Alfanar Position Announcement:

Short-term Consultant, Lebanon

Application deadline: 17th February 2012

Alfanar is looking for a short‐term consultant to help establish a presence in Lebanon. The short‐term consultancy is broken down into phases:

I – Investigation, Setup, Legal Issues: Assist Alfanar with set‐up requirements including legal registration, bank account set‐up, taxation assessments

II – Investment Strategy, Call for Proposals: Help Alfanar tailor its offer to the needs and opportunities of the Lebanese market, launch a call for proposals, proactively scope and source innovative social ventures and projects serving disadvantaged communities

III – Investment Selection: Assess proposals (accepted in Arabic or English), shortlist and recommend finalist proposals, conduct due diligence on 2‐3 social ventures/projects, finalise project design with finalists that pass due diligence process, draft project approval documentsin English for Board approval.

Terms of Reference:

The Consultant will work under the supervision of Alfanar’s Managing Director (MD) in London to complete the following:

Phase I:

§ Memo outlining set‐up process, including projected costs and timeline, for legal registration, bank accounts, taxation, etc.
§ Formation of an Advisory Board

Phase II:

§ Memo outlining Alfanar’s offer/social investment strategy in Lebanon
§ Call for proposals for innovative social ventures/projects serving disadvantaged communities in Lebanon
§ Shortlist of social ventures/projects

Phase III:

§ Completed due diligence documentation on 2‐3 social ventures/projects
§ Project approval documents for 2‐3 social ventures/projects

Period:

Payment will be agreed to on a deliverable‐basis, though an estimated time commitment will be drawn up through consultation. Weekly progress calls with Alfanar’s MD will be held to monitor progress and provide support to consultant. Adjustments to period will be agreed to through discussion and performance review between consultant and Alfanar MD.

Application in confidence:

Candidates must have the right to live and work in Lebanon. Please forward a cover letter and CV highlighting suitability to the consultancy to: myrna@alfanar.org.uk by 17 February 2012.

Alfanar Position Announcement:

Chief of Staff, UK

Application deadline: 13th February 2012

Alfanar, the first Arab venture philanthropy organisation (VPO) is looking for a pro-active, ambitious, candidate to fill its Chief of Staff position in London.  At the cutting edge of sustainable development and social investment, Alfanar provides capable and qualified candidates a rare opportunity to help strengthen and scale innovative civil society organisations in the Arab region. 

The Chief of Staff will report to Alfanar’s Managing Director in London and will work closely with London-based Communications and Outreach Officer as well as the wider team in the Arab region. 

Specific responsibilities include:

• Assist with tracking, evaluating and reporting on progress made by Alfanar’s civil society investees in the Arab region
• Assist with launching investment in new markets; tasks may include conducting background research, following up directly with local partners, stakeholders and service providers
• Help develop and implement Alfanar’s fundraising strategy; identify, follow up with and meet new donor prospects
• Draft funding proposals, thank you letters and progress reports to donors; track donor database
• Produce timely pieces of external communication and help with harmonising message manuals, investor pitches, newsletters, public reports, brochures, website
• Execute administrative tasks, including scheduling and following up on meetings, setting trip schedules, preparing expense reports, and helping with the preparation of final accounts

Qualifications:

• Passionate about sustainable development, civil society work, and social entrepreneurship in the Arab region
• 2-3 years of work experience, especially in the development sector, an advanced degree in the social sciences, public administration, or business administration, preferred
• Strong proposal and report-writing skills in English needed
• Ability to collaborate with a small team, take initiative and work effectively under pressure to manage the diverse aspects of a growing organisation
• Strong Arabic communication skills highly preferable
• Candidate must have the right to live and work in the UK.

To apply in confidence:

Please forward a cover letter and CV highlighting suitability to the position to: myrna@alfanar.org.uk.

Alfanar Position Announcement:

Director, Egypt

Alfanar is looking for a pro-active, ambitious, experienced candidate to fill its Egypt Director position.  Alfanar's Director in Egypt is responsible for building on an eight-year track record of investing in and building the capacity of local charities, nonprofits, and social enterprises.  The position requires initiative and provides scope to set investment strategy in Egypt, grow the portfolio and build a local team.  At the cutting edge of sustainable development and social investment, Alfanar provides capable and qualified candidates a rare opportunity to help build innovative, professional, and financially sustainable civil society organisations at a pivotal moment in Egypt’s history.

