Based at the Expertise France coordination office in Paris, the Grant Officer holds a pivotal position for supporting sound implementation of activities under EF’s responsibility under Window 2. This window focuses on bolstering teacher education and professional development in Sub-Saharan Africa, aligning with RFTA's mission to enhance educational outcomes. The Grant Officer's primary responsibility lies in managing Call for Proposal 2 (CfP 2) which is tailored to support teachers operating in crisis-affected areas, including those experiencing internal displacement, refugees, conflicts, or natural disasters. The initiative emphasizes the implementation of innovative educational strategies that effectively respond to the unique challenges of crisis environments. With a significant allocation of 3,9 million EUR, CfP 2 is dedicated to fostering scalable and sustainable educational interventions managed by local and international NGOs that address the multifaceted needs of crisis-stricken areas.

Moreover, the Grant Officer collaborates closely with another call for proposals, CfP 1, managed by Enabel. This collaboration seeks to harness innovative solutions, including low-tech and digitally-led initiatives, to tackle persistent challenges in education. By facilitating partnerships and knowledge-sharing, the Grant Officer ensures that these initiatives have a lasting and meaningful impact, contributing to the overarching goals of RFTA in advancing education across the African continent.

Reporting directly to the Programme Coordinator and working closely with the Finance & Administration Coordinator, the Grant Officer oversees the implementation of grant scheme under the responsibility of Expertise France, ensuring compliance with RFTA and EU procedures through the following tasks:

Responsibility 1: Grant Management

• Develop and manage the Call for proposal 2 dedicated to ‘Support Teachers in crisis contexts”, ensuring its smooth operation and effectiveness.
• Oversee the grant review and selection process in line with organizational and donor requirements.
• Finalize grant contract documents, including the Description of Action, Logframe, and Budget, in collaboration with relevant teams, ensuring compliance with RFTA and donor procedures.
• Provide guidance and support to selected applicants on reporting rules and procedures according to RFTA and donor guidelines.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of grant-related activities and documentation, ensuring transparency and accountability throughout the process.
• Coordinate with the Finance & Administration team to review partner expenses and ensure financial compliance with grant agreements.
• Identify and coordinate necessary contractual adjustments for the successful execution of grant contracts (amendments, budget modifications, etc.)

Responsibility 2: Support to Grants Implementation and Monitoring

• Set up monitoring and management tools for grant contracts, such as a dashboard and an administrative and financial manual, to facilitate effective tracking and governance of the grant scheme.
• Oversee the implementation of grant-funded activities, monitoring progress against workplans and budget allocations.
• Collaborate with the MEAL Coordinator to collect, analyze, and report on monitoring data, providing feedback to grantees as needed.
• Assist in the preparation and execution of monitoring, evaluation and learning activities, ensuring compliance with project objectives and donor requirements.
• Facilitate communication and collaboration between grantees (including those of CfP1) and relevant stakeholders
• Foster learning and knowledge-sharing with other Facility’s implementing partners

Responsibility 3: Archiving and Reporting

• Manage the archiving of grant-related documents and ensure their accessibility for internal and external stakeholders.
• Prepare and submit timely and accurate qualitative reports on grant activities, including narrative summaries and financial forecasting.
• Support the Programme Coordinator in producing narrative and ad hoc reports related to grant implementation, providing insights and analysis as needed.

The Grant Officer may perform additional tasks and responsibilities pertaining to the operations of RFTA, as delegated by the Programme Coordinator. The described tasks involve the necessity to network and interact with a multiplicity of institutions and stakeholders from EU and Sub-Saharan countries and require readiness and ability to travel abroad when necessary.