Country Business Development Lead Consultant/De-facto Country Program Director AIRD Liberia

Background
The African Initiatives for Relief and Development (AIRD) is a non-political, non-religious and non-profit making NGO with Country Program Offices in Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Niger, Tanzania, South Sudan, Ethiopia and Uganda. AIRD’s objective is to offer operational technical support, including but not limited to: supply chain, logistics and infrastructure in partnership with relief and development organizations that focus on disaster-affected, poverty-infested and development-oriented areas specifically targeting refugees, IDPs and host communities. AIRD delivers for and through partners including but not limited to UN Agencies, international and national donor organizations and governments. AIRD seeks to recruit a Country Business Development Lead/De-facto Country Program Director in Liberia. AIRD is operational in Liberia since 2014 in line with the organization’s global strategy 2021-25, and currently developing a new strategy taking into account lessons learnt and transitioning its program from relief, emergency humanitarian response to development interventions and thus diversify its thematic programs, partners, donors and funding portfolio. Over the past 10 years UNHCR has been the main partner for AIRD Liberia. The focus thematic programs for the transition plan include:

1. livelihood,
2. access to sustainable WASH,
3. Skills development, employment, and income generation and
4. resilience building.
   In conjunction with the AIRD global strategy 2021-2025, a plan has been developed outlining the programmes of work which will contribute to each of these two aims as well as the resources (human, financial etc.) which will be required to implement them. It is within this context that AIRD Liberia seeks the services of a consultant to support its business development to help it lay the groundwork to achieve its ambitious plan to mobilize USD 5 million and build a pipeline of 8 million by Dec 2023.

Position

Type of contract: a first 5 (five) months collaboration contract subject to evaluation; a second collaboration contract of 9 (nine) months renewable, following the positive evaluation of the first five months of contract.

Purpose of the Role:
The main purpose of the role is to aggressively nurture and build opportunities for AIRD’s development in Liberia more specifically:
• Raise AIRD profile and position: Engage with representatives from international donor institutions, including UN agencies, bi-laterals, multi-laterals, Foundations, Private Corporates, etc. and potential consortium partners and map respective priorities to position effectively for upcoming funding opportunities (either through published calls for proposals or through a process of project co-creation) in Liberia. This will include positioning AIRD as a go to and partner of choice through packaging AIRD’s vast experience, unique profile and messaging to sale to the partners.
• Opportunity management: Provide support to respond to opportunities that arise, either from donors based in-country, regional or global level. This should include i) support to develop shelf of concept notes and project proposals for strategic projects and ii) development of a repository of tools and templates which can be used to facilitate future bid development.

Key deliverables
The key deliverables expected from the consultant are as follows:
• Secure a funding of USD 5 Million
• Identify/nurture and submit proposal/concept to donors’ worth of USD 8 million
• A document mapping potential donors and consortium partners which outlines their respective priorities and funding mechanisms and provides key contact information.
• At least 15 introductory meetings with decision-makers from potential donors/consortium partners (in particular those working with Livelihood, youth employment and skilling and resilience), including preparation of talking points.

Requirements
Qualifications and Knowledge
• An advanced university degree or equivalent in the field of Social or Political or Economic Science, Development Studies, International relations, Project Management, Human rights.
• Solid knowledge and understanding of development context in Liberia,
• Sound connection and network in Liberia,
• Good knowledge of MS Office.
• Fluent in English both written and verbal.
Professional experience
• Minimum 10 years’ relevant working experience in related fields.
• Working experience with international NGOs in management of international cooperation projects funded by institutional and private donors in Liberia
• Proven experience in Project Cycle Management
• Sound project development and proposal writing experience.

Application process
Please send a written application to: hr@airdinternational.org no later than 21st of July 2023. Include
• CV outlining relevant experience
• An example of previous work (e.g. a concept note or related documentation)