The UK Government (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office - FCDO) has a vision of a world free from Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) by 2030, in line with the SDGs. A programme has been established entitled ‘Support to the Africa-led movement (ALM) to end FGM/C’ to contribute to global efforts to achieve that vision. Following a co-creation period, programme implementation began in September 2021.
This programme will support and build the capacity of the Africa Led Movement to end FGM/C at multiple levels and at scale, working in partnership with the rest of the FGM/C movement, complementing UN agencies (such as the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme on FGM/C), Saleema initiative, other alliances (such as Girls not Brides etc.) and grassroots Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), women’s and girls’ movements, etc.
The programme includes two consortia working in close collaboration. Options leads a consortium including Amref Health Africa, ActionAid UK, Orchid Project, ACCAF and University of Portsmouth to implement the ‘Support to the Africa Led Movement to End FGM/C. Population Council is implementing ‘The FGM/C Data Hub: Data and Measurement Support to the Africa Led Movement to end FGM/C’.
Options seeks a Grants Officer who will work closely with the Grants Lead to support with the financial management of grants as part of the Programme’s granting component, ensuring compliance with all internal and donor policies.
Responsibilities:
1. Support the delivery of the small grant scheme and mechanism based on recommendations from grants scoping exercise and best practices
- Support the Grants Lead with the small grants scheme setup: application, review, selection process, and tracking and monitoring systems. This may include communicating with relevant stakeholders and potential applicants.
- Under the direction and support of the Grants Lead, utilise the finance management monitoring tools and any necessary tracking tools, and develop any new tools as required.
2. Oversee and manage the grantee finances
- Oversee overall progress of the grantee’s implementation against budget, simultaneously coordinating with the Grants Lead and the wider grants team, to have an understanding of implementation progress, including progress against the work plans and performance objectives.
- Work with the grants team to ensure the grantee's budgets are reasonable and in line with the work plan, contract and programme criteria, including Conducting budget reviews at the proposal review stage against historic costs available, prevailing market prices including consideration of completeness of costs to determine the reasonableness of the costs/estimates included in the proposal budgets; review budget notes/narratives at proposal stage to ensure their completeness and alignment with the costs estimates included in the proposal budget; and recommend budget revisions to the Grants Lead for consideration and inclusion in the package for submission to the Grants Review Committee.
- Follow the established guidelines for grant management, including compliance, financial, and administrative requirements.
- Conduct, under the supervision of the Grants Lead, the due diligence and contracting of grantee organisations as per the granting guidelines Work with the grants team to ensure effective risk tracking and escalating any potential issues to the Grants lead
3. Capacity building and learning
- Support the implementation of capacity-building plans for grassroots grantee organisations;
- Support the capacity assessment and capacity building of grantee organisations;
- Continuously support grantees’ cross-learning by facilitating and capturing best practices and knowledge sharing;
4. Monitoring and Evaluation of grants and client reporting
- Support the MEL team is closely tracking and monitoring awarded grants against MEL plan targets;
- Undertake routine on-site monitoring visits to grantees;
- Ensure complete and timely technical narrative and financial reporting from grantees on the programme according to the grants scheme’s requirements and guidelines;
- Support financial management and reporting of grantees and submission of timely and accurate financial reports to Options;
5. Other
- Ensure that all work is aligned with the Programme’s Do No Harm, Safeguarding and Emotional Wellbeing Framework
- Represent the Programme in meetings, public events or conferences as required
- In the spirit of teamwork, provide flexible support to colleagues across Options and the consortium
Person specification:
- Significant experience in managing programmes and grants, with a proven track record in disbursing grants directly to grassroots organisations in remote and diverse contexts, across a multi-country programme (minimum 4 years).
- Proven experience in designing robust granting mechanisms from inception
- Significant financial management experience, as well as budgeting, work planning, and fraud prevention and management
- Experience in designing and coordinating the delivery of grassroots capacity-building plans.
- Proven experience in risk and change management.
- Experience in contracts and contracting
- Experience in Monitoring and Evaluation
- Excellent grants and financial management skills
Benefits:
Options offers a comprehensive benefits package including generous annual leave allowance, medical insurance and 13th-month pay.
Other information:
- As an equal opportunity employer, Options Consultancy Services is committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees and does not condone discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage or civil partnership. We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified candidates from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and join Options Consultancy Services.
- Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and post holders to share this commitment.
- We seek people who are pro-choice, promote diversity and inclusion, are energetic and enthusiastic about Options’ vision.
- Applicants must have the right to work in Kenya.
How to apply
- To apply, please fill in the form HERE.
- Closing date for applications is: 3rd May 2023
- Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for interview. Interviews will be held week commencing the 8th May 2023.
- Please note that this role will be subject to full pre-employment background checks including criminal record check, identification check, employment references and right to work verification (where appropriate).