Programme Coordinator-Partnership Coordinator

Duty Station : Yangon

Report to : Head of Programme

Overall purpose of the role:

       The Partnership Coordinator will be responsible for working to implement a strategic framework and dedicated systems to strengthen DRC’s partnerships with local and national authorities, civil society organisations, the private sector, research institutions, and others across Bangladesh and Myanmar, as part of DRC’s newly merged Bangladesh and Myanmar operation. This role will develop and coordinate the DRC partnership approach in Bangladesh and Myanmar, and to improve and adapt tools and practices to the local context. The coordinator will play a lead role in framing DRC’s approaches to localization in Bangladesh and Myanmar, building on our global partnership principles and civil society engagement strategies, aligned with Strategy 2025 and our Localisation Vision for 2030. This role works across departments and sub-offices to establish systems and approaches for identifying, pursuing, and maintaining effective partnerships that contribute to DRC’s strategic objectives. The Partnership Coordinator will map and identify new partnership opportunities, assess partner organisation capacities, facilitate relevant capacity strengthening support, and provide ongoing support to the partner organisation throughout and after program implementation.

The position reports to the Head of Programme (HoP), has technical supervision of two Partnership Specialists, and closely collaborates with Grants, MEAL, Technical Programme, and Support Service teams. The role is likely to spend a higher proportion of time focused on partnerships in Myanmar, due to a higher number of partners under our programmes there. This position will be based at Country Office level in Yangon and will require extensive field travel.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Coordination

• Lead in facilitating the ongoing development, implementation and continuous assessment of DRC’s localisation strategy and roadmap in Bangladesh and Myanmar in line with DRC’s global strategy for 2025 and beyond.
• Promote DRC Bangladesh and Myanmar’s localisation strategy and roadmap with DRC staff and partners and support staff with its implementation.
• Participate in relevant country-level and regionally relevant partnerships and localisation working groups and advocate for the inclusion and support of national organisations in these forums.
• Stay up to date on current trends in partnerships and localisation practice regionally and share learning with country SMT and relevant programmes teams, as well as linking with the Regional Office and DRC HQ Global Localisation Unit.
• Ensure the involvement of partners in strategic planning, programme design, and proposal/concept note development.
• Coordinate with external agencies working with the same partners or partners in the same sectors or locations, ensuring a partner-centred approach.
• Input into strategy development of various sectors to include plans and targets on programme models that include NNGO partners.
• Support Technical Coordinators and Programme Managers to work with partners and to strengthen their capacity to engage with NNGOs in programme design and implementation.

Partnership Development and Field Support

• Lead the development of systematic approaches to selecting partners, and in identifying and pursuing long-term strategic partnerships.
• Liaise with DRC Technical Coordinators, Programme Managers and Support teams to support the design of partner programming in sectors including Protection, HMA, and Economic Recovery.
• Work across departments to develop systems and policies that are supportive of the Localisation Strategy, and ensure periodic review and updating of policies.
• Define a standard framework of roles and responsibilities among various DRC departments and between Area Offices for partnership communication and engagement.
• Travel to Area Offices to provide support across teams as needed.

Capacity and Needs Assessments and Partnership Management

• Coordinate across teams to carry out partner organizational capacity assessments and analyse assessments jointly with partners to identify priority organizational development needs. Develop capacity development plans to support partners to address priority gaps identified – including through financial support.
• Coordinate the strengthening of local and national partner capacity to deliver quality humanitarian programming, supporting Programme and Support staff to work across relevant departments to set up systems for coaching and other capacity support interventions.
• Manage the periodic assessments of DRC staff secondments to partner organisations and continually suggest improvements to this capacity strengthening modality.
• Promote relationships of mutual respect and mutual learning with partners and provide guidance to relevant staff in supporting them.
• Support DRC staff to establish and maintain a partnership database that maps out partner capacity, influence, and strategic alignment with DRC programming.
• Review existing partnerships resources and identify additional needs to support capacity assessment, monitoring, compliance, project cycle management, etc. Roll out and/or adapt global DRC partnership tools that support partnership management.
• Input into in-depth capacity assessment tools related to project and programme design and management, including grants management processes.
• Support partner selection processes for national NGOs including local authority liaisons as needed.
• Support field teams to build positive and productive relations with selected NNGOs across the country; conduct periodic partnership reviews with local civil society partners.

Grants, Accountability, and Reporting

• Support the roll out of the newly developed DRC PCM Handbook for Partnerships to continuously monitor and develop relevant accountability initiatives as well as strengthening the effort to document the impact and lessons learned of activities.
• Ensure compliance with internal and external reporting requirements including procurement.
• Provide input for monthly, quarterly and annual donor reports as needed.
• Lead initiatives to improve partnership practices by periodically assessing DRC’s partnership management approach in Bangladesh and Myanmar taking into account both DRC and partners’ perspectives, capture lessons learned and best practices, and make recommendations for improvement.
• Analyse results of on-going partnerships, remote management and results on the ground to produce lessons learnt and inform strategic decision-making.
• Lead on proposal development for funding opportunities directly related to partnerships and localisation and actively support identification of and liaison with new and existing donors.
• Work with the Grants team to ensure that partnership tools and financial standards meet donor requirements and allow for adaptation and flexibility and advocate for these changes at country and donor level.
• Contribute to DRC proposals and reports on partnerships and localisation.

People Management

• Provide technical management of a team of 2 Partnership Specialists (funding dependent) across Myanmar including coaching, coordination, recruitment, and capacity development.
• Provide on the job training as much as required and adapt trainings/coaching to specific staff needs within the partnerships team.

Experience and technical competencies:

• Advanced degree in political science, international development, economics or other relevant field desirable.
• At least 3 years’ experience in relevant field in an INGO or other humanitarian actor.
• At least 2 years experience with project or programme management and proven organizational skills
• Good knowledge of relevant donor compliance regulations
• Analytical and critical thinking, with problem solving skills and the ability to work operationally without losing sight of the strategic goal
• Significant experience dealing with national partners and local/government authorities
• Professional background in working with internally displaced persons and/or refugees
• Significant experience in training and liaising with national NGOs
• Experience working in multicultural work settings
• Full professional proficiency in English and Burmese
• Willingness to embrace and further develop overall objectives such as gender equity, impact monitoring, and cross-sector cooperation

All DRC roles require the post-holder to master  DRC’s core competencies :

• Striving for excellence: Focusing on reaching results while ensuring efficient processes.
• Collaborating: Involving relevant parties and encouraging feedback.
• Taking the lead: Taking ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
• Communicating: Listening and speaking effectively and honestly.
• Demonstrating integrity: Upholding and promoting the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to DRC’s values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

Conditions

Contract: DRC will offer the successful applicant a DRC’s Regular contract including 3-month probation period. Renewable depends on both funding and performance. Salary and conditions will be in accordance with DRC’s Terms of Employment. The position is in Employment Band G-1 non-management.

Application and CV

Interested? Click the button to apply. Please send your application, in English, no later than 24th July 2025.

CV only applications will not be considered.

(Applications  will  be  reviewed  on  a  rolling  basis,  and  shortlisted  candidates  may  be  contacted  for interview/an offer made before the advertised closing date)