Rapid Response Fund Officer, Iraq Civil Society Activity (ICSA) At Counterpart International

The Rapid Response Fund Officer is a crucial role within Iraq Civil Society Activity (ICSA) in Iraq. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) selected Counterpart International to implement the 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.This role is responsible for overseeing the efficient and strategic management of the Rapid Response Fund, a critical component of the Counterpart ICSA. The Rapid Response Fund is designed to provide timely financial resources to address unforeseen challenges and opportunities that may arise during the project’s implementation. The successful candidate will play a key role in managing this fund, coordinating with project stakeholders, and ensuring that funds are allocated and utilized in a timely and compliant manner. The Rapid Response Fund Officer will report to Grants Manager.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and implementation of the overall RRF grant and humanitarian implementing partner strategies for Counterpart-ICSA, Baghdad office.
• Develop an awareness raising strategy to boost awareness among a wide network of partners on the Counterpart ICSA.
• Oversee the RRF grants for implementing partners, and ensure the rapid development, tracking and implementation of grant ideas and approved grant activities.
• Monitor and promote the RRF through different forums (Sectors, Iraq Humanitarian Country Team, etc.), by developing and maintaining a large network of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to ensure a rapid humanitarian response in case of the occurrence of a natural or man-made disaster.
• Coordinate delivery of the fund, ensuring that disbursements are carried out in accordance with Counterpart standards and procedures, and USAID rules and regulations.
• Coordinate management of the grant database to ensure that all hardcopy and electronic documents for the grant are completed, filed and in order.
• Collaborate with project teams and partners to conduct rapid needs assessments, ensuring a deep understanding of emerging challenges and opportunities for quick response.
• Evaluate and assess project proposals submitted for rapid response funding, ensuring they align with ICSA objectives and comply with USAID regulations.
• Monitor and track the budget allocated to the Rapid Response Fund, ensuring that funds are utilized efficiently and effectively in line with project goals.
• Collaborate with project teams, partners, and other stakeholders to ensure that rapid response initiatives are effectively coordinated and integrated into project activities.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of fund disbursements, approvals, and project outcomes. Prepare regular reports for project management and USAID as required.
• Manage the overall quality of grant documentation, in English and Arabic, and for the timely submission of all relevant grant applications that meet Counterpart and USAID criteria.
• Develop, enhance and maintain strong communication channels with Counterpart-ICSA partners in order for them to understand the criteria and availability of emergency grants.
• Coordinate the review and the narrative components of all grants and reports closely while providing applicants with necessary support during the grant development process and throughout the project implementation cycle to ensure that approved grants successfully implement the goals and strategic objectives of the programme. Ensure the integration of cross-cutting consideration in the response, in accordance with ICSA grant guidelines (including on the inclusion of people with disabilities), accountability to affected populations (including participation, transparency, and complaint and feedback mechanisms), prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA), and environment considerations.
• Supervise the ICSA’s grant process including financial aspects to ensure appropriate standards of accounting and controls are met, and programmatic aspects to ensure that grant activities reflect the overall objectives of the ICSA.
• Conduct field visits in order to monitor and evaluate funded activities.
• Establish and coordinate the reporting system of programmatic activity for donor and the Activity as required. Provide to the Inclusion Manager and relevant ICSA departments with activity notes/grant updates on a regular basis.
• Manage and oversee the programme including centralized financial tracking of the grants; liaise regularly and actively with financial, logistical and procurement units in order to further programme objectives and ensure that standards are followed.
• Coordinate the implementation of an extensive information management system, develop reporting templates and refine existing mechanisms as required to ensure appropriate institutional memory in the area of grants activities and management.
• Manage the day-to-day operations of the Rapid Response Fund, including fund disbursements, tracking expenditures, and ensuring adherence to financial guidelines and procedures.
• Compliance: Ensure that all rapid response activities comply with USAID regulations, organizational policies, and financial accountability standards.
• Perform such other duties as may be assigned.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Business Administration, Management or a related field from an accredited academic institution with 5 years relevant professional experience, or University degree in the above fields with seven years of relevant professional experience.
• Professional experience in community-based and/or small-grants programming; infrastructure works, procurement and civil-society strengthening desirable;
• Experience working with United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded programs is required.
• Previous experience in operational activities in a crisis-prone or emergency area;
• Works effectively in high-pressure, rapidly changing environments.
• Coordinates actions with emergency response actors and making use of coordination structures.
• Supports adequate levels of information sharing between internal units, cluster partners, Counterpart-ICSA and other emergency response actors.
• Establishes and maintains effective relationships with implementing partners.
• Makes correct decisions rapidly based on available information.
• Strong writing and analytical skills.
• Knowledge of donor funding mechanisms, reporting requirements and procedures, and project implementation.
• For this position, fluency in Arabic and working knowledge of English is required (oral and written). Proficiency of language(s) required will be specifically evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments.