Latest Recruitment at World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF)

Overview

Resource Mobilization Coordinators contribute to CIFOR-ICRAF’s resource mobilization goal to achieve significant, predictable, multi-year funding to enable flexible support for CIFOR-ICRAF Key Performance Areas (KPA’s). To do so, coordinators ensure that CIFOR-ICRAF staff benefit from funder profiles and contacts, funding opportunities (Call for Proposals (RfPs)), standardized RM processes, tools and more strategic, coordinated, efficient and high quality, compelling solicited and unsolicited submissions. The Resource Mobilization Coordinator – Francophone Africa will be a global position with Francophone Africa as its primary focus.

Primary objectives for this position include: review of identified funding opportunities; coordinate and support the development of strategic grant applications, timely review and submission of grant applications; facilitate donor intelligence and assurance of strategic alignment of CIFOR-ICRAF’s objectives with funder priorities and objectives; assist and support outreach and stewardship of major global donors and prospects; and contribute to standardized processes, tools and resources for unsolicited fundraising.

Duties and responsibilities

Summary of responsibilities 

• Improved development and submission of high-quality concept notes and proposals to donors.
• Improved CIFOR/ICRAF-wide proposal-writing capacity.
• Strengthened relations with current donors and prospects with increased revenue available to implementation of CIFOR-ICRAF’s 2020-2030 Strategy.
• Enhanced institutional reputation as global research authority. 

Other Responsibilities

Proposal/ Program Development and Coordination

• Coordinate the research and verification of new funding opportunities for relevant global campaigns and/or initiatives.
• Support global research teams in all stages of pre-award functions (concept note/proposal development, planning, drafting, editing, internal clearances and submission of high value solicitation documents) and efficient transfer of approved awards to Programme/Grant Management.

Strategy, Analysis and Reporting

• Maintain efficient knowledge sharing and information system and manage donor intelligence to enable successful funding approaches and institutional understanding of CIFOR-ICRAF’s resource development activities.
• Support the RM team leader on reporting progress in key areas of the funding strategy and preparation of briefing materials for donor presentations and/or meetings.

Support unsolicited fundraising processes and practices.

• Coordinate with the RM Team and other corporate units on donor stewardship, communications and cultivation of major global donors and prospects.
• Provide critical feedback for the development of a standardized process (RM Strategy) for program development linked to CIFOR- ICRAF Key Performance Areas (KPAs) support the development and submission of high-quality programs and coordinated planning.
• Work with the RM team on the development of guidance notes, standard operating procedures, tools, templates, best practices, lessons learned, and ensure consistent use of required tools by scientists.
• Support the development of Funder Profiles in an online system.
• Work with the team on enhancing tools and processes that support “go/ no go” decisions and the monitoring of progress with unsolicited progress support management decisions in relation to unsolicited fundraising

Education, knowledge and experience

• Master’s degree in international relations, Conservation/Environmental Sciences, Agricultural Development, or a related degree (an undergraduate degree with 5 years’ relevant work experience will be considered).
• Minimum 5 years' experience in resource mobilization with proven track record of raising substantial funds for international organizations, UN agencies, and/or international non-governmental organizations – preferably in francophone Africa.
• Ability to link sectors and maximize resource mobilization capacity with donors and other development partners.
• Knowledge of national/global development agendas and goals.
• Understanding of project cycle management.
• Experience in working with diverse teams.
• Above average written and presentation skills.
• Experience with fundraising databases.
• Fluency in English and French mandatory (Spanish desirable).

The application deadline is 12 Feb 2024
 

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Overview

CIFOR-ICRAF’s research teams work on projects covering a wide range of topics, supported by a wide range of funders, and involving a wide range of partners. The projects need to meet standards set by CIFOR-ICRAF policies and by funders (compliance). This requires the application of Project Management processes and the coordination between different units within CIFOR-ICRAF and partners outside CIFOR-ICRAF. The Program Coordinator provides support in this to science team leaders and heads of country/regional programs and Principal Investigators in those teams. Each Program Coordinator will support 2-3 such teams, depending on the size of teams.

Duties and responsibilities

Project Management

• Provide Project Management function for projects and activities.
• Collaborate closely with research teams/country programs assigned to the incumbent, for planning, implementation and closing of project activities.
• Coordinate start?ups (inception meetings), implementation, and closing phases of project management cycles for projects.
• Support finance and team leaders where needed with annual planning and budgeting processes of projects.
• Liaise with the Quality for Impact (Q4I) team and PIs on Theory of Change – Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Impact Assessment (MELIA) to ensure lessons are fed back to project development.
• Monitoring of projects, including ensuring regular check-ins with country teams and partners on implementation of activities, contractual and financial requirements (such as co-funding, Budget vs Actuals etc.).
• Identify and take action to mitigate potential risks within projects and the work area.
• Ensure that the projects are compliant with funder requirements as well as CIFOR-ICRAF policies.
• Review and assess project documents, contracts, and related documentation to understand and communicate funder requirements to project teams.
• Facilitate review of agreements by other units, including legal and finance units.
• Ensure projects meet targets by ensuring that teams and individuals document progress and meet the donor’s reporting requirements.
• Support the preparation of various written outputs, e.g. sections of reports, analysis and draft TORs for partners and consultants in collaboration with the PI.
• Manage the production and processing of the required funder technical reports, monitor the completion of project deliverables, monitor project resource use, and initiate corrective action where necessary, ensuring the quality and completion of the reports is according to funder requirement and CIFOR-ICRAF standard.
• Ensure in collaboration with the Financial Services Unit that CIFOR-ICRAF’s budgetary requirements are met, and internal reports are delivered on time.
• Advise the PIs and funder on issues that may impact the achievement of the project outcomes (including issues of sustainability and post project requirements such as maintenance). Coordinate and negotiate amendments if needed in liaison with PIs and funders.
• Support PI with other tasks as needed.

