Fundraising Consultant – Middle East (Home-based / Flexible Location)

BACKGROUND
Swisscontact is a leading international development organization headquartered in Switzerland. We promote inclusive economic, social, and ecological development to contribute to prosperous and resilient societies. Swisscontact has a growing portfolio in the Middle East and aims to further expand its partnerships and resource base across the region.

POSITION OVERVIEW
Swisscontact is seeking a dynamic and well-connected Fundraising Consultant to support efforts in mobilizing funds from regional donors. These include philanthropic foundations, development funds, private sector companies, and government entities across the Middle East. The consultant will be responsible for building and activating a high-value funding pipeline across priority Middle Eastern donors, and will play a key role in identifying opportunities, cultivating strategic relationships, and positioning Swisscontact as a trusted implementation partner for development initiatives in the Middle East. While this consultancy is primarily focused on pipeline development and strategic positioning, successful progression of funding opportunities and partnerships will be considered an added value and may inform decisions regarding contract extension.

Key Responsibilities

Donor Mapping & Intelligence

• Identify and profile relevant donors across the Middle East, including foundations, public entities, CSR initiatives, and multilateral funding channels.
• Deliver a structured donor mapping covering at least 30-40 priority donors across the Gulf and wider Middle East.
• Provide monthly updates on calls for proposals and funding trends in the region.

Fundraising Strategy & Engagement

• Develop and support the implementation of a Middle East-focused fundraising strategy.
• Initiate and strengthen relationships with key donors and funding institutions.
• Document engagement with 10-15 priority donors.
• Facilitate introductory or strategic meetings with key institutions.
• Represent Swisscontact at relevant networking events, meetings, and forums.
   

Proposal Development Support

• Contribute to the design and drafting of high-quality concept notes and proposals tailored to regional donor priorities.
• Ensure alignment of concept notes and proposals with donor priorities and regional positioning.
• Collaborate closely with Swisscontact teams in the Middle East, Africa, and Switzerland to ensure alignment with strategic priorities.

Positioning & Visibility

• Enhance Swisscontact’s visibility with regional donors through targeted outreach and strategic communication.
• Provide input on messaging and pitch materials adapted to the Middle Eastern context.

Perform Other Duties

• Attend and participate in capacity-building events locally and internationally as required.
• Perform other tasks as needed based on programmatic and regional priorities.

• A structured and regularly updated donor mapping database covering a minimum of 30–40 priority donors across the Middle East, with a focus on Gulf-based institutions. For each donor, provide key intelligence including thematic priorities, funding modalities, decision-making structures, and entry points.
• Engagement log, capturing all interactions, status of relationships, and recommended next steps with documentation of engagement with at least 10-15 priority donors or funding institutions, including meetings, introductions and follow-up.
• Tracker of relevant funding opportunities, calls for proposals, or partnership openings, with an indicative pipeline value where feasible.
• Inputs on concept notes/proposals tailored to identified priorities and requirements of target donors.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Proven experience in fundraising, business development, and resource mobilization with donors in the Middle East (experience with Gulf donors is a strong asset).
• Strong network of contacts across philanthropic foundations, government entities, private sector companies, and regional development funds.
• Demonstrated track record of securing funding or facilitating partnerships.
• Solid understanding of the development landscape in the Middle East; familiarity with neighbouring regions (North and West Africa) is an asset.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; Arabic is a strong asset.
• Experience working with or for an international NGO, development agency, or consultancy.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to work independently and proactively identify opportunities.
• Results-oriented with a strong sense of ownership and accountability.
• Strong interpersonal, networking, and negotiation skills. 

This is a part-time consultancy position, with an expected level of effort of approximately 5 days per month over a period of 6 months.
The contract may be extended based on performance and funding availability. Flexibility is expected, including availability to travel and attend in-person meetings or events across the Middle East.