Sub-Grants Manager

ENTITY BACKGROUND 

Transparency International – Lebanon (TI-LB) (previously known as LTA) was established in 1999 with the aim of reducing rampant corruption in Lebanon, promoting the principles of transparency and accountability, establishing the rule of law and respecting the fundamental rights inaugurated in international laws and the Lebanese Constitution, by focusing on systematic improvement, building alliances, and encouraging civil society organizations to take measures towards transparency and accountability.  

Our mission is to promote transparency and integrity as well as prevent and fight corruption through collaboration, advocacy and active engagement, in public, private and non-governmental organizations, contributing thus to the fulfillment of our vision of a Lebanon with well governed, transparent and accountable institutions, free of corruption and built on the rule of law. 

TI-LB has worked to enhance transparency in the public and private sectors in Lebanon for more than a decade, by implementing a number of projects that ranged from contributing to the development to lobbying the anti-corruption laws (such as the draft law on the Right to Access to Information, the Whistleblowers Protection Law, the Asset and Interest Declaration and the Punishment of Illicit Enrichment Law, etc.), and the monitoring of parliamentary elections since 2009, in addition to other projects aimed at empowering youth and municipalities on issues related to good governance. 

TI-LB was selected as a member of the first Independent Oversight Board (IOB) for the Reform, Recovery and Reconstruction Framework (3RF), which is a framework launched by the World Bank Group (WBG), United Nations (UN), European Union (EU), Civil society, Lebanon’s government, and the international community in response to the aftermath of the Beirut Port explosion.  

The framework for Reform, Recovery and Reconstruction (the 3RF) is part of a comprehensive response to the massive explosion on the Port of Beirut on August 4, 2020. The 3RF is structured around four strategic pillars: (1) improving governance and accountability; (2) jobs and opportunities; (3) social protection, inclusion, and culture; and (4) improving services and infrastructure. Each pillar identifies a set of strategic objectives and priority areas across both the recovery track and the reform and reconstruction track.1 

For the first time, and through the 3RF governance structure, CSOs have the opportunity to actively engage and contribute to implementation or monitoring of reconstruction and reforms efforts. 

PROJECT BACKGROUND 

BINA’ project brief 

Funded by the European Union (EU), and in partnership with Transparency International Secretariat (TI-S) and the Lebanese Center for Policy Studies (LCPS), BINA’ (Building Integrity and National Accountability in Lebanon) project overall goal is to enhance the role of civil society actors as active pillars in enhancing governance, accountability and transparency in Lebanon, as it specifically expands the abilities of civil society, both local and national, to actively monitor and advocate for transparency and accountability on the 3RF in Lebanon. 

BINA’s program key objectives are: 

To improve the capacities of CSOs, expand organizational abilities and coordinated efforts among civil society networks to ensure transparent and sustainable implementation of the 3RF in Lebanon. 

To improve capacities of local CSOs, grassroots and community-based organizations outside Beirut to participate in policy dialogues and monitoring processes related to recovery and reform at local and central level. 

To sustain an inclusive multi-stakeholder dialogue with local, national and international actors that advance reform efforts, with an emphasis on the role of CSOs. 

BINA’s target audience is diverse: (1) Civil Society Organizations (formal and informal) in Beirut and across Lebanon, (2) Youth groups and initiatives, (3) Women’s organizations/initiatives promoting gender equality, (4) Municipalities/Local Authorities and (5) citizens as Final Beneficiaries. 

CSOs 

Civil Society Organizations (formal and informal) in Beirut and across Lebanon are one of the main target groups under the scope of the BINA’ project. TI-LB is looking to secure technical and financial support in order to empower them to play a more active role in advocating for reforms at the local and national levels. This Action will directly  support TI-LB to implement BINA’ main output towards working to empower Lebanese civil society with the knowledge, tools, networks and skills to strengthen their organizational capacities, making them capable of sustaining long term projects; to limit and reduce their own risks of corruption and mismanagement of funds, and to help them become credible and formidable actors of governance able to dialogue and debate with decision makers on how to collectively advance reform efforts. 

