Program Development and Grants Officer at Green Habitat Initiative (GHI)

Position Overview

• The Programme Development and Grants Officer will lead Green Habitat Initiative’s resource mobilisation efforts through strategic fundraising, donor mapping, grant prospecting, proposal development, and donor relationship management. The role is primarily responsible for identifying funding opportunities, coordinating proposal development processes, securing institutional and philanthropic funding, and supporting compliance with donor requirements.
• The successful candidate will play a critical role in expanding GHI’s funding portfolio and ensuring the sustainability and growth of the organisation’s programmes.
• The position requires an individual with exceptional writing, research, analytical, and stakeholder engagement skills, as well as a proven ability to develop competitive proposals and cultivate funding partnerships.

Key Responsibilities
Resource Mobilisation and Fundraising (Primary Responsibility):

• Lead the identification, assessment, and tracking of local and international funding opportunities aligned with GHI’s strategic priorities.
• Develop and implement fundraising and donor engagement strategies to increase organisational revenue.
• Build and maintain a comprehensive pipeline of grants, tenders, awards, and partnership opportunities.
• Establish and maintain relationships with donors, foundations, development agencies, corporate organisations, and philanthropic institutions.
• Represent GHI in donor meetings, networking events, and resource mobilisation engagements.

Proposal Development and Grant Acquisition:

• Lead the preparation and submission of high-quality concept notes, Expressions of Interest (EOIs), grant proposals, tender applications, and partnership submissions.
• Coordinate proposal development processes across technical, programme, finance, and management teams.
• Develop compelling narratives, logical frameworks, budgets, work plans, and supporting documentation.
• Ensure all submissions meet donor requirements, quality standards, and submission deadlines.
• Donor Intelligence and Opportunity Analysis
• Conduct ongoing donor mapping and funding landscape analysis.
• Monitor trends in development financing, philanthropy, climate finance, humanitarian funding, and institutional grants.
• Provide strategic recommendations to management on emerging funding opportunities and donor priorities.

Grant Management and Compliance:

• Support post-award grant management, donor reporting, and compliance requirements.
• Maintain grant tracking systems and ensure timely submission of donor reports and deliverables.
• Coordinate grant start-up and close-out processes as required.

Programme Development Support:

• Support programme design and project conceptualisation processes.
• Contribute to the development of innovative project concepts and strategic initiatives that respond to donor priorities and community needs.
• Support monitoring, evaluation, and documentation processes necessary for proposal development and donor reporting.

Minimum Requirements

• Master’s Degree in Development Studies, International Development, Public Policy, Environmental Management, Social Sciences, Business Administration, or related fields.
• 3–5 years of demonstrable experience in fundraising, grant acquisition, proposal development, business development, donor engagement, or resource mobilisation within the NGO, INGO, development, consulting, or private sector.
• Proven track record of securing grants or successfully contributing to winning proposals from bilateral, multilateral, foundation, corporate, or philanthropic donors.
• Excellent proposal writing, editing, analytical, and research skills.
• Strong understanding of donor compliance requirements and grant management processes.
• Exceptional communication, networking, and relationship management skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional certifications in Proposal Writing, Resource Mobilisation, Project Management, or Grant Management.
• Experience working with donors such as USAID, EU, UN Agencies, GIZ, FCDO, Global Affairs Canada, Foundations, Corporate Foundations, and similar institutions.
• Knowledge of climate change, WASH, renewable energy, sustainable cities, environmental sustainability, and international development sectors.