Grants Specialist, USAID Mozambique Local Governance Strengthening (LOGOS)

Project Background

LOGOS is a sub-national governance improvement project funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). It is designed to support the Government of the Republic of Mozambique (GRM) efforts to decentralize governance to improve the delivery of public services – particularly health, education, and WASH -at central, provincial, district, and/or municipal levels. LOGOS supports activities with all levels of GRM, including support to central ministries responsible for the coordination of sub-national units of government, as well as technical assistance to select provinces, districts, and municipalities. Improvement of sub-national governance includes supporting the participation of the private sector, civil society, and marginalized groups. LOGOS works under an overarching mechanism (IDIQ) against a series of periodic Task Orders (TO) as defined by and with USAID.

Role Purpose

The Grants Specialist will report to the Grants Manager and work closely with the COP, DCOP, Grants Officer, Program Advisors, and other relevant staff. The Grants Specialist will lead the entire activity life-cycle for the flexibility mechanism, including grants preparation, selection and vetting process, review of activity budgets during program design; financial monitoring and financial report review for cost reimbursable grant instruments; financial reconciliation during activity close-down; and technical support to the Program Advisor during activity design and implementation The Grants Specialist position will be based in Pemba, Mozambique. This is a local hire position, and applicants must have the legal right to work in Mozambique.

Responsibilities

• Works with the COP and provincial manager and the Cabo Delgado, Nampula and Zambezia based team, to analyze province and community-level conflict dynamics in the in northern Mozambique.
• Critically assess the evolving country situation to identify needs and creatively design programs to respond to urgent needs.
• Under the flexibility Mechanism, proactively identify grant opportunities and reactively respond to grant ideas from USAID; then fully develop grant ideas.
• Support technical team design activities/grants and groups in provinces/districts affected by the conflict.
• Provide updates and analysis of key developments in targeted thematic areas (e.g., research and analysis, community cohesion, etc.).
• Develop and maintain relationships with organizations/actors in key target sectors (e.g., local NGOs, CSOs, media, etc.).
• Meet with partner organizations and attend local grant activities.
• Collaborate with team members on conflicts concerns, searches, and projects, with attention to deadlines and time-sensitive issues.
• Other duties as assigned by the Chief of Party and Deputy Chief of Party that are consistent with the overall focus of the assignment.

Minimum requirements

• University degree in a relevant field such as political science, conflict management and peace building, social sciences, and development studies. Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of professional experience.
• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in the successful implementation of development activities, with experience in conflict mitigation and prevention activities with preference given to Countering Violent Extremism, social cohesion, and local governance activities in northern Mozambique.
• Demonstrated analytical and reporting skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Experience donor-funded programming required, and experience with USAID strongly preferred.
• English proficiency in speaking and writing required; Portuguese language fluency in speaking and writing required; northern Mozambique languages preferred.