Partnerships & Communications -Associate Officer

The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) delivers research-based solutions that harness agricultural biodiversity and sustainably transform food systems to improve people's lives. Alliance solutions address the global crises of malnutrition, climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation. With novel partnerships, the Alliance generates evidence and mainstreams innovations to transform food systems and landscapes so that they sustain the planet, drive prosperity, and nourish people.

The Alliance is part of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future.

About the position

The Partnerships and Communications unit is seeking an Associate Officer with expertise in fundraising proposals. These positions are integral to the Science Engagement and Resource Mobilization team, as the Associate Officer will directly support Alliance researchers in accomplishing their fundraising objectives. The position will report directly to the Head of Science Engagement and Resource Mobilization, with a secondary reporting line to the Research Area (Lever) Directors. The core responsibilities involve assisting the research programs in identifying and pursuing fundraising opportunities, actively participating in cultivation and stewardship initiatives, providing essential procedural guidance for proposal preparation, maintaining a close collaboration with the team throughout the proposal development process, and extracting insights from both successful and unsuccessful proposals to drive continuous improvements in the Alliance's fundraising success rate.

In the execution of their duties, the Associate Officer will maintain close collaboration with various support units, including Finance, Legal, and the Office of Program Delivery (OPD). This collaboration aligns with the Alliance's Proposal Development Process (PDP), which is overseen by the Pipeline Management Team.

This is a hybrid working position for the operations center of África, located in the office of Nairobi, Kenya.

Key duties & responsibilities

• Support the implementation of resource mobilization (RM) action plans for up to two Alliance Research Areas (Levers) per Officer, ensuring a global reach in fundraising efforts.
  
• Provide Principal Investigators (PI) and their collaborators with strategic and procedural guidance on key funding opportunities, enhancing their ability to secure resources effectively.
  
• Serve as the process manager for the preparation of prioritized funding opportunities within each Lever, especially those of higher complexity that require meticulous coordination.
  
• Ensure seamless coordination with key stakeholders during proposal preparation, including but not limited to:
  -        Lever Program Management Officers (PMOs) for cross-lever and cross-team collaboration.
  -        The OPD Proposal Enhancement team for comprehensive proposal review.
  -        The Project Financial Analysis and Support (PLANS) team for thorough budget review.
  -       Regional Partnerships Officers for the cultivation and management of in-country partnerships related        to the proposal.
  -      The Global Partnerships Team for specific revenue stream insights, cultivation strategies, stewardship practices, intelligence, and prospecting expertise is vital for the proposal.
  
•  Collaborate with Global Partnerships Advisors and Regional Partnerships Officers to support scientists engaged in engaging with funders, track these interactions in the CRM system (to be developed), and nurture productive relationships.
• Work with the Head of Science Engagement and Resource Mobilization, the PI, other contributing        scientist, and the Proposal Enhancement team to systematize lessons learned from both successful      and unsuccessful proposals, aiming to enhance future proposal preparation and success rates.
• Share knowledge, insights, and priorities with Science Communications Associate Officers to strengthen the symbiotic relationship between resource mobilization and external communications
  
•  Provide research and timely analytical input in support of services or projects.
  
• Responsible for fulfilling a work plan for a service or project.
  Engagement responsibilities
         
  • Coordinate with the PI, Lever Directors, Global and Regional Partnerships teams, OPD Proposal Enhancement team, and Pipeline Management Team throughout proposal preparation, funder cultivation, and stewardship activities.
    
  • Contribute to the preparation of detailed analysis and guidance notes for calls u2265 $1 million.
    
  • Utilize available intelligence and opportunity analysis to assist the PI and their team in making informed go/no-go decisions regarding pursuing funding opportunities, considering factors such as past engagement with the funder, thematic alignment, and existing relationships with key funder contacts.
    
  • Engage with other support functions, namely Finance, OPD, and the Legal Office, in support of proposal preparation and submission, following the guidance of the Pipeline Management Team and adhering to the proposal development process (PDP).
    
  • Collaborate with the OPD Proposal Enhancement Team, the PI, and the Head of Science Engagement and Resource Mobilization to assess the success or failure of key proposals.
    

     
    

    Delivery responsibilities
    

    • Draft written guidance notes for calls u2265$1 million that allow for multiple Alliance submissions, with support from the Head of Science Engagement and Resource Mobilization.
      
    • Assist in developing funder cultivation and stewardship actions, providing support to Lever Directors and proposal PIs when necessary.
      
    • Lead effective and efficient process management for the preparation of prioritized funding opportunities, coordinating closely with the respective proposal PI.
      
    • Contribute to \"learning\" exercises regarding proposal success and failure to inform and improve future proposal preparation processes.
      
      
      
      

      Requirements u25CF     Bachelor's degree in agricultural, environmental, or biological sciences, international  development,              business administration, science communications, or related fields.