Organization:
MerlinCountry: Mali
Closing date:
19 Sep 2013Location: Bamako, Mali Responsible to: Country Director
Duration: 6 months Start Date: ASAP Salary: £26,480 - £27,230 per annum pro-rata (dependent on relevant experience) inclusive of supplementary cost of living allowance. Benefits: Insurance cover, accommodation, travel, R&R (if determined hardship location), annual leave entitlement of 24 days per annum rising to 30 days at the completion of 12 months of continuous employment with Merlin
Only short-listed applicants will be contacted. Due to the urgency of this position, applications will be short listed on a regular basis and we may offer this post before the closing date. Please note that this is an unaccompanied position.
Merlin International ProfileMerlin is an international health charity, saving lives in the world’s toughest places. Merlin responds with healthcare, when people are overwhelmed by natural disaster, conflict or disease and in need of immediate help. We focus on treating those who are beyond the reach of existing health services. After the immediate crisis, Merlin stays on to assist recovery. Using our expertise, we support health workers and strengthen existing health services. We build resilience by helping those at risk of future health disasters, to be better prepared.
We think everyone should have access to lasting healthcare. We believe good health is fundamental to transforming people’s lives, that’s why Merlin is A Force for HealthAs of 16 July, Merlin is joining Save the Children to create a world-class humanitarian health force for children and their families living in some of the toughest places in the world. By combining Merlin’s unique network of frontline health workers with Save the Children’s life-saving work in over 120 countries, more children affected by disaster or conflict will be reached.
Both organisations are really excited by this opportunity to dramatically increase our reach and impact for children and their families.
For those teams transferring as part of this plan, our expectation is that there will be a phased transition of Merlin’s overseas programme operations and head office teams to Save the Children, which we are aiming to complete within 18 months. During this time Merlin’s life-saving work for children and their families around the world will continue
Context and BackgroundMali has descended into an unprecedented humanitarian crisis since January 2012 following the insurgency by the National Movement for the liberation for the Azawad (MNLA), an organization fighting to make Azawad (Northern Mali) an independent homeland for the Tuareg people. MNLA, initially supported by Islamist groups – the biggest being Ansar Dine - took advantage of a military coup in Bamako to take control, over a few days in April 2012, of the 3 Northern regions (Timbuktu, Kidal and Gao). By July 2012, Ansar Dine and other Islamist groups had routed the MNLA and effectively taken control of the North leading to massive population displacements with 227,206 IDPs within Mali and a total of 140,000 refugees in neighbouring countries (Burkina Faso, Niger and Mauritania). The conflict and ensuing displacement has severely disrupted an already stretched and underfunded health Malie system both in areas directly affected by the conflict (North and Central regions) and in IDP host areas (including Bamako).
Given reports that humanitarian health needs in the North and Centre of the country were not being met, Merlin dispatched an assessment mission to Mali to design a humanitarian response programme over the next few weeks. It is expected that funding for a health/nutrition response in Northern and/or Central Mali will be available from April 2013. While the security and humanitarian access situation in Northern Mali remains very tense, it is improving, allowing enhanced humanitarian operations. Main purpose of the roleThe Grants Coordinator is responsible for documentation, reporting, for fund raising, supporting the CD in managing donor relationship, streamline compliance and grants management processes of the country program. This position is part of the Team responsible for the overall management, strategic planning and vision of Merlin in the Mali. The Grants Coordinator provides guidance and training to support staff and the field teams in the development and management of all proposals, reports, donor relations and compliance. S/He is the main point of contact for all information and documentation related to Merlin grants in Mali, particularly for donors. S/He will work in close collaboration with the CMT.
The role works closely with the Country Director, also based in Bamako, to ensure that effective grant management is being carried. Together with the Country Director, the Grants Coordinator is ultimately responsible for assuring full donor compliance of closed, running and future projects implemented by Merlin Mali. He/she has an essential role in assessing, managing and advising on risks and hits within the Merlin Mali programme.The Grants Coordinator manages directly Merlin’s relationships with a number of major donors on behalf of the CD, and is instrumental in the identification of potential donors, the preparation of proposals and proposal budgets, negotiation with donors, and subsequent donor liaison on grants secured in-country.
