Grants Management Specialist

Job title : Grants Management Specialist

Line Manager : Programme Development and Quality Manager (PDQM)

Technical line manager

Duty Station : Yaounde with frequent field visits

Area of Operation : Adamawa, East, North, Far North, Southwest and Northwest regions

Duration : 1 year renewable

Type of contract : National

Salary & Benefits : Non Management Band G, level 2

Introduction

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) provides essential support to refugees and internally displaced persons worldwide, offering life-saving assistance during the initial stages of displacement crises and supporting transitional and long-term solutions in prolonged displacement situations. We continuously advocate for the rights of those affected by displacement and work to empower them. Our efforts extend across conflict-affected regions, along displacement routes, and in areas where refugees and IDPs settle. By collaborating with local actors and systems, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions to displacement.

Founded in Denmark in 1956, DRC has grown into an international humanitarian organization with over 7,000 staff members and 8,000 volunteers. Headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, and operating in forty countries, DRC is a non-profit, politically independent, non-governmental, and non-denominational organization.

Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced individuals. Our work is guided by our core values: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency.

1. Background

DRC has been active in West and Central Africa since 1998. The DRC West Africa, North Africa, and Latin America Regional Office is based in Dakar, Senegal, and oversees operations in twelve countries outside Senegal. The Cameroon country office, established at the end of 2017, currently includes a coordination office in the capital, Yaoundé, an area office in Buea covering the Southwest region, an area office in Meiganga covering the Adamawa and East regions, and an area office in Maroua covering the Far North region.

DRC Cameroon implements a variety of humanitarian, nexus, and durable solutions projects, targeting internally displaced persons (IDPs), refugees, and host communities.

We are seeking an experienced professional with a strong experience in Grants Management to join our Programs team in Yaoundé.

2. Purpose

The Grants Management Specialist is part of DRC Cameroon’s coordination team, based in Yaoundé, and collaborates closely with colleagues in the Programs team. Positioned within the Programme Development and Quality department alongside the MEAL Coordinator and the Information Management Specialist, the Grants Management Specialist reports directly to the Programme Development and Quality Manager.

The primary aim of this role is to support the reinforcement of efficient and timely grant management. The Grants Management Specialist will work intensively with both the Support Services (especially its Finance Department) and the Programme teams in Yaoundé as well as in the three area offices covering the Southwest, Adamawa/East and Far North regions. As for the Far North region, the Grants Management Specialist based in Yaoundé will work closely with the Grants Management Specialist based in Maroua.

The Grants Management Specialist will support with high-quality and timely reports for donors while ensuring HQ-level communications and will support the Head of Programme (HoP) and the Programme Development and Quality Manager (PDQM) in initiatives to expand the portfolio, including contributions to proposal development and program design.

3. Duties and Responsibilities

Under the management of the PDQM, the Grants Management Specialist will have the following main responsibilities:

Grants contractual obligations follow-up

• Keep track of donor contracts’ obligations and major deadlines (communication requirements, evaluations, reports…) and keep all concerned people informed through regular reminders and follow-ups
• Support PDQM in providing timely, thorough responses to information requests from internal and external sources.
• Manage follow-up of contractual and official information and correspondence for the relevant grants
• Oversee the grants component of DRC Dynamics system.
• In coordination with relevant staff, design, maintain and inform internal procedures, systems and tools to facilitate DRC compliance with contractual obligations to donors.
• Keep tracks of donors’ meetings

Reporting

• Coordinate donor reporting requirements as stipulated in the various donor contracts, including coordinating inputs between Programme teams.
• Ensure high-quality, well-written and timely reports meeting donor and DRC requirements.
• Coordinate with the MEAL and IM to provide robust data in donor reports.
• Support MEAL and IM staff to ensure the development of quality monitoring reports of program activities (PDM, surveys…).
• Support PDQ department together with the MEAL and IM in the development of high quality needs assessment reports.

Communication

• Liaise with DRC communication department to ensure donors’ communication requirements
• Assist DRC communication department in writing of communication materials, including press releases, success stories, programme briefings etc. for internal and external audiences, packaging stories that center on evidence to further illustrate the impact of programming.

Proposal development:

• Initiates and leads the Go-No go meeting
• Assist the PDQM in proposal development tasks, through collecting and compiling necessary inputs from programme staff in line with the proposal development plan; supporting in the writing of the proposal as needed
• Ensure donor guidelines are respected in the proposal development process.
• Assist in the finalization of different annexes for proposals.

Business development:

• Contribute to collecting and centralizing information on new funding opportunities, calls for proposals and donor guidelines

Projects follow-up:

• Support Area Managers and Project Managers in ensuring DRC Project steering framework is respected (Grants Opening meeting, Monthly Project meetings, Grants Closure meeting). Keep tracks and follow up action points.

Partnerships and Localization

• Assist the Localization and Partnership Specialist in the vetting of new partners when relevant.
• Take part in Preselection or Due Diligence exercises for partners related to grant management and donor compliance.
• Support PMs with the review of partners’ reports, provide comments and archive on the Partnership Sharepoint.
• Support the PDQ department and Localization and Partnership Specialist in relevant tasks to contribute to the success of DRC Cameroon’s Partnerships Strategy.

Closely coordinates with the Grants Management Specialist based in Maroua.

In addition to the above, the Grants Management Specialist may be asked to carry out other duties requested by the PDQM and the HoP.

4. Required Qualifications

• At least, 3 years’ experience in a similar position
• Professional French and English proficiency, including excellent writing skills in both languages.
• Advanced practical knowledge Microsoft Office Pack (Excel, Word, Powerpoint, Outlook etc.), and online tools
• Proven experience in effectively working with a variety of donors’ requirements including ECHO, EU, SIDA, BHA, BPRM, CDCS…

Education

• Master’s degree in international development, economics, social science, statistics any other relevant field.
• Any other relevant professional training will be considered.

5. Required Skills & Qualities

• Core Competencies of DRC:
• Striving for excellence
• Collaboration and partnership development
• Taking the lead
• Communication
• Demonstrating Integrity
• Ability to work in a multinational and multicultural environment.
• Excellent writing, proof-reading, and communication skills.
• Excellent organizational and multi-tasking skills.
• Strong ability to adapt, take initiative.
• Interest for humanitarian sector and donor’s environment.
• Listening, analytical and synthesis skills.
• Excellent communication skills, as well as patience and politeness, are required.
• Exemplary sense of ethics in the workplace.

6. General regulations

• The employee shall follow DRC instructions on safety, confidentiality, and ethical guidelines, including the Code of Conduct and the Humanitarian Accountability Framework
• Employee should not engage in any other paid activity during the DRC contract period without prior authorization.
• Employee should not engage in any activity that could harm DRC.
• Employee should not give interviews to the media or publish project-related photos or other material without prior authorization.
• Employee shall return all borrowed equipment for the project to DRC after the end of the contract period or upon request.
• Employee shall respect beneficiaries and partners rights and dignity.