The Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) is an international, not-for-profit research and development (R&D) organization that develops and delivers new treatments for neglected diseases affecting millions of the world’s poorest people.

Together with more than 200 public research and industry allies worldwide, we use the power of partnership, innovation, open science, and advocacy to find solutions to a great injustice: the lack of medicines for life-threatening diseases that disproportionately impact poor and marginalized people. Driven by collaboration, not competition, and by patients’ needs, not profits, we promote equitable access, foster inclusive and sustainable solutions, and advocate for a more effective global biomedical R&D system that meets the needs of neglected patients. Since our inception, DNDi has delivered 12 new treatments for people with sleeping sickness, visceral leishmaniasis, Chagas disease, HIV, hepatitis C, and malaria that have saved millions of lives. We now aim to deliver an additional 11-14 new treatments by 2028 – addressing R&D gaps for neglected tropical diseases and viral infections, including new pandemic-prone diseases (such as Covid-19) and climate-sensitive diseases (such as dengue) with a focus on the needs of patients in low- and middle-income countries. With more than 250 employees of 33 nationalities located in nine offices on four continents, DNDi is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion as essential parts of our culture and key drivers of our success. We encourage candidates of diverse profiles and backgrounds to apply.

The External Affairs Department drives DNDi’s visibility, influence, and financial sustainability. Its teams (Policy Advocacy, Communications, and External Relations] ensure that DNDi is visible and respected in influential circles, supported by committed stakeholders, and successful in securing the resources needed to deliver on its mission, while being effective in driving policy change as it advocates for neglected patients.

The External Affairs’ Donors (External) Relations team develops and implements DNDi’s global fundraising strategy to secure funding from a mix of public and private donors and new financing mechanisms, worldwide.

Purpose of the position

The overall purpose of this assignment is to have additional writing capacity for the External Relations team. The incumbent would be available to support the team with report writing, concept notes and proposals to donors, on a project basis. 

This person will liaise with the External Relations team and scientific R&D teams, as needed, to help gather and develop information to form donor narrative reports. The person will draft, develop and edit narrative reports, including qualitative and quantitative data, to the donor with inputs from the team.

Contribution

In order to develop new income opportunities and capabilities, the External Relations team is adding functionality in reporting back to donors, to support donor relations activities. We are recruiting to expand our pool of writing consultants for  help to deliver on increasing reporting requirements to donors by collating materials from sources within DNDi and writing reports and  grant proposals for our donors. 

The consultant will be home-based and will work, initially, on an ad-hoc basis and the start would be from April onwards  

Specific job responsibilities

• Based on a project-by-project basis, and with input from the DNDi External Relations team, the consultant will support with the writing of donor reports and/or donor proposals for grants, as required. 

• Tasks would be expected to include:
  • Setting and driving timelines to enable the timely delivery of reports. 
  • Writing text for donor documents based on accompanying data from available information, Excel spreadsheets, bullet points, or interviews with DNDi staff. 
  • Proofreading and editing of text provided by DNDi staff. 
  • Population of donor templates with text and information as required. 
  • Organizing information and data inputs, behind reports or grants, within transparent, traceable, and user-friendly systems. 

Additional /specific/projects responsibilities

• Development of public and private donor proposals.

Reporting line

• The Grant and Report writing consultant will report to a Senior External Relations Manager
• Including contributions from the Director of External Relations, where appropriate.

Interactions

• Close working relationship with relevant members of the Fundraising team, in the External Relations department.
• Working with members of the DNDi Research & Development teams, including with finance and legal as required. 
• Working with DNDi partners where needed.     

Job requirements

Skills and attributes

• Ability to simplify difficult concepts and complex achievements with simplified, but clear language. 
• Ability to capture multi-year data and information succinctly via the use of charts, tables, and graphs, and accompanying language. 
• Excellent communication skills, including fluent written and spoken English and/or French, and the ability to synthesize large amounts of information into relevant, coherent, and polished donor reports.  
• Ability to work proactively and autonomously.  
• Ability to work well within a multicultural and virtual team, and collaboratively to identify relevant information for donor reporting.   
• Integrity in handling highly sensitive information appropriately and maintaining confidentiality with donor information.   
• Intellectual curiosity and the ability to rapidly develop an understanding of DNDi’s work as it pertains to R&D, global health and neglected populations  
• Ability to think both analytically and conceptually, interpreting diverse information.  
• Well organized and structured.
• Ability to interact with external stakeholders.
• Ability solve non-routine problems on a case by case/project basis

Experience

• At least three to five years related experience and a proven track record in writing fundraising documents, such as proposals or reports in an NGO context.  
• Experience or academic background in at least one of the following areas would be highly regarded: public health, science, fundraising/philanthropy, international development, marketing, and communications or journalism.  
• Knowledge of specific donor templates (e.g. EDCTP, WB) and reporting requirements would be an advantage. 

Technical skills

• Comprehensive knowledge of Microsoft Office tools (Outlook, Excel, Access, Word, PowerPoint, Teams), including the ability to develop and maintain complex Excel spreadsheets including data from multiple sources with clear and effective presentation and translate data formats. 

Education

• Advanced university degree, or graduate degree with equivalent additional years of relevant work experience

Other requirements

• Fluency in English, with excellent writing and editing skills essential. Fluency in French and/or German, with very good writing and editing skills, a strong advantage.  
• Passion for DNDi’s mission (intellectual curiosity and willingness to learn about scientifically complex concepts, understanding of R&D and drug development, disease, medical field & global health, product development partnership model, as well as for the philanthropic & not-for-profit section).  
• Very good knowledge of Microsoft Suite

To apply

• Please submit your application using the online form
• Deadline for application: Accepting applications until 31 March 2023
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
• Cover letter (max 1 page) followed by a writing sample (of up to 3 pages max) as one PDF document. Please state your availability within the cover letter.  
• CV (max 2 pages). Please ensure you provide a list of previous clients that you have worked with. 
• Application submission for this position may close early if we have enough suitable applicants