Resource Development

• Manage all components of RFP/RFI response process – review RFPs/RFI, profile opportunities, and ensure alignment with MFI funding priorities; vet with MFI and Regional leadership and obtain approval.
• Research and assess funding agencies, ensuring collaboration with WV Field, Regional and Support offices
• Develop opportunity pipeline aligned with MFI and VFI strategic funding priorities.
• Set up and support proposal development teams; create project workplan and ensure proposals and supporting documents are prepared to technical specifications and submitted on time.
• Provide technical support and capacity building to field staff, on proposal development, monitoring, reporting, and project management to ensure donor retention as a source of an on-going funding pipeline
• Within strategy, develop and manage key regional funder relationships with new and existing funders and World Vision Offices to achieve long-lasting global fundraising support to the MFIs.

External Engagement, Visibility & Technical Branding

• Network with regional donors and partners to establish collaborative relationships, learn of opportunities, and enhance VFI’s ability to gain donor funding and enhance VFI’s reputation in the marketplace.
• Develop and maintain relationships with key World Vision offices ensuring that the microfinance approach is understood, and fundraising opportunities are maximized
• Work with MFIs & VFI teams to develop materials for promoting VF’s technical brand to support funding acquisition
• Attend sector Information & learning events, trainings, communities of practice and forums with the objective of leveraging funding and partnerships for the VF and WV’s work in the region.
• Maintain knowledge of microfinance industry and trends including focus of targeted donors
• Actively engage with donors to share VF plans and Strategies and raise funding through such engagements.

Grant & Contract Project Management

• Monitor project compliance and implementation to ensure projects are delivered to specifications.
• Support MFI and ensure project impact reports are of high quality and submitted on time
• Build capacity of MFI for appropriate Management of funded projects
• Ensure award contracts are reviewed and risks managed and funds flow effectively to the MFI
• Ensure all due diligence and grant compliance requirements are met by VisionFund
• Ensure outcomes of Grant Funded projects are high-quality and high impact through ongoing monitoring and the execution of mid-term and final evaluations, operations research, etc.
• Review field reports and findings/recommendations to determine and replicate best practices and apply lessons learned.
• Deliver capacity building for MFI staff on grants management.

Knowledge Management  

• Contribute to proposal technical capacity content libraries.
• Contribute to streamlining Grant Funding processes and documenting protocols and policies
• Continue to learn and grow in understanding of microfinance industry and where grants can support growth
• Lead in the facilitation of documentation of project Baselines and Evaluations in order to document learnings, Impact and Results
• Contribute to the development of Impact Stories arising from various project implementation results
• Develop and continuously refresh MFI Capacity statements highlighting Sellable experiences.
• Contribute to the development of Staff training materials, documenting feedback and refining the products as needed.
• Analyse and document sectoral trends, landscape and patterns to inform Strategic decision making on resource development.
• In collaboration with the Impact Team, explore initiatives and/or share themes in Grants which can be documented & disseminated.

Knowledge, Skills and Competencies

Required Professional Experience

• University degree in international development, International Relations, International Business, Communications & Marketing, or related field. A combination with Finance would be an added advantage.
• At least 10 years’ experience in grant acquisition, fundraising, or corporate management setting dealing with senior management.
• Experience working in a development or Financial Services context in a grant making role
• Able to work in complex corporate culture and financial systems and ensure procedures internally and with third parties are well documented, monitored and executed.
• Creative and helpful at problem solving
• Ability to work well with granting agencies, Support Offices, MFI’s, and other VFI departments
• Excellent research skills and experience in developing funding opportunities. Strong grant-writing skills, persuasive writing, and complex document creation
• Fluency in written and spoken English is a requirement
• MS Office competency.

Preferred Knowledge and Qualifications

• Masters degree in a relevant field or accounting qualification or Grants qualification
• Excellent writing skills and ability to translate verbal narrations into sellable text.
• Excellent people management, communication, and relationship-building skills; must lead through influence and establish effective working relationships within the organization, with external partners, agencies and leaders in the microenterprise development field.
• International experience is an important asset, particularly in emerging/developing countries and in a humanitarian/fragile context.
• Demonstrated good judgment, exposure and diplomacy, particularly to different cultures.
• Creates processes with greater efficiency in mind, eliminating bureaucracy wherever possible.
• Able to travel to remote and insecure areas where WV VF work.
• Effective Public speaking, coaching, ability to articulate and train staff in VisionFund policies and procedures formally and informally.
• Must be able to simultaneously manage multiple priorities and projects; ability to navigate complex stakeholder relationships effectively
• Written and spoken French is desirable

Travel, Work and Language Requirements

• Needs to be able to travel to in the region including to Fragile regions
• Must be cross-culturally sensitive as will work with associates from every area of the world.
• Flexibility on hours to contact people within wide time zone differences is required