Reports to: Head of Partnerships and Resource Mobilization

Location: Cairo, Egypt

Main purpose of position

Reporting to the Head of Partnerships and Resource Mobilization and working closely with researchers, financial, legal, and other administrative staff, the Proposal Writing Officer will ensure effective development and clearance of project ideas and development and delivery of diverse, relevant, and bankable research-for-development projects for ICARDA. This will also include timely and solicitous engagement with internal and external stakeholders, as well as supporting the head of the unit as and when needed in the delivery of data and other information related to project delivery.

About ICARDA

The International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) is a treaty-based international non-profit research organization supported by CGIAR.

ICARDA’s mission is to reduce poverty, enhance food, water, and nutritional security, as well as environmental health in the face of global challenges including climate change. We do this through innovative science, strategic partnerships, linking research to development and capacity development that take into account gender equality and the role of youth in transforming the dry areas. ICARDA works in partnership with governments, universities, civil society, national agricultural research organization, other CGIAR Research Centers, and the private sector. With its temporary Headquarters in Beirut, Lebanon, ICARDA operates in regional and country offices across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. For more information: www.icarda.org

All CGIAR Centers are currently engaged into a reform process (“One CGIAR’”) that will help ICARDA and CGIAR achieve better impact through more strategically integrated research, unified governance, an integrated structure, and new research modalities across participating Research Centers. This transformation is supported by CGIAR donors who have committed to increased funding as a result of these reforms.

Main responsibilities

• Lead the institutional full-cycle of proposal development, from idea generation to submission to donor, in line with in-house established procedures and proposal quality-control mechanisms to ensure development and design of high-quality and competitive project proposals (including the articulation of logical frameworks, measurable outputs, outcomes, deliverables and indicators) that fully comply with donor criteria and requirements.
• Undertake the development of competitive project proposals including but not limited to, preparing outlines, drafting whole or parts of the text, supporting gathering and finalizing administrative documentation, and any other tasks required for successful project proposal delivery.
• Identify resource needs for effective proposal development across ICARDA and identify business risks and flagging issues for discussion and report on a rolling basis.
• Manage scheduling and resources to meet proposal deadlines by establishing priorities with available resources or planning for additional (staff, consultants, etc.) and by coordinating with the PGU, Finance Unit and other related departments.
• Lead and provide oversight and guidance for the design and development of cross-cutting proposals and large initiatives by scientists or proposal writing staff and consultants in coordination with research teams.
• Provide overall guidance and support to planning, implementing, and evaluating quality and efficiency of PGU project proposal development activities.
• Improve proposal-writing results by evaluating and re-designing processes, approach, coordination and boilerplate, and make recommendations for changes.
• Respond to requests for donor calls and project proposal-related reports and statistics.
• Strengthen the Center’s capacity in project design, development, and reporting, including through training and coaching of researchers, project managers and new team members.
• Lead the review of calls for proposals, including preparation of call summaries and information dissemination to facilitate process to funding opportunities.
• Manage ICARDA’s in-house database and archives of project proposals, ensuring data and information is current and accurate and providing regular analytical reports to management.
• In coordination with other Unit Managers, manage the review and edit technical progress and final project reports to ensure information is presented in a concise, coherent and results-focused manner and complies with donor requirements.
• Act as focal point for ICARDA with donors and external partners in project proposal preparation and negotiation toward proposal approval.
• Supervise relevant PGU staff and consultants in accordance with ICARDA’s policies and procedures, including planning, interviewing, hiring, training, supervising, and appraising performance.
• Other responsibilities and duties assigned by Head of Partnerships and Resource Mobilization.
• International and regional travel may be required.

Requirements

Essential qualifications and competencies

• An advanced degree (Master or PhD) in agriculture, international development, public policy, business or related field associated with ICARDA’s research programs. Complementary training/education in proposal writing, science writing or project management is an advantage.
• Minimum of five years of relevant experience in developing and implementing concept notes and proposals for programs and projects related to agriculture/rural development.
• Experience working in one of ICARDA’s target regions focusing on North Africa, West Asia, Central Asia and South Asia and countries including, but not limited to, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Jordan, Lebanon, Uzbekistan, and India
• Experience working for international development cooperation agencies or donors.
• Outstanding written and oral communication skills in English.
• Proven track record in development of successful project proposals.
• Familiarity with use of log frames in formulation of results-oriented projects.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to work in a multidisciplinary and multicultural work environment and flexibility.
• Excellent time-management skills, ability to deliver when facing multiple projects with tight deadlines.
• Computer proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel) and familiarity with project management software.
•  Strong analytical skills.

Desirable

• Experience with on-the-ground project implementation in an international development context
• Experience working for or with ICARDA or another CGIAR Center
• Working knowledge of Arabic or French

Benefits

Terms of appointment, salary, and benefits

This is an internationally recruited position. ICARDA offers an attractive compensation package to the successful applicant, including a competitive salary, housing allowance, non-contributory retirement plan, medical insurance, 30 days of annual leave, five months of maternity leave, and 15 days of paternity leave. All benefits are denominated and paid in US Dollars.

ICARDA will offer the successful candidate an initial contract of three years, renewable, subject to a continued need for the position, availability of fund and satisfactory performance. The first year will be a probationary period.

ICARDA is committed to increasing women’s representation in its workforce and strongly encourages applications from qualified women.

ICARDA will acknowledge all applications received but we apologize in advance as due to the large number of applications only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.