Call for Proposal Writers and Program Development Specialists

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.

Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty, and oppression by helping people build secure, productive, and just communities. The agency pursues its mission through emergency relief services, sustainable community development, partnering closely with civil society, and facilitating economic development. Mercy Corps has been present in the Middle East since the 1980s and currently has offices in Yemen, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq. Working in Lebanon since 1993, Mercy Corps has implemented community development programs focused on promoting economic development and increased opportunity for disadvantaged communities, while at the same time responding to emergencies as they occur in the country.  In 2012, the program portfolio shifted in response to the massive refugee influx from Syria. Since then, Mercy Corps Lebanon has solidified its portfolio, integrating emergency response programming with longer-term development programming by focusing on the following key sectors: Child and Youth Protection, Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Local Governance and Conflict Mitigation, Agriculture, Livelihoods and Economic Development, and Food Security. 

General Summary 

Mercy Corps has a continual need to increase capacity to respond and proactively prepare for program development opportunities. This is particularly true for complex or otherwise highly strategic submissions to major institutional donors. As such, Mercy Corps is looking to build a roster of seasoned proposal development writers who can work closely with the LebanonCountry team and their partners to produce high-quality proposals and concept notes. Successful candidates will be placed on a time-bound retainer.  MCL will be using this roster for a total period of 12 months, after which it will be renewed. MCL will engage consultants on an as needed basis to develop concepts/proposals in the above-mentioned four outcome areas.

Given the nature of MCL’s existing portfolio, proposal writers with a strong background in the following technical sectors are especially encouraged to submit their CVs: economic development and market systems, humanitarian response and cash assistance, good governance and social stability, agriculture, and climate change resilience.

The selected Program Development Specialists Writer will be tasked with working closely with Mercy Corps Lebanon teams and Headquarters teams to design and develop competitive proposals based on field research, consultations with key internal and external stakeholders, input from technical and business development experts, and a thorough design process.

Consultant Activities

Consultancies for specific funding opportunities may involve changes to the details listed below, however in general Mercy Corps seeks candidates who can perform well at a range of program development and proposal writing activities, such as:

Strategic Opportunity Scoping

  • Support the Mercy Corps team to review all available information on donor strategy to ensure a match with country and/or regional objectives and programmatic priorities;
  • Identify key donor requirements and regulations, necessary outcomes and limitations of possible funding.

Research and Assessments

  • Desk review of existing literature and external research on key topic areas, including any prior analysis by Mercy Corps or descriptions of previous relevant programs;
  • Identify and evaluate relevant methodologies, best practices and lessons from a diverse range of stakeholders, organizations, and technical experts;
  • Meet with Mercy Corps staff and partners to understand context and strategy, and conduct interviews with key stakeholders as needed and identified by Mercy Corps teams;
  • In coordination with the country team, design relevant rapid field assessments to gather essential design data using qualitative and/or quantitative methodologies as appropriate;
  • Identify and map potential program partners or other collaborators to connect Mercy Corps with the appropriate ideas and resources;
  • Summarize or condense findings to provide clear basis for proposed interventions and context.

Program Design

  • Facilitate or participate in planning or design workshops to define program objectives and  leverage the insight, experience and knowledge of Mercy Corps teams;
  • Identify and raise relevant preconditions, risks and assumptions;
  • Contribute to the development of a theory of change, logical framework, M&E plan, potential programmatic activities, and management and operational structures;
  • Identify opportunities to incorporate cross-cutting issues and added-value elements into the program design;
  • Collate design ideas into a concrete design that addresses donor objectives and requirements, and develop outlines for full proposal(s) or concept note(s).

Proposal Writing

  • Lead a proposal development team and/or function as lead writer, working with inputs from team members in various locations and from multiple organizations;
  • Assemble a proposal development work plan and calendar for submissions that allows for appropriate review by Mercy Corps technical or management staff;
  • Work with M&E staff to finalize logical framework and indicators, and where applicable data collection tools and strategy, personnel and workplan;
  • Building on any approved concept notes, draft a full proposal narrative in line with donor guidelines;
  • Work with relevant staff to edit and finalize a quality submission that maximize chances for success, including graphics and tables where required;
  • Participate in the recruitment of key Mercy Corps team members and provide inputs for financial/cost proposal and budget narrative, as needed; 

Required Skills and Experience 

  • MA/S or equivalent in international development, social science, business administration or other relevant fields. 
  • Demonstrable experience (at least 2-3 years) in the design of programs or proposal writing, and demonstrable experience of successful grant applications in contexts that are fast changing and fragile, with a focus on the above-outlined sectors.
  • Preference will be given to Lebanon-based consultants or those living in nearby time zones
  • Experience working in the Lebanon context will be valued highly.
  • Experience developing logical frameworks and costed proposal submissions for USAID, LIFT, DfID, European Union and/or other institutional donors. Familiarity with other donors, including corporations or foundations, is a plus.
  • Ability to work as part of diverse teams and facilitate planning processes.
  • Excellent English writing and communication skills, and the ability to present information logically and concisely. Ability to speak Arabic is a great asset.
  • Ability to work under pressure and deliver quality products under tight deadlines and in sparse working environments.
  • Strong preference given to candidates with prior field experience and demonstrated understanding of the critical development issues in Arabic.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives. 

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our stakeholders and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

How to apply

This call for CVs does not constitute an offer of employment.  Any description contained herein may be modified and/or revoked.  

A two-step process will be used to make a selection: review of a short letter of interest / CV; and face-to-face or online interview.

Interested applicants should carefully note the minimum qualifications and submit the following documents to [email protected]:

1- An updated CV 

2- A cover letter (one page max.) detailing previous program development experience, and 

3 - A proposed daily rate

4- The completed “proposal writer specification” form, with the following information:

  •  List of donors for which you have developed proposals in the last 3 years;
  •  Technical fields of expertise (you can select multiple, and specify for others) (Humanitarian Assistance, Economic Development, Governance and Social Cohesion, Gender, Environmental Action, Protection, Others specify)
  • Experience in Lebanon (Yes / No)
  • Current and foreseen (next 6 months) duty station and time zone
  • Interest and ability to take on overall proposal development coordination and writing or only proposal writing? (Overall proposal development coordination and writing/only writing)

5- Submission of a short writing sample is recommended but not required.  

Candidates will be notified of specific future program development opportunities, however they may be required to submit another application to be considered for future openings which are posted and advertised

Expired
Deadline
Monday, 15. Aug 2022
Type of Call
Call for Applications
Intervention Sector(s):
Development
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