Job Description
- KEY INFORMATION
Job Title: Grant Partnerships Advisers (1 x international STA; 1 x national STA)
Position Type (full/part time): Part Time
Duration/Level of Effort (long/short term): 60 days for each Adviser from April 2026 to September 2026, with potential extension based on program needs.
Position Location (e.g. city, country, remote): Homebased and Manila with regional/subnational travel
SUMMARY OF THE PROJECT
The DFAT (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) Social Protection, Inclusion and Gender equality (SPRING) program is Australia’s flagship investment of support to the Philippine Government on Social Protection, Gender Equality, Disability, Social Inclusion and Indigenous Inclusion. It is an AUD 40 million investment over 5 years that will support the joint Development Partnership Plan (DPP 2024-2029) between the Government of Australia and the Philippine Government. The investment will be the DFAT’s primary avenue in the Philippines for supporting poverty reduction and bilateral funding on gender equality and social inclusion at the national level and with some select Local Government Units (LGUs). SPRING supports efforts under Australia’s new International Development Policy and DFAT’s forthcoming new strategies on gender equality, disability equity and rights, and translate these into implementation in the Philippines.
SPRING contributes to the goal that the social and economic transformation in the Philippines reduces poverty and provides equal opportunities to all Filipinos in line with the Philippines Development Plan.
The objective of SPRING is that Australia works in partnership with the Philippine Government to improve systems and structures that reduce poverty and inequality and advance gender equality and the rights of people with disabilities.
SPRING has four mutually reinforcing End of Program Outcomes (EOPOs):
Philippine Government social protection plans, policies and programs increasingly close gaps in the social protection floor.
- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and select LGU systems increasingly deliver quality social protection that is inclusive, gender and shock responsive, and climate sensitive.
- The Philippine Government increasingly invests in gender responsive policies, plans, programs and systems.
- The Philippine Government improves data, systems and targeting to enable people with disability and Indigenous Peoples improved access to targeted services.
SUMMARY OF THE POSITION
Reporting to the Deputy Team Leader, the international and national Grant Partnerships Advisers will collaborate as a team to design and oversee the operationalisation of SPRING’s subnational grants mechanism, which is intended to fund sub-national CSOs to deliver activities in line with and that strengthen SPRING outcomes.
The Grants Adviser wills also develop and operationalise processes to allow the SPRING Adaptive Program Fund (which is currently focused on flexible funding to existing SPRING government partners) the option to enter into grant partnerships with national level CSOs and research institutes[1], subject to program and DFAT funding decisions.
This STA team will work closely with key members of the SPRING technical and operations team, with some responsibilities shared or delegated to ensure continuity and alignment across granting activities.
The Grant Partnerships Advisers will support SPRING to ensure that grants are implemented in a coherent manner, aligning with and contributing to SPRING end-of-program outcomes. They will support effective design and delivery of the grant mechanism and its systems and processes in a way that empowers partners to lead the implementation of their grants, and proactively minimises reporting and compliance burdens for subnational CSOs. The Advisers will also leverage additional resources to support partners as needed.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Scoping and design of the SPRING sub-national grants mechanism.
- Review background documentation on SPRING objectives and subnational grant mechanism
- Engage in consultations with DFAT and the SPRING team to define the strategic objectives for the grants mechanism, agree the funding envelope, develop the granting strategy, procurement modalities, and outline next steps. This should also include assessment of and recommendations for a potential online platform to enable SPRING grant mechanism (online applications, grant management, etc), given that there is no public-facing SPRING website or program MIS in place.
- Prepare sub-national grants proposal that outlines agreed design parameters of sub-national grants mechanism for SPRING/DFAT approval.
2. Establishment of partnerships and grant management processes (for both sub-national grants mechanism).
- Implement a clear approach to partnership development and granting, based on the sub-national grant mechanism proposal, in collaboration with DFAT and the SPRING team. In addition to operationalising the sub-national grant mechanism (as agreed with DFAT), the granting approach will also cover any identified requirements for expanding the SPRING Adaptive Program Fund to include grant partnerships.
- Work collaboratively with key members of the SPRING technical and operations team[2] to operationalise the SPRING Grants Management system, including procedures and protocols.
- Develop partnership agreement templates tailored to grant and partner size/type (as applicable).
- Ensure selected online grants platform supports grant finance tracking and reporting.
- Collaborate with the Strategic Communications Adviser and SPRING technical team to develop a strategic communications approach for announcing grant opportunities and application processes.
- Manage grant application processes, including open calls and limited tenders.
- Establish and manage relationships with other funders or umbrella organisations to support referrals of CSOs and CSO outreach for grant calls.
3. Partnership development and management (for both sub-national grants mechanism, and Adaptive Program Fund)
- Review applications and shortlist applicants for review and approval by the SPRING grants committee.
- Manage communications with successful applicants.
- Manage due diligence processes.
- Co-develop partnership agreements with grantee partners, including disbursement plans in coordination with the operations and finance team.
- Facilitate co-design of projects between grantee partners and the SPRING team.
- Proactively manage partnerships on an ongoing basis, leveraging support from SPRING as needed by the partner (technical, advisory, financial etc.)
- Work collaboratively with partners to conduct requisite reporting on grants with view to minimising the burden for partners.
- Manage and respond to feedback from partners, including making adjustments to grant and partnership processes to streamline and minimise excessive burden on partners.
- Manage SPRING relationship with other funders to ensure ongoing coordination and alignment, particularly where SPRING and funders have partners in common.
4. Planning and reporting
- Work collaboratively with other key members of the SPRING team, coordinating with SPRING leads and contributing to other workstreams to ensure coherence and synergy and avoid siloing and duplication.
