Partnership Coordinator At International Rescue Committee

IRC opened the national program in Mali in 2012. Our programs range from humanitarian assistance to early recovery activities, focusing on child protection, education, economic well-being, nutrition, health, water and sanitation, governance. We work both in the north, the center and the south of Mali. Conflict and drought have caused the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people in Mali and neighboring countries. The security situation in the north remains fragile. Nonetheless, the needs of internally displaced persons and conflict-affected host communities are still pressing, and the issue of humanitarian access is an ongoing process.

Job Overview

Under the responsibility of the Deputy Director of Programmes (DDP), the objective of this role is to increase IRC’s capacity to engage with strategic partners in a logic of support to national civil society, promoting and modelling effective partnership approaches, in particular with local actors. Acting as a focal point to ensure consistent and accountable collaboration with strategic partners, the Partnership Coordinator will represent IRC to strategic partners and lead the implementation and integration of the partnership principles and ambitions of IRC Mali’s Strategic Action Plan (SAP) as well as the overall objectives of Strategy 100. This includes adapting strategic approaches to programmes, such as NGO and partner mapping, promoting collaborative partnership management, as well as capacity sharing, training and support of partner organizations in project implementation.

With a view to a “one IRC” approach, the Partnership Coordinator will work in collaboration with the management team, the grant coordinator, the technical coordinators, the Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) team, the finance, supply chain and operations teams, as well as the IRC’s regional grants and program teams to align strategic approaches and make key decisions together.

This position is line-managed by Deputy Director Programs (DDP) and is based in Bamako with frequent field trips.

Major responsibilities:

Program Strategy and Approach

• Define in detail the partnership strategy in terms of objectives, working modalities, ambitions and contribute to the regional discussion on the strategy for establishing and managing the partnership

• In collaboration with the grants team and technical coordinators, manage the identification, evaluation and selection of local or international partners in line with PEERS (Partnership Excellence for Equality and Results) procedures.

• Co-facilitate and guide partner mapping and selection processes to identify new partners, including to identify women-led organizations serving women and girls, with Base Managers/Coordinators and Technical Coordinators

• Work towards IRC Mali’s ambition to reach at least 10% of the budget entirely dedicated to partners.

• Lead efforts to strengthen the understanding and application of PEERS and partnership principles, competencies and approaches across departments.

• Train key country office and partner staff in partnership processes. Facilitate systematic feedback from partners on IRC’s management of the partnership relationship, including documentation and response to partner feedback, need for partner technical and administrative training and support.

• Continuously monitor and analyze the performance of IRC as a partner, making recommendations to the SMT and adjustments if necessary.

Partnership Management

• Work closely with technical coordinators, Grant Departments and the DDP to ensure that program design and Go/No Go decisions are consistent with the partnership strategy. This includes contributing to the relevant content of proposals and ensuring the allocation of appropriate budgetary resources for projects and partner support.

• Co-facilitate and guide the selection processes of competitive and non-competitive partners in collaboration with the program’s development teams to identify new partners and evaluate new demands from existing partners.

• Proactively engage partners in program development efforts, including supporting partner communications during proposal development processes and ensuring that IRC’s partnership processes for proposal development are followed.

• Coordinate and co-lead partner identity and background verification (Vetting) processes, including drafting the report for approval.

• Coordinate and co-lead Partner Project Capacity Review (PPCP) processes, including contributing to risk analysis and management in collaboration with partners and various IRC departments and facilitating implementation of these mitigation measures

• Determine the appropriate type of partnership agreement and draft the agreement, taking into account the results of due diligence and specific project and donor requirements, liaising with headquarters for review and approval (and obtaining donor and internal approvals if necessary).

• Co-lead the opening, review and closing meetings of partnership projects, in collaboration with the technical coordinators and the Grant department.

• Coordinate and participate in the review and reflection on the partner’s program, finance and compliance (monitoring), and work with the technical coordinator and operational teams, including supply chain, HR, finance, etc. to resolve any project performance issues.

• Coordinate and contribute to the processes of partners’ narrative and financial reports, including review and feedback.

• Liaise with financial services to make timely remittances and ensure adequate financial monitoring and support for partners; work with financial services to resolve any payment issues and propose unauthorized costs to the SMT.

• Collaborate with the Monitoring and Evaluation team on evaluation measures and accountability of partners’ projects.

Partner support and capacity sharing

• Identify partner capacity building priorities by ensuring that IRC implements measures and plans support. Coordinate support for the organizational development of partners.

• Collaborate with technical coordinators to integrate approaches to sharing technical capacity, including how IRC can learn from local partners.

• Promote and identify ways of continuous learning between IRC staff and partners.

Information Management and Communication

• Ensure that all IRC partner files are maintained and filed on the internal BOX system and in accordance with the defined archiving system.

• Ensure that all sub-grant recordings are updated and retained in IRC’s Opportunity Tracking and Implementation System (OTIS).

• Contribute to the collection of partnership lessons learned and disseminate them within IRC to support partnership processes, working methods, strategy and direction of the organization.

• Participate in monthly calls for grants with the grants team and the RPST to share key updates on partnerships.

Job Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in international development, social sciences, project management, organizational development or related field.

• At least 5 years of relevant experience in program and/or grant management.

• Proven experience working with national and international partners, including but not limited to non-governmental organizations, government actors and private sector entities. Experience working in consortia is desirable.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills in French and English and ability to adapt language and tone to different audiences and needs.

• Proven interpersonal skills, sound judgment, planning, relationship management, organizational and facilitation skills.

• Experience in financial management and working with budgets.

• Prior knowledge of donors and good understanding of the implementation and management of different donor compliance requirements in the context of the partnership.

• Ability to juggle competing priorities, meet demanding deadlines and work under pressure.

• Ability to learn, be proactive and solution-oriented.

• Professional knowledge of English and French is essential.

• Good understanding and use of the Microsoft Office suite.

• Flexibility to adapt to changing requirements.

• IRC experience is an asset.

Working Environment

The Partnership Coordinator will be based in Bamako (security level: yellow) and will be required to make regular trips to IRC bases in Mali and to countries in which IRC implements cross-border projects

Housing: private accommodation in Bamako. This position is accompanied limited.

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Equality, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

IRC is equal opportunity employer, considered all the candidates on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran or disability.