Job Title: Grant Manager
Reports to: Regional Manager
Duty Station: Baghdad
COVID-19 Adaptation and Recovery Pilot: Supporting Firms’ Resilience, Access to Finance and Growth in Iraq
The COVID-19 outbreak in Iraq is stressing the already strained health and private sectors and setting back the country’s efforts in its fight against poverty. Mobility restrictions, liquidity pressures and uncertainty have had a devasting effect on private sector livelihoods, particularly for unbanked informal firms as well as micro and small formal firms. The project COVID-19 Adaptation and Recovery Pilot (CARP): Supporting Firms Resilience, Access to Finance and Growth in Iraq aims at supporting the resilience of viable micro, small and medium enterprises (“MSMEs”) and the sustainability of their intermediaries in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. The project will focus on the recovery of SMEs from the impact of COVID-19 on the one hand while laying the foundations for a much larger growth program on the other hand around financial inclusion and SME-support measures.
This first component will support immediate relief of the microfinance sector in Iraq, including the most affected formal- and informal-operating small business owners. Two main interventions are being considered: (I) short-term liquidity support to the informal sector through direct funding to eligible MFIs in the form of grants, and (II) supporting the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) to develop NBFI guidelines, establish and operationalize a NBFI Unit at the CBI with a focus on strengthening its institutional infrastructure.
The second component aims to support the strengthening of the SME sector in Iraq, with a focus on Small and Growing Businesses (SGBs). Two main interventions are being considered: (I) enhancing SME capabilities and resilience through blended learning, vouchers, and matching grants, and (II) catalyzing private investment into Iraqi SGBs through ecosystem support grants.
The CARP Project is financed by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank) and is implemented by GIZ on behalf of the Iraqi Ministry of Finance. The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is a federal enterprise with worldwide operations. GIZ supports the German Government in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development. GIZ is also engaged in international education activities around the globe. Through our work we assist people and societies in shaping their own future and improving living conditions. GIZ has more than 22,000 staff around the globe and operates in about 120 countries worldwide.
A. Tasks
• Design and establish a robust professional grant management plan and procedures to provide grants to eligible grant beneficiaries
• Responsible for the grant handling of both Component 1 and 2 – MFI grants, Covid19 matching grants, Pre-Investment grants, Co-Investment grants and Capacity
o Development Grants iii. Evaluating financial proposals submitted to CARP for the different Grant schemes
• Ensuring that administration of grants by partners/recipients is in accordance with procedures defined in the CARP Project Operations Manual
• Financial planning, monitoring and advisory services for grants in the project, incl.
o management of auditing process
• Designing and implementing trainings for / capacity development of partners/grant recipients
• Effectively coordinating with the staff of the Finance/Admin Team of CARP in Baghdad and at GIZ Head Office.
B. Required qualifications, competencies and experience
Qualifications
University degree at least on bachelors’ level in a project relevant field.
Professional experience
• A minimum of 5 years of experience in developing and overseeing a grant selection process.
• Experience in developing grant management manuals and systems in accordance with international donor (preferably WB) procurement procedures.
• Strong experience in negotiating innovative grant agreements.
• Experience in providing advice and guidance to grantees in relation to program management, grant management, budget management, risk management and fraud prevention.
Other knowledge, additional competencies
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to effectively communicate.
• Complete fluency and writing skills in Arabic and English.
• Stakeholder engagement skills and the ability to collaborate effectively. Dynamic and flexible to be able to respond to changing priorities.
Requirements for application:
• The reference number and position must be mentioned in the subject line of the email, Ref: (BGH-CARP22-015) Grant Manager
• Subject line of the application should clearly indicate the vacancy applied for.
• CVs and motivations letters that are in the form of IMG, pictures, screen-shots and links will not be accepted.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
• Applications passed the expiration date of the advertisement will not be considered.
