The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

In 2025, the IRC launched a new country program structure merging operations in Cameroon and the Central African Republic (CAR) with a total combined operating budget of roughly $10M. The headquarters of the merged country program will be based in Yaoundé, Cameroon with extensive travel throughout Cameroon, and CAR.

Cameroon Context:
The IRC started operations in Cameroon in 2016 to respond to the increasing concerns for people affected by violence linked to Boko Haram, in the Far North of the country. The assistance to displaced populations extends across the Far North, notably Mayo Sava, Mayo Tsanaga and Logone & Chari through field offices in Kousseri and Maroua. This includes delivering lifesaving programming to increase access to water and improving hygiene practices in vulnerable displaced and host communities, cash programming to enable economically disadvantaged families to meet basic needs and improve food security. This includes both education and child protection services to address children’s learning and safety needs and priorities. IRC also delivers protection programming to address gender-based violence for women and girls and support to victim of human right violation.

Following the increasing crisis in the North-West and South-West regions of Cameroon, the IRC expanded its operations into the South-West region in August 2018 and into the North-West in 2019. The IRC delivers lifesaving humanitarian assistance to internally displaced populations, with field bases in Buea, Kumba,and Bamenda.

CAR Context:
Present in the CAR since 2006 the IRC responds to the ongoing emergency response and development programs. The Country Program is active in 5 locations across the country (Bangui, Bouar, Bocaranga,Ndele and Birao) and five sectors (Health/Nutrition, Education, Economic Recovery and Development (ERD), and Protection including women’s protection and empowerment (WPE) and child protection as well as Governance). The team includes 7 international staff and around 100 national staff.

Cameroon-CAR Country Program
IRC Cameroon and CAR country program is now implementing its ‘Strategy 100’ strategic plan, through which we aim to provide the best possible impact for some of the most vulnerable boys, girls, women, and men affected by the humanitarian crises. In all that we do, we strive to deliver through IRC’s core values of Integrity, Accountability, Service and Equality. IRC Cameroon-CAR also aims to increase the quantity and quality of its partnerships with national and local NGOs and local structures.

Position Overview:
The Grants and Partnerships Coordinator will play a pivotal role in providing strategic leadership and coordination across IRC Cameroon-CAR’s business development, grants management, and partnership portfolios. Reporting directly to the Deputy Director of Programs (DDP), the Coordinator will contribute to program design, strengthen donor engagement in country, ensure compliance with donor and IRC policies, and cultivate strategic partnerships that enhance program quality and diversify funding sources.

This role also oversees the management of sub-awards, leads capacity-building initiatives for partners ,and ensures rigorous adherence to organizational and donor standards.

Main Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership
•    Contribute to the development and periodic revision of the IRC Cameroon-CAR Resource Mobilization, Business Development and Partnerships Strategy.
•    Collaborate with Field Coordinators, Technical Coordinators, MEAL, and program implementation teams to ensure alignment between strategy, funding opportunities, and programming.

Business Development and Fundraising
•    Work in close collaboration with the DDP to ensure proposal processes are well managed, funding diversification goals are met, and funding efforts are aligned with the country program’s strategic priorities.
•    Develop and review concept papers and proposals for various projects and programs in order to achieve the Country Program short-term and long-term programmatic outcomes.
•    Coordinate with technical staff across departments to ensure input into proposals is provided.
•    Proactively and regularly communicate planned requirements for program design and
implementation to relevant technical teams, Country Office departments/functions.
•    Liaise with other humanitarian/development actors to identify possible areas for collaboration and develop joint initiatives/proposals.
•    Actively collaborate with the team at Country, Region and HQ working on private sector
engagement to foster strategic partnerships and generate funding/support.
•    Serve as the primary focal point for IRC HQ and regional offices on new funding opportunities.
•    In collaboration with relevant regional focal points, ensure proactive engagement with a
diversified donor base, including institutional donors, foundations, and private sector partners.
•    Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with donors, partners, and consortium leads.

