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Senior Grants and Accountability Coordinator

Afghanistan

  • Organization: IRC
  • Location: Afghanistan
  • Grade: Mid level - Mid level
  • Occupational Groups:
    • External Relations, Partnerships and Resource mobilization
    • Monitoring and Evaluation
    • Managerial positions
    • Grant writing
  • Closing Date: Closed

The IRC opened the country program in Afghanistan in 1988. Our programs span the range from humanitarian relief to early recovery and development activities, focusing on emergency response, protection, education, economic wellbeing, and health. The IRC works in 9 provinces throughout Afghanistan, some of which are security volatile, and employs over 1,000 staff. IRC Afghanistan operates an annual portfolio of over $28 million.

Scope

The Senior Grants Accountability Coordinator will be a central figure within the IRC program management, quality and support infrastructure. The Senior Grants Accountability Coordinator supervises three cross-sectoral areas: Grants, MEAL, and Communication. He/She focuses on effective grants management, quality and accountability, including oversight of monitoring and evaluation and supporting the inclusion of client voice in program design, implementation and close out. With a focus on refugees, internally displaced populations affected by conflict and natural disaster, IRC currently works in the following sectors: Economic Well-Being, Environmental Health (WASH), Education, Protection and Rule of Law (PRoL), Child Protection and Women’s Protection and Empowerment (WPE), Nutrition and Emergency Response.

The Senior Grants Accountability Coordinator will closely collaborate with the Deputy Director of Programs (DDP) and program technical leads on developing strategies for effective and efficient programming in the nine geographic areas/provinces: Kabul, Nangarhar, Laghman, Paktya, Helmand, Badghis, Herat, Logar, and Khost.

The Senior Grants Accountability Coordinator will directly line manage the MEAL Coordinator, Grants Coordinator and Communications and Advocacy Coordinator and reports to the Deputy Director of Programs. S/he will be responsible for significant elements of IRC20XX strategy implementation and management of key humanitarian donor relationships together with the CD. S/he will oversee development of comprehensive, well-evidenced advocacy messages to further IRC’s programmatic development and strategic aims.

Responsibilities

1. Business Development

Work closely with the CD, DDP, sector coordinators and field coordinators to develop and update fundraising plans to achieve the strategic aims laid out in the country Strategic Action Plan (SAP) and to help ensure program sectors are adequately financed:

• Provide mentorship and leadership during project design processes to assure new programs are based on IRC Afghanistan’s SAP and the Outcomes and Evidence Framework.

• Contribute to go/no go discussions and decision making for funding opportunities.

• Ensure proposal development systems are in place for management, programs, finance and operations departments to produce timely, quality and needs-based submissions.

• Oversee proposal development and support the Grants and MEAL Units to make sure that high quality and needs-based project proposals are developed, according to the Proposal Flowchart and in compliance with IRC and donor regulations as well as within the parameters of the SAP. Ensure proposals are tracked with standard IRC tracking tools, e.g. OTIS.

• Support the Grants Coordinator in liaison with headquarters-based focal points and partners during the proposal development phase.

• With the mentorship from the DDP and CD, represent the IRC Afghanistan with donors and partner agencies.

2. Grants Management

• Provide training, technical mentorship and oversight for Grants Coordinator, sector coordinators and field coordinators to fulfill their responsibilities with regard to report and proposal review and submission.

• Support the Grants Coordinator to lead effective channels of internal and external communications relating to the effective management of grants

• Ensure communication with IRC Afghanistan and HQ colleagues is constructive, clear, and organized.

• Support the programs and grants teams and field coordinators to ensure proper post-award management of grants based on both donor and IRC policies; provide technical backstop on complex compliance and grants management as needed.

• Ensure active reflection of program successes and challenges forms part of the reporting cycle and support the Grants Unit in institutionalizing this mindset.

• Establish and maintain functional networks with key stakeholders (, donors, other peer organizations etc.)

• Build capacity of Grant’s team members on donor policies, regulations and procedures and train other country team members in these areas as well as reporting and proposal development.

• Support the Grants Coordinator, in collaboration with the Compliance Coordinator to review grant agreements and contracts to identify compliance issues and contribute to the implementation of appropriate solutions as necessary.

• Oversee the development of and compliance to a responsive information management and filing system within Grants Unit to ensure all donor contractual documents, reports, key correspondence etc. are appropriately filed in up-to-date soft and hard libraries available as meaningful in IRC Afghanistan offices

3. Partnerships

• In collaboration with the CD and DDP, advance the partnership agenda, in line with IRC’s global and Afghanistan’s country program strategies.

• In close coordination with the CD and DDP, responsible for identifying competitive and complementary partnerships and negotiating teaming agreements and scopes of work.

