Senior Grants Officer Job Vacancy at RWANU in Moroto, Uganda

Job Title: Senior Grants Officer
Employer: ACDI/VOCA
Project: Resiliency through Wealth, Agriculture, and Nutrition in Karamoja (RWANU)
Funding Source: USAID
Job Location: Moroto, Uganda
Reports to: Chief of Party

About ACDI/VOCA:
ACDI/VOCA is carrying out the USAID-funded PL 480 Title II Development Food Assistance Program entitled "Resiliency through Wealth, Agriculture, and Nutrition in Karamoja (RWANU)". The RWANU Program is focusing on reducing food insecurity among vulnerable rural populations in selected sub-counties of Amudat, Moroto, Napak and Nakapiripirit. The Program's strategic objectives are (1) improved availability and access to food and (2) reduced malnutrition in pregnant and lactating mothers and children under five. The RWANU Program takes a preventive approach to reducing malnutrition, focusing on the first 1,000 days of life when conditional food rations will have the highest impact. RWANU will promote diversified livelihoods strategies including linkages to market opportunities to ensure long-term food security and resilience to food insecurity shocks.

Key Duties and Responsibilities: 
1. The Senior Grants Officer will steer the granting process and supervise compliance of grantee activities:

• Develop granting process guidelines jointly with technical team.
• Manage the creation of grantee selection committees involving technical staff and GOU/other stakeholder committee members as called for in the Granting Guidelines.
• Ensure that grants unit participates in review and initial screening of proposals from potential grantees.
• Keep records of all grant award decision making process and share with committee members.
• Draft grants agreements and MOUs in collaboration with Technical Team members.
• Initiate procurement requests for in-kind grants jointly with indicated Technical Team member.
• Monitor the utilization of in-kind grants to ensure proper application
• Develop reporting tools for use by technical team.

2. Work in liaison with the DCOP in strategic management of RWANU in-kind and financial grants budget to obtain best program impact:

• Monitor use of annual and LOP grant funds.
• Recommend adjustment between categories to meet project objectives.
• Review proposal from technical team and/or USAID for new grant categories; oversee elaboration of description and selection criteria.

3. Responsible for financial oversight of all cash grants extended to partner institutions:

• Carry out pre-award surveys of potential recipients of cash grants; review systems (management and accounting) used by grantees.
• Review budgets presented by grantees.
• Actively facilitate the operations of systems that meet USAID requirements and in line with best accounting and management practices.
• Engage, review and manage disbursements.
• If required review expense reports of cash grantees.
• Manage the portfolios of approved cash grants.
• Ensure compliance and adherence in the implementation of grants to donor requirements

4. Supervision and capacity building:

• Mentor and manage other grants officer(s) and short-term staff or consultants
• Steer the training of all RWANU staff involved in the granting process and monitoring of grantees.
• Assist in all aspects of capacity building of grantees to enable attainment of program goals and objectives.
• Orient and coach grant selection committee on procedures.

5. General compliance:

• Ensure environmental and PERSUAP compliance in all grantee activities working closely with the RWANU DRR/Environment.
• Ensure that grant making is transparent and fair, does not create conflicts in communities and enhances gender equity, working closely with Gender and Conflict Mitigation Officers.
• Ensure effective communication of grantee activities to stakeholders.
• Significantly contribute to preparation of program reports
• Systematically and quickly respond by letter to unsolicited non-conforming grant requests, with COP signature
• Represent RWANU and ACDI/VOCA in industry and development forums as requested.
• Attend to any other related duties as assigned from time to time.

Job Requirements: 

• A relevant Bachelor’s degree, CPA or MBA is an added advantage.
• At least five years’ experience that demonstrates the required knowledge, skills and abilities.
• Detailed working knowledge of USAID rules and regulations is essential.
• Prior experience in accounting and granting processes for donor funded programs
• Past exposure and experience in contraction and supervising financial audits and following up on audit recommendations
• Good communication and reporting skills
• Possess the ability to manage and supervise technical staff
• Demonstrable ability to work in a team

Deadline Date: 04/07/2014

How to Apply: 
All suitably qualified and interested candidates who desire to work in the USAID RWANU Project should send their applications (only by e-mail) addressed to:
The Human Resources Manager attaching their application letters and CV to:
Email: jobs@acdivocaug.biz

NB: Women are encouraged to apply as ACDI/ VOCA is an equal opportunity employer. Only those shortlisted for interviews will be contacted.