Strengthen NGO Proposal Design and Development Capacity
Activity/project background
Partner: Tesfa Social and Development Association /TSDA (Local NGO)
Tesfa Social and Development Association (TSDA) is a non-governmental organization established in Ethiopia in 2000 with a mission to improve the lives of Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC), destitute older people, and marginalized women and youth through designing and implementing participatory projects that can arrest the spread of HIV/AIDS, and combat poverty. TSDA has recognized firsthand experience in creating doors for providing quality care and support services to older people, OVC and their caregivers, youth, women, people living with HIV/AIDS, and commercial sex workers.
TSDA is implementing a Family Focused HIV prevention, care, and treatment project with their partners USAID and Amhara Development Association. While contributing to project design and proposal development, TSDA staff do not have sufficient skills to meet the demand for the high-quality proposal development the organization requires to fund its critical activities. This inability to draft winning proposals threatens TSDA’s existence and ability to realize its mission.
To overcome this problem, TSDA is requesting a Virtual Service Pilot Participant (VSPP) to provide training of their staff on the basic skills needed to design, develop, and draft winning funding proposals that meet donor submission standards. The VSPP will work to strengthen the capacity of TSDA staff to secure project funding, increasing their overall success rate.
TSDA has not previously worked with a Peace Corps Volunteer or a Virtual Service Pilot Participant. They understand that the role of a VSPP is very different than a two-year Volunteer.
Virtual service engagement and tasks
The VSPP will engage in the following tasks, in collaboration with their Host Country Partners:
• Co-assess current project design and proposal development processes in relation to donor guidelines
• Prepare and provide training sessions on how to write grant winning project proposals and concept notes
• Meet with team members to discuss project ideas
• Support staff in practical training to develop a concept note or proposal
• Co-assess the pre and post training evaluation of the team’s knowledge and skills in proposal development
This engagement is expected to be approximately 12 weeks. VSPPs are expected to engage on the tasks listed above for an estimated 5-15 hours per week.
Meetings between VSPPs and Host Country Counterparts will take place during normal office hours, from 9:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Ethiopian time. Specific times will be determined during orientation.
The Host Country Counterpart will have access to Zoom, WhatsApp, and email for regular communication and collaboration.
Per the Child Protection Code of Conduct, when engaging online with minors (0-18), two adults must be present.
Optional additional activities
The Peace Corps mission is to promote world peace and friendship by fulfilling three goals:
- To help the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women.
- To help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served.
- To help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.
Goal 1 will be achieved through the VSPP's engagement and completion of the above tasks. The counterpart and VSPP may also choose to identify an activity that aligns with Goal 2. Additionally, the VSPP may identify a Goal 3 activity to implement during their engagement. See recommendations and tools for Goal 3 activities.
Essential qualifications
Education: Bachelor’s degree in any field
Experience:
• 1 year of experience in fundraising and/or grant management for non-profit organizations
• Experience in proposal development
Intercultural skills and motivation: Flexible, strong cross-cultural agility, high tolerance for ambiguity, able to work independently, resourceful, creative, and genuinely motivated and capable to serve virtually
Desired qualifications
Education: Bachelor’s degree in non-profit management, business, or related field OR a certification in project management
Technical Skills: Familiarity with virtual engagement and communication
Experience:
• Two years’ experience in managing grants and donor proposals for non-profit organizations
• Two years’ experience writing project proposals
Terms and conditions of engagement
VSPPs will be engaging with the host country partner, in coordination with Peace Corps post staff, remotely from the US. They should have access to a computer, internet, and telephone in order to enable direct engagement with the Peace Corps overseas office and the Host Country Counterpart assigned by the host country partner.
Orientation with the host country partner will be provided, within the designated virtual service hours, during the first week of virtual service via an online presentation and discussion. The host country partner will provide an overview of its organization, the local context, and how they envision collaborating with the VSPP.
The VSPP will have regular check-ins with their counterpart and bi-weekly check-ins with Peace Corps staff. Spending unstructured time with counterparts can be critical to relationship-building and is encouraged through activities such as coffee chats and informal calls within the weekly 5-15 hours.
Engagement-specific safety and security
The VSPP will receive an orientation on Peace Corps’ Child Protection Policy and how it relates to online engagement along with IT security best practices. The VSPP will be expected to follow safety and security guidelines for online engagement to ensure their safety and that of the Host Country Partner and their counterpart, and any beneficiaries of the engagement.
Supervision requirements
The VSPP will report to a designated Peace Corps staff member. The VSPP will be expected to abide by the Virtual Service Pilot Participant and Donation Agreement and Participant Principles of Engagement. The VSPP will also be expected to check in with the designated host country counterpart as assigned by the host county partner.
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