Grants Manager - Iraq

Danish Refugee Council is advertising for an experienced Grants Manager (GM), who will be responsible for ensuring ‘quality’ throughout the project cycle; from the initial investigation and proposal design through to continuously enhancing the quality of programme implementation in one of today’s most volatile and challenging emergencies globally.

Danish Refugee Council is a leading protection agency pursuing our mandate to protect and promote durable solutions to displacement-affected populations on the basis of humanitarian principles and human rights. In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), DRC applies a regional approach with operational presence in Libya, Tunisia, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, Turkey and Iraq.
Being operational in Iraq since 2003, DRC is today operational in the Kurdish governorates, in and around Baghdad and in South Central. Focused both on the influx of Syrian refugees and the current IDP crisis, DRC is providing assistance in a range of sectors including Camp Coordination and Camp Management, Protection, Livelihoods, Emergency Response (including food security, cash, and NFIs), WASH and Shelter.

The Iraq programme presently employs 160 national staff and 28 international staff, but is expanding in responds to the current emergency through funding from ECHO, DFID, USAID, UN, DANIDA, Sida etc.

Roles and responsibilities
Research, Analysis and Capacity Building

• Assist in conducting needs assessments and background research to guide DRC programs;
• Map donors and projects in Iraq relevant to DRC’s focus sectors and monitor funding opportunities;
• Conduct visits to field locations as possible/needed
• Provide DRC staff with tools and matrixes to enhance programme implementation;
• Undertake training for programme and operation staff on grants management and processes to enhance quality within DRC programming. This will include quality reporting, M&E practices, project cycle management, and data collection.

Project Development

• Act as the lead writer/coordinator/editor for concept notes and proposals as needed.
• Ensure communication between all departments (finance, programs, and operations) in drafting of budgets;
• Contribute to the development of strong data collection and monitoring & evaluation plans within each proposal, including well-designed log-frames and indicators, and ensure that project indicators are regularly and systematically monitored and reported on;

Reporting

• Manage internal and external reporting (including programme reports), ensuring high-quality, well-written and timely reports meeting donor and DRC requirements;
• Consolidate monthly internal programme progress reports based on input from programme managers;
• Ensure quality information management related to grants by overseeing the regular maintenance of grant files, developing internal DRC documentation and Grant Unit tools. This will include managing the inputs and outputs related to the Grants Monitoring System (GMS);
• Act as custodian of documentation of institutional knowledge and program activities;
• Provide support to Country Officers in preparing Annual Plans, Results Contracts and Quarterly Reporting;
• Keep track of and coordinate reporting requirements to donors, as stipulated in the various donor contracts;
• Maintain the grants and report tracking system; 

Accountability and Monitoring and Evaluation

• Assist Country Office in maintaining continual quality assurance processes through support to M&E including facilitating ‘Monitoring and Evaluation Plans’;
• Directly supervise the Accountability Officer in undertaking his role. This will involve specific programme components related to accountability and M&E in the camp management context (complaint mechanism).
• Provide technical support to M&E Officers throughout the programme and support the development of a M&E structure with relevant tools and systems.
• Ensure Lessons Learned are incorporated into future project cycles to enhance programme quality.

Your profile
To be successful in this role you must have an advanced degree in international relations or other relevant field, or minimum abachelor’s degree. Furthermore you must have 2 to 3 years of INGO field experience in a similar position within grant management, proposal development (program narratives and budgets) and donor reporting. Besides, it is essential that you have:

• Knowledge of UN (UNHCR/UNDP/UNICEF/WHO), US (USAID/OFDA) and EU (ECHO/ EC), DANIDA/SIDA donor regulations, procedures and requirements.
• Proven experience of raising funds from USAID, ECHO, DFID, EU, UN, private donors, multilateral agencies etc.
• Proven ability to develop winning proposals to public and private-sector donors.
• Ability to represent DRC to donors and external actors as necessary.
• Excellent written and spoken English.
• Excellent organizational skills, ability to determine priorities and attention to detail a must.
• Ability to work in a multicultural context as a flexible and respectful team player.
• Willingness to travel to the field as and when needed.
• High-level of knowledge and practice with Word, Excel, Outlook, etc. required.
• Ability to work with tight deadlines for proposal development/ information needs.

Ideally, you will also have:

• Experience of working with UN or Non-Governmental Organisations.
• Language skills in Arabic and/or Kurdish.
• Experience operating in the Middle East.
• Knowledge in project budgeting/programme cycle management.
• Understanding of gender, protection and human rights.
• Experience in conducting research and drafting quality reports.
• Strong networking, interpersonal and presentation skills.
• Good understanding of the logframe approach, ability to conceptualise projects.

Conditions
Availability: Immediately
Duty station: Erbil, Iraq (with frequent travels within Iraq)
Contract: 12 months (renewable upon funding and performance). Salary and conditions in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates; please refer to www.drc.dk under Vacancies. The position will be placed at salary level A12.

Further information
We encourage all qualified candidates to apply, irrespective of nationality, race, gender or age.

For further information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult our website www.drc.dk. If you have questions or are facing problems with the online application process, please contact job@drc.dk

Safety Environment
While the safety situation in broader Iraq remains volatile, safety in the KRI remains relatively secure. While there has been no direct threats to International NGOs or their expatriate staff care must be taken when traveling. The stability in the KRI allows for substantial freedom of movement. Nevertheless, restrictions may be emplaced based on events that may develop rapidly.

Commitments
DRC has a Humanitarian Accountability Framework, outlining its global accountability commitments. All staff are required to contribute to the achievement of this framework (http://www.drc.dk/HAF.4265.0.html).

Application process
All applicants must send a cover letter and an updated CV. We only accept online applications. Apply at www.drc.dkunder Vacancies >current vacancies. Click on the vacancy, then on ‘Apply’ at the bottom of the window.

Applications Deadline:  06 December 2014