IFRC Senior Programme Officer, Resource Mobilization Job in Nairobi Kenya

Job title: Senior Programme Officer, Resource Mobilization

Unit / dept / delegation: East Africa Regional Representation

Reports to: Regional Representative, with a technical reporting line to the Africa Zone Resource Mobilization (RM) Coordinator. 

He/She will work closely with Planning & Accountability Officer in Nairobi and Country Representatives in Eastern Africa

Background

The International Federation’s Secretariat coordinates and supports the collective efforts of the International Federation membership to better address the increasing number of humanitarian challenges in the world and to help National Societies scale up their humanitarian responses to these challenges. 

In order to strengthen its RM role, a Federation wide RM Strategy is being finalised and each of the five geographical zones of the Secretariat has established the function of the resource mobilization coordinator. 

To fulfil the RM strategy, the Regional office in Eastern Africa requires a Senior Programme Officer to lead the RM efforts in eastern Africa.

Job Purpose

The RM Senior Officer is responsible in assisting the regional and country representations to meet the RM target for national societies and secretariat programmes by engaging with all relevant stakeholders and donors, whether the tradition RCRC membership, UN agencies and other potential contributors. 

The post holder will be required to:

1. Assist the regional/country representatives to identify and access funding for Federation coordinated and National Society programmes and activities
2. To work alongside, and lead when necessary, Secretariat advisors and NS in preparing project proposals and grant applications.
3. To provide capacity building to NS and Secretariat staff on proposal design, grant application and compliance issues.
4. In coordination with the Regional Representation/Zone RM/PA Coordinator help draft a work plan and define a RM agenda of priorities, analyse donor trends, donor strategies, prepare packages of specific programmes and budgets for marketing, and setting up of meetings.
5. Assist the regional/country  representatives  in managing the coverage of the Federation Plans and Budgets, Emergency Appeals and special funding requests for Eastern Africa i.e. The geographical coverage of the former EA Zone
6. Process and follow up on all  Cash pledges (PMN) – coding, scanning, information sharing and filing of PMNs; for Eastern and Southern Africa as well as Indian Ocean Islands 
7. Help follow through on all Federation Contracting Procedures - with relevant departments (Audit, Legal, Finance as per the contract approval matrix and sign-off sheet)
8. Update and track all movement presence in the region and contribute to maintaining a complete database of PNS

The RM senior officer is part of the Technical Support Unit of the Regional Representation, working closely with technical advisors on DM and Health to ensure proposals/appeals are designed to high technical quality, and supporting the Planning and Accountability team in donor compliance.  

He/she works under technical coordination of the RM& PA Unit in Nairobi and actively participates in zone Relationship Management mechanisms. 

Duties applicable to all staff

• Actively work towards the achievement of the Federation's goals.
• Abide by and work in accordance with the Red Cross Red Crescent principles.
• Perform any other work related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the line manager.

Key tasks and responsibilities

The RM Officer is responsible and accountable for:

1. Bringing support to all matters related to leading, coordinating and facilitating RM;

• Assist in monitoring the coordination of RM plans for plans and budgets and emergency appeals.
• Study donor trends and identifying opportunities to support RCM work in EA
• Study grant making and compliance issue procedures of donors
• Participate and lead in proposal design and writing
• Capacity building on proposal writing and donor compliance
• Assist the management of pledges and the reporting to donors to ensure compliance with the agreed donor conditions and requirements and provide regular feedback to the RM unit at the zone office.
• Maintain updated information on current and potential sources of funding for the Federation in Eastern Africa country and regional representations, and support knowledge management activities in the context of RM at the regional and country levels.
• Assist regional/country representatives manage donor relationships together with programme managers and budget holders in day to day contact with donors in a coordinated manner – and help respond to the numerous requests.
• Ensure all unpaid pledges are followed up on monthly basis.
• With budget holders assure regular feedback with the Finance Department to capture financial needs.
• Assure filing and archiving of all PMNs and copies of legal contracts and agreements.
• Ensuring that seeking government/corporate funding is coordinated with the PNS country of origin e.g. USAID with American RC and Land Rover with British RC.
• Establish close working relationship with the host NS i.e. Kenya RC on country funding and establish Modus Operandi with regional donors. Ensure that “constituency clause” is respected in fundraising and has a blessing of the respective NS.

2. Facilitating partnership agreements with national and regional organizations in the region;

• Assist in preparing various “selling” packages for development of new or existing partnership, as well as with relevant regional organizations or embassies based in Nairobi and in other capitals of Eastern Africa.
• This entails that the Senior Officer will keep herself/himself informed of the developments of the relationship and the partnerships as well as programmes and activities supported by each partnership. He/she will have agreed tangible fundraising target for the assigned partner’s area. 
• With Communication unit at the zone and regional offices, ensure systematic and efficient promotion of Federation and PNS work in Eastern Africa.
• Assist in identifying call of proposals the best suited for specific themes or countries and assure that communication and coordination takes place of these various calls, i.e. the ACP Water Facility, USAID, EU etc
• Assist and support the Regional/country Representatives and RM/PA Coordinator to obtain background information, current good working examples of new partnerships such as with Development Banks, EAC, IGAD and other relevant organisations. This will be clearly reflected in the plan of action. 
• Assist in sharing information on partnerships and funding relations with the corporate and private sector in the region in coordination with RM in the zone office. 
• Be responsible for developing relationships or new initiatives with selected partners in  the region with  specific thematic areas  such as Disaster Risk Reduction, HIV and AIDS etc

Other: Other duties may be assigned within the nature and scope of the position employed or the above redesigned where appropriate

Required Qualifications

Education:

• University degree in relevant discipline (International Relations; business management, finance management, communication, Humanitarian Affairs, etc.)

Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years work experience in the international sector, focused on humanitarian needs (health and care, disaster risk reduction, etc.)
• Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement, and/or with a National Society an advantage
• Minimum 3 years experience in managing relations with donors and partners
• Work experience with other international organisations, large NGOs and/or governmental development agencies
• Experience working in the region

Skills/Knowledge:

• Ability to work in a diverse cultural context able to manage long-distance relationships to achieve results;
• Strong knowledge of information sharing tools, and the ability to implement them 
• Highly organised and able to work independently and proactively, with ability to work in team 
• Overall understanding of budget and finance management 
• Demonstrated skill in analytical and strategic thinking 
• Excellent membership and support service skills 

Languages: Fluency in written and spoken English. Knowledge of French an added advantage

Competencies:

• National Society relations
• Results Focus & Accountability
• Teamwork
• Communications
• Professional Mastery
• Leadership

Submission of applications:

Applications should be submitted by email to hr.eastafrica@ifrc.org; to be received not later than September 27th 2012.

Kindly note that:

1. Only e-mail applications will be accepted
2. Received applications will be short-listed on an on-gong basis
3. Due to large volumes of applications only short listed candidates will be contacted