Partner Support Officer (Programme)

Project:  Civil Society Innovation Fund (CSIF) Duty Station: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with field travels to regions Contract Duration:  One year, with high possibility of extension  Reports to:  Programme Manager Background The Civil Society Innovation Fund (CSIF) is a multi-donor initiative established to strengthen the capacity, role, and influence of civil society organisations (CSOs) in Ethiopia. Through targeted financial and technical support—particularly to new and emerging CSOs—the Fund enables partners to design and implement innovative, inclusive, and context-responsive initiatives across diverse communities and regions. CSIF aims to foster a more vibrant, resilient, and impactful civil society sector, contributing to a more democratic, peaceful, and stable Ethiopia. The Fund is managed by MannionDaniels in partnership with AGAR and is funded by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), the Royal Norwegian Embassy, and the Embassy of Ireland in Ethiopia. Position Summary The Partner Support Officer (Programme) will play a key role in ensuring effective implementation of CSIF-funded projects by civil society partners. The role focuses on programme monitoring, partner mentoring, and financial oversight support, including basic expenditure verification. The officer will work closely with partner CSOs to strengthen programme quality, compliance, accountability, and learning, ensuring that funded initiatives deliver results in line with CSIF objectives. Key Responsibilities Partner Monitoring & Programme Oversight Conduct regular monitoring of partner projects to ensure progress against approved plans, results frameworks, and budgets. Review partner narrative and financial reports for quality, accuracy, and compliance. Undertake field visits to assess implementation progress, identify challenges, and recommend corrective actions. Support partners in tracking outputs, outcomes, and indicators. Ensure compliance with donor and CSIF programme requirements. Partner Mentoring & Capacity Strengthening Provide ongoing mentoring and technical support to CSO partners on programme implementation, reporting, and adaptive management. Support partners in strengthening project planning, monitoring systems, and documentation practices. Identify capacity gaps and contribute to the design of targeted capacity-building interventions. Promote learning, innovation, and knowledge sharing among partners. Financial Review & Expenditure Verification Conduct basic expenditure verification to ensure costs are eligible, properly documented, and aligned with approved budgets.   Review financial reports and supporting documents (receipts, invoices, payroll records, etc.). Flag inconsistencies, ineligible costs, or risks and follow up with partners for clarification or corrective action. Work closely with finance teams to ensure compliance with financial policies and donor requirements. Support partners in strengthening financial management practices. Grants Management Support Support the grants cycle, including partner onboarding, agreement compliance, and reporting timelines. Maintain accurate partner files and documentation. Track partner performance and compliance status. Contribute to internal reporting and donor updates. Learning, Documentation & Reporting Document lessons learned, best practices, and success stories from partner projects. Contribute to programme-level reporting and knowledge products. Support learning events, reflection sessions, and partner exchanges. Coordination & Communication Serve as a key focal point between CSIF and implementing partners. Coordinate with programme, finance, and M&E teams to ensure integrated support to partners. Facilitate communication and ensure timely information flow. Required Qualifications & Experience Master’s degree in Development Studies, Social Sciences, Project Management, Business Administration, or related field. Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in programme support, grants management, or CSO capacity strengthening. Experience working with civil society organisations and donor-funded programmes. Strong understanding of project monitoring, reporting, and basic financial management. Experience in expenditure verification or financial review is highly desirable. Familiarity with the Ethiopian civil society context is an asset. Skills & Competencies Strong analytical and problem-solving skills. Ability to mentor and build capacity of partner organisations. Attention to detail, especially in reviewing financial and narrative reports. Good interpersonal and communication skills. Ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines. Proficiency in MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint). Strong report writing skills in English (knowledge of local languages is an asset). Core Values Commitment to strengthening civil society and inclusive development Integrity and accountability Respect for diversity and local ownership Collaboration and learning Desirable Attributes Experience working in multi-donor programmes Knowledge of compliance and risk management Field-based experience in programme implementation and CSO monitoring