Grant Assistant – Research Triangle Institute(RTI) International
Accounting and Finance, Agriculture, Business and Administration
Research Triangle Institute(RTI) International
Research Triangle Institute (RTI) has over 30 years’ experience assisting governments, communities, and the private sector. As a not-for-profit, independent research institute based in North Carolina, USA, RTI has roughly 5,000 employees with global experience implementing international development projects. RTI’s Sustainable Growth & Resilience (SG&R) technical unit within the International Development Group brings together RTI experts and capabilities across food security, agriculture, energy, environment, water, governance, and economic opportunity. SG&R will leverage RTI’s experience designing and delivering multisectoral programming and technical solutions to respond to climate change, build resilience, and promote economic growth around the world.
SG&R’s Global Food Security and Agriculture portfolio is working to strengthen agricultural markets, engage youth and women as critical leaders of the on- and off-farm workforce, and tackle the dual burden of malnutrition around the globe. RTI’s work is helping foster stronger food systems, reduce malnutrition in all its forms, build resilience and engage the next generation of food security leaders. RTI is currently partnering on nearly 30 projects in East Africa, including activities focused on private sector-driven agricultural growth in Rwanda and market systems development in Kenya.
Project Description
The purpose of the USAID/Ethiopia Transforming Agriculture activity is to increase access to healthy diets, particularly for women and children, by improving competitiveness, inclusiveness, and resilience of the Ethiopian food and agriculture system. The project will also increase incomes gained from agriculture by as much as 40 percent over the next five years. To achieve its goals the project must collaborate intensively with other USAID funded projects working in the food and agriculture sector.
Position Description
RTI is seeking two Grants Assistants for Ethiopia Feed the Future Transform Agriculture Project. The Grants Assistant’s will be responsible for implementing the Catalytic Investment Portfolio (CIP) grants program. The CIP will work with smallholder farmers, entrepreneurs, and rural consumers and issues grants under three categories: Innovation, Capacity Building, and Impact. Grants Assistants will support capacity building efforts for new and underutilized grantees. Both positions will be based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and will report to the Grants Manager.
Your primary responsibilities will include but not be limited to:
- Collect paperwork and monitor progression of activities.
- Ensure project strictly adheres to all USAID, U.S. Government, Government of Ethiopia, and organizational rules and regulations; identifies and mitigates any project risks before they occur.
- Collect and file required paperwork from proposed and awarded grantees and monitor progression of activities; keep all grants-related files up to date.
- Receive, prepare for review, and circulate to reviewers complete grant applications and supporting documents.
- Create a tracking system for all grant applications received; maintain complete records from grant review meetings, messages, etc.; properly record approval or non-approval. Keep the tracking system up to date: approved grants and deliverables, grants pending USAID approval, grants in the concept paper stage, potential grants.
- Create a tracking system for awarded grants, with information relating to each signed grant, progress against workplan schedules, and funds disbursement, including pipeline review for each respective grant project.
Grade: L/8
Reporting to: Grant Manager
Required Skills and Qualifications:
- Master’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Commerce, or related field and 1 year of experience, or a Bachelor’s degree and 3 years of experience, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.
- At least one year of experience supporting operations of grant programs is required. Prior experience with USAID-funded projects is highly desirable.
- Strong organizational and interpersonal skills.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Verbal and written fluency in English required. Ability to travel and work throughout Ethiopia in difficult terrain/conditions at times.
