Vacancy: Head of Programme Quality and Fundraising

Established in 2003, the AIDS and Rights Alliance for Southern Africa (ARASA) is a regional partnership of over 100 non-governmental organisations working together to promote a human rights-based response to HIV and TB in 18 countries in Southern and East Africa through capacity strengthening and advocacy. The Regional Office of ARASA is located in Windhoek, Namibia.

ARASA seeks to appoint a committed and dynamic individual to assume the position of Head of Programme Quality and Fundraising. This position is based remotely with frequent travel to country programmes and regional officer, in Windhoek, Namibia.

The Head of Programmes Quality and Fundraising is responsible for leading ARASA’s growth and overseeing the quality and effectiveness of its programmes. The cadre has a functional responsibility for programme design and quality, research, fundraising, programme implementation, monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning and will play a significant role in growing ARASA into an increasingly innovative organisation that remains deeply committed to its mandate.

Reporting to the Director:

Reporting to the Director the incumbent will lead the programme Planning, Research, Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (PRMEAL) as well as Fundraising to increase the impact we can make by further developing relationships with grant making organisations and institutional donors. The Head of Programme Quality and Fundraising leads on the development of high quality, innovative programmes that deliver immediate and lasting change based on data and experience gathered from the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) of those programs. The position ensures that programmes are designed in accordance with the organisational strategy and the values shared between ARASA and partners. The position is also responsible for ensuring the quality of programmes and providing technical capacity building of partners in sectoral areas.

The specific roles:

Strategic design and delivery:

  • Contribute to the development, maintenance, and review of ARASA strategy and strategic vision.
  • Leading role in developing programme strategies and annual plans ensuring coordination of all technical input to ARASA strategy, proposals, and reports.
  • Lead on developing standardised programmes and sector log-frames aligned with strategy.
  • Lead on needs assessments, programme analysis to support annual strategy review and planning processes.
  • Ensure the stakeholders and communities participate in design, implementation, and monitoring of the programmes via partner organisations.
  • Responsible that programme quality meets at least minimum standards across ARASA programme areas.
  • Support MEL in developing a research programme by defining research topics and providing technical oversight to projects
  • Assures the ARASA programmes are based on data and experience gathered from high quality Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) through partners
  • Ensure that technical staff provide input into proposals and proactively and regularly communicate planned requirements for programme design and implementation to relevant programmes and projects
  • Ensure that the different technical sectors of the organisation are coordinated, integrated and support each other to optimize programs and projects

Monitoring and Evaluation

  • Oversee the development and implementation of the Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP) to capture project performance and results, including routine service delivery data reporting, baseline and endline assessments, and all monitoring for process and outcome evaluations
  • Develop and oversee data flow pattern for the program that will ensure timely data collection and reporting
  • Lead results reporting to various donors by providing written documentation on M&E activities and indicator results for progress and annual reports, as appropriate.
  • Provide leadership and direction on M&E to ensure the program achieves its goals and corresponding objectives and targets
  • Ensure high-quality implementation, consistent with ARASA  monitoring and evaluation guidelines, protocols, information and reporting systems
  • Lead efforts to monitor and evaluate project interventions, document results and provide feedback to stakeholders to guide decision-making
  • Conduct targeted evaluations and operations research, including design, data collection, management and analysis
  • Ensure quality of data through data verification procedures, including routine data quality audits
  • Cultivate strategic M&E relationships and alliances with other ARASA projects and represent M&E activities in public and professional circles through meetings, conferences, and presentations
  • Ensure relevant data is entered into organization-wide performance management system designed to capture, analyze, and disseminate project data
  • Promote and support the dissemination of project information among the project team
  • Work with project and financial staff to prepare and track progress of project and activity budgets
  • Coordinate all M&E capacity-building activities with project staff, implementing partners and facility staff

Fundraising

  • Leading the development of high impact, multi-year proposals and reports, securing strategic funding for our programmes
  • Work in close collaboration with the Director to further grow our development partners, donors, stakeholders, building on our current partnerships with strategic donors.
  • The successful candidate will be experienced in facilitating a results-based management approach to programming and reporting, well versed in identifying appropriate monitoring and evaluation indicators and skilled in developing theories of change and log-frames to amplify impact and ensure a highly transparent and accountable approach to grant managing and fundraising.
  • Critical to their success will be a well-formed understanding of the challenges involved in – and a passion for – shifting power from the global north to the global south. This requires a bold approach, the ability to influence and contribute to developments in the regional NGO sector and resilience.

