Grants Officer, Iraq Civil Society Activity (ICSA) At Counterpart International

Counterpart International is currently seeking a Grants Officer to support the implementation of this Project’s grant-related activities. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) selected Counterpart International to implement the Iraq Civil Society Activity (ICSA) in Iraq. The project has been awarded for a period of 5 years from October 2023 through September 2028. The purpose of the ICSA is to Increase citizen engagement and agency, especially among women and youth, to actively contribute to change on shared citizen-identified priorities, increase CSOs sustainability and resilience to represent citizens’ interests and advance community-led development, and strengthen a public sphere that fosters CSOs active and inclusive participation in public discourse and citizen-driven change, including among marginalized groups. Under the guidance and supervision of the Grants Manager, the Grants Officer will support the management and oversight of all Project subgrants, with a focus on compliance with USAID rules and regulations. This is a locally based position open to Iraqi citizens. This is a full time position based in Baghdad, Iraq. This position will report to the ICSA Grants Manager.

Responsibilities

• Ensure effective coordination with the Technical, Finance and M&E Units in subgrant program design, selection, execution, and monitoring.
• Ensure all grant activities comply with USAID regulations and guidelines.
• Assist in the preparation of all Requests For Applications (RFAs) and subgrants packages for HQ and USAID review and approval (in coordination with the Technical team).
• Ensure consistent, high-quality control of all supporting documents and ensure that the subgrant proposals meet the objectives of the Project goals.
• Assist in the oversight of grant-making process from start to finish, including design and issuance of technically sound request for Applications, review of proposals, and financial and narrative reporting.
• Assist in developing and updating, as needed, the Project’s Subaward Manual;
• Assist in the management of the subrecipient selection process in accordance with Counterpart’s processes outlined in its Subaward Manual and lead the review of subgrant applications, including budgets.
• Assist with the pre-award assessment process per Counterpart’s internal guidelines and ensure data is accurately and comprehensively documented and informs subgrant design, including monitoring.
• Participate in negotiations with potential subgrantees and assist in drafting subgrant agreements that are in compliance with Counterpart’s subrecipient policies and templates;
• Serve as the principal point of contact with subgrantees;
• Assist in organizing training, mentoring, and other technical assistance as necessary to subrecipients in compliance with USAID regulations and required financial management (including process and policies) and reporting,
• Monitor, in coordination with the Technical and Financial teams, subrecipient performance per subgrant agreement requirements.
• Conduct monitoring trips and spot-checks
• Oversee the full lifecycle of grant management, from application to closeout.
• Assist the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) team with monitoring of subgrant program activities, targets, and accomplishments, and ensure the quality of program performance and reporting.
• Assist in ensuring overall high-quality control (consistency, coherence, compliance) to subgrant documentation.
• Assist in institutionalizing Counterpart’s subgrant management practices;
• Ensure accurate subgrant close-out procedures;
• Assist in reviewing financial and technical reports on subgrant implementation for submission to the Project’s Chief of Party (COP);
• Conduct Regular Capacity Building Workshops: Organize and conduct capacity-building workshops for subgrantees to enhance their understanding of USAID regulations, reporting requirements, and financial management. Collaborate with the Training and Capacity Building Unit to tailor workshops to address identified gaps and promote continuous improvement in subrecipient performance.
• Risk Assessment and Mitigation: Implement a comprehensive risk assessment process for subgrant activities, identifying potential risks and developing mitigation strategies in collaboration with the Risk Management Unit. Regularly update risk registers and ensure timely communication of identified risks to the relevant stakeholders, including the Chief of Party, with recommendations for mitigating actions.
• Collaborate on Knowledge Sharing Initiatives: Foster a culture of knowledge sharing and collaboration by actively participating in cross-functional teams and contributing to the development of best practices, lessons learned, and success stories related to subgrant management. Collaborate with the Knowledge Management Unit to capture and disseminate valuable insights, ensuring continuous improvement in the subgrant management process.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• A university degree in social sciences, finance, business administration, or related field;
• Minimum Four years experience in design, negotiation, and administration of grants (preferably US Government supported);
• Experience regarding grants administration, contracting and procurement regulations;
• Knowledge of USG rules, regulations, policies and procedures a plus;
• Excellent organizational, analytical, oral and written communications skills;
• Demonstrated experience providing training and mentoring to local subrecipients in topics related to proposal development and subgrant financial management and reporting;
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively with project staff, USAID, civil society organizations and other beneficiaries;
• Arabic language fluency required.

Preferred:

• Experience with gender integration a plus;
• Knowledge of advanced professional level English preferred.