The Organization

The Alliance of Bioversity International delivers research-based solutions that harness agricultural biodiversity and sustainably transform food systems to improve people’s lives. Alliance solutions address the global crises of malnutrition, climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation.

The Alliance works with local, national and multinational partners across Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia and Africa, and with the public and private sectors. The Alliance is part of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future, dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving natural resources and ecosystem services.

Overview of Business Acceleration for Youth Project

The Business Acceleration for Youth Project is an innovative project supported by USAID Malawi and led by the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT. Framed around a resilience-led sustainable strategy, the project aims to leverage the power of the private sector to reduce the need for long-term humanitarian assistance. The objective is to accelerate and invest in youth owned and or youth-led enterprises or those entities that employ a significant number of youth to generate greater access to financing, diversified incomes, job creation, gender equality and women’s empowerment, a more inclusive private sector ecosystem, and improved resilience of communities in targeted vulnerable districts. The project will develop an investable pipeline of businesses, de-risk and mobilize capital, and build confidence in and leverage the private sector to foster economic and social impact that fosters Malawi’s self-reliance, laying the much-needed foundation for a long-term approach of establishing an inclusive and diversified private sector ecosystem.

About the position

The Alliance Bioversity International and CIAT (ABC) is seeking for applications from suitably qualified candidates for the position of Grants and Matching Investment Analyst (GMIA). The GMIA will be expected to support the project’s partners and sub-grantees working in the area of grants and co-financing for the Business Acceleration for Youth Activity.

Key duties & responsibilities

Contributes to the design, planning and organizing of work plans, in relation to the roll out, management and close out of the project’s grant facility. The GMIA will develop information that supports analysis that provides depth and relevance to the management of the project’s grant portfolio. The GMIA will be responsible for securing the cooperation of other parties within the organization and or externally, including from grantees, donor(s) and finance partners.

• Coordinate with the Project Analysis and Support (PLANS) team and Grants Management Unit (GMU) team within ABC
• Develops and monitors the grant funding pipeline, ensuring coordination with the finance team to assure timely and accurate dispersal of funds.
• Assesses and reviews grant submissions for completeness
• Advises applicants on ways to improve their requests/expenditure plans in collaboration with the Business Incubation and Acceleration Officer (BIAO)Periodically reviews subgrantee budgets and highlight any variations that may affect the grant implementation
• Based on analyses conducted formulate recommendations to the Project and it’s partners to improve grant and co-financing performance
• Tracks and analyzes co-financing facility payments and keeps accurate record of payments
• Perform due diligence throughout the grant facility term to ensure that funds are spent appropriately and in line with approved plans
• Ensure any changes made to plans are clearly documented using all appropriate tools
• Analyzes tranche cycle reports from grant beneficiaries on grant facility expenditures
• Make amendments to the financing schedule or tranches based on the analysis of reports received
• Maintain records of all disbursements to Activity participants (e.g. proof of EFT’s) and maintain records for all co-financing/grant facility related activities
• Plans and executes complete grant lifecycle from start-up to closeout  
• Any other duties as assigned by the Chief of Party and/or the Managing Director for Africa

Requirements

• Excellent knowledge on sub – grant monitoring and management for USAID funded projects is considered essential
• Strong language skills in English and Chichewa.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in economics, accountancy, marketing, business administration, or related fields
• At least three years of progressive management experience in grants
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate complex activities, involving multiple internal and external partners
• Demonstrated experience in the design of grants and co-financing activities
• Familiarity with Malawi’s private sector landscape
• Familiarity with Malawi’s finance sector in regard to M/SMEs
• Excellent analytical, synthesis and facilitation skills
• Excellent working knowledge of software packages covering; word processing, spreadsheets, databases, presentation software and web-based meeting/conferencing applications
• Self-motivated and excellent interpersonal and team skills and the ability to work with colleagues from diverse cultures

Terms of employment

This position is a nationally recruited position based in Lilongwe, Malawi. The initial contract will be for One year subject to a probation period of three (3) months and is renewable depending on performance and availability of resources.

This position is graded at BG06, level in a scale of BG01 to BG14 (BG14 being the highest level according to the Alliance job classification framework policy). We offer a competitive salary and excellent benefits including but not limited to insurance, retirement plan, staff training and development, paid time off and flexible working arrangements.

The Alliance Bioversity-CIAT is committed to fair, safe, and inclusive workplaces. We believe that diversity powers our innovation, contributes to our excellence, and is critical for our mission. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization that reflects our global character is a priority. We encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability statuses, sexual orientations, marital status, and gender identities.

Applications

Applicants are invited to visit https://alliancebioversityciat.org/careers to get full details of the position and to submit their applications. Applications MUST include reference number REF: Grants and Matching Investment Analyst as the position applied for. Cover letter and CV should be saved as one document using the candidate’s last name, first name for ease of sorting. The Alliance collects and process personal data in accordance with applicable data protection laws.

Applications closing date: 30^th October 2024

Please note that email applications will not be considered.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

We invite you to learn more about us at:

http://alliancebioversityciat.org