• Ensure a high level of risk management and compliance in strong, high quality partnerships that deliver timely and effective assistance in line with IRC’s partnership management system (PEERS), through effective support to the Grants Coordinator and Partnerships Manager.

• Champion robust partner relationship management, characterized by the core partnership principles of responsibility, results-oriented approach, equality, transparency and complementarity, within all departments of IRC.

• Articulate IRC Afghanistan’s strategic approach to partnerships, and advise the SMT on matters related to PEERS, particularly in the areas in strategy, staffing and structure as well as compliance with the PEER system.

4. Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning

• Oversee proactive program quality monitoring, including client satisfaction components, to ensure a strong understanding of successes and lessons learned across sectors.

• Ensure that MEAL data, including considerations of gender, age and diversity, inform project and program design processes.

• Support the MEAL Coordinator in strengthening the systems IRC Afghanistan uses to measure, quality assure and close out all programming.

• Oversee, in close collaboration with the MEAL Coordinator, program leads and provincial office focal points, the operationalization of IRC Afghanistan’s MEAL Strategy

• Supervise the MEAL Coordinator and coordinate to lead the effective roll-out and implementation of national, regional and IRC Global Measurement Initiatives. Close coordination with the DDP to ensure a robust and responsive Client Responsiveness objective, through timely collection, analysis and feedback on CR data to for better inclusive programming.

• Support the collaborative development of shared MEAL data management structures.

• Oversee proactive stakeholder involvement in accountability, monitoring and evaluation of IRC Afghanistan programs for enhanced collaboration, ownership and sustainability.

5. Communications and Advocacy

• Support the Communications and Advocacy Coordinator in developing a strong set of advocacy messages and plan for IRC Afghanistan

• In coordination with program teams and other relevant stakeholders, ensure that communications content produced is to a high standard, aligned with the Communications Strategy and in compliance with IRC’s global communications policies

• In coordination with Grants and MEAL departments, ensure that donor communications commitments are met and that messages shared are underscored by evidential data and learning

6. Strategic Planning

• Under the direction of the DDP, support implementation of the SAP and achieving the plan objectives, universal expectations, and regular progress review of plans. Lead on the implementation and revision, if required, of specific components of the SAP, including Client Responsiveness and Business Development.

• Work closely with the DDP in ensuring appropriate support and coordination between sector Coordinators, Grants and MEAL.

7. Human Resources and Staff Development

• Provide supportive mentorship and supervision to direct reports, including appropriate and timely feedback to staff regarding their performance through the timely implementation of the annual staff performance management system.

• Set clear objectives for Grants Coordinator, MEAL Coordinator and Communications and Advocacy Coordinator

• Work with the CD, DDP, Deputy Director Operations, Finance Controller and Human Resources Coordinator to review/revise and develop appropriate policies and address issues.

8. Liaison/Representation and Coordination

• Actively, systematically and regularly communicate with various partners in country.

• Maintain a sound understanding of programs to be able to represent the IRC and the IRC’s interests with implementing partners, government, donors and clients.

• Help develop a positive relationship with donors/Government counterparts to ensure sustainable programs in the portfolio sectors. Encourage and support improved program cohesion through coordination initiatives and information sharing with and between all key country program staff.

• Serve as an active member of the Senior Management Team and deputize for the Country Director as necessary.

Qualifications

• Graduate degree in International Development, International Relations, business; management and administrative science, or relevant related field with 5-6 years of experience / or undergraduate degree with 7-8 years of experience.

• Excellent professional track record with substantive overseas experience, preferably in a conflict/post-conflict environment with program leadership responsibilities. Successful experience working within a complex security environment is preferred.

• Proven ability to think strategically, prioritize and meet deadlines in a complex and challenging environment; must be culturally sensitive

• Strong understanding of MEAL approaches and methodologies especially in conflict environments.

• Demonstrated successful experience developing projects and proposals for public and private donors.

• Demonstrable understanding of project planning and management cycles. Experience of complex program implementation and the associated challenges will be an advantage

• Demonstrated understanding of considerations of gender, age, conflict sensitivity and other influencing power dynamics

• Excellent leadership, people management, interpersonal and negotiation skills and a demonstrated ability to develop harmonious teams in a multi-ethnic context.

• Strong diplomacy and communication skills; ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with partners, donors, government and clients in a sensitive environment.

• Commitment to collaboration; demonstrated ability to listen to and incorporate team members’ feedback in everyday work

• Have fluent spoken and written English

• Strong computer skills: including competency in the use of Windows MS office programs (Word, Excel), email programs, etc.

• Willingness to travel outside Kabul depending on security clearance.

• Willingness to live in strict security protocol environment

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability.

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity and Anti-Retaliation.

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