Job Description
About IFDC
IFDC is a public international organization active in 20 countries in Africa, Asia, and America. IFDC uniquely approaches the global issues of food security and poverty by bridging the gap between research and impact, combining science-based innovations, holistic market systems development, an enabling policy environment, and strategic partnerships to assist farmers and countries to identify and scale sustainable agricultural solutions, including improved nutrient use efficiency.
These approaches are needed to boost soil health and crop productivity while reducing the environmental impact of fertilizer use. IFDC translates research into action by using locally driven, environmentally sound, and impact-oriented solutions. With our partners, we seek to close the yield gap, eradicate global hunger, safeguard the soil on which our lives depend, and generate economic resilience for farming households and the countries in which they live.
Position Summary
As part of IFDC’s open call for profiles, we are seeking highly qualified individuals or firms to join our consultant roster to support the development of competitive proposals for international development programs across a range of donors and geographies.
Responsibilities
- Technical Writing: Lead or contribute to the drafting of technical proposal narratives, ensuring content is compelling, coherent, and fully responsive to evaluation criteria.
- Content Translation: Translate technical inputs, program design guidance, and partner contributions into clear, well-structured narratives communicating project rationale and expected results.
- Consistency Management: Ensure consistency of language, terminology, voice, and structure across all proposal sections, including those drafted by multiple contributors.
- Feedback Integration: Integrate feedback from internal reviewers, technical advisors, and consortium partners into successive drafts in a timely and organized manner.
- Compliance Review: Review solicitation documents to ensure full compliance with formatting, page limits, content, and submission requirements.
- Cross-Cutting Integration: Support the integration of sections including budget narratives, staffing descriptions, organizational capacity statements, and required annexes.
- Strategic Collaboration: Participate in proposal planning calls and design sessions, contributing as both a writer and a strategic thought partner.
- Team Coordination: Coordinate closely with business development, technical, MEL, HR, finance, and partner teams to gather accurate inputs.
- Donor Tailoring: Apply knowledge of donor priorities (e.g., USAID, EU, World Bank) to tailor proposals and strengthen overall competitiveness.
- Information Synthesis: Synthesize large volumes of complex technical information into accessible, donor-aligned language.
Requirements
For Individuals
- Experience: Minimum of 8 years of hands-on experience writing winning proposals in the international development sector with a track record of successful awards.
- Donor Knowledge: Demonstrated experience writing for at least two donor types: US government (USAID, State, USDA), the EU/EC, European bilateral donors (DGIS, GIZ, FCDO, Sida, SDC, AFD), World Bank, African Development Bank, or UN agencies.
- Strategic Design: Deep understanding of program logic, Theory of Change, and evaluator-facing framing.
- Language: Excellent written English is required; fluency in French is an asset.
- Thematic Familiarity: Knowledge of agriculture, food security, livelihoods, market systems, seed systems, GESI, climate adaptation, or private sector engagement.
- Context: Experience working in African contexts is strongly preferred.
For Firms
- Firms may submit a team of writers with combined expertise covering the individual requirements.
- Submission must include CVs of at least two principal writers assigned to IFDC projects.
- Firms must provide evidence of successfully managing at least three (3) proposal development contracts in the past three years.
Reporting and Location
- Reporting: This role reports to the Proposal Manager and collaborates closely with cross-functional teams.
- Location: This is a talent roster for potential opportunities. Location is dependent on the specific project; remote work is possible with availability during agreed core business hours.
Diversity Clause
IFDC is committed to fostering a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We believe in the value of bringing together people with a broad range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. All employment decisions at IFDC are made based on ability, performance, and organizational need.
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