Desired start date: 01/02/2025
Duration of the mission: 1 year
Location: Kyiv
SOLIDARITES INTERNATIONAL (SI) is an international humanitarian aid association which, since more than 40 years, has been providing assistance to populations affected by armed conflicts and natural disasters by meeting their basic needs for food, water and shelter. Particularly committed to the fight against diseases linked to unsafe water, the leading cause of death in the world, SI's interventions provide expertise in the field of access to drinking water, sanitation and hygiene promotion, but also in the essential area of food security and livelihoods. Present in 26 countries, the SI teams – 3200 people in total, made up of expatriates, national staff, permanent staff at HQ, and a few volunteers - intervene with professionalism and commitment while respecting cultural norms.
Since the beginning of the \"full scale invasion\" of Ukraine by Russian Forces, SI has been responding to the needs of the population in the territories under the control of the Governement of Ukraine. While the programming was rightly very much geared towards immediate emergency response in 2022 and 2023, 2024 was a transitional year towards a more emergency and recovery balanced programming , In 2025 SI programmatic strateguc will revolve around 2 axis, axis 1 being about responding to both acute and chronic emergencies and axis 2 being about contributing to create conducive conditions for safe and dignified stay and return in stabilized areas (in support to local authorities for them to be able to deliver a better WASH public service). SI in Ukraine works in the sectors of WASH and SHELTER and promote an integrated approach whenever feasible and relevant. SI is also committed to transfer a portion of their activitie to local partners. In 2025 the set-up will be comprised of (roughly) 105 staffs, including 20 expatriates. The activities are implemented in 6 oblasts in the south and the east of Ukraine, and coordinated through 3 field bases in Dnipro, Kharkiv and Mikolaiv. The coordination office is located in Kyiv. Donors in 2025 will be BHA, CDCS, AFD, ECHO (and likely SDC).
General objective
The Grants and Partnerships Coordinator is responsible for the effective management of the Ukraine country program grants portfolio. This includes maintaining strong donor relationships, ensuring compliance with donor requirements, and leading effective interdepartmental coordination for grant management.
He/she is responsible for overseeing the introduction of systematic Project Cycle Management, including organising and chairing quarterly project review meetings with input from colleagues in field bases and in coordination. This requires effective alignment between program, finance and logistics teams.
The role involves managing proposal development, including strong coordination with all teams in Coordination and bases, as well as international NGO partners (with some contribution to coordination of national partners, led by the Partnerships Manager).
The role involves managing high quality reporting and communication with donors and external stakeholders.
He/she is responsible for capacity buliding of his/her team. He/she will contribute to funding strategies and idenfitying new opportunities to support operational and strategic goals. He/she is also responsible for leading the Partnerships team, ensuring the effective guidance and implementation of SI Ukraine's national partnerships.
The main challenges
Managing multiple grants with varying donor requirements, reporting formats, and timelines while ensuring strict adherence to compliance standards. New AFD-funded nexus project (co-funded by CDCS) is new for the Ukraine mission and will require strong support and navigation from the Grants Coordinator in collaboration with a dedicated Project Coordinator.
Turnover of international staff in late 2024/early 2025 provides lots of opportunities for new ways of working and collaboration, but does risk loss of institutional knowledge. The Grants Coo will need to quickly build relationships with staff in field bases and Coordination to build understanding of the mission and challenges, whilst supporting the immediate pressures of multi-base, multi-donor programs balanced with mid- and long-term work to implement new process (Project Cycle Management).
Understand the need for proactive communications with donors with tact and diplomacy, building donor confidence in SI while ensuring accountability and performance. Navigating SI's role in a five-partner BHA-funded consortium. Leading a three-partner ECHO-funded consortium (one international partner, one national). Supporting and managing a new phase of national partnerships, with strong support from other technical Coordinators and DCD-Program
Priorities for the 2/3 first months
Security constraints
There are few security constraints in Kyiv, though the context can evolve quickly and there are periodic attacks that generally target known areas (SI accommodation and office is deliberately chosen to reduce the proximity to target areas). Nevertheless, air alarms are still very frequent and can last for hours, which can cause stress. SI security rules and set-up is a very effective protection against the effects of the attacks and the risk to staff is therefore very low in Kyiv. National curfew is in place between midnight and 5am. Noise of explosions can sometimes be heard. Security briefings are given pre-departure, upon arrival, and upon travelling to field bases (where additional security protocols may be in place). SI Ukraine offers 24/7 psychological support to any staff affected by the stress of the security situation, and takes staff wellbeing and safety extremely seriously.
