Compliance Officer at Adeso

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

Position: Compliance Officer – Change Fund

Reporting To: Fund Manager

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 Compliance Officer to establish and implement a compliance program for the Fund. During the inception phase, the Compliance Officer will identify and assess compliance risk, establish proposal and grant-making guidelines, liaise with legal experts to create contact templates, institute codes of conduct and liaise with the executive management to incorporate the program within the operations and programs of the Fund. The position requires a dynamic and creative individual with multicultural expereince; the compliance program should create an innovative compliance environment that facilitates the success of local, rapid, and flexible implementation.

SPECIFIC ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

· Develop a compliance program and ensure it is implemented and integrated into the operations of the Fund.

· Coordinate resources to ensure ongoing effectiveness of the compliance program.

· Work collaboratively with leadership and staff throughout the organization to provide training, education and promote awareness of and help resolve regulatory and other applicable standards.

· Ensure that the organizational controls are capable in detecting and prevent unethical or illegal conduct by employees, consultants, and other stakeholders within the network.

· Support and participate in the due diligence process for potential implementing partners, grantees and other stakeholders who will have a relationship with the Fund.

· Serve as primary point of contact with potential and actual implementing partners.

· Establish a reporting program on the compliance plan and present periodic reports to the governance team.

· Work with the Fund Manager to monitor the implementation of grants and escalate emerging or anticipated risks to the governance team.

· Prepare contracts and grant agreements in line with the compliance program.

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

· Maintain and update the compliance manual, taking into consideration lessons in ma

· Develop and coordinate internal and external audit procedures.

· Provide leadership on the resolution of issues and systems flagged as non-compliant.

· Maintain records and ensure adequate response to appropriate information requests by any external regulatory authority.

EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

· Degree in Finance, Law or related discipline. Master’s degree desirable.

· At least 5 years’ experience working on compliance and risk management in the non-profit sector.

· 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.