Regional Projects & Partnerships Support Manager, Based in Kampala

BACKGROUNG ON IMPACT INITIATIVES AND REACHIMPACT Initiatives is a humanitarian NGO, based in Geneva, Switzerland. The organization manages several initiatives, which include i) the REACH Initiative aimed at facilitating the development of information products that enhance the humanitarian community’s decision making and planning capacity for emergency, reconstruction and development contexts, ii) the PANDA Initiative aimed at directly supporting key aid actors in improving the effectiveness, efficiency, and efficacy of their programmes, and iii) the AGORA Initiative aimed at promoting localised and multi-sectoral aid action in support of the recovery and stabilisation of crisis-affected communities.The IMPACT team comprises specialists in data collection, management and analysis and GIS. IMPACT was launched at the initiative of Acted and the two organisations have a strong complementarity formalised in a global partnership, enabling IMPACT to benefit from Acted’s operational support on its fields of intervention.In 2025 IMPACT rolled out a regional operational model, with one of the aims being to gradually decentralise some of our support functions. This resulted in the creation of pooled multi-country staff who provide dedicated support to the implementation of our activities within their respective functional areas, across country missions. Through this model, IMPACT has sought to ensure the continued provision of solid operations backstopping to missions falling into different categories of size and complexity.We are currently looking for a Regional Projects and Partnership Support Manager (PPSM) to oversee the project development, grant management and downstream partnership activities for our missions in East Africa.Position: Regional Projects and Partnership Support ManagerContract duration: 12 monthsLocation: Kampala, Uganda (with frequent travel to Nairobi and travel to other East Africa missions as required/pending security context: ETH, MOZ, SOM, SDN, SSD)Starting Date: 15/05/2026COUNTRY PROFILEIn addition to the restructuring process outlined above, the humanitarian situations in East African countries are closely inter-linked by cross-border dynamics such as the increasing effects of climate change or displacement patterns, and this requires information management actors to adopt a regional approach for a comprehensive overview of the dynamics affecting vulnerable communities.Present in East Africa since 2012, IMPACT has currently six missions in the region in Ethiopia, Kenya/Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Mozambique and Uganda implementing REACH and PANDA projects and aims to develop synergies between them through a regional perspective.FUNCTIONSUnder the management of the PPS team in HQ, the PPSM is responsible to support the identification, development and management of grants in the countries outlined above, as well as contribute to develop the IMPACT regional portfolio and representation in Eastern Africa. The ideal candidate would be eager to work within a dynamic and motivated team and will have a clear focus on project development as a tool to improve the efficacy of the humanitarian response in the region.The priorities will be determined together with the country specific Multi-Country Representative (MCR), respective CRs in the area, as well as the Regional Coordinator for East Africa (based in Geneva).The PPSM will have a functional management of the country dedicated Projects and Funding Officer (PPSO) (e.g. for Ethiopia), and direct line management of the pooled PPSO(s), covering PPS functions for countries covered by the multi-country hub.The PPSM is a decentralised team member of the Projects and Partnerships Support (PPS) Department, based in Geneva.RESPONSIBILITIESThe PPSM will be required to manage the East Africa PPS team (currently consisting of one pooled PPSO and dedicated Senior PPSO in Ethiopia) and should delegate workload appropriately to ensure tasks are carried out. It is the responsibility of the PPSM to manage the workflow of the East Africa PPS team, and to proactively identify gaps and provide training and technical backstopping support to build their team’s capacity.As the role also includes elements formally handled at HQ level, the PPSM will also be responsible for specific HQ delegated tasks, in line with the responsibility of managing the PPS workflow for the region.