Job Title:  Grants Officer

Organisation: Development Alternatives, Inc. (DAI)

Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda

About the Company:

Development Alternatives, Inc. (DAI) is a private development company based in Bethesda, Maryland, US with additional corporate offices in London and Hemel Hempstead in the United Kingdom. We tackle fundamental social and economic development problems caused by inefficient markets, ineffective governance, and instability. We work with a wide range of clients, including national and local governments, bilateral and multilateral donors, private corporations, and philanthropies.

About USAID WFS Project:

The USAID Uganda Feed the Future Water and Food Systems (WFS) Activity is a five year activity (2023-2028) that aims to inclusively and equitably improve food and water security in the Kyoga Basin in northeastern Uganda, specifically three watersheds – Lokok, Awoja, and Lokere, by empowering individuals and communities to mitigate and adapt to shocks and stressors in order to improve livelihoods, maintain nutrition and health wellbeing, address drivers of conflict, and reduce reliance on humanitarian assistance. This area is home to nomadic pastoralists whose livelihoods are at risk due to violent cattle raiding and the effects of climate change (drought and flooding). This part of Uganda also suffers from fragmented markets, chronic underinvestment in public services, and a lack of private sector investment.

Job Summary:   The Grants Officer is a member of the grants management team and is responsible for proficiently managing and administering a sizable and complex array of grants. The Grants Officer administers the grantee selection process in full compliance with USAID and DAI rules and regulations, leads in the provision of technical and administrative support in building capacity of local sub‐grantees to effectively manage grants and oversees implementation of grant awards.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Ensure compliance with all applicable USAID grants-under contract regulations, the approved Grants Manual, USAID regulations and DAI internal grants management procedures and forms.
• Consult the technical teams in preparing a clear and comprehensive grant SOW/application with eligible grantees.
• Analyze and evaluate grant applications and vendors, proposals and awards to ensure adherence to grants management policies.
• Negotiate grant terms, specific conditions, standard provisions, and budgets with selected grantees.
• Measure grantee financial and management capacity and propose implementation strategies.
• Review and analyze budget estimates for allowability, allocability, reasonableness, and consistency for proposed activities in coordination with the proposed local partners. The Grants Officer will ensure adherence to budget lines and that quantity and frequency/period of performance are in line with activity design.
• Maintain all required grants management documentation and ensure entry of grants information in DAI’s electronic management system (TAMIS and SharePoint) from solicitation to grant close-down.
• Manage and consult with the technical teams to ensure deliverables are verified and approved.
• Monitor the grant financials to ensure that grant expenditures are in accordance with the grant ceilings. Take proactive steps to ensure compliance.
• Review all requests for payment or reimbursement for accuracy, compliance, and sufficient detail to ensure compliance with the grant agreement; submit requests for payment to the Finance department for payment.
• Provide regular updates for staff on grant implementation.
• Work closely with the grantee, the technical teams, and the Grants Manager to ensure timely closeout, disposition, and final reports for grants.
• As needed conduct financial and programmatic audits of grantee during implementation.
• Prepare accurate and timely progress reports on a quarterly basis and contribute to preparation of annual reports.
• Oversee implementation of the award through the review of reports, correspondence, site visits, etc.
• Serve as the point of contact for all official communication dealing with grant recipient.
• Process all grant agreements modifications, suspension and termination actions and maintaining control the grant records in TAMIS.
• Maintain with the Grants team grant trackers and internal price reasonableness analysis tools.
• Other duties as assigned by the Grants Manager or Chief of Party.

• Bachelor’s degree and 6+ years of relevant experience in relevant field.
• Prior experience in USAID project grants is a plus.
• Professional proficiency in English is required, and proficiency in local languages is preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge of internal controls.

Skills

• An extremely well organized and self-directed individual with sound technical skills, analytical ability, good judgment, strong operational focus.
• Accuracy in working with large amounts of data, and ability to respond effectively to the time sensitive inquiries.
• Ability to problem-solve difficult issues, and to multitask with ease, adapting to frequently changing priorities.
• Excellent communication written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and in a culturally sensitive environment.
• Possess a high standard of personal and professional integrity.
• Willingness to work as a team member, taking on additional tasks as needed to ensure the overall success of the project.