Partnerships Specialist (Maternity Cover, Internal candidates only)

1. Partnership and programme development planning and management
2. Strategic Planning and Positioning
3. Representation, inter-agency collaboration and partnership development
4. Knowledge management and innovation

Under the leadership of the Senior Partnerships Advisor, the Partnerships Specialist will perform the following functions: 

1. Partnership and Programme Development Planning and Management 

   • Monitor and evaluate humanitarian and development trends and needs to identify areas of collaboration within the UNOPS mandate and existing capacity. 

   • Identify and share potential funding opportunities for UNOPS projects in the region with Country Offices, including grants, loans, and other financial assistance.

   • Support the identification and pursuit of funding and engagement opportunities with foundations and philanthropic organizations

   • Provide advice and feedback to UNOPS HQ and the Regional Office on the development of framework partnership agreements that can increase opportunities at the regional level.

   • Conduct due diligence on potential partners, evaluating their capabilities, track record, and alignment with UNOPS values.

   • Negotiate partnership agreements, ensuring clarity on roles, responsibilities, and deliverables.

   • Support the identification and development of regional projects and programmes. 

   • Monitor and evaluate partnership performance, identifying areas for improvement and strengthening collaboration.

1. Strategic Planning and Positioning

   • Identify, cultivate, and manage strategic partnerships with governments, UN agencies, NGOs, private sector entities, and other relevant stakeholders in the Africa Region.

   • Support the Senior Partnerships Advisor in the formulation, implementation and mid-term review of the regional quadrennial strategic plan that aligns with UNOPS' strategic priorities and the specific needs of the African region.

   • Develop value propositions and strategic positioning guidance for priority service lines, sectors and partners.

   • Develop and implement partnership strategies aligned with UNOPS priorities and the SDGs.

   • Support AFR RO’s effort to diversify partnerships across partners, sectors and service lines. 

   • Lead the development of specific partner engagement strategies as required. 

   • Keep abreast of the emerging trends in the development and humanitarian spheres in Africa, as related to UNOPS services, to inform UNOPS positioning efforts.

1. Representation and Inter-agency Partnership 

   • Establish and further develop working partnerships with priority or potential new partners, including UN agencies, international organizations, governments, foundations, international NGOs and private sector organizations to diversify project opportunities and to position UNOPS as a partner of choice.

   • Contribute to the relationship management with regional stakeholders, including but not limited to the African Development Bank or the African Union. 

   • Undertake advocacy, public information and communication activities in collaboration with the Regional Communications Specialist, when required.

   • Support the Regional Director and the Senior Partnerships advisor in participating in and reporting on the relevant inter-agency, funding source and government coordination meetings, international conferences, summits, etc. 

   • Support MCOs in participating in UN common planning and programming processes, including strategic country analysis, UNSDCF, response plans, etc. as required. 

   • Prepare briefing materials to support UNOPS Senior Management Team engagements with AFR partners. 

   • Contribute as required to the organization of the Regional Director and Senior Partnerships Advisor’s field missions.

1. Knowledge Management and Operational Support

   • Contribute to AFR partnerships network capacity development by supporting training organizations and leading the RO knowledge-sharing effort for partnerships development and project design.

   • Develop and disseminate resources and tools to support the effective management of partnerships.

   • Help build partnerships capacity and negotiation skills among partnerships teams across the Region. 

   • Identify recurrent issues in the partnerships and projects development and develop strategies to address them.

   • Contribute to the dissemination and sharing of best practices and lessons learned for planning and knowledge building within project and partnership development. 

   • Where relevant, support AFR country offices  in developing proposals, framework agreements and negotiation, including through field support missions

   • Advise AFR Country Offices on policy issues related to partnership development.

   • Contribute to internal knowledge networks and Communities of practice

   • Act as a liaison between AFR offices and HQ units, as required

   • Coordinate  the monitoring and reporting of AFR country Offices' performance

   • Provide technical assistance to project teams in the Africa Region, particularly in the areas of partnership development, resource mobilization, and stakeholder engagement.

   • Facilitate knowledge sharing and best practice exchange among project implementers.

   • Identify and mitigate potential risks associated with partnerships, ensuring the smooth implementation of projects.

   • Perform other related duties as required.

Education:

• A Master’s degree preferably in a relevant field such as Business Administration, Public Administration, International Development, Engineering, Political Science, Economics, Communications or International Relations is required.

• A combination of a Bachelor's degree with an additional 2 years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the education requirements outlined above.

Experience Required:

• Minimum of 5 years of experience working in an international development context combining strategy development, or execution and/or establishment of partnerships with UN organizations or development finance institutions/ government, foundations /international NGOs or private sector organizations.

• Out of the total 5 years experience with a Master degree, a minimum of 2 years of experience working with UNOPS is required.

• Minimum of 2 years of in-depth knowledge of development issues and current donor and sectoral trends, with emphasis on a deep understanding of Africa partner/donor landscape as well as Africa’s humanitarian and development challenges is preferred.

• Relevant experience in areas of knowledge/experience of Development Finance Institutions such as  the Africa Development Bank or the World Bank.

• Experience in dealing and negotiating with external stakeholders.

• Demonstrated experience working in Project and Programme Management, International Development or  Post-Disaster and/or Emergency contexts.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required.
• French is an advantage