Overall Objectives (scope)• Develop, strengthen and monitor the project cycle at Merlin MaliI, including acting as safeguard for compliance on donor requirements with closed, running and future grants.• Strengthen adherence to contracts and donor requirements by providing teams with the required technical support, guidance and training to ensure all Merlin Mali projects are donor compliant.• Ensure that the donor funding opportunities in Mali are investigated, assessed and action is taken in coordination with the Country Director, Head Office Regional Programme Team and Country Management Team.• Build institutional relationships with donors and Merlin Head Office to ensure technical accuracy and smooth implementation of grants according to Merlin and donor protocols.• Assess, manage and advise the CMT and Head Office programs department on financial and donor compliance-related risks
ResponsibilitiesDonor compliance• Act as focal point for concept note and proposal preparation, including budget and narratives as required, in collaboration with Country Finance Director, Programs, support departments and relevant field teams; • Provide donor-specific guidance on budget preparation and closure;• Liaise closely with program staff in budget preparation and incorporate budget lines in liaison with the coding structure of the master chart of accounts and advise the Country Finance Director of updates as necessary;• Increase field team’s grant management capacity, understanding of, donor compliance and budget management through targeted training of field staff at each program location and in Bamako;• Support field teams and liaise with HO to ensure complete, correct and timely submission of high quality reports to donors;• Coordinate closely with finance, logistics and medical teams to ensure highly accurate and scrutinized reports are submitted to Head Office and donors;• Assess, troubleshoot and minimize current and retroactive compliance issues and risks in coordination with donors, support and field teams; • Provide quality control on all donor reports, including financial;• Act as focal point for any information required on past or present grants, including potential grants;• Provide ongoing guidance to Merlin Mali team to ensure an improved standard of compliance with donor requirements.• Dealing directly with major donors on behalf of the Country Director as and when requested by the CD• Ongoing identification of potential donors with Mali• Preparation of proposals and proposal budgets, including negotiation with donors and subsequent donor liaison on grants secured in Mali.
Donor relations • Research, assess and recommend action on donor strategies and opportunities in collaboration with the Country Director and HO regional team;• Strengthen Merlin Mali’s relationships with existing and potential donors on behalf of Country Director and HO; regional team with regard to proposals, financial and narrative reporting, operational issues and contracts as required.
Administrative functions• Develop, update and circulate the donor report tracking system;• Ensure the reports/proposals and other donor requirements are adhered to and are on time. • Ensure donor grant files (electronic and hard copies) are maintained and updated regularly in all program bases. Ensure security of all key documents including agreements, proposal documentation, correspondence, donor reports, rules & regulations, charts of accounts for all donor / grant programs as assigned;• Liaise with field teams and HQ/donors in the organisation and orientation of external visitors as requested.
Representation• Represent Merlin at national-level coordination meetings in country as requested by the Country Director;• On request, represent Merlin and its activities to other key stakeholders (community, authorities, donors other NGOs).
Other• Visit field sites regularly to ensure current understanding of projects and address problem areas in coordination with field teams and support offices; Provide coverage for other administrative and program support posts when needed and carry out any other responsibilities as requested by the Country Director Person Specification
Person SpecificationEssential
Qualifications, experience and competences• Degree or qualification in related field - preferably accounting and finance, auditing, business administration or law.• Strong communication skills, with excellent written and spoken English and French• Substantial experience of grant management and donor compliance• Familiarity with major bilateral and pooled funding donors• Proven experience of the donor environment including experience of networking and building and maintaining relationships with a variety of donors• Demonstrated project management skills and experience• Strong demonstrated skills with budget development and budget monitoring• Ability to communicate clearly with a wide audience of donors, CMT, national Staff, HO etc. Proven problem solving and organizational skills, flexible and calm under pressure• Excellent document revision skills • Good team player, able to live and work closely with a small team• Ability to work under stressful conditions • Ability to work on own initiative and multitask• Confident and proficient in the use of MS Office, excel, power point• Experience of establishing strong working relationships with colleagues from different functions and cultures• Demonstrated ability to be flexible in prioritizing a large workload and multiple tasks in a fast paced environment with tight deadlines and constantly changing parameters• Experience of proactively identifying and addressing implementation issues • An understanding of and commitment to Merlin’s mission and values
Desirable Qualifications, experience and competences• Previous working experience in the region • Experience of working with OFDA, USAID, DFID, UN agencies, CHF, ECHO etc.• Experience of working in conflict and stressful situation
How to apply:To apply for this positionTo apply for this job, please go to www.merlin.org.uk/jobs and apply using our online recruitment system. In order to apply for a job with Merlin online you will need to complete a short registration process and create an account – the online recruitment system explains how to do this. Once your account has been created, you will be able to save the information that you have entered in your application and re-visit it at any time before you submit it.
If you are unable to apply online for any technical reason, please contact applications@merlin.org.uk.
Please note that we do not accept CVs. Unfortunately due to the number of applications we receive, only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.