Grants Management Officer

Position Title: Grants Management Officer

Supervised by: Area Manager NOSO

Technical line manager: Head of Programmes

Duty Station: Buea – Cameroon

Area of Operation: Cameroun

Employment Period: 12 months

Type of Contract (Expat/National/Trainee): National contract (Cameroonians only)

Salary & Benefits: Non Management H

Introduction

The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunity for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and – whenever possible – for the fulfilment of the wish to return home.

The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956 and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Based in Copenhagen (Denmark) and present in forty countries, the Danish Refugee Council is a non-profit-making, politically independent, non-governmental and non-denominational relief organization.

Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced. All our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency.

1. Background

The West and Central Africa, North Africa and Latin America (WANALA) region covers three main areas in 12 countries.

Under the leadership of the regional office in Dakar and closely linked to interventions in neighbouring Central African Republic (CAR), DRC began operations in Cameroon in 2018 by responding to the humanitarian needs of refugees from CAR and vulnerable Cameroonians in the Adamaoua region. Currently, DRC operates a regional office in Meiganga and two sub-offices in Djohong (Adamaoua region) and Garoua-Boulai (Eastern region). Interventions focus on finding durable solutions for the most vulnerable, using the holistic approach of graduation to improve both protection and economic recovery. Interventions include identifying key protection risks and inter-population conflicts to identify social cohesion and conflict resolution projects that will bring communities together. The Emergency Mobile Team (EMPACT) established DRC’s programme presence in the Southwest region in late 2018 to address the needs of forcibly displaced people in the context of the Anglophone crisis, beginning humanitarian activities in January 2019. DRC operates in the 4 divisions of the Southwest, with an office in Buea and a sub-office in Kumba. Programming focuses in rural and hard-to-reach areas to meet people’s basic needs for food, shelter, and NFIs, while improving the protection environment and providing income generation opportunities. In 2023, DRC has initiated an intervention in the Logone-et-Chari division in the Far North with a focus on addressing root causes of inter-community conflicts through peacebuilding and resilience programming. DRC works with several local partners in Cameroon and is increasing its financial support to local civil society organisations.

2. Overall purpose of the role:

Based in the DRC Buea Office, this position will support the reinforcement of efficient and timely grant management. The GMO will work intensively with both the Support Services (especially Finance Department) and the Programme teams in the area office, and in close collaboration with the Country Office in Yaoundé. The GMO will support with high-quality and timely reports for donors and other country- and HQ- level communications; and will support the PMs, AM and HoP in initiatives to expand the portfolio, including contributions to proposal development and program design.

3. Responsibilities:

Under the management of the Area Manager and the technical Supervision of the Head of Programmes, the GMO will have the following main responsibilities:

• Keep track of and coordinate donor reporting requirements as stipulated in the various donor contracts, including coordinating inputs between programme teams and ensuring high-quality, well- written and timely reports meeting donor and DRC requirements.
• Support AM and HOP in providing timely, thorough responses to information requests from internal and external sources.
• Assist in writing of communication materials, including press releases, success stories, programme briefings etc. for internal and external audiences, packaging stories that center on evidence to further illustrate impact of programming.
• Assist the PMs, AM and HoP in proposal development tasks, through collecting and compiling necessary inputs from programme staff in line with the proposal development plan; supporting in the writing of the proposal as needed; and ensuring donor guidelines are respected.
• Oversee the grants component of DRC Dynamics system.
• Manage follow-up of contractual and official information and correspondence for the relevant grants.
• In coordination with relevant staff, design, maintain and inform internal procedures, systems and tools to facilitate DRC compliance with contractual obligations to donors.
• Contribute to collecting and centralizing information on new funding opportunities, calls for proposals and donor guidelines.
• Support MEAL staff to ensure the development of quality monitoring reports of program activities.
• Assist in organizing Grants Opening, Review, and Closing meeting.
• Assist the AM and HoP in the development and management of partnerships.
• In addition to the above, the GMO may be asked to carry out other duties requested by the Area Manager and/or the Head of Programmes.

4. Required Qualifications

Mandatory:

• University Degree in Political Science, Social Science, International or Development studies or related areas.
• Minimum 2 years of relevant experience in grants management.
• Strong ability to work in a variety of environments.
• Excellent writing, proof-reading, and communication skills
• Excellent organizational and multi-tasking skills.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint.
• Proven ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines.
• Stable, moral, and robust character and a good team player.
• High personal and professional integrity.
• Strong adherence to the humanitarian principles.
• Proven commitment to accountability practices.

Languages:

• Fluency in written and spoken English.
• Fluency in local South-West Cameroon Languages (Pidgin English)
• Desirable knowledge of French.

Key stakeholders: (internal and external)

• DRC SWNW Programme and Support Teams
• DRC Country Office Programme and Support Teams.

5. Required Skills & Qualities

• Core Competencies of DRC:
  • Striving for excellence
  • Collaboration
  • Taking the lead
  • Communication
  • Demonstrating Integrity
• Ability to work in a multinational and multicultural environment
• Proactivity, with a sound commitment to teamwork and with a spirit of genuine collaboration
• Excellent communication skills, as well as patience and politeness, are required
• Multi-tasking and Organizational skills is a must
• Adaptable and Flexible
• Proven analytical and critical thinking skills
• Exemplary sense of ethics in the workplace
• Team-oriented & good sense of humour

6. General Regulations

• The employee shall follow DRC instructions on safety, confidentiality, and ethical guidelines, including the Code of Conduct and the Humanitarian Accountability Framework
• Employee should not engage in any other paid activity during the DRC contract period without prior authorization
• Employee should not engage in any activity that could harm DRC or the implementation of any project during the DRC contract period
• Employee should not give interviews to the media or publish project-related photos or other material without prior authorization
• Employee shall return all borrowed equipment for the project to DRC after the end of the contract period or upon request