CARE International in Malawi is seeking an experienced and capable Technical Proposal Writer to assist with the development of project proposals from December 2013 to March 2014 . One of the main focuses of this position will be to lead CARE Malawi's response to the FY2014 Request for Applications (RFA) from USAID under the Food for Progress (FFP) Development Food Assistance Program (DFAP). The RFA provides specific guidance for Malawi for which the overall goal is to reduce chronic malnutrition and food insecurity among vulnerable populations in Malawi . Four programmatic priorities are identified in the RFA namely: 1) agriculture and natural resource management; 2) increasing market access, information and orientation; 3) improving maternal and child health and nutritional outcomes; and 4) enhancing resilience and risk management. Strong emphasis is placed on integrated programming approaches, gender equality, youth engagement, and participatory governance as cross-cutting issues to be addressed by applicants. CARE will be bidding for this opportunity as part of a consortium in which CARE will be a Sub-Recipient and will likely take the role of Technical Lead on one or more of the programmatic priorities.
In addition, CARE Malawi is planning to respond to other opportunities that may arise during this period including possible calls from DFID and the European Union.
Scope of work
Specific to the DFAP proposal, the consultant will be tasked to – in collaboration with CARE's program team and other members of the consortium:
- develop CARE's contributions to the technical components of the proposal in accordance with donor requirements as published in the Request for Applications (RFA);
- coordinate stakeholder input into the proposal design for the programmatic priorities for which CARE may be responsible as technical lead;
- collect, analyze and consolidate documentation and secondary data to support CARE's technical role in the consortium;
- closely liaise with agency leading the proposal development process to ensure that CARE's inputs are in line with the overall requirements and CARE's role is properly represented in the final proposal.
In addition to working on the DFAP submission, the consultant will be expected – time permitting – to assist in the development of other concept notes and/or proposals as required. This work may include research and data collection, data and situational analysis, the writing of certain sections of concept notes and/or proposals, and the review and editing of others' work.
Expected results
By the end of the consultancy, CARE will expect the following outputs on the DFAP proposal from the consultant:
- A detailed and coherent technical document of CARE's approach (and technical role within the consortium) supported by documented evidence (best practices, lessons learned, innovations, etc.) from current and past experiences
- A clear description of CARE's implementation strategy built on integration, linkages, sustainability, local capacity development and value for money (effectiveness, efficiency and economy)
- A strong statement of CARE's commitment to and expertise in gender integration and participatory governance programming
- A comprehensive plan for monitoring and evaluation, impact measurement, and documentation and dissemination of best practices and lessons learned
Outputs on other concept/proposal development may include but not be limited to:
- Theories of change and/or logical frameworks to illustrate CARE's approaches
- Situational and stakeholder analyses in the thematic areas addressed in concept note or proposal
Requirements
Interested candidates will need to demonstrate:
- Proven experience and success in technical proposal writing for USAID in general and FFP/DFAP in particular.
- Experience in developing proposals for other donors would be an asset.
- Extensive knowledge of and experience in project design processes and gender integration in project design
- Relevant academic background or demonstrated experience in rural development, agriculture or other related fields
- Extensive experience in gender and development, gender analysis, planning and monitoring
- Good knowledge of the contextual issues that contribute to food insecurity and chronic malnutrition in Sub-Saharan Africa
Other required skills include:
- Fluency in English
- Proven oral and written communication skills
- Proven ability to meet tight deadlines
- Ability to multitask and work under pressure
- Ability to facilitate and coordinate stakeholder consultations and input
Knowledge of and/or previous work experience in rural development in Malawi will be advantageous.
Working conditions
The consultant will be based in the CARE office in Lilongwe, Malawi. He/she will work under the direct supervision of the Assistant Country Director – Programs and in close collaboration with the Core Proposal Development Team comprised of colleagues from across the organization. CARE will provide office space, transportation and accommodation and will facilitate contacts with consortium members, potential partners, and other stakeholders.
How to apply
Interested applicants should send expressions for interest to caremalawi_HR@co.care.org with DFAP Proposal Writer in the subject line and including the following:
- Cover letter (addressed to the Country Director, CARE Malawi, Private Bag A89, Lilongwe)
- Up-to-date CV
- Contact information of at least 3 references for whom you have done similar work (scope) in the past 3 years
- Financial offer
- Availability (continuous or intermittent) from 1 December 2013 to March 31 2014
About CARE
CARE is an international humanitarian aid organization with a mission to serve individuals and families in the poorest communities in the world. Drawing strength from our global diversity, resources and experience, we promote innovative solutions and are advocates for global responsibility. CARE has been present in Malawi since 1998 working in various sectors including education, food security and livelihoods, health, nutrition, agriculture, disaster risk reduction and resilience, among others. Underlying all our work is CARE's commitment to the social, economic and political empowerment of women and girls, and the promotion of gender equality.