In addition to their participation in the trainings, CSOs could benefit from a Third-Party Financial Support, where they would submit their applications through a call for proposals, and could be eligible if they meet a rigorous standards and selection criteria. An inclusive and participatory approach will be prioritized in developing advocacy plans to ensure local ownership and a strong representative of diverse voices is adopted. Moreover, the project will encourage the fostering of dialogue and strategic collaboration among CSOs under 3RF and beyond and with the EC and the Government especially in relation to advocacy and monitoring reform efforts. 

DESCRIPTION  

Job purpose 

The Sub-Grants Manager contributes to achieving quality programming by leading the facilitation of effective sub-grants management across BINA’ project. S/He is responsible for ensuring accountability, high performance in delivering quality projects in compliance with TI-S, TI-LB and the European Commission (EC) standards for all the successful applications benefitting from financial support.

 General responsibilities 

Ensure adherence to TI and EC policies, guidance and procedures when executing functions related to this role 

Develop and maintain overview of all grants, donor requirements, rules and regulations, and internal and external deadlines, including filing of grant documents  

Support the sub-grantees CSOs in the development of applications and reports, as well as ensuring donor compliance and quality control 

Contribute to the development and revision of funding proposals, budgets and reports 

Document, analyze, and share learning from proposal and reporting process, and compliance with established rules and regulations 

Contribute to continuously improving internal sub-grants management systems 

Work closely with the Project Lead and finance team to provide thought partnership and support the overall management of issued grants.  

Ensure implementation of the established sub-granting, selection and monitoring process. 

Grant Agreement, reporting and monitoring 

Ensure that any critical financial or compliance issues are raised formally to the Holder (Project Lead) 

Coordinate the review of contracts and support contract negotiations with the relevant stakeholders. This includes raising concerns on any points that might create challenge or risks for TI-LB’s operations 

Build the capacity of implementing partners in reporting financially and programmatically 

Monitor partners’ compliance with regulations and procedures and provide support as needed 

Assist in expenditure monitoring for partners 

Follow up on partnership agreements systematically to meet all deadlines and deliverables 

Work with partners to highlight difficulties and devise solutions 

Conduct Periodical visits to partners’ offices and meet with relevant staff 

Oversee the coordination of project revisions with the relevant stakeholders 

Oversee the coordination and consolidation of inputs for all  reports. This includes ensuring consistency between narrative and financial reports, maintaining quality standards, and ensuring compliance with established  

Help to ensure that sub-grants are well-administered and implemented in compliance with the relevant regulations and TI-LB’s internal procedures’ 

Ensure that sub-grant related administrative processes and procedures are standardized and consistently implemented throughout the program, including agreements, disbursements, and reporting  

Supporting and coordinating the planning and logistics of grantee disbursements with TI-S 

Support program staff in assessing partners’ financial needs and capacities and ensuring that partners receive appropriate capacity-building support in relation to their needs 

Maintain the grants tracking database and oversee accurate reporting and documentation by partners 

Maintain close coordination with grantees during execution of the grants, to track milestones, compliance, timelines and deliverables in close coordination with the Project Lead  

Prepare regular reports on grantee performance and signal any significant delays or other issues that impact implementation to the Project Lead. 

COMPETENCIES 

Academic background:  

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a relevant subject (Finance, Accounting, Business Management) 

Professional experience:  

Significant experience with budgets and financial forecasts, monitoring and reporting to donors, prefereably in the NGO sector 

Five years of relevant experience in a related field 

Experience of donor relations and sub-grants management, preferably EU grants  

Good understanding of donor rules and regulations 

Proven skills and experience in report and proposal development 

Computer literacy and knowledge of Microsoft Office applications - Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook, Teams, etc. 

Able to demonstrate experience of writing high quality reports and proposals. 

Professional attitudes: 

Good personal organizational skills, including effective time management, and ability to meet deadlines and work under pressure 

Personal and professional integrity, flexibility, initiative  

Stakeholder management - diplomatically managing numerous competing demands and priorities 

Strong organizational and team working skills 

Excellent interpersonal and communication skills in Arabic and English.