Aga Khan Foundation
About the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF)
The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) is a non-denominational, international development agency established in 1967 by His Highness the Aga Khan. Its mission is to develop and promote creative solutions to problems that impede social development, primarily in Asia and Africa. Created as a private, non-profit foundation, AKF has branches and independent affiliates in over 15 countries.
AKF has been active in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province since 2001 and has since expanded to Nampula and Niassa provinces. AKF employs a multi-input area development approach with interventions in health and nutrition, agriculture and food security, climate resilience, economic development, and civil society and local governance. The ultimate aim of AKF is to contribute to an improved quality of life for vulnerable households in select areas in northern Mozambique.
Overall Objectives
Lead the development of concept notes and proposals (competitive and unsolicited). Lead grants management, donor cultivation and ensure proper implementation of projects based on agreed work plans and proposals. Provide advice to the Country Manager and Senior Management Team (SMT) on issues relating to grants acquisition, donor relations and program implementation.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Resource mobilisation (40%)
- Gather donor intelligence (e.g. through desk-based research, networking), identify funding leads and analyze resource mobilization trends in Mozambique.
- Develop and lead implementation of strategies for diversifying AKF (Moz) funding sources.
- Build new and manage existing relationships to leverage a stronger partner and donor base.
- Lead the development of concept notes and proposals (competitive and unsolicited) with a range of institutional and corporate donors and foundations, collaborating with technical teams.
- Lead application of project opportunity vetting (go-no-go) and verify theme-specific opportunities.
- Through field visits and interaction with program staff, identify pressing funding needs/programmatic intervention opportunities and update resource mobilization priorities accordingly.
- Build the capacity of relevant program staff to participate in proposal development.
Grants Management and Compliance (40%)
- Manage all opportunities and awards on AKF’s online Award Information Management System (AIMS).
- Support AKF Global in the roll-out Grant Management Toolkit. AIMS allows for centralized grant management and reporting. The Grant Management Toolkit outlines minimum requirements for all projects to adhere to in AKF from inception to closure.
- Oversee and coordinate the technical review of donor reports (quarterly, annual) and technical papers to ensure the highest quality possible in conformity to organizational and donor requirements.
- Identify gaps in operational procedures as well as bottlenecks that hinder field implementation and achievement of program outcomes, and recommend solutions to these issues.
- Lead new grant kick-off meetings on donor compliance to ensure requirements such as reporting deadlines, implementation period, amendment timing/ procedures, procurement, audit and other policies are well understood, and a plan is in place to ensure they are met.
- Act as focal point to donors in Mozambique. Deepen and broaden relations with donors through the articulation of program objectives and achievements.
Communications (10%)
- Coordinate with the AKF Mozambique Communications Consultant and AKF Global Lead for Communications to build compelling communications materials for the unit.
Strategic Leadership and Management (10%)
- Actively participate as a member of the senior management team and play a coordinating role when required.
- Where relevant, support the Country Manager in monitoring progress against AKF (Moz)’s strategic plan.
- Manage the Grants and Reporting Assistant at AKF Mozambique.
Required Qualifications and Competencies
- 5-10 years’ experience in relevant field.
- Fluency in Portuguese (or willingness to learn) is critical.
- Knowledge of program design; grant acquisition and management; and cross-functional coordination.
- Strong experience preparing budgets and proposals for funding opportunities.
- High-level interpersonal and cross-cultural skills including the ability to build collaborative relationships internally and externally with sensitivity to cultural, ethnic, social and political issues.
- Conflict management and ability to pragmatically solve problems; plan a course of action using analytical, conceptual, strategic and forward thinking abilities to achieve an effective resolution.
- Strong analytical skills and the ability to assimilate and process information on a wide range of issues.
- Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
- Self-motivated, Pro-active, efficient, reliable and creative
- Promote and apply team work.
- Computer proficiency in general office software (i.e. Office 365).