Head of Fundraising    

Accountabilities

Key Responsibilities:

Key Activities

Development and implementation of AAR resource mobilization policies, strategies, and tools

• Lead the development and implementation of the Affiliate/Associate resource mobilization/fundraising strategy and plan
• Develop systems and structures for effective implementation of resource mobilization and fundraising
• Review and evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the resource mobilization strategy
• Ensure the availability of adequate resources to meet organizational commitments and funding needs
• Review and customize ActionAid Rwanda fundraising and sponsorship policies, processes, procedures, standards, and tools to support effective utilization and implementation at the country level
• Provide advice to management on fundraising matters
• Research and develop fundraising products to be marketed in and out of Rwanda
• Link up with other units to promote AAR’s work to attract donors and support within and outside Rwanda

Implementing donor intelligence mechanisms and influencing development aid architecture

• Develop and maintain an up-to-date donor intelligence system that provides information on donor funding and the link to ActionAid Rwanda’s CSP
• Conduct annual donor scoping to inform donor focus and identify opportunities available to ActionAid Rwanda and partners
• Support partners to identify potential donors to support their work
• Provide periodic information on the existence of funding available for AAR and partners
• Identify and lead on opportunities for consortium funding
• Identify new donors and or donor policy campaign targets
• Participate in development discourse to influence development aid agenda to improve the level and quality of development cooperation

Donor relationship management

• Identify and maintain positive relations with existing donors
• Invite and ensure that donors are involved in AAR programmes
• Maintain an open communication channel with donors
• Identify and establish contact with new/potential donors

Proposal development, verification, and submission

• Design innovative quality projects/proposals with key stakeholders and right holders
• Lead in the coordination for proposal development
• Review proposals for compliance with funding guidelines and protocols and recommend for submission
• Provide guidance in the development of proposals in line with different donor funding protocols

Donor MOU/ Contract management

• Lead on ensuring that all donor conditionality on all AAR projects are adhered to on time and to the highest quality
• Initiate the development of donor contracts as soon as proposals for funding are approved
• Negotiate contracts ensuring organizational interests are secured
• Provide appropriate communication and education on donor contract terms and conditions to all parties involved in the implementation and execution of donor projects
• Periodically review progress of donor project implementation and advise management on appropriate actions needed to ensure donor satisfaction
• Share best practices, experiences, materials, and tools with AAR staff and partners.
• Ensure compliance of MoUs between ActionAid Rwanda and Partners
• Support other units in design and development of MoUs with Partners
• Ensure Contract Management System (CMS) and Sponsorship Management System (NK) are always up to date.

Sponsorship mobilization, monitoring and reporting

• Ensure effective and efficient delivery of child sponsorship in AAR – by ensuring high quality and timely child messages, photo updates, progress reports etc. are provided to the supporters
• Develop the necessary accountability framework and tools for use by relevant stakeholders
• Ensure a strategy that allows to solicitation and sharing of learning on sponsorship performance in liaison with sponsorship fundraising practitioners from other Members of ActionAid, learn and implement from their excellent and innovative sponsorship performances
• Lead in building the capacity of community sponsorship teams

Management of Partnership, Fundraising and Sponsorship (PF&S) function

• Build staff capacity to support provision of information for donor intelligence, proposal development, contracts management and development aid policy influencing
• Develop and implement the annual Partnership & Fundraising and Sponsorship (PF&S) plans and budgets
• Account for and report on resource utilization in the function

PF&S reporting and knowledge management

• Define key sponsorship and fundraising information requirements of stakeholders and develop mechanisms for periodic provision of this information
• Contribute to knowledge sharing and learning forums, document and share feedback with AAR and partners
• Track and make improvements in the use of PF&S related knowledge in AAR and amongst its partners and other stakeholders
• Track trends in contemporary PF&S practices, document and provide advice/ recommendations on key developments to AAR Management

Human Resource Management

• Support the recruitment and induction of Fundraising staff as guided by CD and Head of HROE
• Set annual targets/Objectives for each staff of the Unit in consultation with the staff and conduct Quarterly/Annual Performance Appraisals.
•  Maintain ongoing monitoring of the performance of staff against targets and take corrective steps if targets are not being met.
• Provide Career Growth and Development support through Coaching and Mentoring.
• Handle fundraising staff issues appropriately in consultation with Head of HROE and CD. 
• Ensure a spirit of team work and Team Building, change Management and Motivation initiatives to ensure strong fundraising team.
• Ensure Fundraising team weekly and regular planned meetings take place and reports shared.

General

• Coach, mentor, and develop Fundraising staff for better efficiency and coordination.
• Perform other related duties as required by the line manager

Person Specification

Education & Certifications

• Completion of a bachelor’s degree in Law, Social Sciences, Journalism/Mass Communication, Communication Science, Marketing, or related field. Master’s Degree preferred
• Postgraduate degree in a relevant field would be an added advantage.
• Membership of a relevant professional institute preferred

Essential Knowledge and Experience

• More than 5 years working experience at Senior level, in donor-funded projects and development organization particularly in the field of fundraising and/or Resource Mobilisation;
• Must have good knowledge of donor intelligence and relationship management, proposal development and database administration

Desirable Knowledge and Experience

• Experience in policy research, fundraising, proposal writing, Marketing and communication

Competency Profile

Competency

What it looks like

Core

Must be a self-motivated person able to work with less supervision.

An appreciation of the need for innovative ways of learning and knowledge management

Must be able to use Microsoft 365 efficiently or any other relevant application

Excellent strategic planning and analytical skills

Must have proven experience in training, coaching, mentoring, and developing others.

Must have experience of working effectively and comfortably in a cross-cultural environment and with multi- and interdisciplinary teams in a large organization.

Must have the knowledge and comply with Sexual Harassment, Exploitation, Abuse, and Safeguarding principles, policies, and procedures at work and in community.

Must have the knowledge and comply with Child Protection principles, policies, and procedures.

Other Behavioural Competencies

Integrity; excellent interpersonal skills; communication and negotiation skills; fluency in written and oral English; team working including virtual team-working; self-motivated; innovative mindset, high learning ability; active listening skills; demonstrated initiative; high levels of child and gender sensitivity; stress tolerance and good judgment.