UNCDF Jobs - 107912- Proposal Writer Specialist

Proposal Writer Specialist - IPSA 11

Advertised on behalf of

UNCDF

Location :

Home-based

Type of Contract :

IPSA (Short-Term)

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

29-Jul-22 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

IPSA-11

Duration of Initial Contract :

6 months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

6 months

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

Instructions to Applicants: Click on the "Apply now" button. Input your information in the appropriate Sections: personal information, language proficiency, education, resume and motivation. Upon completion of the first page, please hit "submit application" tab at the end of the page. Please ensure that CV or P11 and the Cover letter are combined in one file.

The following documents shall be required from the applicants:

Personal CV or P11, indicating all past positions held and their main underlying functions, their durations (month/year), the qualifications, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate, and at least three (3) the most recent professional references of previous supervisors. References may also include peers.

A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.

Managers may ask (ad hoc) for any other materials relevant to pre-assessing the relevance of their experience, such as reports, presentations, publications, campaigns or other materials.

Office/Unit/Project Description

UNCDF is the UN’s capital investment agency for the world’s 46 least developed countries. With its capital mandate and instruments, UNCDF offers ‘last mile’ finance models that unlock public and private resources, especially at the domestic level, to reduce poverty and support local economic development.

The team working under the Inclusive Digital Economies (IDE) practice area at UNCDF comprises technical experts in digital finance and services and communication and knowledge managers. The latter supports the technical experts in building a community of practice in the inclusive digital economy space. The communication and knowledge managers support the technical team in documenting, packaging and disseminating learnings generated by projects carried out with public and private sector (government representatives, MNOs, Fintechs, Banks etc.).

The regional hub for the East and Southern Africa region supports and supervises teams in six countries: Uganda, Ethiopia, Malawi, Tanzania, Rwanda and Zambia.

The region is focusing on a growing expansion of the programming looking at key focal sectors for implementation, i.e. agritech, fintech, GreenTech, edtech, health tech, expanding the development finance tools we use to support ecosystems (i.e. grants, technical assistance, concessional loans, guarantees) and expanding to segments of importance (low skilled, women, MSMEs, technology start-ups, forcibly displaced people).

Institutional Arrangement

The Proposal Writer Specialist, IPSA, will join the Regional Digital Hub for Eastern Africa based in Kampala, Uganda. However, the work can be home-based and will contribute to the practice's effective delivery of the activities, reporting to the Regional Digital Hub Manager in East Africa. Payment shall be done on a daily basis upon submission and approval of the monthly timesheet by the Regional Digital Hub Manager.

This position will be initially home-based.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work

The Proposal Writer Specialist IPSA for East and Southern Africa will be responsible for supporting the team in the coordinating and drafting compelling technical proposals / funding submissions documents to be submitted to a variety of different donors.

Summary of essential functions:

1) Participate in proposal strategy, design, writing with UNCDF technical teams and Strategic Support Unit throughout the life of the proposal.

Attend meetings and identifying opportunities for proposal writing.
Co-facilitate technical design sessions.
Develop technical proposal outline and compliance matrices.
Design Technical and financial templates to be used.
Lead proposal writing and coordinating the inputs of the technical team.
Translate technical solutions into a clearly articulated, compelling, and compliant proposal document that is well written.
Validate theory of change and lessons learned
Draft multi-year workplan and budget

2) Preparing final version of proposals

Revise technical proposal drafts in response to feedback and comments in collaboration with the proposal team.
Review final technical proposal content for clarity, consistency, and responsiveness to solicitation requirements, in preparation for reviews and final production.
Prepare final version of proposals.
Support other writing tasks, including capability statements as required.

3) Contribute to win strategy and theme development

Participate in win strategy/theme development.
Use evidence and learning from across the organization to strengthen proposals.
Maintain consistency in proposal writing by following UNCDF Strategy
Coordinate with the design team to create graphics and visuals for projects.

Competencies

Required skills and competencies

Innovation

Ability to make new and useful ideas work

Leadership

Ability to persuade others to follow

People Management

Ability to improve performance and satisfaction

Communication & Relationship Management

Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform

Delivery

Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement

Required Skills and Experience

Min. Academic Education	Master’s degree in economics, development economics, innovation studies, communications, public relations, advocacy, or related field
Min. years of relevant Work experience	A minimum of seven (7) years dedicated experience with progressive responsibilities, in writing and editing proposals. At least 3 years experience and demonstrated success in writing proposals for Europe Union, USAID, Bilateral donors, and Private foundations. Demonstrated evidence of winning proposals as lead writer, responding to donor funding opportunities. Experience working with international organisations, developing country governments, donor agencies and NGOs and other civil society groups involved in various international development sectors is preferable
Desired additional skills and competencies	Knowledge of financial inclusion, agriculture, health, education, private sector development and or innovation topics is preferable Excellent computer skills and ability to use software and other relevant applications. Prior working experience and good knowledge of donors and funding opportunities in East and Southern Africa region is preferred
Required Language(s) (at working level)	Excellent written and spoken English is required.
Professional Certificates	n.a.