Senior Compliance & Subgrants Advisor

Countries: Morocco, Tunisia Organization: Spark Closing date: 7 Aug 2026 Position: Senior Compliance & Subgrants Advisor Location: Consultancy | Home-based with travel to Morocco and Tunisia Application Deadline: 07 August 2026 Duration: Approximately 60 - 75 working days during the programme inception phase (anticipated period: September–December 2026) Start Date: 01 September 2026 Consultancy Fee: Competitive daily consultancy fee to be agreed based on qualifications and relevant experience. About SPARK SPARK is an international non-governmental organisation dedicated to creating opportunities for young people in fragile and conflict-affected contexts through entrepreneurship development and higher education. By strengthening local ecosystems, supporting entrepreneurs, and building institutional capacities, SPARK contributes to inclusive economic growth and sustainable employment. About the Programme SPARK is implementing a programme that aims to strengthen women's entrepreneurship in Morocco and Tunisia by selecting, supporting and enabling In-Country implementing partners (IPs) through tailored financial and non-financial support. IPs will drive impact, addressing barriers through co-designed interventions that will support women entrepreneurs and their enabling environment. SPARK will build the capacity of these IPs to enhance gender-responsive and transformative business development services, including tailored skill-building for climate-vulnerable and informal women entrepreneurs in business management, financial literacy, and digital tools, alongside MHPSS and soft skills training. At the societal level, IPs will design and implement community sensitisation and norm-change dialogues; promote positive narrative campaigns on women’s economic participation; and establish structured networks to foster business linkages, resilience, and safety. Assignment Objective SPARK is seeking a Senior Compliance & Subgrants Advisor to provide strategic and technical guidance during the inception phase of the programme and beyond, specifically for the development of the programme's compliance and subgrant management approach, the selection and organisational assessment of implementing partners (IPs), the co-design of tailored compliance and fiduciary improvement plans, and the establishment of practical systems, tools and guidance that enable accountable, transparent and effective programme implementation. Scope of Work • Advise on the programme's overall compliance, governance and subgrant management approach, ensuring that it is practical, risk-based and aligned with donor requirements, while reflecting the operational realities of implementing partners in Morocco and Tunisia. • Support the development and enhancement of implementing partner selection, due diligence, organisational assessment and compliance tools to assess institutional readiness, governance arrangements, fiduciary capacity and risk management systems. • Support the implementing partner selection process by providing technical guidance on governance, financial management, procurement, internal controls and organisational compliance. • Facilitate organisational compliance and fiduciary assessments and support selected implementing partners in analysing assessment findings and co-designing tailored Compliance Improvement Plans that strengthen institutional systems and readiness to manage programme funding. • Support the co-design of practical compliance, financial management and subgrant management procedures with selected implementing partners, ensuring local ownership while maintaining alignment with donor requirements and SPARK's partnership approach. • Develop practical guidance, templates and quality assurance mechanisms that support compliant implementation of partnership agreements, financial support mechanisms, procurement, financial reporting and risk management throughout programme implementation. • Support the preparation of in-country programme kick-off clinics and deliver training and coaching to SPARK staff and implementing partners on compliance, subgrant management, fiduciary responsibilities and good partnership practices. • Promote organisational learning and adaptive management by identifying lessons learned, documenting good practices and supporting the continuous refinement of compliance and partnership management approaches throughout programme implementation. • Work closely with the GESI, MEL and Capacity Strengthening Advisors to ensure that compliance, governance and fiduciary management are fully integrated into the programme's overall implementation methodology, including partner selection, capacity strengthening, co-design and learning processes. • Support the continuous strengthening of SPARK's overall partnership approach by contributing practical tools, guidance and recommendations that enhance partner due diligence, compliance systems, risk management and institutional capacity across SPARK's programmes. • Provide any other relevant technical guidance required to strengthen implementing partners' institutional capacity, accountability and long-term sustainability. Expected Deliverables and Outputs Expected deliverables and outputs will be refined and agreed at the onset of the assignment and will most likely include: • Inception Work Plan, to be designed in consultation with the other technical advisors and the Programme Lead at the onset of the assignment. • Compliance and Subgrant Management Framework, establishing the programme's overall approach to compliance, governance, fiduciary management and accountable partnership implementation. • Enhanced implementing partner selection, due diligence and organisational assessment tools, ensuring effective assessment of governance, institutional readiness, fiduciary capacity and compliance risks. • Compliance and fiduciary assessment methodology, including practical tools, guidance and risk assessment approaches for implementing partner assessments. • Tailored Compliance Improvement Plans, co-designed with selected implementing partners to strengthen governance, procurement, financial management, internal controls and institutional compliance systems. • Practical compliance and subgrant management toolkit, including templates, reporting formats, quality assurance mechanisms and guidance to support effective implementation of partnership agreements and financial support mechanisms. • Compliance, fiduciary management and partnership management training and coaching delivered to SPARK staff and selected implementing partners. • Programme kick-off clinics preparation supported. • Recommendations to strengthen SPARK's partnership approach, including practical improvements to partner selection, due diligence, compliance management and institutional capacity strengthening processes that can be applied across SPARK's wider partnership portfolio. • Final Consultancy Report, summarising activities undertaken, deliverables completed, key findings, recommendations and proposed next steps for programme implementation. Requirements and Qualifications The successful candidate should possess: • A Master's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Public Administration, Law, International Development or another relevant discipline. • At least 10 years of professional experience in donor compliance, grant management or institutional compliance. • Demonstrated experience designing compliance and subgrant management systems. • Proven experience conducting organisational due diligence and local partner compliance assessments. • Experience developing internal control frameworks and risk management systems. • Experience strengthening the financial and compliance capacities of NGOs, Business Support Organisations or similar institutions. • Experience working with international donors, preferably the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the European Union or comparable bilateral or multilateral organisations. • Experience in Morocco, Tunisia or the wider MENA region is highly desirable. • Excellent analytical, stakeholder engagement and report-writing skills. • Excellent written and spoken English. Knowledge of French and/or Arabic is considered a strong asset. How to apply How to Apply Interested candidates are invited to apply through SPARK's online recruitment platform at: https://vacancy.spark-online.org/ As part of the online application, candidates will be requested to upload: • A motivation letter outlining their suitability for the assignment; • An updated Curriculum Vitae; Application deadline: 07 August 2026 Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Equal Opportunity SPARK is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse working environment. We welcome applications from qualified candidates regardless of gender, age, disability, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic. Women and candidates from underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.