Interim Grants Officer

• The Grants Officer is a part of the Programs team and collaborates with the Regional Director, Program Officers and Foundation staff to implement the East Africa regional strategy supporting civic engagement and governance in Kenya Uganda and Tanzania. The Grants Officer will also support other program activities including program convenings, evaluations and learning activities.

HOW YOU WILL CONTRIBUTE

• Actively assess where grants in the assigned portfolio are positioned in their lifecycle and ensure timely action to meet grantmaking benchmarks.
• Work with grantees in close coordination to review progress, determine grantee performance and identify key milestones for timely grant reporting, renewals and/or closures
• Partner with Regional Director, Program Associate, Grant Manager to update grantee documentation on grant closures with a key focus on regulatory compliance requirements
• Provide a responsive channel to grantees with the Foundation staff for time sensitive needs 
• Identify key program insights and opportunities from existing grants that can provide inputs for strategic communications and reputation building.
• Undertake targeted research to identify unique grant making opportunities for the Foundation - as identified in program team priority setting.
• Support program convenings including internal convenings and engagements of Foundation staff with practitioners, researchers and other philanthropists on issues of shared concerns 
• Participate actively in learning and evaluation initiatives undertaken by/for grantees including program evaluations underway
• Mine rich insights on drivers of grant effectiveness from grantee interactions and grant documentation in partnership with Grants Associate
• Engage with Foundation staff as an enabling team member to strengthen grant making and delivery on outcomes

WHAT YOU WILL BRING

• 5 years work experience in philanthropy, grantmaking and/or programming related to social justice, human rights, civic space and/or digital governance
• Understanding of social justice, human rights, civic space and/or digital governance questions in East Africa
• Excellent communication, interpersonal skills and organizational capabilities, and a team player
• Ability to multitask, meet deadlines and work in high pressured environment and willingness to handle complex and detailed-oriented workload 
• Ability to work effectively with program and other Foundation staff, grantees, and internal and external consultants, both in the U.S and overseas.
• Ability to work independently and analytically, exercising discretion and good judgment
• Proficiency with word processing and spreadsheet applications (e.g. Word/Excel) essential
• Excellent command of written and spoken English
• Ways of working and engaging that aligns with the Foundation’s mission,  core values and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. 
• Baccalaureate degree in related field of study or equivalent experience