Вакансія: USAID Economics Resilence Activity looking for Grants Officer

Project Description

The Ukraine Economic Resilience Activity (ERA) (8/27/2018 – 8/26/2024) was designed to strengthen the economy and improve the resilience of businesses and communities in eastern Ukraine following Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea and the seizure of territory in the Donetsk and Luhansk Regions by Russian backed separatists.

Before the war, ERA had focused interventions on Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts. In 2019 after Russia commandeered a Ukrainian naval ship and established a blockade, ERA added the Sea of Azov (Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts and municipal centers closest to the sea) to its area of operations. With the February onset of war in eastern and southern Ukraine, Russia has significantly damaged or destroyed most of ERA’s previous implementation geography, including Mariupol, Sartana, Rubizhne, and Sievierodonetsk and occupied the cities of Berdiansk, Melitopol and Stanytsia Luhanska.

The further Economic Resilience Activity’s work will be centered on three pillars:

1. Stabilization and Inclusion: building the capabilities of vulnerable populations to be able to capitalize on entrepreneurial and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) economic opportunities;
2. Business Revival: helping MSMEs relocate and rebuild marketing and supply chains; and
3. New Economy: working with coalitions and leaders to build confidence in the sustainable Ukrainian state, articulate a vision for the future, and put in place the building blocks for a modern, diverse, and MSME-friendly economy post-war.

Nowadays, ERA shifts its focus from interventions targeting businesses and communities in eastern oblasts to supporting internally displaced persons (IDPs), MSMEs, universities and other partners from those regions as they move westward to safety and re-establish operations. As a result, ERA’s area of operations has changed from “the east” to supporting IDPs and partners that originated in the east to other locations “anywhere in Ukraine.” The project is also considering temporary support to those who have fled to the EU outside of Ukraine.

USAID ERA provides technical assistance and co-investment support to micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), financial services providers, local NGOs, educational institutions, cities, and consolidated communities. USAID support will enable partners to acquire and test new technologies, rebuild and scale businesses to new markets, build capacity, leverage IT solutions and share information.

About the job

The Grants Officer is responsible for proficiently managing and administering a sizable and complex array of grants under contract, many with local organizations unaccustomed to the complexities of administering USG funds. The Grants Officer leads in the provision of technical and administrative support in building capacity of local sub‐grantees to effectively manage grants in support of the work necessary to achieve results. 

Your main duties and responsibilities will be:

• Work closely with program technical teams and Grants Director to identify grant concepts into implementable solutions (including solicitations) to further work plan objectives. 
• Administer the grantee selection process to ensure that policies and procedures are upheld as outlined in the approved Grants Manual. 
• Consult the technical teams in preparing a clear and comprehensive grant SOW to eligible grantees.
• Negotiate grant terms, specific conditions, standard provisions and budgets with selected grantees. 
• Review and analyze budget estimates for allowability, allocability, reasonableness, and consistency. 
• Review and assess the capacity of a prospective grantee to manage the type of grant considered, make recommendations to the technical teams and Grants Director on the appropriate grant type and suggest specific conditions. 
• Co-develop capacity building plans for grantees, as appropriate. 
• Ensure compliance with all applicable USAID grants-under contract regulations, the approved Grants Manual, and DAI internal grants management procedures and forms. Maintain all required grants management documentation and ensure entry of grants information in project management system. 
• Manage and consult with the technical teams to ensure deliverables are to standard.
• Provide continuous assessments of grantee performance delivery against project objectives through regular review of grantee progress towards deliverables and milestones, escalate issues to Technical Leads and Grants Director for troubleshooting. 
• Provide procedures and policy guidance and interpretation for grantees to ensure adherence to their grant agreement. 
• Work closely with the Director of Finance and Administration to ensure that accrued grant liabilities are accurately tracked, and progress payments are processed on a timely basis. 
• Review all requests for payment or reimbursement for accuracy, compliance, and sufficient detail to ensure compliance with the grant agreement. Submit requests for payment to the Finance unit for further payment procedure. 
• Maintain meticulous electronic grant records in the project management system as per checklists and procedures.  
• Work closely with the grantee, the technical teams, and the Grants Director to ensure timely closeout, disposition, and final reports for grants. 

About you

• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in international business and grants management, with experience in USAID grants management preferred.
• Demonstrated record of achieving results in grants management with international development programs.
• Strong interpersonal skills and written and oral communication skills.
• Language requirements are as follows:
• English level III (General working proficiency) Reading/Writing/Speaking. Preference will be given to the candidates with English level IV (Fluent). 
• Ukrainian level IV (Fluent) Reading/Writing/Speaking is required.

WE OFFER

Contract length: 12-months employment agreement with a possibility of extension until August 2024.

Salary Level: We offer competitive market-based salary level for candidates with relevant experience.

Duty station: Ukraine

Benefits: all benefits envisaged by Labor Code of Ukraine, corporate medical insurance for employees and immediate family members, corporate health and injury insurance for employees and immediate family members, mobile phone package covering.

Start date: August/September, 2022

Application process

All applicants must send a cover letter and updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English to [email protected] 

Closing date for applications: August 07, 2022

 For further information about the DAI GLOBAL LLC, please consult our website dai.com