Grants & Partnership Manager - SRH

The IRC is now launching a new SRH project in Uganda which will focus on strengthening systems and building local capacities to prepare for and respond to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) in emergencies. We will continue to build off of lessons learned projects to strengthen local organizational capacity for SRH in emergencies. In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the IRC will also provide support to ensure SRH service continuity in COVID-19 preparedness and response activities.

The IRC Uganda team has identified Bidibidi and Palabek refugee settlements in Yumbe and Lamwo districts for this project because of the  already  existing structures,  complementary  funding  and the  presence  of  existing  local  partners. Furthermore, the two field locations provide scenarios of acute emergency and a protracted state and IRC provides SRH service in both locations.

Project Overview

Over the years, the IRC has worked to address critical SRH gaps to effectively improve access to and uptake of quality SRH services including emergency obstetric and neonatal care (EmONC), clinical care of sexual assaulted survivors (CCSAS), post abortion care (PAC), comprehensive abortion care (CAC) and family planning for refugees and host community members. The IRC has provided human and material resources, including equipment and supplies, in addition to technical support through trainings on integrated SRH services. The IRC is finding new ways to provide services, reach clients, increase client voice, and improve uptake of essential SRH services through strengthening systems and building local capacities. The Contraception and Comprehensive Abortion Care in Emergencies program (ConCACE) is funded by an anonymous donor and ensures that women and girls affected by crisis and living in fragile settings are protected from unintended pregnancy and have access to comprehensive abortion care. The project will focus on three outcomes;

• Local partners expand their sphere on SRHR influence
• Strengthened capacity of civil society organizations (CSO) and district health teams to deliver resilient and responsive SRHR services
• Equitable and sustainable SRHR local partnership convened and sustained

Job Overview

This position will report to the Project Coordinator. The Grants and Partnership Manager will be responsible for the overall grants and partnership management processes for the ConCACE project in Uganda. The IRC is launching the next phase of the program, which will focus on strengthening systems and building local capacities to prepare for and respond to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) in emergencies.

The Grants and Partnership Manager will oversee, facilitate and coordinate all aspects of partnership life cycle management for sub-grantees under this project, from stakeholder analysis, partner identification, due diligence, project development, agreement, start-up, implementation, monitoring through to close-out, coordinating effectively with all program, operations and finance components. This staff will serve as the primary liaison with all sub-grantee partners and ensure compliance to donor rules and regulations while maintaining active and cooperative relationships with IRC Uganda staff and partners. This position has close working relationships with the Grant, Partnerships, Health, Operations, Finance, MEAL, and Supply Chain staff, as well as regular communications with field-based staff. This position will be based in Yumbe, West Nile, with travel to other field sites.

Duties and Responsibilities

Grants Management

• Provide overall oversight of the grants administration of the ConCACE project in Uganda, including but not limited to: coordinating project cycle meetings (opening, review and closing meetings; monthly BvA) and follow-up on action points and pending issues to ensure proper grants management.
• Respond to ad-hoc HQ, donor, and IRC Uganda staff requests for information; update and disseminate project-related information; and maintain project files.
• Work closely with Finance department to monitor expenditure rates / spending levels; and provide feedback to headquarters staff on key issues.
• Have a deep understanding of donor policies, regulations and procedures and train other team members in these areas.
• Provide support to and advise the project/technical coordinators on various project management issues, such as budget management, work plan implementation, indicator tracking, and achievement of project objectives/outputs.
• Ensure timely receipt and submission of IRC Uganda project reports to headquarters.

Partnerships

• Lead and oversee the mapping, identification, due diligence assessment and contracting processes with suitable partner organizations for project implementation.
• Oversee the use and implementation of the Partnership Excellence for Equality and Results System (PEERS), IRC’s partnership management system and is a key contributor to overall project cycle management.
• Coordinate the pre-award due diligence process with respect to all new partnerships, including through appropriate vetting, coordinating the pre-award assessment with other departments, analysis of risks associated with the award, chairing the Pre-Award Assessment (PAA) Panel, and the identification and implementation of appropriate measures to manage those risks, working with other departments as appropriate.
• In collaboration with relevant IRC departments, develop Project Support Plans (PSPs) for each partner; and coordinate implementation of PSPs, in collaboration with IRC departments and external consultants, as needed.
• Coordinate the effective startup of partnerships, including Partnership Opening Meetings with partners, programs, M&E and other departments, as relevant.
• Ensure the timely review of partners’ financial and narrative reports in accordance with the terms of their partnership agreements, coordinating with Finance and Programs teams.
• Maintain and coordinate partner program, finance, and compliance monitoring and review meeting schedules, and coordinate support for partners to address any concerns or issues that may arise, and ensure any issues are attended to.
• Coordinate effective partnership close out processes, incorporating reflection, lessons learned and future planning.
• Monitor the partners annual work and performance plans to ensure long-term and short-term priorities are on track.
• Contribute to donor reporting for partnership-related matters.
• Ensure appropriate proactive and reactive communications and engagement with IRC partners through regularly scheduled partnership management meetings and outside of formal partnership relationships.
• Maintain partner project files and other partnership-related documentation.