Resource Development & Management Advisor, VisionFund International

VisionFund's work seeks to end intergenerational poverty through financial products and services. We're about the long-term change that ensures children can break free of the poverty cycle, for good.

By supporting people and communities living in poverty to develop and grow their livelihoods, VisionFund is catalysing sustainable economic growth to break the cycle of poverty, so that children can reach their potential as communities thrive.

Learn more about us: visionfund.org

Application Language: Applications are encouraged to be submitted in English.

Overview

VisionFund is World Vision’s microfinance provider serving vulnerable clients through loans, savings, and insurance. We enable families to grow their livelihoods in hard to reach, rural locations in 28 countries so that caregivers can create secure futures for their children. We believe in brighter futures for children; empowering families to create incomes and jobs; unlocking economic potential for communities to thrive. Join VisionFund as we seek to end intergenerational poverty through microfinance.

The Resource Development & Management Lead role in Africa is part of the Resource Development team within VisionFund's Business Development Department and will lead on funding acquisition and funds management activities to support VisionFund’s financial inclusion activities in the region. The role will develop and manage funding opportunities through grants from a variety of institutions in keeping with VFI global strategy and funding priorities. This position will manage third party regional grant and major donor acquisition and compliance. The role will ensure we meet all obligations to donors on technical and financial reporting.

They will provide leadership and capacity building on the development of funding acquisition and project management processes in the region, including supporting MFI staff on how to manage grants, report on impact and pre-position with donors.

The role will create and manage a funding opportunity pipeline, providing technical support, project monitoring, and donor impact reporting. This role will develop and support successful relationship building with funders, World Vision Field & Regional Offices and implementing partners. The role will write proposals, review contracts, monitor donor funded projects and maintaining close relationships with MFI project staff to ensure we report on progress, finances and impact.

Role Responsibilities

Resource Development

• Manage all components of RFP response process - review RFPs, profile opportunities, and ensure alignment with MFI funding priorities; vet with MFI and Regional leadership and obtain approval.

• Research and assess funding organisations, ensuring collaboration with WV Field, Regional and Support offices

• Develop opportunity pipeline aligned with MFI and VFI strategic funding priorities.

• Set up and support proposal development teams; create project workplan and ensure proposals and supporting documents are prepared to technical specifications and submitted on time.

• Provide technical support and capacity building to field staff, on proposal development, monitoring, reporting, and project management.

• Within strategy, develop and manage key regional funder relationships with new and existing funders and World Vision Offices to achieve long-lasting global fundraising support to the MFIs.

Relationship Development and Networking

• Network with major regional third-party funders to establish collaborative relationships, learn of opportunities, and enhance VFI's ability to gain donor funding and enhance VFI's reputation in the marketplace.

• With a Matrix reporting line into the East Africa Regional RAM Director, utilize that role to develop and maintain relationships with key World Vision offices ensuring that the microfinance approach is understood and fundraising opportunities are arranged.

• Attend sector seminars, training, communities of practice and forums with the objective of leveraging funding and partnerships for the VF and WV’s work in the region.

• Maintain knowledge of microfinance industry and trends including focus of targeted donors.

Grant & Contract Funding Monitoring, and Management

• Monitor project compliance and implementation to ensure projects are delivered to specifications.

• Support MFI and ensure project impact reports are of high quality and submitted on time

• Build capacity of MFI for funded projects

• Ensure contracts are reviewed and risks managed and funds flow effectively to the MFI

• Ensure all due diligence and grant compliance requirements are met by VisionFund

Systems, Processes, and Capacity Development

• Ensure outcomes of Grant Funded projects are high-quality and high-impact through ongoing monitoring and the execution of mid-term and final evaluations, operations research, etc.

• Review field reports and findings/recommendations to determine and replicate best practices and apply lessons learned.

• Ensure systems are in place in the MFI to track and reporting on progress and financial management, working closely with MFI and Global Finance staff

• Contribute to proposal content libraries.

• Contribute to streamlining Grant Funding processes and documenting protocols and policies

• Deliver capacity building for MFI staff on grants management.

• Continue to learn and grow in understanding of microfinance industry and where grants can support growth

Knowledge, Skills and Capabilities

Required

• University degree in international development/Relations, Marketing, Economics, or related field
• This role requires at least 10 years’ experience in grant acquisition, fundraising, or corporate management setting dealing with senior management.
• Experience working in a development context in a grants role
• Able to work in complex corporate and development culture and financial systems and ensure procedures internally and with third parties are well documented, monitored and executed.
• Creative and strategic problem-solving capabilities
• Ability to work well with donor and partner agencies, Support Offices, MFI’s, and other VFI departments
• Excellent research and analytical skills and experience in developing funding opportunities.
• Strong grant-making and writing skills, persuasive writing and communication, and complex evidence development.
• Fluency in written and spoken English is a requirement
• Written and spoken French is desirable
• MS Office competency.

Preferred

• Master's degree in a relevant field or accounting qualification or Grants qualification
• Excellent management, communication, and relationship-building skills; must lead through influence and establish effective working relationships within the organization, with external partners, agencies and leaders in the microenterprise development field.
• Experience working in or navigating the Financial Inclusion and/or Microfinance industry is an added advantage.
• International experience is an important asset, particularly in emerging/developing countries and in a humanitarian/fragile context.
• Demonstrated good judgment and diplomacy, particularly in different cultures.
• Creates processes with greater efficiency in mind, eliminating bureaucracy wherever possible.
• Able to travel to remote and insecure areas where WV VF work.
• Effective coach, able to train people in VisionFund policies and procedures formally and informally.
• Must be able to simultaneously manage multiple priorities and projects; ability to navigate complex stakeholder relationships effectively.
• Must be cross-culturally sensitive as will work with associates from every area of the world.
• Flexibility on hours to contact people within wide time zone differences is required
• Preferably experience in humanitarian, international development, or financial institutions.
• Needs to be able to travel across the region including to fragile contexts.

Travel and Work Environment

• The position requires ability and willingness to travel domestically and internationally up to 30% of the time, including travel to fragile regions

Applicant Types Accepted:

Local Applicants Only