Partnerships & Participatory Grants Manager, Africa At Transform Trade

We are currently recruiting for a Partnerships & Participatory Grants Manager, Africa.

Transform Trade (formerly Traidcraft Exchange) works with producers and workers to create a just and sustainable trading system in which everybody benefits. We invest in and support producer businesses, social enterprises and civil society organisations who are modelling and advocating alternative ways of doing business that bring positive impact to their communities and contribute to the regeneration of our fragile earth. Together, we advocate for fairer trade policies, practices and systems that recognise and respect the needs and rights of producers and workers.

It is an exciting time to join our organisation. Following a strategic review, we are moving away from direct project implementation to a more partner-focused approach, acting as a resource partner, accompanier, influencer and ally. We work at local, national, regional, and international levels, focusing on Tea, Garments, and Farming.

We have regional hubs that consolidate operations in our key regions – Asia and Africa; and we advocate and campaign for changes to business practices and government policy in the UK, Europe and globally.

In Africa, we have largely been working in Eastern Africa. We are looking to cover other countries while playing grant making, facilitation and advocacy roles.

This new position is part of our intentional transformation to ensure that all internal and external efforts are mission and values aligned. We take a participatory and trust-based approach to our work, building trusting relationships with organizations and communities related to Transform Trade’s mission and program priorities. We listen to the needs and solutions of partners, serve as thought partners, and guide the organisation’s decisions to facilitate sustainable change.

At Transform Trade, we tested PGM and gained a better understanding about the benefits and challenges it brings – we decided to adopt the approach. We are looking for someone to lead our participatory grant making and partnerships management while working closely with the Regional Director, Africa.

We are committed to equality and providing a diverse and inclusive workplace. We particularly welcome applications from those who are significantly underrepresented in our sector, including persons with disability and individuals from Minority Ethnic communities. Women candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Role:

Title: Partnerships & Participatory Grants manager

Location: Nairobi, Kenya (with some travel in the Africa region)

Purpose:

The primary role is to support producer businesses and social enterprises championing alternative business models in Africa to thrive, positively impacting their communities and contributing to the regeneration of the planet. This will be achieved through grant making, partner accompaniment and advocacy.

• Manage a growing group of partners in Africa, fostering strong, trusting and long-term relationships and assessing the impact of our support.
• This role is responsible for bringing the promise of our participatory grant making (PGM) approach to life: giving local people and communities more say and control over what is funded in their area, supporting our partners to increase their resources and assets, influence, and to build the personal and organizational capabilities necessary to shift power in our society.
• Develop and maintain effective and productive working relationships with key partners/collaborators/grant makers and explore and build partnerships with local and international organizations.

At Transform Trade every member of staff is required to support our efforts to build our reputation, fundraise where they can and advocate on issues we campaign on. Our values underpin what we do and how we do it in all areas of our work; both internally and externally.

Everyone is an ambassador; everyone is an advocate; everyone is a fundraiser.

Accountabilities:

Reporting: This position will report to the Regional Director for Africa.

Collaboration: They will work closely with Africa region/global staff, producer groups/social enterprises and other key partners including civil society organisations, policy thinktanks, research institutions, government agencies, and donors.

Responsibilities

• Orient partners to TT’s mission and goals and engage in continuous refinement of grant making strategies, approaches and structures to meet the evolving needs of communities
• Participate in co-design of and support for internal structures necessary to implement participatory grant making and evaluation programs including grant review, due diligence, and ongoing support to staff and partners.
• Facilitate and coordinate all aspects of partner management and implementation, from partner identification to project completion in close collaboration with the Program, Finance and Operations departments
• Build authentic relationships with partners and other key stakeholders across focus areas
• Connect partners to resources and support capacity building that help them advance their missions or leverage existing investments, capacity, and assets.
• Communications – Elevate stories, key learnings, and investible opportunities in our focus areas. Provide regular storytelling and general updates on grantees to staff, board, and consultants, donors and other external audiences as appropriate.
• In collaboration with the Partnerships & Investments unit and Africa regional team, source a pipeline of funding opportunities and securing greater resources with fewer restriction that meet the criteria for support to partners from Transform Trade
• Contribute to the implementation of resource mobilisation strategies and initiatives, including supporting the fundraising team with writing proposals, researching contexts, identifying potential partners, providing regular project updates and information for informing the funder, and supporting business development as needed.
• Support regional programme development by engaging with key identified partners, including in the program design, plans, review of program programme/ project reports.
• Collaborate with staff and partners to prepare reports and ensure compliance with all donor requirements, including timely and quality reporting.
• Undertake program budget management, including supporting partners in compiling, monitoring, and tracking budgets.
• Manage a small team of regional program staff and/or consultants.
• Serve as Transform Trade’s focal point for participatory grant making (PGM), inspiring staff across the organization and the sector.

You will have:

• University degree in Business administration, Project management, Agribusiness, or other relevant area.
• At least five years’ experience in the management of partnership and grant schemes or funds – providing grants to businesses and civil society organizations; partnership management; business development
• Strong project/program management skills, demonstrated through previous experience managing multiple internal and external stakeholders.
• Exceptional relationship-building skills, with the ability to develop productive working relationships and make connections across a diverse spectrum of stakeholders.
• Strong interpersonal, analytical, and problem-solving skills for managing partner relationships, grants making, and programme management across various countries.
• Experience of working with different donors and uunderstanding of the nuances of working with both funders and grantees at different levels
• Collaborative approach to designing and implementing programs and solutions
• Ability to work collaboratively, contribute productively to collective decisions, and execute in alignment with them.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to implement procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively in cross-cultural teams.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Honesty, integrity and personal commitment to justice and fairness.

Whilst Transform Trade is a Christian response to poverty, we are committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace and welcome applicants from all faiths or none. We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds and value lived experiences. We ask all staff members to respect the organisation’s Christian vision, ethos, and culture.

Working days

5 days a week, 40 working hours per week

Salary

Salary Band 3 as per Transform Trade scales