I don't know what's more scary — going to Chechnya and working with local NGOs while Ramzan Kadyrov is still in power?

Or filling out one of those complex USAID proposals (*shudder*).

I'm told this is something of a pioneering project and that Grozny is "safe" for foreigners nowadays.

You decide.

 

USAID grant-writing consultant for Russia/North Caucasus NGOs (immediately)

 A coalition of grass-roots NGOs in the North Caucasus region, working on women’s empowerment and post-conflict development and supported by an international volunteer advisory committee, is seeking to hire an experienced grant-writing consultant to prepare an application under USAID’s currently open ASP for Russian NGOs. The ASP is open to Russian NGOs only as well as to new applicants. Details are at http://www07.grants.gov/search/announce.do;jsessionid=TJzhPgyLMGq2ZYds7vYRFYCjy7L9h0GvhXLGTbFdlhvtnfxXM5JV!-1135953825.

 

Description of responsibilities:

The NGO coalition envisions a collaborative writing process together with the consultant, who will be based in Grozny, Chechen Republic, for one month leading up to the ASP’s deadline on March 9, 2012, to develop a competitive proposal jointly with the applying grass-roots NGOs. The consultant will briefly analyze the applying NGOs’ strengths and weaknesses, as related to the ASP’s themes, through consultations and observation of their work. He/she will advise the NGOs on the themes and develop program activities that comply with the ASP’s rules and USAID policies and priorities. The consultant will also analyze the NGOs’ compliance with USAID “responsibility” rules and assist applicant NGOs with making the necessary steps towards compliance. The consultant will write the proposal in collaboration with the NGO applicants through regular (daily) interaction and devise shared writing responsibilities, based on their respective skills. Where NGO applicants experience difficulties with time-management and understanding the technical demands of the proposal format, he/she will provide leadership and guidance to ensure timely completion. The consultant will coordinate all steps, including drafting timeline and content, with an international volunteer advisory committee and liaise closely with the committee through the process. He/she will edit the final version of the proposal, ensure that it is complete and correct, send it several days before the deadline to an international advisor committee for review and make certain that the application are submitted on time.

 

Required Qualifications:

 

• Demonstrated record of writing successful applications for USAID grants in the past three years, preferably for Russia or the former Soviet Union and/or Conflict Management and Mitigation and/or women’s rights and livelihood and/or on behalf of national/local NGOs.
• University education, preferably a master’s degree or higher, in fields like development studies, conflict resolution, non-profit management, gender studies, political science or similar field.
• Demonstrated understanding of USAID’s “responsibility” standards
• Strong technical writing skills (writing samples will be requested)
• Experience working with grass-roots NGOs on project development, fundraising and/or capacity-building
• Maturity, leadership, team-building and motivational skills
• Native Russian-speaker professionally fluent/like-native English skills; or native English speaker who speaks Russian with professional fluency
• Be able to work in Grozny , Chechen Republic , from approximately February 9, 2012 to March 9, 2012 (local partners will make arrangements for housing prior to arrival)
• Russian citizenship or Russian residence/work permit or ability to travel visa-free to Russia or willingness to make all visa arrangements without employer’s support

 Preferred Qualifications:

• Hands-on experience with post-conflict development and human rights challenges in the North Caucasus
• A minimum of five years of experience in the fields of development, humanitarian aid, civil society, human rights or women’s rights/empowerment in Russia, the former Soviet Union or elsewhere in developing/post-conflict environments.

 

How to apply:

Interested candidates who meet all the required qualifications should submit:

• a resume (in Russian or English),
• a cover letter outlining their qualifications for this consulting position (in Russian or English),
• a writing sample of 3-5 pages (an excerpt from a previous USAID application written by the candidate is strongly preferred – in English),
• their fee requirements for one month and expected travel costs,
• and the names and contact information of three references who can discuss the candidate’s relevant experience (especially with USAID proposals).

 

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so apply as soon as possible. The deadline is February 5, 2012, but applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and an applicant may be selected before the deadline. Please send all application materials to [email protected].