Partnership Coordinator

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Responsibilities

The Partnerships Coordinator is responsible for partnership management and capacity strengthening/sharing with partners at the Country Office level (and Area Offices as needed) in close coordination with the Specialists, Area Programme Managers, Project Managers and Finance. The Partnerships Coordinator will keep partners informed of relevant donor compliance regulations, reporting deadlines, NRC procedures and will support partners with compliance and facilitate capacity sharing. This role is critical in achieving quality programming through effective partnerships management, capacity sharing and support.

Generic Responsibilities

• Ensure adherence to NRC policies, handbooks, guidelines and donor requirements.
• Support overview and maintenance of projects implemented with partners at the country office level, including providing helpdesk support to partners on compliance with NRC and donor requirements.
• Maintain relations with a range of partners and work with the area team to identify local civil society groups for potential partnerships and collaboration with NRC.
• Represent NRC as the main focal point with partners at the country level on partnerships-related and general issues and ensure timely and consistent communication flow between partners and NRC.
• Work with programme team to support mainstreaming safe and inclusive programming (SIP) and do-no-harm into projects and activities.
• Strengthen NRC's voice in localization and strategic partnerships discourse within the country and internationally.
• Provide timely and context-specific information to internal and external stakeholders.
• Other duties as assigned by the Line Manager.

Specific Responsibilities

Partnership Management

• Support and coordinate the development of new partnerships and support with management of existing partnerships.
• Provide input to the development and implementation of NRC Ethiopia's overall strategy and operational methodology for engagement with public, private, and civil society stakeholders.
• Act as focal point for contracting and sub-granting issues to NRC's partners at Country Office level (and Area Offices as needed).
• Coordinate organizational assessment and due diligence on potential partners as per NRC Partnership handbook.
• Coordinate the development of project implementation agreements between new partners and NRC and support Area Offices with technical guidance in this task.
• Support and facilitate communication and coordination between NRC and partners.
• Ensure that NRC's partners adhere to NRC requirements and ensure smooth project implementation by providing the necessary support from NRC to the partners.
• Ensure a structured and consistent approach to partnerships in line with the Country Strategy and Partnership Strategy.
• Coordinate with the grants and communications teams for visibility of partnerships in Ethiopia, and work with partners to package stories and project achievements.
• Support the grants team in PCM meetings for projects implemented with partners (Project Opening Meetings, Review Meetings, Project Closure Meetings) and ensure that all mandatory internal documents are in place for all partners; and actively follow up on outstanding related partnership issues.
• Ensure a structured approach to partnerships, including the development of tools for identifying, assessing, capacity building, monitoring and evaluating partnerships.

General Administration

• Ensure all key project and partnership documents are filed, updated, and maintained as per NRC's filing and information management systems.
• Maintain a correct and up-to-date Partnerships Tracker.
• Maintain tracking of planned, active and closed partner projects in electronic and hard copy, ensuring all documentation is in place as per NRC's filing and information management systems.
• Lead and coordinate mapping of local potential partners and maintaining relations with existing partners.

Partnerships Compliance and Capacity Sharing

• Be familiar with and support partner compliance with NRC internal and donor requirements.
• Monitor partner compliance with NRC's and where applicable specific donor requirements.
• Work actively with the protection, Safe and Inclusive Programming (SIP), finance and logistics units to facilitate strong mainstreaming of core NRC principles and procedures across operational partners.
• Lead on needs assessment for trainings and partner organizational development to enhance the effectiveness of partners' performance in achieving their goals and objectives.
• Lead on the development of a tailored capacity development plan and SIP action plan with each partner taking their particular needs and capacity into consideration.
• Coordinate and support NRC technical leads in capacity strengthening to partners in cross-cutting issues (M&E, Finance, Procurement) and operational good practices.
• Lead on the identification of capacity development needs and coordinate systematic capacity sharing processes between NRC and partners, by coordinating with technical NRC programme staff and external consultants, and ensure that partners are receiving the necessary technical, organizational and institutional support needed. This could include organizing trainings, seminars and workshops, coaching and mentoring.
• Any other tasks as delegated by the line manager.

Qualifications

Generic Professional Competencies

• 3–5 years of experience working in humanitarian/recovery/human rights or development contexts.
• University degree combined with relevant professional background.
• Knowledge of humanitarian principles.
• Experience in managing and implementing programs in humanitarian contexts.
• Ability to work independently and proactively.
• Ability to prioritize work given multiple competing deadlines.
• Fluency in English and Amharic, both written and verbal.

Context-Related Skills, Knowledge and Experience

• Solid understanding of the Ethiopian civil society.
• Documented/proven results related to the position's responsibilities, particularly in partnerships relations, management and/or coordination.
• Excellent networking, coordination, training and facilitation skills.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Ability to work under pressure, independently and with limited supervision.
• Excellent interpersonal skills; pro-active, self-motivated and a self-starter.
• Excellent attention to detail, organizational skills and discretion with confidential information.
• Previous experience from working in complex and volatile contexts is an asset.
• Background in NRC thematic areas (e.g. ICLA, Shelter, LFS, Protection, Education etc.) is an asset.

Behavioural Competencies

• Handling insecure environment
• Planning and delivering results
• Working with people
• Analysing
• Communication with impact and respect
• Coping with change

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