About Oxfam

OUR WORK IN ETHIOPIA

Job details

We believe flexible working is key to building the Oxfam of the future, so we’re open to talking through the type of flexible arrangements which might work for you. This is a full-time role; however, Oxfam offers various flexible arrangements which candidates can discuss with the Recruiting Manager at the interview stage

Oxfam in Ethiopia is working to extend support to people marred by conflict, disasters and living in poverty and facing various shapes of inequality. Our Business Development team supports the program and functions to develop, nurture and maintain donor relations. The funding unit is also mandated to lead business development, submit reportsensuring donor compliance, negotiate with donors on contracts, and document and share learnings to fill gaps and improve country performance.

Our country programme is implementing humanitarian and development programs in close coordination with partners and other stakeholders through 5 field offices and the national office in Addis Ababa. This role will be an integral part of the Business Development Team and work with the Business Development Manager and relevant Officers to ensure that the team has extended all possible support to the country program in achieving desired goals and objectives enshrined in the Oxfam Country Strategy 2021-2030.

JOB PURPOSE:

This position will help the Country Program in devising and implementing the resource mobilization strategy to effectively contribute to OCS (Oxfam’s Country Strategy) and thrive in its funding ambitions. The post holder is responsible for coordinating and developing funding applications (proposals,concept notes, logframes, budgets); developing relations with donors, donor contract management, ensuring donor and internal compliance and reporting to donors.

• Under the direct supervision of Business Development Manager, the position holder will be responsible for supporting program and other relevant units in contract management, business development and planning and managing grants.
• Provide capacity building support to Oxfam’s field offices on donor reporting and compliance.
• Develops solutions to diverse and complex problems within organizational policy on donors.
• Contribute to and influence partners operational planning.

FUNDRAISING AND PROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT

• Conduct intelligence gathering at country level and keep programme staff informed about upcoming funding opportunities to build sustainable funding base for Oxfam’s programming.
• Proactive relationship building with donors in coordination with Programme Manager/s, Technical Leads, Business Development Manager, and other programme colleagues, including involvement / engagement in donor fora.
• Coordinate the planning, design, development, checking and submission of donor proposals  concept notes, and donor budgets, including modifications and amendments as required. This entails working closely with programme and operations colleagues to advise/support them to understand and meet donor f requirements, and close coordination with colleagues in HQ/Oxfam affiliates/regional colleagues including on  the development of regional proposals.
• Make regular visits to programme sites, to be knowledgeable about the programme as the basis for the informed development of proposals and discussions / contact with donors.
• Conduct donor research / mapping to identify donors and create new and innovative funding opportunities in line with country strategies. Feed into regional planning, including regional strategy development, regularly informing / communicating with teams on new fundraising opportunities and expected calls.
• Ensure that the need for gender equality is fully reflected in programme design and in proposals. Liaise with the Gender Advisor to ensure that the specific needs of women and girls are accounted for throughout programme design.

GRANT/CONTRACT MANAGEMENT

• Manage Oxfam’s grants management system (CRIMSON) as the main tool for donor contract management, maintaining up to date proposal, allocations, income, reporting and other contract records.
• Support programme, other support functions and partners in ensuring compliance with internal and external requirements on the use of restricted funds, building understanding, visibility and clarity around donor contractual requirements.
• Write / edit, review, and submit compliant donor financial and narrative reports, ensuring consistency, accuracy, clarity, and timely submission in compliance with Oxfam policies and procedures as well as donor contractual requirements. Work with and influencing programme and finance staff to continuously improve the quality of donor reports ensuring we are following agreed internal procedures.
• Facilitating ‘grant start-up meetings’ for new contracts and following up on action plans derived from these.
• Support finance and project managers to monitor restricted funding expenditure, including the timely identification of problems e.g. ineligible expenditure, miscoding etc, enabling timely corrective action, such as amendments and extension requests, to be taken.
• Coordinate communications with current donors including responding to information requests, income tracking, contract amendments etc from donors or other Oxfam departments.

INFORMATION AND SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT

• Maintain restricted funding information systems and records on donor contracts and income data on shared drive, OPAL, CRIMSON, and hard files. Full training will be given on all new systems.
• Manage and maintain OGB Funding Grid and donor log etc, in coordination with the BDM.
• Collaborate with finance staff and OPAL Focal Point in country to align CRIMSON allocations, OPAL budgets and Peoplesoft expenditure, ensuring that all variances are rectified in a timely manner.

CAPACITY BUILDING

• Provide training and induction to programme staff and partners on the essential core skills around contract management, proposal / report development, donor requirements, Oxfam’s internal procedures as per capacity building plan.
• Provide training and support to programme and other staff on the effective management of donor funds to ensure compliance.
• Support the programme team to develop and maintain a comprehensive, up to date and user-friendly filing and contract management system for contracts and other documents, maintaining a complete and clear audit trail of proposals, contracts, donor reports, donor visits and feedback, etc.
• Management and development of a Senior Funding Officer.

person specification

1 Self-Awareness

2 Mutual accountability

3 Strategic Thinking and Judgment

• Bachelor (BA) or Degree from a recognized university/collage in Social Sciences, International Development, Accountant or any other related areas that can bring added value to the job. Masters degree in relevant discipline is preferred.
• Relevant fundraising experience of 3-5 years for BA/Degree holders (including securing and managing funds from institutional donors, such as ECHO, EU, DFID, OFDA, CIDA, and UN agencies) preferably in an international NGO, out of which 2 years should be supervisory/managerial experience
• Proven experience developing funding proposals, concept notes, logframes and developing budgets
• Proven experience of grants management especially in terms of ensuring compliance during project cycle management: reviewing donor contracts, grant start-up workshops, donor reporting,
• Have sound knowledge of Oxfam’s key donors, private sector and UN agencies and their funding rules.
• Have knowledge of managing donor online platforms/grants management systems such as ECHO, BHA/USG and UN Agencies
• Have experience of doing multi-tasking while performing daily routines
• Excellent planning and budgeting skills and a sound understanding of Programme Cycle Management in emergencies and development environments.
• Organizational and personal management skills, with the ability to juggle multiple workstreams, prioritize work issues to meet deadlines with minimal supervision and adjust to constantly changing situations while maintaining focus on delivery and follow-through.
• Have good understanding of Oxfam’s feminist principles and anti-racist theories to create a safe environment.
• Strong Microsoft Office and Xcel skills
• Good interpersonal, influencing and relationship skills