Grants and Partnership Manager- Kenya Primary Literacy Program at RTI International

Overview

• Research Triangle Institute (RTI) has over 30 years’ experience assisting governments, communities, and the private sector. As a non-for-profit, independent research institute based in North Carolina, USA, RTI has roughly 5,000 employees with global experience implementing international development projects in education and other disciplines. RTI's International Education Division leads education development around the world by strengthening education policy, management, and practice to achieve measurable improvement in teaching and learning. From our well-established reputation in education system strengthening, to innovative work in early grade assessment and learning, RTI is improving education quality, relevance, and efficiency through implementation of projects funded by USAID, DFID, FCDO, The LEGO Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and other donors and clients.
• RTI is seeking a Grants and Partnership Manager for the anticipated $70-80 million USAID-funded Kenya Primary Literacy Activity. RTI implemented the USAID Tusome National Early Grade Reading Program from 2014-2023, reaching all public schools nationwide to improve learning outcomes for children in grades 1-3. The Kenya Primary Literacy Program aims to improve and sustain student learning and well-being through accountable, resilient, and community-supported education institutions and systems.

Key objectives include:

• Improving education services and student learning outcomes, including for vulnerable populations;
• Strengthening education institutions and systems to become more accountable, self-sustaining, and resilient; and
• Empowering local youth organizations to strengthen and sustain community and family support for student learning and wellbeing.
• The Grants and Partnership Manager will report to the COP and be responsible for managing the Youth Grants and Partnership Fund. This position is based in Nairobi, Kenya and will be contingent upon successful award of the project and final USAID approval.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities of the Grants and Partnership Manager include, but are not limited to:

• Work closely with the DCOP and Finance and Administrative Director to develop and manage all aspects of the Youth Grants and Partnership Fund.
• Work closely with the COP to leverage private sector support for relevant Kenya Primary Literacy Program activities.
• Oversee the Private Sector Engagement (PSE) Specialist that supports the activity’s outreach and engagement with the private sector.
• Support the development and updating of relevant manuals for the funds.
• Coordinate with the technical team to conduct outreach and build awareness among local organizations and private sector actors about these funds.
• Maintain a strong financial management system for grant activities, including accurate tracking of finances and ensure an audit trail for all necessary documentation for grant recipients, and verification process for all private sector resources leveraged.
• Contribute to regular reporting on the results of activities, including by providing information required for annual and quarterly reports, as well as for other work planning, monitoring and evaluation reports.
• Work with technical teams and grantees on concept development, grant development, compliance, and implementation.
• Monitor grantees implementation and progress, in collaboration with technical teams, through frequent collaboration and learning and adaptation (CLA) feedback loops.
• Analyze recipient funding requests and technical reports, as appropriate.

PARTNERSHIP FUND

• Manage a $1 million Partnership Fund
• Support the leverage of matching funds from the private sector to support KPLP interventions while promoting private sector partnerships and sustainability, such as ICT private/public sectors and other stakeholders.

YOUTH FUND

• Oversee and manage the competitive grant award cycle for the $3 million Youth Fund, with responsibility for procuring, selecting, and awarding grants to qualified youth-led organizations to provide community-supported remediation services and educate and help families to support at home learning.
• Assess, identify, and begin addressing the specific capacity needs of selected youth organizations, such as financial management, monitoring activities, tracking and reporting development progress, etc.

Qualifications

Required Skills and Qualifications: 

• Bachelor's Degree and 12 years of experience, Master's degree and 10 years of experience, PhD and 6 years of experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• At least 5 years of demonstrated experience managing projects, ideally those related to primary grade reading.
• Grants management experience, preferably in Kenya or East Africa.
• Experience building the capacity of local organizations to implement and manage development projects is highly desired.
• A proven ability to identify high-potential business ideas, demonstrated experience working collaboratively with youth and/or institutional and private sector partners, and
• Experience implementing activities designed to leverage private sector resources to support development goals.
• Demonstrated skills managing and ensuring strong relationships with private sector partners;
• Fluency in English.