International Consultancy: Development and Awards Management Consultant

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is the lead United Nations agency focused on reproductive health and rights, aiming to ensure that every pregnancy is intended, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. Established in 1969, UNFPA operates in over 150 countries, with a mission to deliver a world where every pregnancy is intended and every childbirth is safe. The organization is committed to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, particularly in areas related to family planning, maternal health, gender-based violence, and demographic change. UNFPA emphasizes the importance of principled and ethical staff who embody international norms and standards, and who are dedicated to delivering high-impact results through effective partnerships and resource mobilization.

Job Overview:
The consultancy role focuses on enhancing the capacity of UNFPA staff in narrative and financial proposal development, as well as post-award management. The consultant will develop a comprehensive training module aimed at improving proposal writing and management skills across 23 Country Offices in the East and Southern Africa region. This initiative is in response to the increasing need for effective proposal development and award management in a challenging funding environment. The consultant will be responsible for creating training materials, facilitating a three-day in-person workshop, and producing a final training package that incorporates participant feedback. The training will cover essential topics such as editorial discipline, intervention logic, logframe drafting, activity-based budgeting, governance workflows, and post-award management, ensuring that staff are equipped with the necessary skills to succeed in their roles.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develop a three-day training module on proposal writing and post-award management, covering seven core topics: Editorial Discipline, Aligning Intervention Logic, Drafting Robust Logframes, Activity-Based Budgeting, Narrative Sign-Off Governance, and Post-Award Management.
• Prepare and design in-person training sessions using adult learning methodologies.
• Create presentations and training materials for pre-testing at the regional training retreat.
• Develop evaluation tools to assess participant capacity gains before and after training.
• Facilitate a three-day interactive regional workshop in South Africa, leading hands-on practical exercises and simulations.
• Produce a five-page report summarizing training outcomes, participant feedback, and recommendations for future improvements.
• Create a Proposal Development Toolkit with practical tools for immediate use by Country Offices, including checklists and templates.
• Finalize the training module incorporating feedback from the training sessions.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree in Development Studies, Economics, or a relevant social science discipline. They should have practical experience in resource mobilization, partnerships, and donor engagements. Fluency in English is mandatory, while proficiency in French and Portuguese is considered an advantage. Candidates must demonstrate experience in module development related to funding and financing for UN agencies and international NGOs, as well as knowledge of Results-Based Management and the Logical Framework Approach. Excellent communication and presentation skills are essential, along with a proven track record in proposal development and grant writing.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree in Development Studies, Economics, or a relevant social science discipline is required for this position. This educational background is crucial as it provides the necessary theoretical framework and understanding of the socio-economic factors that influence development and resource mobilization efforts.

Experience:
Candidates should have at least 5 years of progressively responsible professional experience in proposal development, grant writing, resource mobilization, or program design. They should possess knowledge of donor requirements from various organizations, including the EU, Global Fund, FCDO, Sida, GIZ, USAID, and foundations. Experience in designing and facilitating adult learning programs, as well as working with UN agencies or international organizations, is highly desirable.

Languages:
Fluency in English is essential for this position, as it is the primary language of communication within UNFPA. Knowledge of French and Portuguese is considered an added advantage, as it may facilitate communication with a broader range of stakeholders and partners in the region.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is expected to last for 20 working days spread over three months, from September to November 202

• The consultant will work remotely for module development, while the in-person training will take place in South Africa. UNFPA will cover travel costs in accordance with its travel policies. Regular updates will be required to monitor progress, and the consultant will work under the supervision of the Regional Resource Mobilisation and Partnerships Advisor. Candidates are encouraged to submit an expression of interest along with a detailed CV and samples of past work to demonstrate relevant experience.