Role purpose

The Resource Mobilization & Business Development (RM&BD) unit is responsible for driving strategic initiatives to engage with new and existing funders, secure sustainable funding, and diversify funding sources across the CGIAR. This involves identifying and cultivating both traditional and innovative funding opportunities, as well as managing and enhancing existing funding mechanisms critical in ensuring a reliable and continuous flow of financial resources that support CGIAR's research, enabling the system to sustain its programs and operations.

The Manager, Donor Relations, reporting to the Practice Lead, Donor Relations, oversees the development and implementation of donor relations and engagement strategies focused on a specific regional portfolio of donors for CGIAR. The role entails the development of strategies that maximize overall investment from key donors and expand CGIAR’s donor portfolio while adjusting to the evolving operational environments and donor interests. Keen political awareness and adaptive approaches will be critical in ensuring that CGIAR effectively advances its research and innovation mission to address global development challenges.

Duties and Responsibilities

ENGAGE

• Develop and lead funder specific donor relation strategies for the assigned regional portfolio of donors.
• Lead the implementation of the donor relations strategies and stewardship activities aligned to regional priorities, sensitive to political landscape, cultural nuances, and familiar with the local funding landscapes to achieve ambitious funding targets.
• Stay abreast of the regional and market-level political landscapes, and ODA and private funding trends.
• Actively engage with key stakeholders in the region and its markets, including governments, parliaments, civil society, foundations and other relevant public and private organizations.
• Cultivate a network of champions and advocates in the region.
• Track funding outlook for the regional portfolio, activating new opportunities and mitigating downside risk to CGIAR funding.
• Source and assess potential funding opportunities in the region to expand the funding base for CGIAR research and operations.

PERSUADE

• Advise management on emerging opportunities and challenges related to donor funding to inform resource development and planning.
• Collaborate with CGIAR centers, research and innovation programs, and other internal stakeholders to share information and insights on donor interests, funding opportunities, and emerging research activities/projects to align research with funding.
• Engage with existing donors, governmental bodies, and other sources of funding to strengthen coordination, reporting, and disbursement practices to reinforce their commitment and ensure alignment.
• Present the impact and opportunity of CGIAR’s work with prospective donors, philanthropists, and other sources of funding in the region to identify areas of common interest to encourage support.

ADAPT THE PROJECT CYCLE

• Optimize engagement processes, capacities, and work plans to align with established donor priorities and requirements, integrating new strategies to address evolving funding requirements and respond to changes in the donor landscape.
• Sustain a pipeline of funding prospects that meets or exceeds target outcomes set by the CGIAR and demonstrate the effectiveness and impact of adaptive approaches to secure funding across the region.
• Consolidate learning and data on funding opportunities and effective practices across the partnership to build a knowledge base that supports strategic development and capacity building.

Profile

• Master’s Degree in public policy, social sciences, finance, international relations, or a related discipline.
• Specialized experience in external/donor relations, fundraising, and resource mobilization for a public and/or non-profit organization, philanthropic, financial, or international organization.
• Proven track record implementing Government Relation strategies and unlocking ODA channels in support of bilateral and multilateral funding mechanisms.
• Fluency in English – essential to communicate in writing and speaking. Knowledge of at least one additional language from a major donor market in the region is highly desirable.

Target Skills Profile

• Demonstrated capacity gained through experience in resource mobilization, donor engagement, for large government/ODA strategies.
• Deep understanding of government funding mechanisms, global ODA, and engagement strategies for the target region.
• Develop and execute engagement plans across a range of well-defined and established donor priorities aligned with broader partnership objectives.
• Demonstrated skill gained through exposure/experience in resource mobilization and relationship management.
• Develop strategies and manage risks across a portfolio of target donors.
• Engage donors proactively to define expectations/needs and build trusted and productive long-term institution relationships.
• Demonstrated achievement in the consistent delivery of successful resource mobilization strategies.
• Meet consistently the program targets on timing and the ambition of finance goals.
• Meet consistently program delivery standards in terms of quality/relevance.
• Terms of Appointment

Terms of Appointment

• 3 years renewable contract.
• Benefits
  • The selected staff member will be offered terms and conditions commensurate with the grade of the position.

Role Location

The position will be based in either Colombo, Sri Lanka or another CGIAR Center in Asia or Middle East, to be determined based on the organization needs, as we are currently working on employment agreements with the Centers. The candidate will have to be flexible in term of location.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, please ensure you complete the Application Form provided below by 10 February 2025 (23:59 hrs, GMT +1). It is essential that you submit your CV in English, specifically in Microsoft Word format (.doc/.docx), not exceeding 10MB.

Applications in other languages or formats will not be considered.

Rest assured, all information will be handled with the utmost confidentiality.

SRI Executive is exclusively retained by CGIAR to undertake this assignment.