. HOT supports the growth of open mapping communities worldwide. When a major disaster strikes anywhere in the world, HOT rallies this global network to create the maps and data that enable responders to reach those in need. HOT works closely with humanitarian and development partners including USAID, the Red Cross, Médecins Sans Frontières, World Bank, and UN OCHA, among others.

In 2020 the work of the HOT community was recognized by TED’s Audacious Project, a collaborative philanthropic initiative that serves as a springboard for social impact on a grand scale, leading to an exciting new phase of growth. HOT is expanding its activities: opening four regional hubs and scaling up its support to local mapping communities with the audacious goal of mapping an area home to one billion people in 94 countries at high risk of disasters or experiencing poverty – mapping with communities before they are in crisis.

About the Open Mapping Hub-Eastern & Southern Africa (ESA-Hub)

The goal of the hub is to foster social innovation and entrepreneurship within the OpenStreetMap Ecosystem in the region in order to improve the lives of communities in a real and significant way; create diverse, vibrant and sustainable Open Mapping Communities and organizations in the region; ensure human capacity development on OpenStreetMap Skills in the region and enhance collaboration between OpenStreetMap Contributors and data users across government, humanitarian and development agencies in the region. We work in 23 countries across the Eastern & Southern Africa region

About the Hub’s granting programs

The ESA Hub granting program aims to :

• Work with organisations and communities in advancing their organisation’s mission through OpenStreetMap Data and Tools
• Enrich OpenStreetMap data (both already existing and generated through the grants) by increasing contributions from new communities members (specifically women and other underrepresented groups)
• Design and implement innovative map data solutions and projects that improve the everyday lives of people in Eastern and Southern Africa in a significant way

About you

We are seeking a Grants Manager who is passionate about community-centred activities in humanitarian open mapping, has a broad understanding of all aspects of grantings (from program design to MERL; from conflict of interest to contracting), is dedicated to community development and sustainability, and is creative when it comes to innovating new practices and ways of working.

The ideal candidate is highly organised and proactive, taking ownership and leading on one of the Hub’s flagship programs.

Generally, you should be able to work within a fast-paced, international organisation; working across timezones with colleagues to implement HOT’s community-centric strategy and activities.

About the Role

Positioned in the Eastern and Southern Africa Hub, while reportinging into the Community Services Manager, the Grants Manager will work closely with the ESA Hub team to co-design granting programs and lead on best practices. The position of Grants Manager plays a pivotal role in coordinating the ESA Hub team to implement granting processes from start to finish (inclusive of developing supportive capacity building initiatives that run alongside any granting); managing compliance and supporting the hub team in business development to grow the grant portfolio

As Grants Manager you will work closely with a portfolio of implementation partners, including but not limited to:

• OSM communities located in places vulnerable to humanitarian crisis or experiencing multidimensional poverty
• Community groups / organisations that are trying to achieve a social impact and use, or could use, map data to do it.
• Groups that want to show solidarity with other communities through collaboration, contribution or support.

Responsibilities

• Leading on the co-design and development of new models of granting in the region
• Analysing the previous impact of grants in the region and making recommendations for future iterations of the granting program to align with Hub priorities
• Collaborate with ESA Hub team to manage grantmaking workflow and calendars, including:
  • Coordinating application processes and managing incoming grant proposals
  • Assessing grant applications and coordinating an equitable and inclusive review process to effectively analyse the quality and potential impact of proposals
  • Leading selection/approval meetings with reviewers (internal and external facing)
  • Ensure Conflict of Interest standards are met my participating partners
  • Preparing and sending funding agreement documentation to grant recipients
  • Working with the ESA Hub’s Communications Associate to roll out effective communications to support and promote the program
  • Managing and monitoring grants, through the review of reports and project visits
  • Integrating MERL data workflows across all programs
  • Managing the creation and adherence to reporting documentation through qualitative and quantitative reports
  • Collaboratively evaluate, develop, implement new and refresh ways of managing the ESA Hub’s workflows, processes, and procedures to improve efficiency and accuracy
  • Contributing to the ESA Hub’s Business Development strategy through the potential raising of funds for future granting programs

Qualifications

• Authorized to work in Nairobi, Kenya with ability to travel regularly in Eastern & Southern Africa
• At least 5 years of grants management experience, including sub-award management and grantee management
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field . Master’s degree preferred.
• Experience leading, coordinating and facilitating grants
• Experience working collaboratively with key stakeholders
• Experience in program design and implementation
• Proven creativity and critical thinking through conceptualising impactful programs
• Experience managing budgets
• A commitment to effective relationship building with colleagues and community members
• Fluency in English
• Empathy and understanding
• A good sense of humour and willingness to learn
• Driven, goal-oriented and strives for continuous improvement
• Comfortable with working with a global team (e.g. willing to adjust with varying time zones)
• A passion for humanitarian and development work, and a deep commitment to community-led change, which must be demonstrated through prior experiences

Desirable

• Fluency in other languages (particularly Spanish, French, Arabic, Swahili or Portuguese)
• Experience in writing contracts, and other policies / procedures
• Experience of integrating mentorship or peer-to-peer support across workflows
• Experience of engaging with, or being part of a community group
• Experience working remotely and leading projects/activities and coaching team members globally

Are you missing a few of the technical skills listed? We would still like to see your application. While the skills above fit our vision of this role, we are open to those candidates with a strong knowledge foundation that are fast learners and highly motivated to close any skill gaps.

Compensation

HOT values transparency and equity. All HOT compensation globally is set according to a framework detailed on our website. HOT offers a work-from-anywhere culture, flexible working arrangements, and various other benefits that support staff wellbeing.

Equal Opportunity

We seek to recruit persons that reflect the diversity of the communities we work with and further, to support their retention and advancement within the organization. HOT does not discriminate on the basis of ability, age, gender identity and expression, national origin, race and ethnicity, religious beliefs, or sexual orientation. Our staff includes people who are parents and nonparents, the self-taught and university educated, and from a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds, lived experiences, and perspectives on the world. HOT is an equal opportunity employer. We seek to live our values and promote inclusivity in all locations. All of our staff work collectively and individually to promote a constructive and sensitive approach to others from a variety of backgrounds, where the work of all is valued and respected.

HOT is committed to diversity within our team, and recognizes our role in closing the digital divide, including identifying obstacles that certain groups face in developing skills needed for roles in the humanitarian & technology sectors. Women, nationals of developing countries, and members of other underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.