Strategic planning and development

  • Further develop and implement a robust and holistic strategy to grow income from grant making organisations (statutory, trusts and foundations, including private foundations).
  • Develop and implement annual activity plans to coordinate applications, reports and other activities to develop and achieve year on year targets.
  • Develop KPIs in relation to grant making, with an emphasis on high quality programming.
  • In collaboration with Internal Controller, manage and report on income and expenditure budgets, ensuring plans are in place to mitigate risk.
  • Lead the programme teams in developing and delivering against yearly budgets and non-financial key performance indicators, balancing small, medium, and large/strategic multi-year funding opportunities.
  • Capture learning and feed into the development or revision of processes and systems.
  • Build strong relationships across with partners, as part of a strategic and locally led approach to programme funding, underpinned by a high level of accountability and understanding of the local context in which the programmes are delivered.

Other:

  • Implement the Equal Opportunities Policy into daily activities.
  • Undertake any other duties as may reasonably be required in this post.
  • Keep abreast of key fundraising trends and issues and the regulatory environment around
  • fundraising.
  • Ensure that standards are set, procedures followed, and issues acted upon or communicated to all staff and others as appropriate.
  • Develop a fund-raising strategy
  • Regulator and best practice is adhered to in the programme funding team.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS

Accountability:

  • Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling ARASA’s values
  • Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities – giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved

Ambition:

  • Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves (and their team), takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages others to do the same
  • Widely shares their personal vision for ARASA, engages and motivates others
  • Future orientated, thinks strategically

Collaboration:

  • Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, members and external partners and supporters
  • Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
  • Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to

Creativity:

  • Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
  • Willing to take disciplined risks
  • Integrity
  • Honest, encourages openness and transparency

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

  • At least 3 years’ experience in a regional NGO environment, including experience directing and implementing programs for human rights in both health and development contexts
  • Recognized leadership role in relevant technical areas at both field and country level
  • Master’s degree in Social Sciences, LLB, MBA or relevant field.
  • Experience in working with partner organisations in human rights or development settings
  • A general appreciation of the issues concerning the NGO sector,
  • Solid experience of developing and managing monitoring and learning systems
  • Good analytical skills. Effective negotiator, with the ability to positively influence cross departmental and cross sector working
  • Credibility to lobby, influence and represent ARASA at all levels
  • Resource management, training, capacity building, coaching, and mentoring skills
  • Ability and willingness to dramatically change work practices and hours, and work with incoming teams,
  • Commitment to and understanding of ARASA’s goals, values and principles including rights-based approaches
  • Ability to work within a team
  • Demonstrable experience in prospect research, due diligence, grant application writing, management, evaluation and reporting.
  • Significant experience in working with programme partners in an international development context in developing and managing project and bespoke grant budgets.
  • Demonstrable experience in collaboration with programme partners in developing high quality programmes responding to both local needs and strategic funding priorities.
  • Demonstrable experience in working with monitoring & evaluation indicators, log-frames, results-based management and theories of change.
  • Exceptional organisational skills with experience of managing multiple tasks and prioritising effectively.
  • Demonstrable ability to plan and report on activities.
  • Good interpersonal and team working skills, with an ability to work independently and seize opportunities.
  • Demonstrable experience in empowering others in meeting objectives, seeking solutions and overcoming barriers.
  • Demonstrable evidence of excellent communication skills, both written and oral.
  • Self-starter. Highly organised, with an ability to work systematically to targets and deadlines and able to work under pressure.
  • Strong budgeting, analytical and creative skills.
  • Ability to travel internationally on an occasional basis.

Personal Attributes / Qualities:

  • Ambitious, innovative, target driven and self-motivated.
  • Trustworthy, patient, flexible and a good relationship builder.
  • Enjoy working as part of a team and independently.
  • Passionate about providing excellent leadership; able to show personal weaknesses and good at enabling a growth/learning mindset.
  • Open to new ways of working and keen to learn.
  • Respective of other cultures, beliefs and practices.
  • Committed to building meaningful, personal relationships with donors, colleagues and regional NGO sector co-workers.
  • A high level of personal integrity and commitment to authentic leadership.
  • Driven by success and passionate about seizing opportunities as they present themselves.
  • Driven by the desire to give our supporters an excellent experience.
  • Passionate about empowering teams, enabling them to grow and develop in their respective roles.
  • An open mindset and lateral thinker; able to make connections and spot opportunities in pursuit of strategic objectives.
  • Willing and keen to contribute to the development and growth of the organisation overall, beyond programme funding 

ARASA offers an attractive remuneration package, commensurate with experience. Interested and qualified candidates who match the profile are invited to submit their CV and letter of interest, to recruitment@arasa.info  with the title “Head of Programme Quality and Fundraising” in the subject line.

Closing date for applications is midnight (SAST) on the 2nd of March 2023.

Incomplete applications or those submitted after the closing date will not be considered.  Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.