Reference number: Rec/ 015/21

CORDAID is a Dutch, international non-governmental organization which combines 100 years of experience and expertise in emergency aid and structural poverty eradication. CORDAID believes in a world without poverty and exclusion. We strive for a just and sustainable society where every person counts. We stand for knowledge and talent sharing between North and South, between farmers and businesses, between activists and policymakers. Where poverty, conflict and exclusion tear up societies, we connect people and communities. We also stand for professionalism, expertise and solidarity across borders, to make a difference where it is most needed. Together with more than 600 partner organizations in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America we structurally improve the living conditions of the poorest and most excluded populations - the bottom billion.

Purpose of the position

This is a fund manager position for the EU-RESET Plus Innovation Fund.

The position holder will be responsible for the overall management of the EU Resilience Building Programme in Ethiopia: the EU RESET Plus Innovation Fund. The EU-RESET Plus Innovation Fund is designed with the objective of promoting a social innovation system that enables poor and vulnerable people in realizing more sustainable and resilient livelihoods.

She/he will be responsible for the overall management of the fund and coordination of the fund management cycles. She/he will also be responsible to update the fund management systems, program quality at all levels, timely completion of activities and to develop/adapt fund management tools as needed.

The Fund Manager is expected to take a leading role in coordinating and liaising with partners and duty bearers, aiming at convincing duty bearers to reform policies/procedures and include key innovations. Through this the innovations can be up-scaled and spread in the targeted clusters and at national level.

The Fund Manager is bound by the EU regulations for implementation and will therefore ensure that EU RESET Plus Innovation Fund is implemented in accordance with the terms and conditions agreed with EU Delegation and ECHO, and in accordance with established national and international protocols, guidelines and best practices.

The Fund Manager will have a liaison role towards EU Delegation and ECHO as well as government authorities representing Cordaid. 

Duties and Responsibilities

Fund Management System Setup

• Coordinate the revision of fund management manual and oversee the implementation.
• In collaboration with the line manager and in consultation with the EU Delegation and ECHO ensure effective engagement of the advisory board.
• Revise the terms of reference for the advisory board, whenever there is a need
• Timely coordinate periodical advisory board meetings and ensure maximum possible contributions from the advisory board in ensuring effectiveness of the program, especially in system influencing and promotion of successful social innovations.
• In collaboration with the line manager and in consultation with EU Delegation and ECHO establish a fund management committee for the planned call for proposals.
• Ensure this program is administered effectively in Cordaid’s financial and M&E database (Ax and Dev Result).

Fund Cycle Management

• Effectively coordinate fund management cycles including closer monitoring and producing quality periodical plans and reports.
• Ensure effective and transparent management of the fund.
• Ensure effective implementation and timely fund transfers.
• Facilitate capacity building events for innovators in the field of resilience building and other themes.
• Ensure complementarity between action research and social innovations in the field of resilience building.

Multilevel and Multi Stakeholders Engagement, Convincing and Convening

• Facilitate mapping of key stakeholders.
• Facilitate multilevel and multi stakeholders engagement for effective realization of inclusion of key selected innovations by duty bearers and policy makers.
• Mobilize support from all key stakeholders for effective system influencing and reforms in the field of key selected innovations related to resilience building.
• Effectively liaise with the donor and concerned government authorities to convince duty bearers to include key innovations.

Lobby and Advocacy

• Responsible to undertake lobby and advocacy for effective system influencing towards resilience building
• Liaison with all stakeholders for effective system influencing
• Develop lobby and advocacy tools and facilitate evidence based lobby and advocacy in line with the overall objective of the fund
• Capacitate relevant actors including fund management team to do lobby and advocacy at their respective level

Knowledge Management and PMEL  

• In collaboration with fund management team and others, undertake effective monitoring and follow-up of the contracted third parties to ensure timely program implementation.
• Closely work with affiliate organization for effective and efficient implementation of the knowledge management component of the fund.
• Facilitate timely program midterm and final evaluations.
• Monitor and evaluate program performance through visits to project sites and compilation, consolidation, analysis and presentation of program outcomes.
• Visit all program sites regularly and provide timely feedback.
• Ensure fund indicators are being reported on and targets met.
• Ensure stated objectives are met and reported on.
• Ensure timely design of robust M&E plans.
• Ensure the fund utilizes standardized protocols, policies and guidelines, as per the national and international standards.
• Ensure timely submission of physical, financial and audit reports to all concerned bodies.

Communication and Visibility 

• Ensure effective communication and visibility of the program as per the EU communication guideline and Cordaid’s visibility policy.
• Ensure timely organization of promotional events (innovation fairs, thematic events, and other promotional events for system influencing).
• Ensure timely publication of communication materials in collaboration with the affiliate organization

Human Resource Management 

• Effective and efficient management of the fund management team
• Ensure efficiency of the fund management team.
• Ensure effective collaboration with the larger Cordaid.

Fundraising 

• Exploring funding opportunities relevant to social innovations for resilience building
• Making an effective contribution or taking a lead in designing new programs in areas of resilience building
• Identifying successful innovations for replications and mobilizing resources for effective adoption and application at the larger scale 

Additional Roles

• Represent Cordaid in relevant forums, networking events, meetings, etc. whenever necessary.
• Perform additional relevant tasks assigned by the line manager.

Job Requirements

Qualifications and Skills Needed

• A graduate or postgraduate in development, agriculture, agricultural economics, resilience building, rural development or other related fields coupled with 10 years of relevant experiences for bachelor's degree or seven years for master’s degree.
• Multilevel and multi stakeholders facilitation skills
• Knowledge and experience in convincing and convening aiming at systems reform
• Proven track record in effective fund management
• Knowledge and experience in promoting social innovation
• Knowledge and experience in resilience building.
• Experience in partnership management with donors and implementing partners.
• Experience in managing EU grants of more than 5 million Euros.
• Experience in working with international NGOs, private sector actors, research/knowledge institutions.
• Experience in team management.
• Good knowledge of the social, economic and political situation in Ethiopia
• Good communication skills, including intercultural communication and communication with ecumenical actors
• Negotiation, networking and facilitation skills
• An advanced skills and experience in lobby and advocacy

Competencies 

• Openness
• Integrity
• Innovative
• Strategic thinking
• Entrepreneurial and commercial thinking
• Reliable
• Result driven
• Independent team worker

How to Apply

Interested and qualifying applicants can submit their application letter and CV in English, with both phone and email contact details of at least 3 professional references, to the following email hr.ethiopia@cordaid.org. The vacancy reference number along with the title of the post needs to be written in the subject of the email. 

CORDAID is an equal opportunity employer and women are strongly encouraged to apply.All applications submitted cannot be returned.  Applicants are encouraged to apply early as interviews are done on a rolling basis and the advert can be closed when a matching candidate is identified An integrity screening will be part of the application procedure.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.