* SUPPORT TO POSITIONING AND FUNDRAISING All the below tasks are in support of the MCR and the CRs of the concerned country missions as well as the IMPACT Regional Coordinator, and involvement may vary according to the profile, seniority and context.CONTEXT ANALYSIS* Support the MCR and CRs in analysing the socio-economic situation, (donor) trends, funding trends, needs and gaps in the region. * Support on analysis of the socio-economic situation, (donor) trends, funding trends, needs and gaps for region, with a particular focus on largescale trends such as climate, as well as regional crises such as the Sudanese refugee response. * Regularly conduct stakeholder analysis for the region, including who does what and where. * Alert the MCR, CRs and Regional Coordinator (RC) of gaps and emerging needs to trigger donor discussions/assessments in a timely manner.STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT AND FUNDRAISING* Contribute to the development of country and regional programme strategies in alignment with IMPACT global strategy and road map through engagement with external actors, context monitoring, and relevant focal points. * Based on the IMPACT strategy, support the identification of regional funding opportunities and donors to ensure funding continuity as well as support the diversification of IMPACT’s donor portfolio through tracking funding opportunities, also potentially engaging with donors and donor working groups. * Support the MCR and pooled PPSO with the identification of country specific funding opportunities and donors to ensure funding continuity as well as support the diversification of IMPACT’s donor portfolio through tracking funding opportunities. * Where relevant, engage with donors and donor working groups. * In line with IMPACT strategy and expertise, contribute to partners mapping, to support identifying potential relevant international and/or local partners (academia, think tanks, national and international NGOs, private sector partners, etc.) both at regional level as well as for country specific cooperation.EXTERNAL RELATIONS* In coordination with the CRs and country dedicated PPSOs, support the overall cooperation with IMPACT’s sister organisation Acted (hosting IMPACT in its field of operations) in relation to project development and grants management across all countries of focus, ensuring communication is regular and timely and synergies are sought and built. * Contribute to establishing, maintaining and improving active and regular working relationships with donors and, where relevant, act as point of contact for all formal/informal donor communication. * Foster IMPACT representation in regional coordination forum in collaboration with regional staff including the IMPACT Regional Coordinator. * Establish, maintain and improve active and regular working relationships with IMPACT partners, NGOs, UN agencies, relevant working groups, consortia and academia in relation to project implementation and proposal development. * In coordination with pooled PPSO and country dedicated PPSOs, maintain an up-to-date directory of donors, international and local NGOs, other partners and stakeholders. * Ensure fundraising activities are appropriately tracked in a Donor Tracker (or similar tool), streamlined across the region, which is updated on a regular basis to log in latest negotiations and proposal possibilities with donors.GRANT MANAGEMENTPROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT* Oversee project proposal conceptualisation (problem statement, logframe), and the development of other fundraising documents (Expressions of Interest, concept notes) in line with IMPACT country and regional strategy and donor requirements and in close collaboration with partners and finance. This includes: * Provide support if/where required to country specific dedicated PPSO in the region and validate any proposal before submission to an ongoing donor * Coordinate the involvement and support of pooled PPSO in the region and validate any proposal before submission to an ongoing donor * Liaise with HQ PP (Projects and Partnerships) team on the submission of any proposal in the region by updating the global database (as outlined below). * Liaise with the RC, CRs, Research Managers, Operations manager and other relevant departments to ensure proposals are relevant and technically sound, as well as with other internal stakeholders such as Finance for the budget and other budget related documents (e.g. budget narrative). * Ensure that learning from previous projects (e.g., lessons learnt and best practices) is incorporated into new proposals. * Ensure validation of all proposals before submission to IMPACT HQ PPS, and validation from IMPACT HQ PPS for new donors, as well as relevant HQ partners, through partner’s field focal point (where relevant) is sought. * Ensure that the global PCM follow-up tool Ninox is correctly up to date. * Address and coordinate the timely response and submission to all comments by donors on proposals in liaison with relevant staff in country, IMPACT HQ PPS and Finance teams.CONTRACTING* In coordination with the RC, CRs and IMPACT HQ, review/negotiate proposals and/or contracts with donors, ensuring requirements are clear and understood. * In coordination with PPS HQ team, organise the incorporation of project elements on Ninox database, including project code email, analysis of reporting requirements and related specifics, and required updates in the course of the project lifespanPROJECT IMPLEMENTATION AND FOLLOW UP* Ensure the timely completion of grant related processes