DIPLOMAS AND EXPERIENCE
Project Management or similar.
Experience in the humanitarian sector : 3-4 years
Experience on a similar position :0-2 years
SKILLS
TECHNICAL SKILLS
1. Grant management and compliance expertise, strong knowledge of key donors (ECHO, BHA) 2.Proposal Development and Donor Engagement 3. Reporting skills: excellent report writing, formatting, data analysis and visualisation 4. Communications skills: understanding ethical communication, experience developing communication products relevant to external stakeholders
TRANSVERSAL SKILLS
1. Communication skills to ensure lead interdepartmental coordination 2. Management skills to supervise the team and build their capacity. 3. Communication and external representation
LANGUAGES
1. English (mandatory) 2. French (desirable)
A salaried position:
According to experience, starting from EUR 2860 gross per month (2600 base salary + 10% annual leave allowance paid monthly) and a monthly Per Diem of USD 700.
SI also covers accommodation costs and travel expenses between the expatriate's country of origin and the place of assignment.
Breaks: During the assignment, a system of alternation between work and time off is implemented at the rate of 7 working days every three months (with a USD 850 break allowance, allocated by Sl). To these breaks periods, SI grants one (1) additional rest day per month worked.
Insurance package: Expatriates benefit from an insurance package which refunds all healthcare expenses (including medical and surgical expenses, dental care and ophthalmological expenses, repatriation) and a welfare system including war risks. Essential vaccination and antimalarial treatment costs are refunded.
LIVING CONDITIONS: The office and guesthouses are in the city centre, offering many opportunities in Kyiv:
- Parks, restaurants, bars, sports facilities and gyms, music events, museums, art galleries
- Well-stocked supermarkets and local markets with fresh products at lower prices, as well as specialist shops and international goods
- Easy access to ATMs, though it is common to pay by bank card
- The office is a 10-20 minute walk from the gueshouses. It is bright, spacious, and fully equipped with dual monitors for all staff.
- Occasional power cuts
- Excellent opportunities to network with other international colleagues as there are so many INGOs present
- Convenient walking, taxis and subway
Do you recognize yourself in this description? If yes, please send us your CV and cover letter!
Please note that CV-only applications will not be considered, and that the vacancy may close before the deadline.
Thank you for your understanding.
To learn more about Sl: www.solidarites.org
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Solidarités International (SI) est déterminé à prévenir et à combattre tout type d’abus – tout acte d’exploitation, d’abus et/ou de harcèlement sexuels (SEAH) à l’encontre des membres des communautés bénéficiaires ou de ses collaborateurs et collaboratrices, atteinte aux personnes et/ou aux biens, fraude, corruption, conflit d’intérêt non déclaré, financement d’activités portant atteinte aux droits de l’homme - qui pourrait être perpétré dans le cadre de ses interventions. SI applique une tolérance zéro à l’égard de tout type d’abus, particulièrement des actes de SEAH.
Solidarités International est un employeur équitable qui combat toute forme de discrimination. SI ne demandera jamais une rétribution quelconque en vue de participer à un processus de recrutement.
Solidarités International (SI) is determined to prevent and fight all type of abuse – all act of exploitation, abuse and/or sexual harassment (SEAH) against members of beneficiary communities or collaborators, fraud, corruption, violation of persons and/or property, funding of activities harmful to human rights – that could be perpetrated in the frame of its interventions. SI implements a zero-tolerance policy regarding acts of abuse, notably acts of SEAH.
Solidarités International is an equitable employer committed to find all forms of discrimination. SI will ever ask for any remuneration to take part in a recruitment process.