- Contribute to SPRING bi-annual progress reporting.
- Provide ad hoc reports on grants as requested by the SPRING Team Leader, Deputy Team Leader, Cowater and/or DFAT.
5. Overarching management
- Contribute to the technical and ethical delivery of SPRING, ensuring that SPRING’s ethical standards of operation are applied throughout these activities.
- Coordinate and oversee the Grants team (to be defined) including delegating tasks appropriately to relevant staff members, fostering an inclusive and supportive team environment in line with SPRING principles.
- Effectively mentor SPRING team staff on grant management, including contributing to relevant performance reviews and assessments as needed.
- Effectively manage partnerships, feeding emerging and changing risks and associated risk mitigation and management strategies into SPRING’s overall risk management approach, and coordinating with other SPRING staff to effectively mitigate and manage risks that cut across work areas.
- Quality assure all communications and external engagement products related to partnerships/grants.
JOB REQUIREMENTS
Education
- Tertiary qualifications in international development, public administration, finance, law, business, or a related field.
- Postgraduate qualifications (desirable) in development studies, public policy, financial management, or a relevant technical discipline.
- Professional training or certification in grant management, fiduciary risk management, procurement, or compliance (desirable).Experience
- Demonstrated experience (7+ years) managing grants or funding mechanisms within international development programs, preferably in DFAT, other bilateral donors, multilateral agencies, or INGOs.
- Strong understanding of DFAT policies, including value for money, fraud control, due diligence, risk management, and safeguarding.
- Proven experience designing, implementing, or reviewing grant-making processes, including:
- eligibility and selection criteria
- assessment and scoring frameworks
- contracting and compliance requirements
- monitoring, reporting, and acquittal processes
- Experience supporting local partners—civil society, private sector, or government—to strengthen grant management capacity.
- Familiarity with financial oversight of grants, including budgeting, expenditure verification, and risk mitigation.
- Experience working in complex operating environments, ideally in Southeast Asia.Key Abilities and Skills
- Ability to analyse grant proposals, budgets, and risk profiles and provide clear, evidence‑based recommendations.
- Strong understanding of fiduciary risk and compliance requirements in donor‑funded programs.
- Capacity to design or refine grant management tools, templates, and guidance materials.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders, including local implementing partners, government counterparts, DFAT posts, and program teams.
- Strong cross‑cultural communication skills and the ability to build trust and capability in partner organisations.
- Ability to work within established program governance frameworks and contribute to program planning, reporting, and quality assurance.
- Experience supporting MEL (Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning) integration into grant processes.
- Experience delivering training, mentoring, or technical assistance to strengthen partner organisations’ grant management, compliance, and reporting capabilities.
- Strong attention to detail and a structured, methodical approach to managing information.
- Ability to work independently with minimal supervision while contributing effectively to a team.
- Adaptability and resilience in dynamic or resource‑constrained environments.
- Clear, concise writing skills suitable for donor reporting and technical documentation.
- Demonstrated high integrity and commitment to and understanding of GEDSI principles, with knowledge or experience in promoting gender equality, disability, and social inclusion especially within adaptive programs like SPRING. This includes a clear understanding of and practical experience in safeguarding, particularly in the context of child protection (CP) and Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (SEAH), with the ability to integrate safeguarding measures into program implementation.
- Compliance to DFAT policies on fraud control, financing terrorism, child protection and other social safeguards.
APPLICATION PROCESS
This is a rolling recruitment. Applications will be reviewed and vetted sequentially as they are received. We encourage interested individuals to apply as early as possible.
For your application to be considered, please upload your documents as follows: Candidate Last Name, First Name, date, Title of the Position.
Please send your cover letter addressing the position selection criteria and CV with name and contact details (phone and email) of three professional referees to hr@springphilippines.org, mentioning the position you are applying for in the subject line “SPRING Grant Partnerships Adviser - International” or ”SPRING Grant Partnerships Adviser - National” or apply online.
Women, persons with a disability and Indigenous Peoples are highly encouraged to apply.
Cowater International is an equal opportunity employer, basing employment on merit and qualifications as they relate to professional experience and position expectations. Cowater does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, religion, sex, gender identity, disability, age, or any other basis protected by law. Persons with disabilities may send a request for reasonable accommodation to participate in the recruitment process to hr@springphilippines.org.
Cowater International adheres to the highest standards of protection of children and vulnerable adults in the delivery of programs and services. Cowater is committed to the prevention of sexual abuse, exploitation and harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination.
Cowater International upholds standards of ethical conduct and has zero tolerance against fraud and bribery.
Prior to any offer of employment, applicants will be subject to appropriate background checks.
We thank all applicants, however only those shortlisted will be contacted.
About the Organization
About Us
Founded in 1985, Cowater International is a leading global development consulting company. Headquartered in Ottawa and with corporate hubs in Auckland, Berlin, Brussels, Helsinki, London, Madrid, Manila, Nairobi, Singapore and Stockholm, Cowater International has successfully delivered a portfolio of over 2500 projects and assignments in more than 95 countries. We work with governments, private sector actors and communities implementing projects that support socio-economic development, institutional strengthening, environmental improvements and advance equal opportunities for all. We are a diverse and experienced team committed to building a better tomorrow for the people we serve. Our adaptive approach to management has led to our yearly award-winning work and recognition as one of Canada's Best Managed Companies since 2017.
[1] Research institutes may be public or quasi-public sector organisations.
[2] SPRING grant management resources to be defined and (if required) recruited based on recommended and approved in the sub-national grants proposal.