such as monitoring and review of Ninox. * Ensure timely Kick-off meetings are held involving all project components and focal points. * Ensure the establishment and regular update of project progress, key findings and success stories (in coordination with Communications teams, including key M&E findings – where relevant. * Ensure that all contractual obligations are clearly defined and communicated internally in terms of deliverables as well as narrative and financial reporting requirements, in close coordination with HQ PPS and (as relevant) with partner’s PD and finance department. * When any issue is identified in meeting deliverables in the given timeframe and budget, inform relevant staff in country and suggest potential solutions that would meet donor rules. * Ensure ad hoc requests from donors are addressed in liaison with the CR, Programme and support teams. * Implement and oversee the project-specific filing system for grant management and ensure it is regularly updated. * Provide ad-hoc support to project implementation through trouble shooting and eliminating blocking points.REPORTING* Oversee the development of quality project narrative and M&E reports (in support of donors’ requests), reflecting the progress and status of projects in a transparent, timely and professional manner, in liaison with IMPACT HQ PPS and finance. This should be approached with a responsibility to provide capacity building to PPSO in the region (dedicated and pooled). * Validate all donor reports to be submitted in the region from pooled PPSOs and country dedicated PPSOs, in liaison with CRs and MCR. * Liaise with Program teams when preparing reports, and with Finance and Logistics to ensure coherence and alignment between financial and narrative reports by crosschecking the matching of data in the narrative and financial reports. * Organise the reporting requirements for a given month in coordination with country dedicated and pooled PPSOs, and ensure smooth and regular communication with IMPACT HQ PPS, notably by actively flagging any issue, delay which may require additional attention and potential adaptation (amendment request and * Where relevant, ensure regular coordination with partner’s Project Development, Finance and other FLAT departments at all stages of project development and implementation, including consultations for donor discussions, participation in project kick off and lessons learnt meetings, and drafting of donor reports or amendment requests.PARTNERSHIPS* In close liaison with and under the supervision from the MCR /relevant CRs: * In coordination with PPS HQ team, organise the formalisation of IMPACT’s hosting partner, Acted, by following up on the sub-Grant agreement requirements, ensuring Ninox database is up to date. * Contribute to identifying potential partnerships for providing operational and/or technical support for IMPACT programs, both for funded and unfunded downstream partnerships. * Coordinate to due diligence and vetting of new partners in close liaison with IMPACT PPS and partner’s FLAT departments. * In coordination with HQ PPS, facilitate or take part in discussions with implementing partners, including in relation to formalising contractual modalities * Ensure partners have a clear understanding in terms of IMPACT policies, procedures, compliance, programmatic and financial reporting requirements. * Where relevant, review partner reporting regularly and flag any issues in a timely manner to MCR, and partner focal points, and suggest potential solutions. * Where relevant, act as field point of contact for all formal/informal implementing partner communication.MONITORING AND EVALUATION* Ensure a clear M&E framework for each ongoing project is developed based on project proposals, implementation plans, and donor reporting requirements (including contractual monitoring and evaluation indicators to be tracked as part of activities). * Ensure M&E policies and procedures are implemented, maintained and tracked for reporting purposes. * Ensure that M&E findings are reflected and their recommendations are incorporated in future concept notes, proposals, donor reports and implementation plans.MANAGEMENT AND INTERNAL SUPPORT* Direct management of pooled (national officer or international intern) Projects and Partnership Support Officer(s), including recruitment, training, conducting of appraisals and staff career management. * Provide technical support to the IMPACT Projects and Funding Officer(s) working on East Africa missions dedicated to specific country missions, including setting up regular meetings, and providing a forum for discussion of PPS issues. * Carry out in person support missions to the countries covered by the position based on identified needs. * Ensure the global SharePoint is updated with related proposal and project folders and documents and keep track of Ninox database updates. * Collaborate with HQ PPS to support improvement of PPS practices within IMPACT at an institutional level (best practices, lessons learned etc…