Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls.
We believe in the power and potential of every child. But this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it’s girls who are most affected.
Working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children.
We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood. And we enable children to prepare for – and respond to – crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge.
We have been building powerful partnerships for children for over 80 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries.
Plan aims to reach as many children as possible, particularly those who are excluded or marginalized; with high quality programs that deliver long lasting benefits by increasing its income, working in partnership with others and operating effectively.
Plan has been working in Rwanda since 2007, using Plan’s Child Centered Community Development Approach with a focus on rights-based work. Plan International Rwanda’s activities are centered on a five-year Country Strategic Plan (CSP 2013-2018) with four country programs: 1) Access quality and inclusive education; 2) Early childhood care and development; 3) Youth economic security through active citizenship; 3) Protection
The Business Development Manager is needed to support the achievement of country fundraising targets and expanding the funding portfolio, while assisting the senior management at the Country Office in Rwanda to develop a strong professional image among Plan donors so that additional grant funding is acquired to grow and support Plan’s program in Rwanda. This will be achieved through actively seeking and maximizing opportunities for additional funding from a variety of sources.
Dimensions of Role:
The post holder will report to the Country Director of Plan International Rwanda and is a member of Country Programme Management Team. S/he be responsible to expand and diversify the institutional donor portfolio as well as the corporate donor base. The post holder will work proactively with National Organization (NOs) in the Plan Federation, to identify and win appropriate grant opportunities by ensuring the timely and quality delivery of successful grant proposals and building the capacity of team members in the development of strong quality proposals.
Typical Responsibilities – Key End Results of Position:
Plan International Rwanda has a portfolio of medium grants and pipeline of future funding opportunities to ensure grant targets.
- Develop resource mobilization plans to operationalize the resource mobilization strategy of Plan International Rwanda.
- Actively identify grant opportunities and develop grant proposals in line with agreed organizational procedures and in close coordination with Head of Programmes, Programme/Project Managers, Program Area Managers and other relevant departments and units within Plan International Rwanda and National offices.
- Ensure timely development of regular donor reports and analysis of the implementation plans, mapping between program priorities and donor opportunities, funding analysis, etc. to be used by management for tracking progress against the targets, review and decision making.
- Ensure that all categories of program costs are taken into account at the conceptualization and submission stage of grant preparation in accordance with the cost recovery policy
- Monitor, analyze and consolidate relevant grant information and disseminate where relevant within Plan International Rwanda.
- Produce and regularly update a comprehensive mapping of all donor opportunities (by sector and geography) in Rwanda;
- Lead on developing and packaging grant proposals to suit the requirements of different donors, including working with the programme communications team to develop separate marketing collateral aimed at different audiences (NOs, Institutional donors, Corporates etc.).
- Contribute to durable solutions for refugees or complex environments.
Plan International Rwanda has excellent working relationship with all NOs and in country partners and donors
- In coordination with the Head of Programmes, Programme/Project Managers, Program Area Managers and other relevant departments and units within Plan International Rwanda and National offices, act as Plan International Rwanda representative on grant acquisition matters, representing the interests of Plan International Rwanda to National Offices, donor organizations and other stakeholders.
- Ensure, in coordination with the Head of Programmes, Programme Manager, Program Area Managers and other relevant departments and units within Plan International Rwanda, to develop, manage and maintain strategic partnerships with local donor missions, including bilateral and multilaterals.
- Develop and maintain a strong and professional image of Plan International Rwanda among relevant donors.
- Lead on researching where potential opportunities for grants funding can be found;
- Ensuring successful on-going donor relationship management and ‘ownership’ of relations with donor representatives locally;
Lead a high performing team and ensure all relevant departments have the necessary knowledge and skills to acquire and implement sustainable grant funding
- Identify and coach competent staff for grants acquisition and implementation
- Researching where potential opportunities for grants funding can be found;
- Produce and regularly update a comprehensive mapping of all donor opportunities (by sector and geography) in Rwanda;
- Packaging grant proposals to suit the requirements of different donors, including working with the Strategic Partnerships and Communications team to develop separate marketing collateral aimed at different audiences (NOs, Institutional donors, Corporates etc);
- Building successful, proactive relationships which align donors priorities with program needs;
- Ensuring successful on-going donor relationship management and ‘ownership’ of relations with donor representatives locally;
- Understanding how to effectively represent the organization;
- Co-ordinate with the Country Director and HROD manager to strengthen the capacity of staff and partners in building donor relations, generating resources (technical, funding, material) and managing/reporting on grant-funded programs and projects.
- Work with the Finance and Program departments to ensure the effective utilization of grants monitoring systems in terms of projections and forecasting, the monitoring of expenditure, negotiations with grantors for budget modifications and completion of project reports.
- Directly lines manage the Grants and Partnership Coordinator to achieve highest performance
Dealing with Problems:
The position involves a high degree of complexity in resolving a wide range of challenges which typically occur in sourcing funds and managing external relations. This will also encompass strengthening accountability, planning, management and adherence to policies and procedures, and promoting a culture for delivery of results, both short and long term. The post holder will demonstrate the ability to problem solve, thinking strategically while introducing innovations as needed to meet the demands of a dynamic and sometimes unpredictable operating environment.
Communications and Working Relationships:
Internal:
Excellent working relationships will need to be built with the Head of Programmes, Programme and Project Managers, Program Area Managers, other members of the country management team and other relevant units within Plan International Rwanda, National Organisation counterparts, and the Country Director. The post holder will also be required to work closely with Country Finance team.
Regularly inform and advise Head of Programmes and Country Director of strategic funding information and trends to ensure Plan has necessary information to secure funding.
External:
The post holder will make all possible efforts to maintain strong relationship with existing/recent donors and also ensure that Plan International Rwanda is able to secure funds from donors, including corporate and foundations who have not yet contributed or contributed on a limited scale to Plan programmes.
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Knowledge, Skills, Behaviors, and Experience Required to Achieve Role’s Objectives:
Knowledge and skills:
- Demonstrable knowledge as a result of study, training or practical experience on grants acquisition
- Knowledge of the various donors interests, priorities and requirements
- Knowledge on funding full spectrum
- Excellent English oral and written communication skills, French an advantage
- Advanced negotiating skills
- Proven strategic relationship management skills
- Conceptual and analytical skills
- Excellent people skills; team builder
- Planning and monitoring
- Marketing skills
- Coaching, mentoring, training and facilitation skills
- High level of computer proficiency.
Behaviours
- Ability to maintain strategic vision and link with everyday work
- Clear and effective communication that builds relationships in order to influence others
- Proactive, demonstrates record of creativity and entrepreneurship
- Accountability and responsibility for own performance
- Promotes team work and cooperation
- Demonstrate high degree of professionalism and integrity
- Confident in taking initiative and exploring new opportunities
- Assertiveness and shows cultural sensitivity
Qualifications and Experience
- Master’s Degree in relevant field
- Five years of professional experience spent in a resource mobilization in the development and humanitarian sector.
- Demonstrated track record of writing project proposals and obtaining grant funding for development projects from institutional donors.
- Experience in coaching, training and facilitation
- Experience in identifying and developing fund raising opportunities
- Experience of working with children and communities and managing child-related program and projects would be an advantage
Physical Environment and Demands:
The incumbent will be based in Plan International Rwanda’s Country Office (Kigali) with field travels whenever necessary, extensive visit to donor representatives in the country and limited international travel to meet with donors/Plan National Offices.
Level of Contact with Children:
*Min contact: Minimal interaction directly with children*
More Information
- Job City Kigali
