SUPPORT TO GRANT MANAGEMENT FOR SYRIA At Solidarités International

Country: Syria

Base/zone: North West Syria

Expected starting date: ASAP

Duration of the mission: 20 calendar days

1. Presentation of Solidarités International
   1. SI in general

SOLIDARITES INTERNATIONAL (SI) is a French NGO, independent of all political, economic, ethnic and religious groups. For over 40 years, it has contributed to provide humanitarian assistance to populations that are victims of armed conflicts and natural disasters by meeting their vital needs (water, food and shelter) and strengthening their resilience capacities. Particularly committed to the fight against water-borne diseases, the world’s leading cause of death, SI provides expertise in the areas of access to drinking water, sanitation and hygiene promotion, as well as in the essential domain of food security and livelihoods. SI teams are present in about 18 countries – a total of 2,000 people, including expatriates, national staff, permanent staff at Headquarters, and a few volunteers.

1. 1. SI in Syria

After nearly ten years of conflict in Syria, the impact of present and past hostilities on civilians remains the principal driver of humanitarian needs. North East (NES) and North West Syria (NWS) contexts are both characterized by: (i) ongoing and protracted displacements with low return opportunities, into densely-populated areas where humanitarian assistance is overstretched, (ii) no availability of alternative durable solutions, such as eventual re-installation or re-integration within host community because of social and cultural related issues, as well as the will of authorities to protect local communities, (iii) the depletion of productive assets and savings, (iv) limited economic opportunities and (v) the widespread destruction and contamination of agriculture and water related infrastructure by explosive remnants as well as other infrastructures have had a profound impact on the population. Finally, the COVID-19 pandemic threatens to further exacerbate a fragile situation with a potentially disastrous impact on vulnerability levels of communities across the region.

Type and content of SI programming: The main activities being implemented are related to (emergency) WASH (water distribution and rehabilitation of water infrastructure) and shelter and Food Security and Livelihood. Si partners are usually implementing activities in the health and protection sectors (but not exclusively).

1. Scope of the consultancy
   1. Scope of work

The support to grant management will reinforce the grant unit for a short period of time, and provide support on earthquake response. The support to grant management main task will be to support the department work with focal points at SI and implementing partners to develop technical proposals and prepare/consolidate the annexes using inputs from SI and partners when relevant. He/She/They will produce high-quality proposal that is compliant with donor requirements, technically clear and accurate. He/She/They will report to the Grant Coordinator and/or Head of Programs at SI. He/She/They should take ownership of the process and proposals, and remain flexible, communicate effectively, and work collaboratively with other members of the teams to ensure smooth proposal development process and adherence to the workplan.

Key Priorities and Deliverables

In close collaboration with partners, act as lead writer for specific proposal developments. This would include:

• Prepare budget modifications for current grants following earthquake response top-up including modification of technical narrative, budget and relevant annexes (ITT, beneficiary breakdown etc..)
• Communicating donor requirements for budget modifications, reallocations, change of locations etc..
• Following relevant donor, cluster and authorities’ announcements on earthquake response
• Review new grant contracts
• Drafting donor communications following latest developments including activity suspension, changes in locations
• Draft advocacy piece for resilience, recovery and rehabilitation funding
• Lead proposal development for new funding identified by SYR Coo as part of earthquake response (potential OCHA allocation, GIZ and CDCS concept note follow up)
• Preparing the workplan for the full proposal development, including a task division with the relevant technical counterparts at SI and partners’ level.
• Authoring the overall technical narrative of the proposal. This will include gathering information; writing and/or editing proposal sections such as executive summary, technical approach, project strategy, exit plans, and other sections as needed; and integrating different sections of the proposal developed by other authors.
• Following up with team members and management for feedback and revisions, revising text based on feedback and ensuring that the proposal stays on schedule. Ensuring version control and strong tracking of document progress throughout.
• Supporting on reporting for earthquake response
• Substantial editing. This may include reorganizing material, adding or deleting information, revising major sections of text, and asking authors to address questions and concerns, all in line with donor requirements.
• Copy editing. This may include revising the text to make it clear, concise, correct, and consistent.
• Communicating clearly donor requirements on page count, format and content in donor’s application guidelines, and then ensuring the application meets those requirements.

1. Management and reporting lines

• Position under the hierarchical supervision of: Deputy Country Director for Programs
• Position under the functional supervision of: SI’s Donor Development and Accountability Manager for Middle East.
• Key interlocutors: SI and partner’s technical focal points; key Grants and/or Program Director and/or technical advisor focal points at partner agencies; SI HQ Desk team.

1. SCHEDULE

He/She/They will be contracted by SOLIDARITES INTERNATIONAL from February 2023 for a maximum of 20 working days. He/She/They is expected to outline key steps in the process as part of the expression of interest. It is possible for the proposal writing to be carried out remotely, or in Amman.

Final submission of the proposal package remains in the hands of SI.

SOLIDARITES INTERNATIONAL invites applications for the provision of services as described above. Interested candidates must submit a financial offer (daily rate with clarifications on potential other cost covering expectations plus a proposed overall cost), scheduling, writing sample and CV detailing information on their capacity and experience showing that they are qualified for the services, including:

• Track record of skill, expertise and experience writing successful donor-funded proposals for large-scale, complex humanitarian interventions, preferably for BHA.
• Previous experience with BHA
• Demonstrated conceptual, analytical, writing and editing skills appropriate for proposal submission
• Demonstrated skill in using terminology and concepts for WASH,
• Working knowledge of the Syrian context is a plus
• Exceptional ability to synthesize large amounts of information and data to create engaging and compelling text while maintaining technical accuracy and adhering to strict page limitations
• Ability to juggle multiple demands, manage shifting priorities, and negotiate timelines
• Technical knowledge in one or more of SI/partner’s sectors (WASH) is preferred, but not required
• Fluency in English required

1. Application

Interest applicants are required to submit their proposal, using the following guidelines:

• Cover letter – one-page maximum
• Financial proposal. Includes breakdown of costs
• Consultant profile:
  • Training and qualifications
  • Professional experience (if relevant to consultancy, specific skills and/or specific context conditions)
  • Experience in evaluation/research in similar context
  • Experience in facilitating learning and participatory processes (in the case of a learning-oriented evaluation with co-construction of lessons learned and recommendations)
  • Knowledge of the country/area of intervention
  • Required qualities
  • Languages
• Sample copy of at least two similar assignments in past work.
• Reference