Local Partnership Enabler - ECHO

What we are looking for:

An experienced Local Partnership Enabler to collaborate with ECHO in designing a flexible partnerships tool tailored to NRC policies and ECHO's legal framework, piloting it in Colombia. As the Project Manager, you will review cash and flexible partnership frameworks, and map donor-specific cash and grant modalities. You will also co-facilitate a steering committee with ECHO, provide advisory and capacity-building support for flexible mini-grants, and work with country teams and global departments to enhance learning and implementation of flexible funding approaches across NRC.

This is in alignment with NRC’s policy of collaboration with local actors. NRC partners with organizations and local entities by leveraging resources and expertise to maximize collective impact for communities. Through partnerships, NRC supports and acknowledges the critical role of local actors. To simplify these processes, NRC is developing flexible contracting methods for more effective, locally driven responses. 

Under ECHO funding, NRC will pilot a Flexible Mini-Grants (FMG) scheme to empower grassroots, refugee-led, and community-based organizations, mitigating their legal and financial risks via tailored SOPs aligned with ECHO’s regulations.

What you will do:

• Lead NRC’s strategic engagement with ECHO at the HQ level for the development and implementation of the Flexible Mini Grant (FMG) partnership modality.
• Oversee the steering committee responsible for designing the ECHO FMG modality.
• Serve as the focal point for organizational learning related to the development and execution of FMG.
• Contribute to the adaptation of the FMG, including the development of guidelines and tools, by incorporating research, trends, and feedback from country offices, in collaboration with the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) team.
• Assist in communicating the successes and challenges of FMG, and in developing recommendations for improvement.
• Plan and conduct an on-site visit to Colombia to gather insights and formulate recommendations for FMG.
• Develop a roll-out and handover plan and package for Colombia country office staff involved in the pilot project and for the Global Lead on Collaboration with Local Actors.

Please download the detailed job description to learn more about the position. 

What you will bring:

• Extensive Knowledge and experience of ECHO, including its legal framework, strategic. positioning, organizational set up, ways of working, and funding mechanisms.
• Understanding and experience of the specific demands of CVA.
• Ability to convene and facilitate expert groups - coordination skills.
• 7 to 10 years of relevant professional experience within the humanitarian field or similar. 
• Proven experience in programme quality and strategic approaches to programme development and local partnerships.
• Experience of developing practical tools and resources, including on Cash and Voucher Assistance.
• Experience of programme quality assessments, programme development and delivery.
• Experience of delivering learning and development as part of quality improvement and capacity building.
• Experience from different organisations and countries from across more than one NRC region.
• Extensive experience in programming in complex and volatile contexts.
• Fluency in English and preferably Spanish.   
• Understanding of and commitment to organisational learning, and the role and contribution of Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning to quality management and development.
• Understanding of, and commitment to working collaboratively with technical and operational colleagues including capacity building.

What we offer:

• Duty station: Brussels, Belgium. 
• Contract: 6 months 
• Travel: None. 
• Salary/benefits: grade 9 on NRC’s national salary scale, with accompanying terms and conditions
• NRC is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to diversity without distinction to age, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, and physical ability.
• We think outside the box, encourage ideas, and give responsibility to all employees at all levels. You will have many opportunities to be heard and take the initiative.

Find out more about the benefits of working for NRC

Important information about the application process

• For Internal candidates: To apply as an internal candidate, log in with your official email or click on Opportunity MarketPlace.
• When creating your profile, include your full name as given on your passport. Complete all the system-required fields for experience, employment history and education.
• Submit your application and CV in English, taking care to attach your latest CV.
• Applications that do not meet the minimum standards in terms of experience or qualifications will generally not be considered. Unsolicited applications not related to this specific job advertisement will not be considered.
• We receive many applications for each vacant position and so only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

If you have any questions about this role, please email ho.recruitment@nrc.no with the job title as the subject line.

Why NRC?

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent humanitarian organisation helping people forced to flee. Our 15,000 staff work in crises across 40 countries, providing life-saving and long-term assistance to millions of people every year.

Watch this short video to see NRC in action.

We are looking for people who are passionate about helping refugees and people forced to flee. Are you one of those people? If you are, NRC offers you the opportunity to:

• do demanding and professional work, often in challenging contexts.
• join a work culture that empowers every employee to share ideas and take responsibility.
• be part of a welcoming and supportive community committed to human dignity.