The Business Development and Partnerships Associate will help identify funding opportunities, coordinate proposal development, and maintain strong relationships with donors, partners, and stakeholders working in the refugee and humanitarian sector. This role will contribute to the organization’s growth and sustainability by supporting resource mobilization, strategic partnerships, and donor engagement. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: Business Development and Resource Mobilization: Identify and track funding opportunities relevant to refugee and humanitarian programming. Support the preparation of concept notes, proposals, and grant applications. Contribute to the development of fundraising strategies and donor engagement plans. Maintain a pipeline of funding opportunities. Donor and Stakeholder Engagement: Maintain strong communication with donors and partners. Prepare donor briefing materials and presentations. Support donor visits and stakeholder engagement events. Coordinate communication between internal teams and external partners. Proposal Development and Grant Coordination: Update and Manage the Grant Management System (GMS). Coordinate internal inputs for proposal development from program, finance, and monitoring teams. Ensure proposals align with donor priorities and organizational strategy. Support the preparation of supporting documentation. Partnerships and Networking: Identify and map potential with NGOs, community organizations, and private sector partners for collaboration and inclusion in proposals. Draft Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) and support partner due diligence processes in collaboration with operations and program teams. Maintain a comprehensive partnerships database, tracking engagement, collaboration opportunities, and follow-ups. Strengthen collaboration with humanitarian actors operating in refugee contexts. Represent the organization in coordination meetings and partnership forums. Research and Sector Analysis: Conduct research on donor priorities, humanitarian funding trends, and partnership opportunities. Track developments in the refugee and humanitarian sector in Kenya and the region. Provide insights to inform strategic decision-making. QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS: Bachelor’s degree in communication, Public Relations, International Relations, Marketing, Business Administration, Social Sciences or a related field, preferably with an international development focus. 1–2 years of professional experience in resource mobilization, communications/advocacy, or donor engagement within the humanitarian and/or human rights sector. Proven experience in grant writing, proposal development, and donor communication. Familiarity with institutional donors, corporate partners, private foundations, and emerging/non-traditional funding sources is an added advantage. Strong written and verbal communication skills with demonstrated ability to support successful proposal submissions and communicate with diverse stakeholders. Skilled in researching and synthesizing funding opportunities to inform strategic decision-making. Organizational and Coordination skills. Ability to manage multiple priorities. Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within cross-functional teams. Proficiency in Microsoft 365 and experience with GMS or similar donor management systems. Knowledge of the Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) framework. Awareness of Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) and Anti-Fraud principles.
