Background
The Iraq Durable Communities and Economic Opportunities (DCEO) is a United States Agency for International Development (USAID) program implemented by Chemonics International in Iraq. DCEO aims to support vulnerable communities to build community resilience against destabilizing factors by increasing their adaptive capacity and economic well-being. The project consists of two objectives. Objective 1, Adaptative capacity of vulnerable communities increased is achieved through two components. Component 1.1 seeks to mitigate drivers of conflict in targeted communities and Component 1.2 seeks to enhance community leadership of inclusive local development. Objective 2, Economic well-being of communities advanced, will rest on the assessments, analysis, foundations, and groundwork of Objective 1.
The Grants Specialist(s) will support Objectives 1 and 2. Under the anticipated 100 Solutions for Stability Task Order DCEO will support Iraqi communities to address key drivers of instability through community-based solutions. The Grants Specialist(s) will work directly within target communities. The Grants Specialist(s) will also support the anticipated Iraq Business Competitiveness and Job Creation Initiative (BCJCI) Task Order under DCEO Objective 2 to promote sustainable enterprise competitiveness, increase employment, and expand private sector development working with micro, small, and medium size Iraqi businesses and entrepreneurs.
DCEO intends to hire two Grants Specialists, one in Baghdad and one in Erbil. Field work and potential travel may be required to other locations. Applicants from those locations are strongly encouraged to apply.
Reporting:
The Grants Specialist(s) reports to the Grants and Activity Manager.
Responsibilities:
- Provide policy guidance and interpretation to the DCEO project staff and grantees on Chemonics grant policies and USAID grant regulations.
- In partnership with Grants management unit (GMU) members, develop budgets and analyze cost estimates for allowability, allocability, reasonableness and consistency. Ensure memorandum of negotiation for each grant are thoroughly.
- In partnership with other GMU members assess grantee financial management, administrative, and technical capacity to implement the award, identify areas where additional capacity will be needed for successful implementation and viability of the grant.
- Ensure grant documents collected during development and implementation are consistent and compliant with all applicable requirements, procedures and best practices. At the development stage, this documentation may include, but is not limited to memorandum of negotiation, branding and marking plans, required certifications and assurances, vetting and reference checks, environmental assessments and others.
- As needed, actively participate in the problem solving and troubleshooting throughout the grant cycle to assure implementation remains within the spirit of the original design concept.
- In collaboration with the Grants and Activity Manager and procurement officers, prepare monthly projections for grant activities for submission to the finance manager, and actively track the clearance rates and disbursement rates of the activities within the respective GMU.
- Track activity completion dates to ensure any extensions are submitted in advance for approval.
- Coordinate as needed with procurement staff to ensure receipt and timely delivery of items procured on behalf of grantees.
- Prepare grant payment for processing after thorough review and approval of technical. deliverables by the Grants and Activity Manager and in close coordination with the finance team.
- Responsible for drafting grant agreement modifications and memorandum of negotiation as needed throughout implementation.
- Responsible for ensuring the timely and accurate updating of grant documentation to DCEO files.
- Ensure that grants and activities are closed out within required time frames and in compliance with the close-out checklist. Flag funding de-obligations for activities undergoing closeout.
- Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree required
- At least two (2) years of relevant work experience, including experience with civil society and community-based organizations, governmental entities, support organizations, and the general public.
- Experience drafting memorandum of negotiation and tracking spending strongly preferred.
- Knowledge of political and social conditions in Iraq is strongly preferred.
- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work with culturally and geographically diverse staff
- Demonstrated leadership, versatility, and integrity.
- Exceptional organization skills and ability to multi-task work in high pressure, fast-paced environments.
- Advanced knowledge of MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint required.
- Prior experience on USAID programs preferred.
- Ability and willingness to travel within Iraq.
- Fluency in written and oral Arabic and English is required.