​​​​​​​Coordination

• Focal point of projects ensuring an efficient exchange of information between CIFOR-ICRAF, the funder and the implementing partners
• Engagement with strategic partners and knowledge sharing partners (i.e. for MOU development and implementation), coordinate flow of information between the project steering committee, projecEnsure that implementing partners, consultants and CIFOR-ICRAF country staff are fully briefed on their responsibilities, deliverables, work plans, budgets, partnerships, and project status.
• Coordinate with other research teams, country and regional programs, Resource Mobilization Unit (RMU), Communication, Outreach and Engagement (COE) team, Financial Services Unit (FSU), Admin/operations and HR where needed to facilitate effective project implementation and address bottlenecks.
• Keep oversight of entire portfolio of projects in a science team or country program in support of the team leader.

Support CIFOR-ICRAF resource mobilization efforts

• Under the coordination of RMU, contribute to fund raising process though networking and providing related data requirements to support scientists and RMU in proposal/concept note development, specifically using the knowledge of other current and past projects.

​​​​​​​Others

• Representation at relevant meetings with visitors/funders, in coordination with RMU/specific scientists/research teams/projects. Participates in and or coordinates field missions, including provision of guidance to external parties (funding or strategic partners, government officials) and drafting mission summaries, etc.
• Support the head of PMU in identifying areas of improvement and implementing improvements of the project management process at CIFOR-ICRAF.
• Support policy development, including review and analysis of issues and trends, preparation of evaluations or other research activities and studies.
• Details of duties, assignments and objectives will be further discussed and laid out in the staff’s annual performance contract.

​​​​​​​Education, knowledge and experience

•  Master’s degree in a relevant discipline.
• 7 years of relevant professional experience including 2 years’ Global experience.
• Familiarity with the CGIAR systems, networks and processes is preferred.
• Experience in working on large projects.
• Strong project management skills.
• Excellent written and spoken command of the English language is essential; knowledge of other major international languages will be an advantage.
• Strong computer skills in all the main Microsoft office programs and database management.

The application deadline is 15 Feb 2024
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Duties and responsibilities

Leadership in R&D on sustainable value chains and investments:

• Formulate ground-breaking research for development on sustainable value chains and investments, influencing policy and driving development impact.
• Define and achieve medium-term KPIs and annual goals, contributing to institutional targets and adjusting strategies for impact at scale.
• Cultivate transformative partnerships with research, donors, policy, and development organizations, driving collaborative efforts for thematic and institutional goals.
• Identify and prioritize areas for the theme, potentially modifying current focus areas.
• Ensure career and capacity development opportunities for staff, including mentoring scientists and PhD students.

Develop and lead fundraising strategy:

• Lead the strategic development of project proposals and donor relationships, creating a robust project portfolio.
• Oversee project sequencing, content, and implementation for sustainable funding, staff development, and policy contribution.

Oversight of analytical and methodological approaches:

• Provide scientific and strategic guidance, ensuring research aligns with evidence-based development approaches.
• Support progress along impact pathways, making research relevant to policy, private sector, and practitioner communities

Generation of robust evidence and scientific outputs:

• Lead the publication of high-impact scientific articles, ensuring accessibility and quality.
• Safeguard evidence integrity and align scientific outputs with staffing and funding levels.
• Convey scientific evidence to stakeholders through user-friendly products and engagement activities.

Deliver impact at scale:

• Develop and implement scaling strategies, identifying critical points in impact pathways for socio-economic development.
• Oversee business and investment case development in collaboration with CIFOR-ICRAF's Resilient Landscapes.
• Foster integration of evidence-based scaling research and document achieved impact.
• Work closely with relevant units to deliver, monitor, and document research outcomes and impacts at scale.

Education, knowledge and experience

• Subject matter authority for tropical commodities value chains.
• Ph.D. and/or MBA in a relevant disciplinary field.
• At least 15 years of proven experience if lacking degrees in the relevant field.
• Expertise in forest products, tree crops, or agri-food value chains.

Personal attributes and competencies

• Thought leadership on value chains in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
• Proven track record in research and development initiatives.
• Documented leadership and management experience.
• Strong track record in business development and resource mobilization.
• Experience in negotiating with executives, managers, and sustainability directors.

The application deadline is 29 Feb 2024