Austrian Development Agency Grants Expert - IPPSHAR / IGAD Job Vacancies in Uganda

Austrian Development Agency Grants Expert - IPPSHAR / IGAD Job Vacancies in Uganda

Closing date: 28 Feb 2019

Job Announcement

Programme Title: IGAD Promoting Peace & Stability in the Horn of Africa Region (IPPSHAR)1**

Position: Grants Expert

Starting date: March 2019, or as soon as possible

Contract period: 12 months

Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, including travel within the IGAD region

The Austrian Development Agency (ADA) is the operational unit of the Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC) and is responsible for implementing all bilateral programmes and projects in ADC's partner countries on behalf of the Austrian government.

ADA has been delegated to manage the funding allocated by the European Union for the support of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) under the EU Trust Fund for Africa (EUTF), Horn of Africa window, for a programme titled “IGAD Promoting Peace and Stability in the Horn of Africa Region (IPPSHAR)”.

The overall objective of this programme is to support IGAD and its Member States in the implementation of the Regional Peace and Security Strategy 2016-2020, which defines peace, security and stability as prerequisites for the attainment of economic integration and development of the IGAD region.

This will be achieved by enhancing the IGAD Conflict Early Warning and Response Mechanism (CEWARN) systems, supporting IGAD and national governments in the region to predict, prevent, and address transnational security threats and by strengthening their capacity on preventive diplomacy, mediation and civilian peace building.

In addition, the programme also aims to strengthen the implementation effectiveness of IGAD's Peace and Security Division and units through enhancing their internal coordination and by establishing and expanding partnerships with international, regional, national and local organisations.

The IPPSHAR programme budget envelope comprises around EUR 38 million, whereby EUR 35 million are provided by the EU and the remaining funds are contributed by ADA, Sida and the Netherlands. IGAD and ADA have entered into a Programme Implementation Partnership Agreement (PIPA) for the implementation IPPSHAR.

Part of the programme’s budget will be allocated to support a variety of grant Programme s managed either by IGAD units and institutions directly or where IGAD provides funds to other grant beneficiaries. Some grant agreements may also be awarded or by other partner organisations.

IGAD has already gained long term grant management experience in the operation of a Rapid Response Fund (RRF), which is an integral part of its Conflict Early Warning and Response Mechanism (CEWARN) and requires adjustments.

Additionally, IGAD has developed a Grants Manual (GM) and is planning to establish a Mediation Fund and a facility for supporting Women’s Peace Initiatives to be funded out of the IPPSHAR programme.

In this context, the specific role of the Grants Expert is to provide high quality expertise in public finance management to:

Assess (1) IGAD’s Grants Manual and (2) IGAD’s Rapid Response Fund Manual by reviewing the grant financing mechanism, historic fund management information, procedures applied, contracts used and external audit reports and propose changes and adjustments towards their compliance for grant management operation in fragile states and towards internationally accepted standards.

Assess IGAD’s current grants management schemes (project identification, procurement, implementation, monitoring & evaluation, reporting, auditing) and propose changes to ensure their compliance with the provisions in the Project Implementation Partnership Agreement (PIPA) concluded between ADA and IGAD.

Draft a grant manual following ADA rules and regulations for the implementation of IPPSHAR grants.

Establish a robust grant financing and management system for the entire IPPSHAR grant programme aligned with state of the art compliance regulations to be embedded in the IGAD structures.

Appraise IPPSHAR funded grant programmes developed by IGAD developed by IGAD staff together with respective partner organisations to ensure they pass IGAD internal approval procedures as well as ADA’s grant approval procedures.

Train IGAD’s PSD and units staff in the operationalization of the updated grant management system and programmes, which include ex-ante risk assessments and fund authorization followed by ex-post implementation controls and monitoring of budget execution tasks.

Undertake travels to the member states to assess IPPSHAR grant implementation activities

Make recommendations for a future innovative Peace and Security grant management facility/ies, considering complementarity to African Union grant facilities and those of other regional economic communities (RECs).

The Grants Expert will work with the ADA Team and IGAD staff members based in the Peace and Security Division (PSD) and units in Addis Ababa as well as in other related IGAD offices to support the execution of the grant funded components of the IPPSHAR programme.
She/he will work closely with the ADA Procurement & Finance Compliance Officer (PFCO) and reports to the ADA Team Leader (TL).

Requirements

Postgraduate degree in business administration, economics, finance, auditing or equivalent educational background

At least 10 years proven experience in grant management

At least 5 years proven experience in providing support to government stakeholders and/or inter-governmental organizations on institutional strengthening with a focus on financial management

Demonstrated experience in the design, setting up and implementation of grant schemes, including two reference projects

Excellent negotiation, facilitation and communication skills

Proven capacity building skills

Excellent planning and reporting skills

Excellent English required

Working experience in fragile environments is an asset

Working experience in the Horn of Africa region is an asset

1 The Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) is one of eight Regional Economic Communities (RECs) under the framework of the African Union. IGAD member states currently comprise Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan and Uganda.

How to apply:
Applications must be sent to bewerbung@ada.gv.at by 28 February 2019 indicating “Grants Expert, IPPSHAR Programme” in their subject and including the interested candidate’s CV in English, a motivation letter as well as names, contact details and working relationship of three references (at least one referee your direct supervisor). Only selected candidates will be contacted.

Austrian Development Agency Grants Expert - IPPSHAR / IGAD Job Vacancies in Uganda