Institutional Funding Officer - Trócaire, Horn & East Africa region (HEARO)

Institutional Funding Officer, Horn & East Africa – 10/ID/011E Description of the unit / department: The Horn & East Africa region (HEARO) is one of five regions where Trócaire works overseas, with its regional office based in Nairobi, Kenya Reporting to: Assistant Regional Manager, Horn & East Africa Managing: (Individuals/Team) None Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract Duration: 2 Years Grade and Scale: Overseas Programme Officer Scale Location of Position: Based in Nairobi, Kenya, with regular travel in the Region. Closing date: 20 May 2010 Scope of the Role: * To increase and broaden the institutional funding base of programmes by developing a co-financing strategy supportive of the Regional Strategic Plan. * To assist in proposal development and finalise reports for donors, in agreement with relevant Programme Officers and Regional Management. * To support the capacity of Programme Staff and partners to develop and manage co-financing contracts. * To establish and strengthen relationships with current and potential donors. * To develop and maintain a full understanding of all donor strategies, priorities and requirements. Key Duties & Responsibilities 1. Develops Regional / Country Funding Strategies * Collates information on donor priorities and strategies for programme countries, identifying thematic and geographic areas of overlap with Trócaire priorities. * Develops Regional/Country Funding Strategy Papers and annual action plans for countries of responsibility. * Works closely with the Co-Financing Unit in Ireland, in order to coordinate contacts with / applications to donors. 2. Programme Support Based on the Regional Strategic Framework, in close collaboration with HEARO colleagues and identified local partners, as approved by the Regional Manager: * Support programme staff in the elaboration of co-financing submissions and in the management of donor contracts and support partners to meet the contractual obligations of co-financed programmes and projects. * Provide training to staff and partners on co-financing programme development, management and report writing skills. * Work closely with programme teams to build the capacities of partners to handle conditionality and compliance issues related to co-financed contracts, especially in narrative and financial reporting * Support programme teams in identifying direct funding opportunities for suitable partners and in promoting development of partner capacity to manage donor contracts themselves. * Assist with narrative and financial reporting on co-financed programmes and projects, and in developing financial management and reporting systems which will facilitate effective multi-partner and multi-component programme budget tracking and management. * Pro-actively identify opportunities for securing co-financing from governments, major donors and trusts accessible to Trócaire. * Establish and build relationships with potential donors. * Strengthen relationships with current donors. * Liaise with donors and negotiates contracts. * Provide assistance to and collaborate with Trócaire’s Co-Financing Unit in Ireland, where appropriate and as requested. 3. Other Duties * Any other duty as may be assigned by Regional Management that is consistent with the nature of the job and its level of responsibility. Person Specification – Essential Requirements (E) (E) Qualification * Third level qualification in: Social Science, Development Studies, or related area (E) Experience * Two years experience of proposal and report writing for donors such as the EC, Irish Aid, DFID, EU, Trusts and Foundations. * Proven success of securing funds from official donors. * Planning, monitoring and reporting on development and/or emergency programmes. * Experience of working with partner organisations. * Two years overseas experience, preferably in the Region. (E) Skills * Excellent written skills, including proposals & reports. * Excellent skills for budgeting and financial analysis. * Project planning, monitoring and evaluation techniques, especially Logical Frameworks. * Good verbal and written communication, presentation and facilitation skills. * Good analytical and negotiation skills. * Good IT skills, especially word processing & spreadsheets. * Strong administrative skills. * Fluent in English (spoken & written). (E) Qualities * Commitment to Trócaire’s Vision, Mission and Values and an understanding of a partnership approach to development. * Sympathetic understanding of the Catholic Church’s role in relief and development. * Excellent networking skills with the ability to establish good relationships, confident in engaging with senior people. * Culturally sensitive and diplomatic. * Self motivated with proven ability to take the initiative. * Able to prioritise tasks and work to deadlines. * Flexible and adaptable. * Accuracy and attention to detail. * Strong Team Player by supporting team members and participating actively in formal and informal fora. * Able to learn from experience and apply to future work. * Able and prepared to travel extensively within the HEARO Region (E) Knowledge * Good knowledge of institutional donors, particularly the EU, Irish Aid and DFID. * Good understanding of international development issues. * Financial controls and procedures. * Project Cycle Management. How to apply Please download application form from http://www.trocaire.org and return completed form to Jason Rice, HR Officer at hr@trocaire.ie