Regional Business Development Specialist - East Africa Regional Division

Role Overview

In Kenya, Handicap International (HI) works to improve the living conditions of people with disabilities and advance their rights with a special focus on refugee-related issues. Under the hierarchical supervision of the Technical Head of Program (THOP), and in close collaboration with the Regional Director, Country Managers, and technical unit members, the Business Development Specialist actively contributes to the development of the East Africa regional program. The primary purpose of this role is to design, implement, and monitor the regional fundraising strategy, identifying funding opportunities and leading the development of project proposals for submission to donors, including public institutions, foundations, and private sector partners.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Positioning and Planning

• Participate in the development and monitoring of the operational strategy (StratOp), focusing on the fundraising action plan.
• Monitor donor strategies and priorities at country and regional levels to anticipate bidding opportunities.
• Map regional humanitarian and development actors (INGOs, UN agencies, government representations) to remain competitive.
• Analyze fundraising trends, including transformation rates and project coverage.
• Coordinate regional networking and donor monitoring efforts.
• Liaise with technical specialists and program directors to support fundraising efforts.

2. Relationship Management

• External: Strengthen HI's influence by developing relationships with decision-makers, national/local organizations, and major donors. Participate in various platforms to increase visibility and gather intelligence on funding opportunities.
• Internal: Share funding opportunities with country teams, ensure CRM updates, and maintain internal business development communication tools (Teams channels, etc.).

3. Proposal Development

• Coordinate proposal writing by distributing tasks among key stakeholders in accordance with HI's proposal writing process.
• Develop logical frameworks, MEAL plans, narrative descriptions, staffing plans, and budgets.
• Act as the primary writer for complex, multi-country projects.
• Proactively involve technical advisors for high-quality project design.
• Review project proposals for compliance with donor guidelines, ensuring consistency between the budget and technical descriptions.
• Facilitate negotiations for consortia or multi-country project arrangements.

4. Capacity Building

• Develop training modules on proposal writing and project cycle management for staff and local partners.
• Provide training on donor rules, regulations, and the use of Business Development tools like the CRM.
• Ensure a smooth transition from the business development phase to project implementation.

Requirements and Qualifications

• Education: Minimum of a BA/BSc/HND in a relevant field.
• Experience: Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in development and/or humanitarian work.
• Specialized Experience: At least 3 years of specific business development and fundraising experience.
• Technical Skills: Strong expertise in proposal writing, financial planning, budget development (including co-funding principles), and developing SMART indicators.
• Contracting: Experience in Donor Contract Analysis and negotiation.
• Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills suitable for high-level representation.
• Languages: Mandatory proficiency in both English and French.
• Personal Attributes: Autonomous, flexible, and capable of prioritizing tasks.

How to Apply

Interested and qualified candidates should apply online through the Workable platform via the following link: Apply Here.