Grants & Innovation Funds Officer job at Palladium

BACKGROUND

The focus of the project is to implement a Climate Smart Jobs (CSJ) programme, focusing on Northern Uganda as part of the UK’s International Climate Finance commitment. CSJ Component One is a part of the CSJ programme, and its objective is to support large-scale job creation in the agri-business sector, aiming to improve productivity and/or incomes in agriculture. The programme is seeking innovative, technology-based solutions to address issues faced by agriculture in Northern Uganda, promoting sustainable land management practices and climate adaptation, and job opportunities. The programme is funded by the UK’s International Climate Fund and is built on the UK-funded Northern Uganda – Transforming the Economy through Climate Smart Agriculture (NU-TEC) programme. CSJ Component One consists of three components: Component 1A, which is a market systems development intervention, Component 1B, which is running a challenge fund called the “Uganda Climate Innovation Fund”, and Component 1C which builds on the market system development approach but focuses on ecosystem services/sustainable land management.

PURPOSE

The specific purpose of the position is to support the team in developing and implementing the Intervention Agreements mechanism of the programme under component 1A and 1B. This position is also responsible for contributing toward the project’s mainstreaming of gender and social inclusion initiatives.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

Intervention Agreements Management:

• Review of the concept notes and supporting documentation to ensure completeness, consistency and adherence to the intervention fund terms.
• Drafting of the MoUs and Intervention Agreements with partners.
• Review project budgets and advise the Deputy Team Leader – Operations and Team Leader accordingly.
• Review the Fiduciary Risk Assessment Reports to identify key risk areas.
• Ensure that relevant special conditions are included in the Intervention Agreement.
• Support the production of all documents and tools needed for the Intervention Agreement.
• Support the development and implementation of the due diligence, monitoring and evaluation procedures of the Programme.

Project Monitoring:

• Supporting the team in making sure that progress reports (technical and financial) are submitted on time.
• Review, analyze and assess the Intervention Partner’s performance against KPIs as per intervention agreement.
• Review Intervention Partner’s financial reports and request any additional supporting documentation.
• Follow up on feedback sent to the Intervention Partner to ensure issues raised have been addressed.
• Coordinate project expenditure verification and audit.

Overall Portfolio Management:

• Preparation of the intervention funding allocation, disbursements, and forecast schedules as required.
• Tracking all financial disbursements to intervention partners.
• Review of site visit reports and following up on action points.
• Attendance at all weekly and/or management team meetings and providing updates on overall portfolio management.

Intervention Management Policies & Procedures:

• Focusing on continual improvement in the intervention fund management processes always ensuring that the intervention management function is operating efficiently and effectively.
• Ensuring that the Interventions Manual is up to date regarding intervention fund management policies and procedures.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Business Management / Administration, Finance, Economics or other related degree
• A minimum of 2 years of work experience in a developing country or similar environment (east Africa experience strongly preferred);
• Experience of working with FCDO or other International Development organisations would be an asset.
• Experience in grants management, inclusive development, market system approaches, including gender issues within an understanding of market systems development (desired).

PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE AND SKILLS REQUIRED

• Negotiation and debating skills.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Good team leadership, management and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and to manage competing priorities.
• Outstanding team player and willingness to learn and support learning of others.
• Ability to operate in complex situations.
• English language skills. The ability to also speak Swahili, Luganda or another Ugandan language is desired, but not essential.

Our company provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics.

• Review of the concept notes and supporting documentation to ensure completeness, consistency and adherence to the intervention fund terms.
• Drafting of the MoUs and Intervention Agreements with partners.
• Review project budgets and advise the Deputy Team Leader – Operations and Team Leader accordingly.
• Review the Fiduciary Risk Assessment Reports to identify key risk areas.
• Ensure that relevant special conditions are included in the Intervention Agreement.
• Support the production of all documents and tools needed for the Intervention Agreement.
• Support the development and implementation of the due diligence, monitoring and evaluation procedures of the Programme.
• Supporting the team in making sure that progress reports (technical and financial) are submitted on time.
• Review, analyze and assess the Intervention Partner’s performance against KPIs as per intervention agreement.
• Review Intervention Partner’s financial reports and request any additional supporting documentation.
• Follow up on feedback sent to the Intervention Partner to ensure issues raised have been addressed.
• Coordinate project expenditure verification and audit.
• Preparation of the intervention funding allocation, disbursements, and forecast schedules as required.
• Tracking all financial disbursements to intervention partners.
• Review of site visit reports and following up on action points.
• Attendance at all weekly and/or management team meetings and providing updates on overall portfolio management.
• Focusing on continual improvement in the intervention fund management processes always ensuring that the intervention management function is operating efficiently and effectively.
• Ensuring that the Interventions Manual is up to date regarding intervention fund management policies and procedures.

• Negotiation and debating skills.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Good team leadership, management and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and to manage competing priorities.
• Outstanding team player and willingness to learn and support learning of others.
• Ability to operate in complex situations.
• English language skills. The ability to also speak Swahili, Luganda or another Ugandan language is desired, but not essential.

• A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Business Management / Administration, Finance, Economics or other related degree
• A minimum of 2 years of work experience in a developing country or similar environment (east Africa experience strongly preferred);
• Experience of working with FCDO or other International Development organisations would be an asset.
• Experience in grants management, inclusive development, market system approaches, including gender issues within an understanding of market systems development (desired).