Grant Specialist – Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) Lesotho II

About MCA

The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) is a U.S. government corporation focused on assisting countries dedicated to good governance, economic freedom, and investing in people. In May 2022, MCC signed a five-year agreement (“Compact”) with the Government of Lesotho (GoL) aimed at poverty reduction through inclusive and sustainable economic growth in the country.

The Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) – Lesotho II, is an entity established by the Government to act as the accountable entity to implement the Compact, with the authority to bind the Government with regard to all program activities.

Lesotho Compact

The Lesotho Health and Horticulture Compact aims to benefit 2.5 million people by growing, strengthening, and organizing the private sector in Lesotho and improving the government’s coordination to deliver critical services necessary to support private sector development.

It will achieve this goal through investments in Health System Strengthening (HSS), strengthening of the business environment, and Market Driven Irrigated Horticulture (MDIH), providing sustainable income for smallholders and increasing climate resilience by replacing rain-fed subsistence farming with irrigated commercial horticulture in select locations.

The GoL is committed to passing several key reforms that will help make this compact successful, including reforms that address gender equality, working conditions and worker safety, as well as land and water rights. All of the Compact’s projects focus on overcoming barriers to the economic inclusion of women, youth, and the rural poor.

Position Objective

The main function of the Grant Specialist is to support the MCA Director of Grants to ensure that the MCA- Lesotho II and its Grantees comply with MCC’s Program Grant Guidelines (PGG) and the terms and conditions of Grant Agreements.  This requires support for drafting documentation such as operations manuals, reports, etc.; doing outreach; working with grantees, MCA-Lesotho II staff, and supporting entities to ensure

compliance.

Key Responsibilities

• Supports the MCA Director of Grants in all aspects of implementing a Grant Program in accordance with the terms of his/her position description and the responsibilities set forth in the PGG.  
• Assists with drafting Grant Operations Manual for Compact grant programs.
• Under supervision of the MCA Director of Grants, engages with the Directors and others within the MCA-L early in the process to develop a strategy for implementing a Grant Program, identifies appropriate Grant Award Procedure(s), confirms eligibility criteria, coordinates the Grant Requisition Note and gains approval of Grant Program in a Grant Schedule (as part of the Procurement Plan).
• Conducts eligibility checks of entities of proposed Grant Activities, and reviews and assures that these checks are included in the Concept/Application Appraisal Report and Grant File. 
• Assists in developing draft announcements for Grants, proposed solicitation documents for Grants and proposed total funds available for Grant Awards that are developed by the Directors or others to confirm consistency with the approved Grant Program, the approved Grants Schedule and the requirements set out in the PGG.
• Provides assistance for outreach such as co-creation, outreach, pre-application, requests for information, negotiation, and award workshops, coordinating MCC approval where required. Approves all written plans developed by the MCA-L for Co-Creation and coordinates MCC approval when required.
• Supports, in collaboration with relevant Directors, market research to identify the type and range of entities whose mission, programs, or activities align with the MCA-L, and helps to identify the scope of eligible entities for a particular Grant Program.
• Supports outreach events to generate interest in opportunities for Grants. 
• Supports the Director of Grants in their review and approval of Grant Award documentations including, but not limited to, requests for clarifications, amendments to Grant announcement documents and RFAs, Merit Review Advisory Reports, Capability Assessment Reports, Grant Budget Assessment Reports, Selection Committee Concept Selection Reports, Selection Committee Grant Award Reports, Grant Award Agreements and other relevant reports. Ensuring all documents are accurate and signed as required.
• Assists with the support of the relevant MCA-L staff, that the proposed Grant Budgets are free of ineligible costs as defined in MCC’s Cost Principles for Government Affiliates.
• If cost share is required for a particular Grant Program, helps to prepare the rationale for its determination and ensures that it is accounted for in every proposed Grant Budget.
• Assists in conducting debriefs, upon request, and notifications of any unsuccessful application.
• Assists with negotiation of the terms of the Grant Agreement in accordance with instructions of the Selection Committee.
• Assists with preparation of Grant Agreements and ensures it is signed by MCA-L and authorized representative of Grantees.
• Assists the Director of Grants in coordination of supervision of Grant consulting individuals or firms. 

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited university in one or more relevant fields: business related field, international development, entrepreneurship;
• Experience in implementation and management of projects;
• At least 5 years of proven experience as a Grants Manager or Officer, or similar role, administering a grants program with expertise in grant life cycle administration and compliance on policies and procedures;
• At least 3 years of experience in coordinating and facilitating engagement between sector leads and grantees;
• At least 3 years of experience working in the SADC region;
• Experience implementing grants financed by international organizations such as World Bank, MCC, USAID or UN preferred.

Skills and Competencies

• Willingness to undertake regular field visits and interact with the different stakeholders;
• Fluency in English (with fluency in Sesotho desired);
• Proven experience in performing due diligence on grant cost assessment to determine reasonableness of grant applications preferred;
• Prior experience reviewing financial statements and conducting capacity reviews of organizations preferred.

How to apply

Complete applications must be submitted online, on or before Friday June 14^th, 2024.

Applications should be accompanied by the following documents:

1. Curriculum vitae containing detailed work experience;
2. Cover letter confirming interest and availability;
3. Soft copies of higher education and professional certificates (if available);
4. A completed online application form (can be accessed from https://lesotho-jobs.tenderwell.app   – CV Template MCA Lesotho II)

Only applications that are submitted on or before the deadline will be considered.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Submit your application online via: https://lesotho-jobs.tenderwell.app – Hard copy applications will not be considered.

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