Nonprofit Remote Digest - Issue #575
Women for Women International provides women survivors of war, civil strife and other conflicts with the tools and resources to move from crisis and poverty to stability, self-sufficiency, and active citizenship, thereby promoting viable civil societies.
Women for Women International works in some of the most dangerous places to be a woman...
Program Officer
Overview:
Women for Women International works in some of the most dangerous places to be a woman. We serve women survivors of war in conflict and post-conflict areas around the world in 8 countries including Afghanistan, Iraq, Eastern Congo, and Northern Nigeria. Our core belief is that stronger women build stronger nations; and with access to knowledge, resources, and a support network, a woman rebuilds her life and improves her community.
Our model works and we have the data to prove it. In our 26-year history, Women for Women International has reached over half a million women. The women we work with across three continents earn just $0.81 a day when we enroll them. At graduation, it’s $2.11, nearly tripled.
Our impact goes beyond income. The number of women who say at least one household member went to sleep hungry in the last four weeks has gone from 18% to 5%. And more women say they speak out against women's abuse: 26% report having publicly spoken in the last six months against physically abusing women
When women have the right tools, they realize the power within themselves to transform their lives, their families, their communities, and entire nations.
Purpose
Women for Women International (WfWI) has an immediate opportunity for a Program Officer. The Program Officer supports the implementation and operation of program activities in country offices by acting as Global focal point for specific countries, partners, and/or grant projects and consolidating global tracking and updates for internal and external reporting. Primarily, the Program Officer supports country teams in grant and project management (including donor reporting and grant compliance) and effective planning and budgeting for the Country programs, as well as supporting on proposal and budget development.
As part of the Global Programs Unit, the Program Officer works routinely with country office staff, and global staff from Finance and Business Development teams, to support the successful achievement of grant objectives, to identify problems and appropriate solutions for grant spending and implementation, and to offer guidance or support to country office staff as needed, particularly with regard to sub-grants with partners, grant modifications, etc. The Program Officer reports to the Grant and Planning Coordinator and works directly with assigned country office staff members and the rest of the Global Programs Unit.
To be closer to our programs, we have a strong preference for candidates from a region where WfWI currently works (Nigeria, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq, Afghanistan, South Sudan). However, WfWI is open to candidates in US and European locations with lived experience in WfWI’s target countries.
Duties and Responsibilities
Proposal Development and Grant Management (70%)
Ensure access of Country Office (CO)staff to all relevant and most recent information about donor grants, agreements, conditions, templates, and compliance to enable effective planning and tracking of grant implementation.
Support the COs or HQ teams when grant funds are allocated to HQ to monitor and track progress of grant activities and grant expenditures against agreed budgets through spending plans, in particular by flagging any donor compliance concerns; identify problems and assist in designing appropriate solutions and facilitating communication between relevant levels of the organization to track follow up actions;
Prepare documentation (including key discussion or talking points as needed) and organize scheduling for cross-departmental grant management processes including grant kick-off meetings, regular grant and budget management reviews with COs, grant amendments or budget realignments, donor meetings, etc.
Responsible for writing/editing/consolidating high quality, results-based donor narrative reports (and budget notes if needed) to ensure clear presentation of CO activities and results and to meet donor reporting timelines and requirements. Reports are based on timely and accurate inputs from CO and HQ MRE staff. The PO manages the review and sign off process in line with the agreed workflow processes.
Support fundraising teams as needed in proposal development specifically to ensure alignment with agreed Annual Plan costing/budgets; POs may also support project design and logframe development, targeting setting or other program inputs during the proposal drafting process as needed.
Responsible to maintain up to date and comprehensive master files for the organization for grants, or restricted donations. This involves close coordination with fundraising and marketing teams.
Contribute to strengthening CO capacity in all areas above through day-to-day interactions with COs and guidance provided on budget development, proposal design, and Grant Management, including through field visits.
Support onboarding for new HQ staff and Country Directors (and other CO team members as needed) on all grants/contributions and other relevant CO information, including current Operational Plans/budget issues as needed.
Country Office Program & Planning Support (20%)
Maintain an overview of designated CO context, program, operational issues and background information (including through consistent review of CO monthly reports) and participate in designated country office discussions; keep continuously updated information about country programs on file for easy reference by HQ/Global teams.
Prepare ad hoc reports and/or presentation materials on focal point countries for internal review meetings, Board meetings or external meetings, or Communication materials as needed; including maintaining updated CO profiles in coordination with MRE and Communications team.
Support development and finalization of annual Operational Plans for Country Offices (and updates throughout the year), including related budgets with particular attention on ensuring that multi-year grants are correctly included in annual planning cycles and that costing information is consistent.
Ensure updated enrollment tables with Program Monitoring Officer throughout the year
Program Event Coordination/Admin (10%)
Responsible for logistics for annual global program meetings taking place in Washington D.C. and overseas or hosted via an online platform.
Coordinate logistics for GPU in-office meetings and community events including scheduling, venue arrangements, set-up, equipment needs, refreshments, materials, invitation and RSVP process, and meeting minutes when applicable.
Support basic Global Program Unit administrative tasks
Qualifications
Required
3-4 years of experience in international development, in particular women’s empowerment.
Bachelor’s degree
Must have demonstrated experience with government and/or multi-lateral proposal writing, budget development, grant and compliance management and grant reporting, with a particular emphasis on experience with USG Rules and Regulations
Must have excellent written English skills and familiarity with writing for varied audiences.
Must have excellent MS Excel skills and familiarity with budgeting processes.
Ability to manage multiple tasks, multiple goals, problem solve and prioritize among assignments.
Ability to work as part of a team as well as take initiative in managing projects.
Strong interpersonal skills and experience working with a variety of audiences.
Well-organized with attention to detail and a resourceful problem solver.
Extensive computer skills (especially Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Access) and internet research.
Ability to work effectively under pressure without close supervision; and
Promptness, reliability and sound judgment required.
Flexibility working across different global time zones.
Travel to country offices required.
Preferred:
Additional language skills, particularly in French, Arabic and/or Swahili, a plus.
Experience working with international staff and within multicultural environments preferred; in particular, experience working in developing countries
How to Apply
We will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis, so please apply at your earliest convenience through our career page here: https://www.womenforwomen.org/about-us/careers.
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for
employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
* This job description may be modified from time to time at the discretion of WfWI*