Interpeace
Reporting to: Senior Stabilisation Advisor
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Type of position: L5S7
Application closing: 30 September, 2022
Background
Interpeace is an international organization for peacebuilding that supports locally led peacebuilding initiatives around the world. Interpeace tailors its approach to each society and ensures that the work is locally driven. Together with local partners and local teams, Interpeace jointly develops peacebuilding programmes and helps establish processes of change that connect local communities, civil society, government and the international community.
For more information about Interpeace, please visit www.interpeace.org
Position within the Organization
The Small Grants Management Advisor is member of the Programme Management Unit which manages and implements Interpeace’s active and ongoing programmes around the world. The Small Grants Management Advisor reports to Senior Stabilisation Advisor and will explicitly work on the anticipated CSSF funded RESET project aimed at Building Resilience Against Violence Extremism in Kenya – Somalia borderlands. The Small Grants Management Advisor will be a member of the project coordination team and will manage the design, delivery and monitoring of a small grants mechanism which provide peace dividends, strengthen community resilience and strengthen linkages between community, government and aid initiatives.
RESET Programme
RESET is a UK Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) funded programme which aims to foster individual, community and institutional resilience to counter violent extremism in the Kenya – Somalia border area. It will have programme activities in the four border counties of Lamu, Garissa, Wajir and Mandera in Kenya as well as in the Gedo and Lower Juba regions in Somalia. Primarily, the RESET programme is expected to deliver on the following outputs:
- Strengthen understanding of conflict, structures and actors to shape effective policy and programming.
- Strengthen formal and informal mechanisms aiming to build resilience along the Kenya – Somalia border.
- Address grievances and mitigate against drivers of instability and extremism.
Responsibilities
- Design a small grants mechanism which provide peace dividends, strengthen community resilience and strengthen linkages between community, government and aid initiatives.
- Oversee all grants related activities such grant administration policies, procedures, systems, and all documentation and provide control mechanisms for all grants.
- Coordinate with the team leader, Sr stabilization advisor, gender and social inclusion advisor and finance manager to ensure a transparent process for the entire grant life cycle from pre-award management, tracking payments, reviewing or producing relevant reports, monitoring and post-award management.
- Review and approve grant awards and work with project and partner staff to develop and maintain all grant agreements.
- Track that all project deliverables are completed on time and are of high quality work.
- Providing advisory assistance to grant applicants and lead the review of grant submissions;
- Analyzing and evaluating grant submissions for technical and budget soundness and compliance with donor regulations, recommending award actions to the contract team;
- Coordinating the issuance of awards and maintain contract documentation through the development and upkeep of a small grants database; and
- Preparing scheduled and special reports, studies and analyses regarding the small grants program.
- Coordinate technical, administrative and financial capacity strengthening support and mentoring to CSOs and community-led initiatives who apply for and deliver the small grants to maximize the impact.
Qualifications
- Master degree in management, financial analysis or accounting desirable, experience in stabilisation, CVE and/or peacebuilding is an added advantage;
- At least 10 years’ experience in international development and peacebuilding with a minimum of five years experience in sub-grants management, preferably in Kenya and/or Somalia region.
- Solid understanding of CSSF/UK AID donor regulations and procedures pertaining to grants management is an added value;
- Ability to analyse technical and cost proposals and prepare reports and recommendations on whether or not applicants should be funded;
- Ability to analyse budget line items for compliance with budget guidelines;
- Proven records maintenance and database management skills;
- Demonstrated ability to perform complex tasks and to prioritize multiple projects;
- Speaking, writing and reading fluency in English, Swahili and Somali is a strong added advantage.
- A deep knowledge of Somali culture is an added advantage.
- Ability to write clear and analytical reports on programme outcomes and impact.
- Excellent communication skills both verbal and in written.
Competencies
- Demonstrates effectiveness and strong experience with short and long-term planning; financial, personnel and program management.
- Proven ability to communicate, negotiate and work with CSOs and engage with community initiatives and individuals who are not familiar with project management.
- Proven capacity in assisting communities and small CBOs to turn viable community ideas into initiatives that can be supported through small grants.
- Strong ability to work with CBOs and community initiatives promote sustainability and avoid aid dependency.
- Ability to work in a multicultural environment successfully and to demonstrate gender responsive and non-discriminatory behavior and attitudes.
- Excellent ability to interact with people respectfully and with tact
- Strong writing and communications skills in English and French is required. Knowledge of local language is an advantage.
Success factors
- Identifies with and is committed to Interpeace’s core values and working principles
- Commitment to inclusiveness
- An innovative, critical thinker with extensive problem-solving skills
- A strategic manager who is accountable, leads by example, mentors and empowers a team and works to create work-life balance.
How to apply
Qualified candidates are invited to submit their application to [email protected] on or before 30 September 2022, 23:59 pm, Nairobi time. Kindly note that the CVs will be reviewed on rolling basis, please apply early!
“Small Grants Management Advisor” MUST BE included in the subject line of the application email to be considered. The application must include:
- a complete curriculum vitae
- a letter of interest
- an acknowledgement letter, answering the following questions:
- Have you ever been criminally convicted or subject to any criminal or administrative penalty by any competent authority? If yes, please specify:
- Have you ever been terminated or separated (e.g. contract termination, dismissal, non-renewal) or subject to any disciplinary measure or sanction by your employer for fraud, harassment, sexual harassment, sexual exploitation or sexual abuse?
- Have you ever resigned while under investigation or during disciplinary proceedings?
Confirming the following declaration of understanding:
I confirm the accuracy of the information provided, with the understanding that Interpeace will conduct reference checks to verify relevant information.
I understand that if any false or misleading information is provided in my application, or any material fact suppressed, I may not be employed, of if I am employed, I may be dismissed.
Interpeace values diversity among its staff and aims to achieve gender equality both through gender parity at all levels of the organisation and the promotion of a gender dimension in all its work. We welcome applications from women and men, and those with disabilities.
Please note that due to high volume of applications, ONLY short-listed candidates will be contacted.