Grants and Procurement Assistant
Grade 7
U.S. Department of Agriculture Food for Progress Lesotho – Sustainable Transformation of Enterprises in the Poultry Sector (STEPS)
Maseru, Lesotho
Background:
Land O’Lakes’ Venture37 is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit helping communities around the world build economies by strengthening agriculture from farm-to-fork, helping businesses grow, and linking farmers to markets. Since our start in 1981, we have been leveraging nearly 100 years of expertise in dairy, animal nutrition, crop inputs and agricultural insights from our close affiliate, Land O’Lakes, Inc., a farmer-owned agribusiness committed to fulfilling its purpose of feeding human progress.
Our team is made up of nearly 350 employees who are committed to market-led approaches, and passionate about collaborating locally to create lasting inclusive economic growth. By unlocking the potential of agriculture for the last 36 years, the lives of more than 3 million people have been transformed through nearly 300 programs in more than 80 countries.
Project Description:
STEPS aims to catalyze private sector-driven transformation enabling local poultry sector actors to access Lesotho’s strong end-markets and reclaim market share. STEPS will transform Lesotho’s poultry sector to enhance the profitability of value chain actors, increase meat and egg production and improve food security.
Leveraging existing opportunities and tools, STEPS will address constraints which limit production, productivity, and efficiency of local poultry egg and meat markets. A segmented approach takes into consideration the unique needs of local poultry producers, including subsistence farmers, and small to large scale commercial poultry enterprises engaged in production, processing, marketing, and retailing of eggs, meat, and processed poultry products. These actors will be engaged through the indigenous and dual-purpose poultry value chains, and the commercial broiler and layer value chains, respectively. STEPS will identify pathways to further integrate and grow poultry, and poultry related business opportunities for women and youth.
Position Summary and Primary Responsibilities:
The Grants and Procurement Assistantwill provide administrative support to the STEPS’ project grants and investment initiatives. The Grants and Procurement Assistant will ensure relevant grant award processes are adheredto, required documentation is compliant and are filed according to the organization’s policy, and all due diligence is carried out. The Grants and Procurement assistant will lead in drafting grant agreements, maintaining awardee checklists and files, and ensure completeness of the processes.The Grants and Procurement Assistant will also support in monitoringsub-grantees procurements for goods and services, ensuring procurement processes and documentation follows donor and organization policy, rules, and regulation, and verifying receipt and use according to agreed purpose.
Primary Responsibilities
Grants
- Provide administrative support during the grants cycle including drafting and solicitingrequests forapplications, reviewing proposals, committee selection management, and awards to qualifying enterprises.
- Ensure compliance, documentation, due diligence, site visits assessments, and drafting agreements for qualifying enterprises.
- Utilize Cobblestone award management system to develop sub award documents.
- Support in developing and maintaining the administrative and management tools for an Incubation Hub and Youth Centered Innovation Challenge facility, including drafting terms of reference, soliciting expressions of interest, and leading the selection, award process and monitoring of activities.
- Assist technical field staff in following up during implementation and monitoring of grant portfolio, with focus on finance, procurement, and compliance.
- Coordinate with staff to draft appropriate procurement documents, waivers, approvals, and amendments for cost and no-cost amendments for grants.
- In collaboration with the grants and technical staff, assist in preparing monthly projections for grants and technical assistance.
- Support in preparing scheduled and special reports, studies, and analyses regarding the small grants program.
- Work with project partners to maintain relevant data and monitoring documentation on Village Saving and Loan Schemes being implemented by project partners, monitoring beneficiaries, impact, and results, and providing technical advice to grow and improve the activity.
- Participate in PPD investment forum and explore potential investment mix and partnerships.
Procurement
- Maintain and update a grant procurement plan and track all procurements awarded to grantees under the grants and loan portfolios.
- Support in the procurement of goods and services awarded to grantees, ensuringprocurement, and contracting process follows donor and organization policies, and rules and regulations and documentation is complete and filed according to organization policy.
- In coordination with the Grants and Procurement Specialist, support in seeking necessary procurement approvals from the donor.
- Confirm payments and delivery of goods and services in good order including confirmation and any reports required.
- Monitoring performance of vendors against the contract terms.
- Other duties as assigned.
Reporting and Supervision:
- The Grants and Procurement Assistantreports to the Access to Finance and InvestmentManager; this position does not supervise other staff. The position will be based in Maseru, Lesotho with frequent travel to the districts.
Required Skills & Qualifications:
- A minimum of 2years’ experience providing administrative support to grantportfolios.
- Bachelor’s degree in finance/Investment, Management, Accounting, Commerce, Business Administration, or related field.
- Good business communication skills.
- Demonstrated leadership and strategic partnership development skills.
- Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Word, Excel, and databases.
- Ability to work independently.
- Excellent interpersonal skills.
- Fluency in English and Sesotho; Must be a citizen of Lesotho.
Desired Skills and Qualifications:
- Experience or qualification in agriculture finance/economics, understanding of agriculture value chain development and advantage.
- Relevant experience in business/finance development an advantage.
- Knowledge of Lesotho’s financing and banking rules and regulations an advantage.
To apply, please visit: Grants and Procurement Assistant – Careers (avature.net).
Land O’Lakes Venture37 will never ask you for personable identifiable information, and we will never request money or payment during the recruitment or employment process.
Land O’Lakes Venture37 is an equal opportunity employer and an organization striving to help global communities thrive through agriculture. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or veteran status, among other factors. Our culture values a diversity of voices. So, bring us your unique experiences, your workstyle, and your dreams — they’ll only make us stronger.