1. BACKGROUND
Oxfam is a global movement of people working together to end poverty, inequality, and injustice. In Somalia, Oxfam delivers humanitarian and development programmes focused on resilience, economic justice, gender equality, and lifesaving assistance. Implementing the Oxfam Country Strategy (OCS) requires strong and predictable funding to maintain impact and scale innovative interventions that improve the lives of women, men, and youth across the country.
Oxfam seeks to engage a qualified Institutional Funding & Grants Specialist on a consultancy basis to lead and support donor engagement, resource mobilization, proposal development, and grant management to ensure continuity in the delivery of Oxfam’s Country Strategy.
This assignment is for 6 months but plays a critical role in maintaining funding pipelines, strengthening donor relations, and supporting high-quality program delivery.
The consultant will work closely with the Country Funding Manager (CFM), the Programmes team, and Oxfam affiliates to secure institutional and non-institutional funding and ensure compliance across the portfolio.
2. SCOPE OF WORK A. Strategy, Planning & Representation
o Support the Country Funding Manager in delivering the Somalia Country Funding Strategy in line with the OCS.
o Identify, assess, prioritize, and approach potential donors and funding sources following Oxfam guidelines.
o Conduct donor intelligence, research, and trend analysis to inform strategic engagement.
o Maintain up-to-date country funding strategies, donor mapping, and engagement plans.
o Represent Oxfam in donor meetings, coordination forums, and partner engagements as delegated.
o Coordinate donor visits, briefing materials, and follow-up actions.
o Develop and update materials documenting Oxfam’s track record and achievements in Somalia.
o Ensure a well-organized funding knowledge-management system, including up-to-date funding files.
o Support the facilitation of Oxfam’s Bid/No-Bid processes in line with institutional guidelines.
B. Proposal Development
o Lead or support the design, coordination, and submission of high-quality concept notes and full proposals.
o Coordinate with partner organizations (national and international) on joint submissions.
o Work closely with programme, MEAL, finance, logistics, and partner staff to ensure coherent and competitive proposals.
o Engage with Oxfam affiliates, the OI Secretariat, and the HECA Regional Platform to leverage confederation-wide funding opportunities.
C. Contract & Grant Management
o Provide technical oversight and support to ensure compliance with donor rules, regulations, and Oxfam policies.
o Ensure timely submission of high-quality narrative and financial donor reports.
o Support the CFM in shaping strategic and technical leadership in donor compliance across the OCS portfolio.
o Ensure proper sign-off processes for proposals, reports, and donor contracts.
o Support programme teams in work planning, budgeting, contract kick-off processes, and monthly project monitoring.
o Facilitate learning, knowledge management, and continuous improvement in grant quality and implementation.
3. EXPECTED OUTPUTS Objective
The Consultant will support:
1. Support and contribute to the delivery of the Somalia Country Funding Strategy.
2. Strengthen donor engagement and intelligence to expand funding opportunities.
3. Coordinate and produce high-quality concept notes and proposals.
4. Ensure strong grant and contract management, including compliance and reporting.
5. Maintain internal coordination, documentation, learning, and track record building.
4. DELIVERABLES, TIMELINE AND REPORTING Deliverables
The consultant is expected to deliver:
1) Updated donor mapping and funding strategy tools relevant to Somalia.
2) At least 10 high-quality concept notes and proposals submitted within deadlines.
3) Timely and high-quality donor reports for projects falling within the consultancy period.
4) Well-maintained funding files, including engagement plans, trackers, pipeline updates, and compliance documentation.
5) Donor meeting briefs and follow-up notes for all engagements conducted.
6) A final handover report summarizing funding pipelines, donor prospects, pending actions, and strategic recommendations.
Planned timeline
Duration: 6 months, depending on availability and programme needs.
Estimated level of effort: Full-time (or negotiated partial LOE for consultants with regional commitments).
Management and Reporting
The consultant will report directly to the Country Funding Manager (Somalia) and will work closely with:
• Head of Programmes
• Area Managers and Technical Leads
• Finance, MEAL, Logistics teams
• Oxfam Affiliate Funding Leads
• Local partner organizations
Regular check-ins, work planning, and deliverable reviews will be scheduled throughout the assignment
Professional Experience
· Minimum 5–7 years of progressive experience in institutional funding, business development, donor relations, and grant management within INGOs.
· Proven track record of securing funding from major donors (e.g. EC, ECHO, FCDO, SDC, Sida, UN agencies, Danida, BMZ, Foundations).
· Demonstrated experience working in Somalia, the Horn of Africa, or fragile/humanitarian contexts.
· Experience coordinating multi-stakeholder proposal processes including partners.
Financial software
Technical Competencies
· Strong understanding of donor compliance requirements.
· Excellent writing, coordination, and project design skills.
· Strong analytical, planning, and documentation skills.
· Ability to synthesize complex information and translate it into compelling donor products.
Soft Skills
· Excellent communication and representation skills.
· Ability to work independently, manage tight deadlines, and handle competing priorities.
· Strong teamwork and interpersonal skills.
· Commitment to Oxfam’s values on gender justice, safeguarding, and anti-racism.
1. Ethical Considerations & Safeguarding
The consultant will be expected to adhere to Oxfam’s Code of Conduct, Safeguarding policies, and ethical standards. This includes confidentiality, responsible data handling, and respectful engagement with partners and communities.