In addition to overseeing Alfanar’s core venture philanthropy work, Alfanar’s Director in Egypt is responsible for setting the fundraising strategy in Egypt and forging long-term partnerships with existing and potential funders in an increasingly competitive market.  The Director in Egypt will report to Alfanar’s Managing Director in London and will work with the wider team to set Alfanar’s growth strategy. 

Specific responsibilities include:

• Develop, evaluate and report on Alfanar’s annual targets and multi-year strategies, budgets, and policies in Egypt.
• Maintain and grow Alfanar’s Egypt portfolio by soliciting, selecting and recommending to the Board of Trustees investment in entrepreneurial social purpose organisations in Egypt. 
• Build capacity among partner organisations by providing strategic management coaching and mobilising pro-bono expert support.  [Support areas may include: project design, risk and needs assessment, network building, strategic and business planning, budgeting, pricing, cost accounting, branding and marketing, monitoring and evaluation, report-writing, fundraising.]
• Work with Alfanar’s fundraising committee to set and execute fundraising strategy, especially with corporations, foundations and individuals in Egypt.  Cultivate donor-investor engagement through regular meetings, reporting, and project visits. 
• Build a team to help administer grants, monitor project implementation, evaluate impact, respond to project challenges, and review project technical and financial reports.
• Oversee Alfanar Egypt office expenses, accounting, banking, legal and administrative compliance.

Qualifications

• Passionate about sustainable development, civil society work, and social entrepreneurship in Egypt.
• Experience in grants management and working with civil society actors in Egypt preferable.
• A proven track record of fundraising, especially with individuals, foundations and corporations. Proposal writing skills needed.
• Ability to collaborate with a small team and work effectively under pressure to manage the diverse aspects of a growing organisation.
• An advanced degree in social sciences, public administration, or business administration.
• Excellent command of spoken and written English and Arabic.
• Candidate must have the right to live and work in Egypt.

To apply in confidence:
Please forward a cover letter and CV highlighting suitability to the position to myrna@alfanar.org.uk.

Alfanar Position Announcement:

Portfolio Officer, Egypt

Alfanar is looking to fill the position of Egypt Portfolio Officer.  Alfanar, the first venture philanthropy organisation in the Arab region, fosters the growth of enterprising, self-reliant social purpose organisations that effectively respond to pressing community needs.  Alfanar’s venture philanthropy approach entails: 1) administering financial grants to selected organisations, 2) providing regular management guidance to partner organisations, and 3) sourcing professional volunteer expertise to assist partners in overcoming specific challenges. 

Alfanar's Portfolio Officer in Egypt is responsible for closely monitoring project progress and evaluating results against programme objectives and working with local partners to built trust, assess needs and provide responsive management guidance aimed at helping partners achieve their social objectives as well as financial independence. The Portfolio Officer supports Alfanar’s Egypt Director in maintaining and growing existing portfolio of seven projects in Cairo and Minia, each of which employs rights-based, multi-faceted strategies to address critical social issues, including early childhood education, arts education, employment generation, access to general and mental healthcare, domestic violence and harmful sexual practices. 

The Portfolio Officer reports to Egypt Director.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Monitor and evaluate project implementation through review of quarterly technical and financial reports of partners, regular field visits and weekly correspondence.
• Identify development needs of partners and build capacity among partner organisations by providing strategic management guidance and mobilising pro-bono professional volunteer support.  [Support areas may include: project design, risk and needs assessment, network building, strategic and business planning, budgeting, pricing, cost accounting, branding and marketing, monitoring and evaluation, report-writing, fundraising].
• Keep track of beneficiaries and revenue growth of partners.
• Help maintain and grow Alfanar Egypt’s portfolio of social investments by reviewing project proposals and proactively identifying new and innovative social enterprises and initiatives.
• Prepare progress reports and funding proposals for donors and Alfanar’s Board of Trustees.
• Support Egypt Director in identifying new funding leads and prospects.
• Work with Alfanar Communications Officer to regularly create social media content

Qualifications

• Passionate about long-term sustainable development, social development, civil society work in Egypt; understanding of social entrepreneurship and venture philanthropy.
• Minimum of 2-3 years experience in grants management and working with civil society actors in Egypt.
• An advanced degree in social sciences, public administration, or business administration with focus on non-profit sector preferable. 
• Ability to collaborate with a small team and work effectively under pressure to manage the diverse aspects of a growing organisation.
• Excellent command of spoken and written English and Arabic.
• Candidate must have the right to live and work in Egypt.

To apply in confidence:
Please forward a cover letter and CV highlighting suitability to the position to myrna@alfanar.org.uk.