Institutional Partnership Development Specialist at SOS Children’s Villages Rwanda

SOS Children’s Villages Rwanda is recruiting one Institutional Partnership Development Specialist to support fundraising, donor relations and partnership development at its National Office in Kinyinya, Kigali.

The position is offered on a fixed-term contract and reports to the Head of Fund Development and Partnership. The application deadline is 27 September 2026 at 5:00 PM Kigali time.

Job Details

About the Position

The Institutional Partnership Development Specialist will help SOS Children’s Villages Rwanda mobilise institutional funding and expand its funding portfolio.

The role focuses on developing relationships with bilateral and international donors, embassies, diplomatic missions and foundations, preparing funding proposals and supporting donor compliance.

Key Responsibilities

Fundraising and Donor Relations

The successful candidate will:

• Develop and implement annual institutional partnership development plans.
• Identify funding opportunities from bilateral, multilateral and international donors, embassies, diplomatic missions and foundations.
• Develop programme ideas, concept notes, expressions of interest, grant applications and technical project proposals.
• Research relevant national, regional and global policies, economic and environmental factors and existing strategies to inform proposals.
• Develop proposal components such as risk assessments, mitigation measures, results frameworks, impact matrices and stakeholder analyses.
• Coordinate the collection of information from programme teams for proposal development.
• Organise proposal development workshops with programme teams, partners and stakeholders.
• Help identify lead applicants, co-applicants and implementing partners for competitive bids.

Donor Compliance

Responsibilities also include:

• Maintaining partner landscape and partner mapping information.
• Updating project grant compliance matrices.
• Keeping project one-pagers and programme summaries accurate and current.
• Maintaining a master list of institutional partnership grants.
• Supporting project start-up following funding approval.
• Monitoring project changes and advising programme teams on amendments.
• Monitoring donor requirements and advising on contractual matters.
• Monitoring project expenditure to help prevent over- or underspending.
• Supporting compliance during project implementation.
• Coordinating donor monitoring field visits.
• Maintaining records of donor meetings, correspondence and follow-ups.
• Training project teams on donor compliance, funding policies, donor relations, reporting and contract management.
• Preparing weekly, monthly and quarterly institutional partnership development reports.

Donor Contract Management

The position will also:

• Prepare and coordinate partner due-diligence reports.
• Maintain institutional partnership filing systems.
• Support management of partnership agreements and signature processes.
• Prepare contract, partnership and consortium agreements.
• Ensure funding files are complete and properly maintained.
• Register and update project proposal information in ProDIGI software.

Partnership Development and Networking

The successful candidate will:

• Maintain regular communication with donors.
• Participate in donor forums and conferences.
• Engage foundations, embassies, diplomatic missions and other potential funding partners.
• Develop partnerships and consortiums for large donor-funded projects.
• Represent SOS Rwanda in relevant sector and networking meetings.
• Organise partnership roundtables and networking meetings.
• Participate in regional institutional partnership development forums and training.

Qualifications and Experience

Applicants should have:

• A Bachelor’s degree in Sociology, Development Studies, Economics or a related field.
• A Master’s degree is an added advantage.
• Excellent written English, particularly for proposal development.
• Strong project proposal writing skills, especially in areas such as:
  • Child Protection
  • Alternative Care
  • Youth Empowerment
  • Livelihoods
  • Education
  • Health
• 5–8 years of extensive experience in planning, securing and managing institutional donor funding.
• Demonstrated experience developing and winning medium or large proposals valued between USD 0.5 million and USD 2 million.
• A good understanding of Project Cycle Management is an asset.
• Knowledge of Results-Based Management is an additional asset.
• Strong ability to work independently and with different teams in a fast-paced environment.
• Flexibility, self-drive, attention to detail and ability to meet tight deadlines.
• Strong proficiency in MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint, as well as internet research.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should prepare:

• Detailed CV
• Three traceable professional references
• Application letter
• Rwandan National Identity Card
• Academic certificates/degrees

Send the application to:

sos.recruitment@sos-rwanda.org

Candidates must also complete the online application form provided in the vacancy announcement.

Email subject:
IPD Specialist

Deadline: 27 September 2026 at 5:00 PM Kigali time.

Female candidates are encouraged to apply. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. SOS Children’s Villages Rwanda also states that its recruitment process includes child-safeguarding considerations and background, police-clearance and reference checks.

Senior Manager ICT Job at SOS Rwanda – Apply by September 27, 2026