Fund Manager At Adeso

Organization: NEAR (Network for Empowered Aid Response); (Hosted by Adeso – African Development Solutions)

Position: Fund Manager – Change Fund

Reporting To: Executive Director

Working With: Global Change Fund team; NEAR Secretariat; project partners; local stakeholders and confirmed and potential implementing organizations

Duty Station: Global (remote)

Duration: 18 months (with the possibility of extension)

Starting Date: As soon as possible

ABOUT NEAR

NEAR (Network for Empowered Aid Response) is a movement of local organizations with a bold ambition – to reshape the top-down humanitarian and development system to one that is locally driven and owned, and is built around equitable, dignified and accountable partnerships. NEAR is a membership based organization with members coming from four regions: Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Middle East.

ABOUT ADESO

NEAR is currently hosted by Adeso, an expanding and vibrant African based international development and humanitarian organization. Adeso and NEAR both aspire to prevent and overcome situations that adversely affect community well-being by: Influencing policy change and enacting systemic change through innovative solutions led by local and national actors.

POSITION PURPOSE

NEAR is currently establishing a pooled fund, which will be the first global fund exclusively for local actors to respond faster and more effectively to humanitarian crises. The design process of this Fund has been finalized. NEAR is currently seeking to recruit a Fund Director/Manager who will provide leadership in the operationalization and stewardship of the Fund. The Fund Manager will be responsible for engagement with funders, and managing funds while engaging NEAR stakeholders across the world. During this nascent phase, the Fund Manager will have a dynamic role including but not limited to the operationalization (finalizing the legal compliance, operational frameworks, and the grants framework) as well as the launch of the fund and disbursement of grants. The position requires a highly dynamic individual with multicultural experience and a global outlook.

SPECIFIC ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

· Maintain the overview of funding including the funding gaps and opportunities for fund growth.

· Lead stakeholder engagement and in particular, community consultations to ensure ownership and organic growth of the Fund.

· Provide NEAR with support in the establishment of the necessary infrastructure for the Change Fund.

· Supervise the grants team and liaise with the governance team to ensure grants are made in compliance with the Fund design and guidelines.

· Oversee Compliance Officer and other staff and implement due diligence procedures for potential implementing partners, grantees and other stakeholders who will have a relationship with the Fund.

· Manage the grant making and implementation team to ensure selected initiatives are realistic and achievable (can be delivered within the agreed funding allocation).

· Monitor the implementation of grants and escalate emerging or anticipated risks to the governance team.

· Coordinate with NEAR’s Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Advisor to ensure a framework is established and implemented to monitor progress according to donor regulations, and to extract relevant learning from the operationalization and stewardship of the Fund.

· Work closely with NEAR’s Influencing team and South to South platform team, to disseminate learning and integrate learning into NEAR’s advocacy plans.

· Lead external promotion, visibility, and business development of the Fund.

· Monitor and ensure fund disbursements are in compliance with national and international financial regulations.

· Liaise with donor(s) on the progress of the Fund, including providing narrative and financial reports and making presentations from time to time.

EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

· Bachelor’s degree in International Development, Community Development, Economics or related discipline. Master’s degree desirable.

· At least 5 years’ experience working on humanitarian and development issues combining urban and rural experience.

· Deep understanding of development and humanitarian issues in the Global South.

· Experience in planning, securing and managing funds from traditional donors, corporate donors, individual giving and other innovative forms of financing.

· Track record in proposal development, contract management and financial reporting for donors, trusts and foundations.

· Experience managing institutional donor funding programs.

· Experience supporting proposal and grant making teams.

· Excellent computer literacy and proficiency with MS Office programs.

· Strong project management, team dynamics, excellent writing, and presentation skills.

· Ability to adapt to quickly changing dynamics, priorities.

· Proficiency in written and spoken English. Additional languages would be desirable.