Organization: NEAR (Network for Empowered Aid Response), (Hosted by Adeso – African Development Solutions)
Reporting To: Director of Solutions
Duration: 12 months, with the possibility of extension
Starting Date: As soon as possible
ABOUT NEAR
NEAR (Network for Empowered Aid Response) is a movement of local organizations with a bold ambition – to reshape the top-down humanitarian and development system to one that is locally driven and owned, and is built around equitable, dignified and accountable partnerships. NEAR is a membership-based organization with members coming from four regions: Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Middle East.
ABOUT ADESO
NEAR is currently hosted by Adeso, an expanding and vibrant African based international development and humanitarian organization. Adeso and NEAR both aspire to prevent and overcome situations that adversely affect community well-being by: Influencing policy change and enacting systemic change through innovative solutions led by local and national actors.
SUMMARY + POSITION PURPOSE
NEAR’s Strategic Plan for 2024-26 defines four strategic goals for the organization to work toward in
the three-year period: (1) to build and amplify a collective voice of diverse, local, and national organizations as the key lead actors in the global aid system; (2) to position local actors as primary decision-makers in the global aid system to influence the operationalization of localization commitments; (3) to co-create, uplift, and amplify local solutions that radically increase local and national actors’ leadership and ownership of systems change initiatives; and (4) to generate and promote learning between and beyond NEAR members and partners to drive systems change.
This is an exciting time of evolution for NEAR’s Solutions work as we transition to a hub model that underpins the ideations, design, research, piloting and scaling of initiatives within Strategic Goal 3. This new Hub leverages expertise and resources from across the network to assess, test, pilot, incubate and scale ideas that address challenges and contribute to a more locally led and locally owned aid system. These solutions include innovative financial mechanisms including grantmaking funds, as well as non-financial solutions which strengthen the operations, programming, management, and ecosystems of local and national Global South organizations and networks.
The Hub Manager will be responsible for overseeing the launch and initial management of the hub in close collaboration with NEAR Secretariat staff, members, and partners. The Hub Manager will support the scoping, design and implementation of the processes and structures necessary for the Hub to be successful. They will apply a human-centered and systems thinking approach to support NEAR members and partners to conceptualize, design, test and implement solutions grounded in and responsive to member needs and priorities with an initial emphasis on financial solutions.
SPECIFIC ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Co-design Hub vision and 12-month strategy in consultation with NEAR Secretariat, members and partners.
- Co-design and implement Hub operational model to include an advisory committee, standard operating procedures, a roster of technical and subject matter experts, and other tools and structures as surfaced in the 2025 Hub Strategy.
- Develop a process for coordinating, assessing and supporting innovative ideas brought to the Hub by NEAR members and partners to directly address complex challenges.
- Support Solutions Director in mobilizing resources for the Hub’s operations and strategic evolution including identifying funding partners, developing analyses and presentations, participating in meetings, webinars, and conferences.
- Oversee ideation, testing, piloting and possible scaling of at least 1-2 localized financing mechanisms within the first 12 months.
- Establish an accessible repository of toolkits and resources, that assist local leaders in designing locally led solutions.
- Provide comprehensive and timely support to Hub users, advisors and collaborators including through piloting structures and peer-to-peer exchanges that leverage the breadth of expertise across the NEAR ecosystem.
- Coordinate with the Learning team to design Pause and Reflect sessions and other Hub learning initiatives.
- Coordinate with Secretariat staff, including the Communications Officer, to raise awareness about the Hub; develop a communication approach for intra-Hub exchanges and information-sharing.
- Proactively develop and deliver progress updates about Hub development and initiatives, including but not limited to, providing narrative and financial data for internal and donor-facing reports, designing and leading on presentations.
- Contribute to developing the Solutions Team strategic vision; support updating, monitoring and reporting on Solutions Team’s goals and objectives towards NEAR’s 2024-26 Strategic Plan.
- Support external promotion and visibility of locally led and managed solutions including in support of business development efforts.
- Assess compliance risks for the set up and management of the Hub in close collaboration with the Compliance Officer; develop framework to ensure ongoing monitoring of evolving risks across the Hub’s portfolio.
- Perform other duties relating to the Solutions Hub as assigned by supervisor.
EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
- 8+ years’ experience supporting innovative programs – from ideation to implementation in humanitarian, development or social impact sectors; with 2 years at a management level.
- Comfort leading projects through human-centered approaches while navigating complexity and ambiguity.
- Experience supporting or overseeing the scaling of innovative initiatives in social impact.
- Strong project management skills with experience managing complex portfolios coordinating with internal colleagues and external partnerships.
- Led or played significant role in applying systems-thinking approaches for social impact with a diverse set of collaborators.
- Experience developing and managing locally led/focused financial mechanisms in the NGO sector, including grantmaking and other financial mechanisms.
- Experience working in multicultural and multilingual environments, particularly in the Global South.
- Committed to NEAR’s core values of local ownership, partnership, and accountability as well as transforming the aid sector to be more locally led.
- Bachelor’s degree in international development, humanitarian studies, social impact, business or field
- Proficiency in English; knowledge of a second NEAR language (Arabic, French, or Spanish) is a plus.
How to apply
APPLICATION PROCESS
All applications should be sent to jobs@near.ngowith “Hub Manager” on the subject line by Sunday, 12 January 2025. The selection committee will review all applications as they arrive.
Each application package should include the following:
- Cover letter with the applicant’s current contact information (limited to one page)
- CV
- Three Professional References, with complete contact information
All applicants must meet the minimum requirements described above. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Adeso is an equal opportunity employer.