Advocacy & Donor Relationship Manager - Marie Stopes Ghana

Marie Stopes International Ghana (MSIG), a branch of MSI Reproductive Choices global partnership is the leading Sexual Reproductive Health and rights organization in Ghana providing high quality, safe services, and advocacy to create an enabling environment, so every client has access to safe services when and where they are needed.

MSIG has vacancies for passion-driven, well-organized, client-oriented, and energetic individuals with the below relevant qualification/s and experience. MSIG’s goal is to meet the needs of the underserved and improve access to the use of Family Planning (FP) and other Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) services.

At MSI Reproductive Choices we are unapologetically pro-choice. We believe that every woman has the right to make choices about her own body and her own future.

MSI Reproductive Choices is committed to creating an inclusive environment with a workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. We’re proud to be an equal opportunities employer and give equal consideration to all qualified applicants without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or age.

Job Description

• Length of contract: One (1) year renewable contract.
• Location:  Accra 

M?SIG is looking for an energetic and technically strong individual for the position of Advocacy and Donor Relationship Manager.

S/he will be responsible for managing all our donors and donor-funded projects, and our advocacy portfolio.

The job holder is responsible for ensuring excellent management of donor relationships, donor compliance, and quality project implementation for all MSIG’s projects and oversees MSIG’s advocacy work which contributes to MSIG’s mission and goals.

The job holder is also responsible for developing funding proposals and working with the Country Director, Director of Regional Operations, and Senior Management Team (SMT) to represent MSIG effectively and positively to donors, partners, and stakeholders.

S/he will work closely with members of the West Africa and Central Africa (WACA) Regional Support Team (RST), especially the Ghana Programme Officer and various donor teams in London during donor proposal development, donor project implementation, donor reporting, and general donor management.

The primary responsibility of this role is to further MSIG’s mission of ensuring the individual’s right to have CHILDREN BY CHOICE NOT CHANCE.

Key responsibilities

Quality Project Life Cycle Management

• Ensure high service standards to donors, stakeholders, and beneficiary for current portfolio of projects (number of projects could change over time)
• Develop comprehensive implementation plans, ensure that internal stakeholders and implementers are fully engaged (e.g. Finance, Regional Office teams, Regional Managers, Channel Leads, etc).

• Work through implementers to ensure that all project milestones and deliverables are met; troubleshoot; communicate instances of under-achievement appropriately and in good time to internal and external stakeholders.
• Support Grant Accountant (GA) to monitor project budgets (local and donor currency) to ensure budgets are followed and maximized for MSIG’s benefit; support GA to conduct project re-forecasting / no-cost extensions/realignments when necessary.  Strengthen and improve cross-team collaboration and spending per budget.
• Ensure timely and quality donor reporting including financial and narrative reporting as well as audit, liquidity reporting, cost-share and other reports that may be required; ensure a high degree of coordination between MSIG and reviewers in MSI/UK; develop internal reporting deadlines and ensure relevant team members (including MSI/UK) are aware of their duties and due dates.
• Ensure that project documentation and contacts are kept current and available to relevant team members.
• Compile, communicate, and follow all donor requirements, policies, and procedures to ensure full compliance with project agreements and contracts.
• Ensure compliance with all internal MSIG policies (e.g. finance, procurement, human resource management, etc).
• Lead in the monthly discussions on Projects Financial Reports together with the Grants Accountant. 
• Fully own and regularly update the country funding pipeline of secured and unsecured funding.
• Fully own and regularly update the country funding pipeline of secured and unsecured funding.
• Actively support the development of annual Business Plans (BPs), ensuring annual financial and service projections are aligned with our donor commitments.

External Relations & Fundraising

• Develop strong relationships with key project stakeholders including donors, Ghana Health Service (GHS), partner NGOs, and other partners identified over the course of implementation.
• Effectively represent MSIG and the projects to external stakeholders.
• Lead in all donor communications in consultation with SMT/ET. Lead in the arrangements and preparations for all donor related meetings.
• Work closely with the Country Director, SMT, and Regional Managers to identify opportunities and raise new donor funds.
• Lead or co-lead the development of high-quality proposals
• Network and establish constructive and positive relationships with strategic decision-makers and institutions focusing on senior donor, government, multilateral, and NGO representatives.
• Support relationships and engagement to increase the profile and visibility of MSIG’s work through strategic events, partnerships, profiling, and collaboration with a wide range of technical and financial partners
• Serve as a spokesperson for MSIG at conferences, presentations, panel discussions, press conferences, committees, working groups and other meetings. 

Policy Change and Advocacy 

• Develop, drive, and ensure implementation of the advocacy agenda for MSIG focusing on key areas such as increasing access to contraception and safe abortion; comprehensive sexuality education; IUDs task-sharing; and health financing, amongst others. 
• Monitor and analyze international and regional donor funding trends, policy, and dialogue developments relevant to MSIG and share information internally. 
• Organize/facilitate/participate in meetings and advocacy dialogue workshops with stakeholders.
• Ensure the transfer of knowledge, documentation, and dissemination of learning, best practices, case studies, and successful strategies in relation to MSIG’s advocacy engagement.
• Provide evidence-based advocacy and technical support to MSIG to improve policy development.

Required Skills or Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in health, demography, public health, or social sciences/development studies required
• Master’s Degree in related field desired
• Other professional qualifications, ideally in project management or sexual and reproductive health desired

Desired Skills and Experience:

• Demonstrated experience in successfully leading national/regional level advocacy initiatives.
• Demonstrated experience in successfully launching new projects and activities and working with others to fully realize implementation plans.
• Demonstrated experience in successfully working across teams
• Experience in working for and with NGOs (or multilateral or bilateral agencies such as the UN); specific experience working with international NGOs desired
• Experience in working with both public and private health facilities

Attitude and Motivation

• Pro-family planning and pro-choice.
• Mission-driven.
• Courageous.
• Client-centred.
• Accountable.
• Hardworking and results-focused.
• Able to work independently and with own initiative.
• Problem-solving and “can do” approach to challenges; highly collaborative work style
• Enjoys engaging people at all levels to generate shared understanding and support (e.g. government, donors, partners, other team members, and community)
• Enjoys motivating team members and external partners to deliver results
• Team player