HEAD OF FUNDRAISING AND PARTNERSHIPS

ABOUT MESPT

Micro Enterprises Support Programme Trust (MESPT) was established in 2002 by the Government of Kenya and European Union. EU later relinquished their position to the Royal Danish Embassy in Kenya, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark (DANIDA) through a Trust Deed of 2013.

The Trust is a development organization with a purpose to grow small holder farmers and Agri SMEs to increase productivity, incomes and enhance competitiveness for job creation especially for youth and women. This is achieved through capacity building which includes skills development, technical support, business advisory, financial and market linkages.

Our focus is to facilitate support and provision of integrated financial and business development services for small holder farmers and Agri SMEs in Kenya. This is aimed at enabling beneficiaries to access finance, increase agricultural productivity, agro-processing, and access markets/ trade opportunities. For over a decade, MESPT has partnered with development agencies, donors, and investors to build the capacity of the business services sector and the agricultural sector in Kenya through a unique tripartite business model that links Farmers, Agri- SMEs, and Financial Institutions – creating linkages along value chains.

We pride ourselves for successfully implementing 12 agriculture-based Programmes that have seen us facilitate creation of 70,000 decent jobs at various levels of the agriculture market systems. We have also cumulatively disbursed KES 6.4 billion to financial institutions and over 250,000 end users have accessed finance.

For further information kindly visit our website www.mespt.org

VACANT POSITION

As part of its development programme, MESPT is seeking to engage a highly committed, results-oriented, self-driven professional with excellent networking, analytical & writing skills to contribute to the development and implementation of the Resource Mobilization strategy and grow MESPT’s revenue and profile.

Department: Programme

Position Reports to: Chief Executive Officer

Duty Station: Nairobi, Westlands.

Salary: Grade 2

Benefits: 25 working days annual leave, Medical Insurance, 20% Gratuity, 7.5% annual leave allowance.

Restrictions: 3 months’ probation period, 36 months fixed contract & one-month notice period.

Expected Travel: Significant

Job Purpose

Head of Fundraising and Partnerships will contribute to developing and implementing the Resource Mobilization strategy and will work closely with the Fund Raising and Partnership Coordinator to advance MESPT’s strategic goals and grow our revenue, profile, and influence. He/she will oversee all Resource Mobilization efforts at MESPT and monitor the progress of fundraising plans and priorities and will help ensure donor perspectives and learnings are informing MESPT’s work.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership:

• Facilitate the development and implementing of the Resource Mobilization strategy.
• Work closely with the Fund raising and Partnership Coordinator to advance MESPT’s strategic goals and grow our revenue, profile, and influence.
• Lead all MESPT fundraising efforts and monitor the progress of fundraising plans and priorities.
• Ensure donor perspectives and learnings are informing MESPT’s work.
• Lead discussions on strategy, creating buy-in around responsibilities and timelines,

Secure new business:

• Secure new business by bringing in new & diverse donors to MESPT.
• Actively identify and monitor funding and partnership opportunities in a systematic manner.
• Conduct pipeline forecasting and donor surveillance to track the release of procurements.
• Lead concept notes/proposal development processes.
• Help to assemble proposal development teams, provide effective coordination to ensure submission of high-quality concept notes and proposals that are aligned to the organization’s strategic priorities.
• Work with donors and relevant government ministries to influence and co-create opportunities to mobilize resources to support Financial Inclusion in Agriculture, Agri MSME development, Green transformation, Agricultural Productivity and Food Safety for Kenya.
• Get our managers excited about being part of the fundraising process, providing them with regular updates on our donor and partner priorities, and supporting them to always be eyes and ears for business development.

Strategic stakeholder engagement:

• Identify and pursue strategic opportunities to engage, coordinate and partner with key stakeholders at country level in order to facilitate technical programme exchanges, influence policy and thinking, and identify key areas of potential cooperation, including program funding.
• Working collaboratively with Communications team, Programme Managers, Fundraising and Partnerships coordinator to cultivate, maintain and grow existing relationships.
• Facilitate the monitoring and tracking of stakeholder priorities and new trends in the field.

Raise our profile:

• In liaison with Corporate Communication, raise awareness about MESPT by cultivating relationships with local NGOs, /implementing partners and bilateral/multilateral donors.
• Identify strategic speaking opportunities and represent MESPT at donor events and global Agricultural and Green based meetings and conferences to raise MESPT’s brand and influence.
• Build and strengthen relationships with key stakeholders in our business, establishing MESPT as a Thought Leader in Agriculture and Green transformation.
• Document and implement models, procedures, and templates that improve the workflow of the business development/fundraising team.

Any other duties as assigned by the Supervisor from time to time

Key Relationships

Internal

• The Board of Trustees
• Programme Managers
• Finance team.
• Programme officers.
• Human Resource officer
• ICT Team

External

• Internal & External Auditors
• Implementing partners
• Donors
• County and Government Officials
• Stakeholders

Knowledge, Experience and Skills

• 7+ years demonstrated experience in identifying and securing funding from major Bi/Multilateral donors including developing successful grant proposals.
• You know the world of DANIDA, EU, USAID and all major donor agencies and large foundations.
• You are well versed with DANIDA, EU and US government funding mechanisms and procedures.
• You have experience in writing successful proposals for funding. You can write thoroughly, yet simply, about complex topics and have a sharp eye and can write about both broad themes and minute details.

Qualifications/Other Requirements:

• Postgraduate Degree Professional:
• 7 years in International Non-Profit industry and 5 years in management

Role Technical and Financial Competencies:

• Strong organizational skills: You can track potential opportunities, organize proposal calendars, develop collaborative timelines, and execute action plans. You’re able to juggle multiple tasks at once while ‘staying calm and carrying on.’ You have an attention to detail and to process and work well in a multicultural environment.
• Communication and networking skills. Highly developed networking skills and ability to form productive working relationships with external donor agencies. Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including communicating with impact, influencing, negotiation.
• Collaborative spirit. We want someone who actively listens and communicates. You connect easily with her/his team and gain their trust and respect. Someone who can work well across departments — with executive team members and peers.
• Resourcefulness. Demonstrated ability to solve complex issues through critical thinking, analysis, definition of a clear way forward and ensuring buy in. You’re able to identify and recruit partners for projects during proposal development as necessary.
• Strong analytical skills: ability to analyse and interpret financial data to make appropriate business suggestions and decisions.

Behaviour

• Accountable: Taking responsibility for appropriate decisions that you make, and the actions and behaviour you demonstrate
• Embracing Change: Openness to embracing change within the organization and being able to adjust plans/activities accordingly.
• Team Player: with excellent interpersonal skills, motivated by cooperating with a diverse mix of professionals and different cultures. Ability to build and maintain networks…
• Innovative: Thinking creatively and outside of the box so that ideas generated create a positive outcome

This Job Description only serves as a guide for the position available and MESPT reserves the right to make necessary changes.