Awards Management and Donor Compliance
•    Together with relevant regional focal points, lead post-award processes including agreement reviews, amendments, and donor negotiations.
•    Coordinate processes for the timely delivery of high-quality narrative and financial reporting in collaboration with finance, programs, and operations.
•    Responsible for ensuring donor compliance by providing guidance across project and country program teams, maintaining updated checklists, and disseminating donor requirements to relevant teams through training.
•    Maintain effective coordination with the Awards Management Unit in IRC HQs and Region for any day-to-day requirements, including periodical budget realignments s, modifications, managing cost/no-cost extensions, and other awards management processes as needed.
•    Provide guidance to program and operations teams on issues related to grants and commercial contracts and compliance as required.
•    Ensure that contracts, addendums and agreements are reviewed with program, finance, supply chain, partnership and communication department and collate feedback.

Partnerships Leadership
•    Ensure the IRC Cameroon-CAR Partnership Strategy is applied across programs.
•    Coordinate partner selection processes, including due diligence and vetting, in collaboration with technical and operational teams.
•    Facilitate and coordinate with IRC program teams to support and monitor partners’ project implementation, ensuring compliance, quality delivery, and timely reporting.
•    Coordinate implementation of tailored grants management related capacity-strengthening initiatives for local partners.
•    Foster strong and strategic partnerships with local and international NGOs, civil society actors, government institutions, and the private sector.

Representation and External Engagement
•    Represent IRC in donor meetings, proposal development discussions, and coordination platforms.
•    Serve as liaison for all matters related to grants, proposals, partnerships, and donor compliance.
•    Promote the IRC’s reputation as a partner of choice and a leader in evidence-based humanitarian programming.

Team Leadership and Capacity Building
•    Manage and mentor the Grants and Partnerships team, including program development, compliance, and reporting staff.
•    Promote continuous professional development and learning within the team.
•    Foster collaboration between grants, technical, finance, supply chain, and HR units for smooth grant and partnership operations.

Key Working Relationships
Position Reports to: Deputy Director of Programs
Position directly Supervises: Grants Manager, Grants and Partnership Officer, Senior Partnerships
Manager

Key Internal Contacts: Technical Coordinators, Regional Program and Awards Management Unit, Finance
Key External Contacts: Partners, Donors

Qualifications and Experience:

•    Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in business administration, Finance, Economics or in relevant field required.
•    Strong understanding of context in Cameroon and CAR.
•    Sound understanding of current policy regime for NGOs
•    Minimum of 5 years’ experience in a similar role.
•    Proven experience in leading business development units in an international NGO
•    Experience working in teams to design, implement and monitor complex donor funded programs.
•    Experience of working with USAID, ECHO, UN, EU, BHA, SIDA and other institutional donors
•    Deep understanding of contracts/agreement, contract/agreement governance, contractual language and the contract lifecycle
•    Excellent understanding of the donors, stakeholders, and fund managers
•    Critical thinking skills and the ability to research and understand legal and financial implications.
•    Superior writing and language skills.
•    Effective communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills
•    Exceptional attention to detail, and talent for accuracy and precision
•    Creative, innovative and out of box thinking
•    Excellent collaborative and team working approach.
•    Excellent analytical skills and Ability to operate with competing deadlines

Languages Require/ Preferred:
•    Professional fluency in written and spoken English and French.
•    Both languages are required.

Computer/ other Tech Requirements:
•    Proficiency with the Microsoft Office Suite, especially Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.
•    Working knowledge of file sharing protocols such as box, google drive.
•    Travel: This position is based in Yaoundé and requires up to 20% of time traveling in Cameroon and CAR.

Attention Returning National Candidates
IRC strives to attract, motivate and retain qualified national staff in our programs. We strongly encourage national or returning national candidates to apply for this position. If you are a national of the country in which this position is based and are currently located outside of your home country and possesses over two years of international work experience, the IRC provides an attractive remuneration package.
 

Standard of Professional Conduct: The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.

Cookies: https://careers.rescue.org/us/en/cookiesettings

#li-1