JOB DESCRIPTION

TITLE:International Grants Policy and ProgrammeManager (Common Ground Initiative)

GRADE:Officer (enhanced)

DEPT/TEAM:Grants – International Team

REPORTING TO:International Grants Portfolio Manager

Purpose of job:

  • To project manage Diaspora policy influencing and advocacywork
  • Tocontribute to our learning on policy influence and advocacy undertaken by Diaspora organisations

Key relationships:

  • The Comic Relief International Grants team;the Common Ground Initiative Programme Advisory Group; theComic Relief International Grants Committee; Baring Foundation; DFID; Diaspora organisations and networks; policy makers, politicians, funders and other decision makers in the field of international development in Africa.

Background to the post:

Comic Relief is working in partnership with DFID to deliver the ‘Common Ground Initiative’ - a £20 million initiative to support the work of UK-based small and Diaspora organisations in Africa. The lion’s share of this fund will be channelled into a grants programme supporting small and Diaspora organisations, to implement projects creating lasting change among poor and disadvantaged communities in Africa. The Initiative will provide opportunities for Diaspora organisations to influence policy makers and otherstakeholders in the UK and internationally. We will also invest in the organisational development of UK small and Diaspora-led organisations through a dedicated fund and additional ‘peer learning’ facility for grantees. Learning is a key strategic goal of this initiative, so we will collaborate with a research organisation to assess and better understand the contribution of small and Diaspora organisations to international development.

This particular post has come about due to Comic Relief and the Baring Foundation’s shared interest in supporting work that enables the Diaspora to influence international development policy. The Baring Foundation has committed to funding this position for a period of four and half years. The Policy and Programme Manager is a new post within the international grants team at Comic Relief. Their primary responsibility will lie in managing policy influencing and advocacy with small and Diaspora-led organisations in the UK under the Common Ground Initiative. To support Comic Relief’s learning the post holder will be expected to collaborate with the learning manager in the design and implementation of the learning strategy relating to the advocacy and influencing work.

Specific responsibilities:

  1. Delivery of the influencing and advocacy strategy
  • Lead on the implementation and review of the strategy
  • Develop and oversee a programme of ‘exchanges’ between policy makers, funders, politicians, influential thinkers and others from within the UK and internationally and members of the UK Africa Diaspora
  • Explore and facilitate opportunities to further strengthen relationships between policy makers and the Diaspora, and contribute to changes in policies and practice
  • Support opportunities to strengthen the skills of Diaspora organisations to undertake effective lobbying and influencing work
  • Work in partnership with the UK African Diaspora to identify possible policy changes that would enhance the contribution of the African Diaspora in international development, and to facilitate a process that would enable a core group of Diaspora leaders to help bring about these policy changes
  • Keep up to date with changesin international development policy and within the UK African Diaspora.
  1. Learning
  • Together with the Learning Manager, develop and implement approachesto measure the impact of the policy influencing and advocacy strategy and use this learning both to inform future work
  • Undertake regular visits to funded projects and provide timely and insightful feedback to projects
  1. Communications and Marketing
  • Collaborate with teams across the organisation to explore and develop ways of exploiting Comic Relief’s public profile and relationships to further the goals of the Common Ground Initiative, including exploring ways of influencing the policies and practices of other funders, including DFID.
  • Lead on the reporting back to Baring Foundation and collaborate with other team members in reporting back to DFID.

4Other duties

  • Use appropriate opportunities to support the organisation’s drive for sponsorship both for cash donations and gifts in kind
  • Participate and contribute as part of the international team, taking an active role in team development and within the Grants Department generally
  • Share in Comic Relief’s values and participate as a full member of the Comic Relief team, and where appropriate, to support initiatives and activities across the whole organisation
  • Undertake any appropriate work as delegated by the International Grants Portfolio Manager.

PERSON SPECIFICATION FOR:Programme ManagerGrade: Officer (enhanced)

EXPERIENCE / WHY / IMP. / App / Int / Test / Test Format
Experience of working in the field of policy influencing and advocacy / To enable Diaspora organisations to become more effective in influencing the policies and practices of decision makers / Ess /  /  /  / Presentation
Experience of working in international development / To effectively support Diaspora organisations to influence international development policy and practice / Ess. /  /  /  / Assessment exercise
Project management experience / To take lead responsibility in managing the influencing and advocacy project / Ess /  / 
COMPETENCIES / WHY / IMP. / App / Int / Test / Test Format
Relationship management / To facilitate discussions and processes involving a wide range of interests and experiences, and manage a wide range of relationships including Diaspora organisations, policy makers, grantees and funders / Ess /  / 
Project management / To take lead responsibility in managing the influencing and advocacy project clarifying tasks and roles and ensuring delivery to time / Ess / 
Analytical skills / To understand issues of policy and practice of decision makers and how best they can be influenced; to understand the contribution of the Diaspora; to explore ways of best delivery on advocacy goals. / Ess. /  /  / Assessment
Exercise
Budget Management / The role includes budget responsibilities. / Ess. /  / Accounts
Exercise
Communication Skills - Oral / To build effective relationships with policy makers, Diaspora organisations and other stakeholders and communicate the Common Ground Initiative and wider organisational aims / Ess. / 
Communication Skills - Written / To present clear and concise policy papers, strategy papers, assessment reports and other documents to a wide variety of audiences / Ess. /  /  / Written test
Customer Care / To ensure all stakeholders policy makers and grantees are treated with courtesy and professionalism. / Ess. / 
Presentation skills / To promote the Common Ground Initiative strategy and Comic Relief’s wider international grant making strategy to key stakeholders / Ess. /  / Presentation at interview
Motivational Skills / To engage both Diaspora organisations as well as policy makers in the advocacy and influencing project and make grants issues accessible and motivating to staff and other stakeholders / Ess. / 
Problem Solving / To be able to think through challenging issues around influencing and advocacy work and make fair, confident decisions that are in the best interest of the Initiative / Ess. /  /  / Assessment exercise
Operational Risk Management / To identify and assess the risks associated with our influencing and advocacy work and take steps to manage them. To identify and mitigate or avoid risks associated with overseas travel. To ensure child protection policies are effectively implemented. / Ess. / 
Quality Control / To reviewcomplex documentation and ensure consistency and clarity. / Ess. /  / Assessment Exercise
Computer literacy (MS Office) / To prepare reports to funders, committee and general correspondence. / Ess. /  /  / Written test
KNOWLEDGE / WHY / IMP. / App / Int / Test / Test Format
Knowledge of approaches to influencing and advocacy work / To manage an effective influencing and advocacy programme / Ess. /  / 
Able to outline the mission of Comic Relief and awareness of one of our campaigns / Shows commitment and interest in CR / Ess. / 
An understanding of diversity / Necessary for all staff / Ess. / 
Understanding of development issues and the role of NGOs / To ensure the successful delivery of the advocacy project / Ess. /  / 
QUALIFICATION/OTHER REQUIREMENTS / WHY / IMP. / App / Int / Test / Test Format
Willing to travel internationally / To undertake assessment visits,
corporate trips etc. / Ess. / 