Senior Programme Adviser, EU Liaison Office (EULO) World Vision

Reports to: Director, World Vision EU Liaison office

Job Purpose

• To work in cooperation with European and program offices of World Vision to increase sustained EU revenue for World Vision globally, build the capacity to partner effectively with the EU, plan strategically for their EU grant process, and enhance the quality of World Vision EU grant programming and management.
• To gather intelligence and disseminate effectively in World Vision, and provide expert advice and training, on EU funding opportunities, funding mechanisms and financial regulations.
• To lead World Vision advocacy on EU funding policy and procedures, and increase World Vision’s and civil society’s access to EU aid.
• To contribute to World Vision global standards of grant risk management and provide risk monitoring and analysis for all EC grants.

Job Context

World Vision is a global partnership of development and humanitarian relief organisations, with a strong focus on children and child well being and working on basis of a common Christian ethos and shared Christian values. With development and relief programs in more than 100 countries in the world, with more than 40,000 persons employed around the world and an annual volume of programs well over 2 billion Euro, the World Vision partnership ranks among the largest development NGO networks in the world.

This post is based in the EU Liaison Office (EULO), one of World Vision’s Global Capitals. EULO ensures that World Vision’s voice is heard, and that World Vision is at the forefront of debate, policy and funding in Brussels. EULO plays a key role as the ‘face’ of World Vision in the EU, and acts as the relationship manager in regards to EU stakeholders. EULO serves the entities in the World Vision global family through coordination, capacity building, and facilitation in their relation to the EU. EULO works to change EU funding and funding policy to the benefit of the vulnerable children at the centre of our global focus.

Job Description

Support World Vision European and/national offices in their engagement with the EC

• Monitor and identify appropriate EC budget lines, funding criteria and stipulations, priorities and procedures, and advise and guide staff in World Vision EU offices accordingly.
• Gather intelligence on forthcoming opportunities, EC financing decisions and strategic priorities from EC desk officers and delegations and disseminate to relevant national colleagues;
• Provide guidance on EU relations, including with the Delegations abroad, keep abreast of relevant personnel and structural changes in the EU’s various institutions, and brief relevant World Vision staff.
• Act as main point of contact with EC for all funding opportunities, submissions and queries; support the arrangement of relevant meetings with EC officials for World Vision`s EU offices; and facilitate strategy and planning, and provide coordination with World Vision Regional Offices and European offices according to agreed protocol and mechanisms.
• Support World Vision European and program offices in the tracking and analysis of EU relationships, experiences, funding and funding policy. Maintain a database with accurate and updated information, compile and disseminate regular lessons learnt briefings based on previous submissions, and quarterly reports on current and pending contracts and funding strategies.

Support proposal submission and quality reporting

• Help ensure that all final proposals to the EC meet quality standards and respect the EULO protocol.
• When strategic, review proposals to ensure compliance with EC technical requirements and guidelines and give provide feedback to proposal writers.
• Provide technical support on queries relating to all financial and narrative reporting.

Provide timely and professional technical advice, training, and support on EC contract management including EC rules and procedures to minimise the risk of non-compliance in EC grants.

• Ensure that World Vision staff at all levels are well-informed about changing EC rules and regulations.
• Develop guidelines and policies that will enable World Vision to increase its capacity to effectively implement EC contracts and to manage risk.
• Provide support to World Vision offices in their negotiation of contracts, derogations, and other amendments; respond to queries from within World Vision about EC contract management.
• Coordinate Grants Management Officers across World Vision offices around EC funding applications and opportunities and provide necessary support and training to maximise successful EC applications
• Develop and update training materials on partnering with the EC, especially at Delegation level, on EC technical requirements and on contract management and facilitate trainings;
• Advise World Vision finance and internal audit teams on EC procedures to ensure that World Vision systems comply with EC rules, and advise World Vision offices on the World Vision’s financial system implication of EC rules.

Lead in the design, implementation and evaluation of an advocacy strategy to influence EC funding policies and budgetary allocations, based on agreed World Vision priorities

• Analyse and influence EC annual funding priorities and allocations and the process of financial perspectives and develop advocacy strategies for the World Vision European offices to co-implement;
• Actively participate in the Concord FDR group and in other relevant Brussels based networks
• Engage on humanitarian issues in Brussels as appropriate.

Participate in World Vision international structures linked to grant acquisitions and risk management and strategic planning.

• Actively participate in the World Vision Global Grant Compliance Unit and share experience on risk management and capacity building; contribute to World Vision’s global multilateral engagement and funding groups
• Contribute to World Vision’s regional strategies and humanitarian responses with relevant EU information

Candidate profile, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

The following knowledge, skills and abilities may be acquired through a combination of formal schooling, self-education, prior experience, or on-the-job training.

• Commitment to and/or respect for the Christian identity, philosophy, ethos, policies, management style, and aims of World Vision.
• At least 5 years experience of working in an NGO or within EU institutions in a relevant field. Field experience is strongly desirable especially in terms of capacity building or project management.
• Experience with designing and writing EU project proposals including developing log frames and building budgets.
• EU project management or grant oversight experience strongly desirable.
• In-depth knowledge of EU funding mechanisms and rules as well as a solid understanding of EU relief, rehabilitation and development aid and cooperation structures and procedures.
• Ability to work in a team with the team`s interest foremost.
• Proven cross-cultural sensitivity; capable of coordinating and communicating across cultures.
• Self motivated and disciplined, able to work autonomously.
• Ability to handle complexity, detail and pressure without undue stress.
• Ability to think strategically and provide relevant briefings to senior staff.
• Bachelors degree or equivalent. A post graduate degree in a related field is preferable.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, as well as negotiation and presentation skills.
• IT proficient. Data base management and statistical analysis desirable.
• Fluent French and English, another EU language is an asset.
• Given the nature of the work with member organisations, candidates are sought who intend to make a long term commitment. Candidates must be an EU national or hold a valid EU work permit.

Interested candidates who meet the requirements in the above profile are invited to submit their CV and a letter of motivation by e-mail to eulo-info@wvi.org, no later than 31st March 2011. Interviews will be held in the first half of April 2011. Only short list candidates will be contacted.