Helen Keller International (HKI) is an international non-profit non-governmental organization. Present in Cameroon since 1992, Helen Keller International (HKI) began its activities with the fight against river blindness in the health District (HD) of Monatélé, Centre region. Gradually, interventions have diversified and extended to other parts of the country. Over the years, the mission of HKI in Cameroon has centered around two main program: the fight against Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) and the fight against malnutrition through interventions such as Vitamin A Supplementation among others, which both have a nationwide coverage and are part of the Cameroon government’s health priorities.

Helen Keller International Cameroon is seeking to recruit an interested candidate to fill the position of a Grants Officer based in the country office with head office inYaounde. The retained candidate will be expected to deliver the tasks outlined below.

Responsibilities:

The Grants Officer will be a critical member of the NTDs Program Team reporting to the Deputy NTDs Manager and closely collaborating with the Finance team and HQ Act-West project team. He/She will assist the Deputy Program Manager in the close monitoring of funding agreements signed with partners under the implementation of the integrated program for NTDs control.

Position: Grants Officer

Type of contract: Fixed-term contract- 01 year, renewable

Duty station: Yaoundé, with frequent travel across the country

Report to: Deputy Program Manager of the Act to End Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs)| West Program

Specific tasks:

Act/West grant monitoring and quality insurance

• Prepare all the required documents needed before any grant (Pre-Award Questionnaires, Risk Mitigation Plan, Sub-recipient Selection Memo)
• Participate in the drafting of Fixed Obligated Grant(FOG)/Fixed Amount Award (FAA) including milestones tables
• Participate in work planning and all related budgeting processes
• Review budget forecasting and expenditures made by the Finance Department before they finalize monthly financial reports
• Review Act-West activities requests to ensure resource availability and the adequate use of budget lines and monitoring codes
• Ensure the monthly update of the Program forecast
• Review and proofread all the relevant reports before submission to the donor
• Review cost of operations and suggest standard costs.
• Handle the day-to-day grant management (non-programmatic aspects)
• Communicate regularly with internal finance department and HQ Act West team
• Conduct Act West procurement plan as needed as required to be reviewed and/or approved by the Country Director.
• Document financial management and budget procedures; regular review of relevant documents governing awards as needed.
• Adhere to internal and donor policy requirements on awards and financial management.
• Keep accurate and complete financial records for each program.
• With Technical and Financial teams, conduct required reporting requirements on progress reports, performance reports, and Inventory Report
• Keep the relevant staff informed about upcoming deadline and deliverable.
• Provides regular reports on the work-in-progress to the Country Management Team
• Improve Act West financial management by analyzing results; monitoring variances; identifying trends; recommending actions to management.
• Reconcile transactions, comparing and correcting data.
• Maintain database by entering, verifying, and backing up data.

Sub-Awardees monitoring and capacity strengthening

• Review partners’ request for advance payments and prepare the corresponding payment requests
• Work with the relevant grantees to ensure delivery of high quality funding submissions, reflecting outcomes focused programs.
• Scrutinize deliverables and documentation submitted by partners as stipulated in funding contracts and ensure their compliance to the latter
• Conduct field visits to regional delegations of the Ministry of Public Health (MoH) for spot checks on the conformity of program’s supporting documents (payments, reconciliation file, activity reports etc.)
• Build partners’ capacity in Act-West grant management, monitoring, reporting and quality insurance
• Ensure the back-up of all Grant documents
• Support the selection of sub-awardees
• Conduct any other programmatic task assigned by the hierarchy

Desired profile

Professional expérience :

• At least 3 years of relevant working experience as a Program/Project/Grants Officer.
• Project management experience,
• Data management experience, familiarity with data systems and business processes
• Experience working with award management softwares
• Financial or business analysis skills
• Exceptional communication skills
• Experience developing award management tools
• Demonstrated working experience in a community health-based project will an advantage. 
• Relevant experience working in USAID-funded projects will be an advantage.
• Knowledge of the Cameroonian health system is a plus.
• Computer skills: Mastery of the Windows operating system and MS Office package  

Educational background: a university degree (at least Advanced Level +2) focusing on one of the following areas: Business Computing, Project management, Social and Management sciences, Public Health, degree in Finance, Risk Management and/or Compliance.

Language:  this position requires mastering of English & French language

Interpersonal qualities:

• High ability in paying attention to details, document review and proofreading
• Ability to work in a team and individually (with little or no supervision)
• Ability to set priorities
• Ability to work under pressure and deliver timely good results
• Ability to demonstrate innovative, analytic and dynamic mindset
• Ability to train staff on award management

Constitution of the application file :

• A cover letter
• A comprehensive CV including details of three referees, one of whom should be your current or most recent supervisor