Job Overview:
The Grant and Partnership Officer will work closely with the Grants Coordinator and Risk and Compliance Coordinator, to achieve high quality and compliant programming among NRC partners in Cameroon through effective sub‐grants management and due diligence. The Grant and Partnership Officer will support the organisation to build strong, sustainable partnerships, lead efforts to monitor the activities of sub‐awardees to ensure compliance with NRC’s Partnership Guidelines and Toolkit and, Codes of Conduct relevant to Partners. They will also provide essential grant management support to Grants Coordinator in delivering quality programs in line with the NRC Country Office strategy and Plan of Action.
Role and responsibilities
Generic responsibilities (max 10)
1. Contribute to the development and implementation of NRC’s country strategy on partnership in accordance with NRC’s global partnership policies. This responsibility includes the development of action plans and the analysis of potential partners’ capacities.
2. Support the Grants Coordinator in coordinating the partner selection process, from the preparation of expressions of interest and calls for proposals, through to due diligence and the signing of the grant contract.
3. Contribute to developing concept notes and donor proposals and participate in writing them in close cooperation with relevant departments in NRC Cameroon.
4. Support external donor audits for NRC and Partners.
Specific responsibilities
• Uphold NRC partnership policy and humanitarian principles, NRC core values and the principles of partnership during the establishment of the partnership strategy, and guide the evolution of strategic partnerships over time by:
Regularly potential mapping partners in the relevant Area Offices following NRC partnership guidelines and sector best practices.
. Ensuring that partners receive all the minimum training required to implement the partnership agreement and to work with the departments responsible for implementing these trainings. To help ensure good communication between NRC and its partners.
• Support the Grants Coordinator in the development of Partnership Agreements, Teaming Agreements MOUs and other contractual agreements and relevant annexes in line with NRC procedures, and follow‐up on their review before official sign‐off.
• In collaboration with the Grant Coordinator and relevant Program Development Managers, ensure that partners are involved in proposal development processes, coordinate the collection and integration of partners inputs to proposals, in compliance with donor objectives and requirements.
Ensure that partners’ contractual reports such as but not limited to narrative and financial reports, are reviewed by relevant staff (finance, programs, logistics etc.), and internal feedback is compiled and sent to partners in a timely manner. Advise the Grants Coordinator and Managers of any issues and provide timely feedback to partners.
• Support the Area office teams in organizing and conducting review meetings with partners and monitoring visits to address any concerns that may arise. Ensure response and support plans are implemented.
• Regularly monitor the partnership SharePoint folder, and ensure proper partners filing, update the partnership tracker and capacity building plan, and file all relevant communication, assembling all requirements throughout the sub award lifecycle (such as scheduled payments, partner results, and special requirements).
• Follow‐up on the implementation of partner‐specific compliance, programmatic monitoring work plans, procurement plans, budget spending, and more. Advise the Grants Coordinator and other relevant staff of any issues and provide timely feedback to partners.
• Lead NRC monitoring of partners by developing annual monitoring and spot‐check schedule, coordinating the development of monitoring and sport‐check tools, communicating monitoring‐related information to partners, and facilitating remote and on‐site monitoring & spot‐checks.
• Attend Partnership related meetings and collaborate with relevant Working Groups and for a, and provide feedback to management.
Any other related duties as assigned.
Critical interfaces
By interfaces, NRC means processes and projects that are interlinked with other departments/units or persons. Relevant interfaces for this position are:
• Grant Coordinator as direct supervisor.
• Area Managers & Field Office Coordinators, Programme Development Managers & Coordinators, Head of Programme, Finance, Country Director, Logistics Manager, Monitoring & Evaluation staff, Risk & Compliance staff.
• Global Partnership advisor CWA.
Competencies
a. Professional competencies
Generic professional competencies for this position:
• A college/university degree in relevant field required. Degree in management, administration, marketing, or related field desired.
• At least 2 years of relevant experience in the Humanitarian sector, in contract management and partnership development.
• Relevant experience on project and partnership management in the humanitarian sector
• Experience of working with humanitarian and development donors
• Good understanding of donor rules and regulations
• Skills and experience in report and proposal writing
• Strong communication, coordination and interpersonal skills
• Ability to mediate in high‐stress scenarios with competing interest
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
Context related skills, knowledge and experience:
Knowledge of the context in Cameroon, and more specifically in North‐West, South‐West, Far North and East regions
Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:
• Attentive to detail.
• Creativity and capacity to develop alternative and innovative partnerships.
• Proven ability to contribute both independently and as a key team member.
• Self‐starter with excellent problem‐solving skills combined with the proven ability to multi‐task, prioritize duties, and manage time effectively.
Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint); Experience with databases and applications preferred.
• Language Skills: Fluency in written and spoken English and French languages.
Working Environment:
• Standard work environment. Expectation to travel within local community for partner meetings, trainings and events.
• Expectation to occasionally travel and participate in meetings throughout region and/or Countrywide.
b. Behavioural competencies
NRC’s Competency Framework states 12 behavioural competencies, and the following are essential for this position:
• Planning and delivering results
• Coping with change
• Working with people
3. Performance Management
The employee will be accountable for the responsibilities and the competencies, in accordance with the NRC Performance Management Manual. The following documents will be used for performance reviews:
• Job Description
• Work and Development Plan
• The Mid‐term/End‐of‐trial Period Performance Review Template
• End‐term Performance Review
• The NRC Competency Framework
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) Geneva leads NRC’s representation with the IASC and UN agencies, and coordinates donor engagement with the UN and Swiss donors. NRC strives to assist and protect vulnerable and displaced people during crises, especially in situations of conflict. Established in 1946, NRC is an independent, humanitarian, non-profit, non-governmental organisation working in around 31 countries with approximately 14’000 staff. NRC employs a rights based approach, challenging those with responsibility to uphold the rights of displaced people set out within national and International Laws. NRC endeavors to secure the acceptance of local stakeholders for activities and is committed to the principles of humanity, neutrality, independence and impartiality.
NRC seeks to engage with all relevant actors in order to promote the full respect for the rights of displaced and vulnerable people; secure and maintain access for humanitarian operations and promote the achievement of durable solutions. NRC Geneva, with the Internal Displacement Monitoring Center (IDMC), are NRC’s primary presence in Geneva.