Job Purpose

Head of Fundraising and Partnerships will contribute to developing and implementing the Resource Mobilization strategy and will work closely with the Fund Raising and Partnership Coordinator to advance MESPT’s strategic goals and grow our revenue, profile, and influence. He/she will oversee all Resource Mobilization efforts at MESPT and monitor the progress of fundraising plans and priorities and will help ensure donor perspectives and learnings are informing MESPT’s work.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership:

• Facilitate the development and implementing of the Resource Mobilization strategy.
• Work closely with the Fund raising and Partnership Coordinator to advance MESPT’s strategic goals and grow our revenue, profile, and influence.
• Lead all MESPT fundraising efforts and monitor the progress of fundraising plans and priorities.
• Ensure donor perspectives and learnings are informing MESPT’s work.
• Lead discussions on strategy, creating buy-in around responsibilities and timelines,

Secure new business:

• Secure new business by bringing in new & diverse donors to MESPT.
• Actively identify and monitor funding and partnership opportunities in a systematic manner.
• Conduct pipeline forecasting and donor surveillance to track the release of procurements.
• Lead concept notes/proposal development processes.
• Help to assemble proposal development teams, provide effective coordination to ensure submission of high-quality concept notes and proposals that are aligned to the organization’s strategic priorities.
• Work with donors and relevant government ministries to influence and co-create opportunities to mobilize resources to support Financial Inclusion in Agriculture, Agri MSME development, Green transformation, Agricultural Productivity and Food Safety for Kenya.
• Get our managers excited about being part of the fundraising process, providing them with regular updates on our donor and partner priorities, and supporting them to always be eyes and ears for business development.

Strategic stakeholder engagement:

• Identify and pursue strategic opportunities to engage, coordinate and partner with key stakeholders at country level in order to facilitate technical programme exchanges, influence policy and thinking, and identify key areas of potential cooperation, including program funding.
• Working collaboratively with Communications team, Programme Managers, Fundraising and Partnerships coordinator to cultivate, maintain and grow existing relationships.
• Facilitate the monitoring and tracking of stakeholder priorities and new trends in the field.

Raise our profile:

• In liaison with Corporate Communication, raise awareness about MESPT by cultivating relationships with local NGOs, /implementing partners and bilateral/multilateral donors.
• Identify strategic speaking opportunities and represent MESPT at donor events and global Agricultural and Green based meetings and conferences to raise MESPT’s brand and influence.
• Build and strengthen relationships with key stakeholders in our business, establishing MESPT as a Thought Leader in Agriculture and Green transformation.
• Document and implement models, procedures, and templates that improve the workflow of the business development/fundraising team.

Any other duties as assigned by the Supervisor from time to time

Key Relationships

Internal

• The Board of Trustees
• Programme Managers
• Finance team.
• Programme officers.
• Human Resource officer
• ICT Team

External

• Internal & External Auditors
• Implementing partners
• Donors
• County and Government Officials
• Stakeholders

Requirements

Knowledge, Experience and Skills

• 7+ years demonstrated experience in identifying and securing funding from major Bi/Multilateral donors including developing successful grant proposals.
• You know the world of DANIDA, EU, USAID and all major donor agencies and large foundations.
• You are well versed with DANIDA, EU and US government funding mechanisms and procedures.
• You have experience in writing successful proposals for funding. You can write thoroughly, yet simply, about complex topics and have a sharp eye and can write about both broad themes and minute details.

Qualifications/Other Requirements:

• Postgraduate Degree Professional:
• 7 years in International Non-Profit industry and 5 years in management

Role Technical and Financial Competencies:

• Strong organizational skills: You can track potential opportunities, organize proposal calendars, develop collaborative timelines, and execute action plans. You’re able to juggle multiple tasks at once while ‘staying calm and carrying on.’ You have an attention to detail and to process and work well in a multicultural environment.
• Communication and networking skills. Highly developed networking skills and ability to form productive working relationships with external donor agencies. Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including communicating with impact, influencing, negotiation.
• Collaborative spirit. We want someone who actively listens and communicates. You connect easily with her/his team and gain their trust and respect. Someone who can work well across departments — with executive team members and peers.
• Resourcefulness. Demonstrated ability to solve complex issues through critical thinking, analysis, definition of a clear way forward and ensuring buy in. You’re able to identify and recruit partners for projects during proposal development as necessary.
• Strong analytical skills: ability to analyse and interpret financial data to make appropriate business suggestions and decisions.

Behaviour

• Accountable: Taking responsibility for appropriate decisions that you make, and the actions and behaviour you demonstrate
• Embracing Change: Openness to embracing change within the organization and being able to adjust plans/activities accordingly.
• Team Player: with excellent interpersonal skills, motivated by cooperating with a diverse mix of professionals and different cultures. Ability to build and maintain networks…
• Innovative: Thinking creatively and outside of the box so that ideas generated create a positive outcome