Consultant Programme Policy Officer (Partnerships) CST II at World Food Programme (WFP)

JOB PURPOSE

The purpose of this role is to manage the NGO partnership portfolio at the Area Office level with focus on fostering strategic cooperation and engagement, expanding partnerships with Government, CSOs, academia and research institutes. Emphasis is placed on ensuring accountability and timeliness in the FLA processes including performance management, sustainability, and localization.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

• Manage and coordinate Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) partnership portfolio and expand partnerships with Government, Civil Society Organizations and promote localization efforts.
• Develop operational partnerships and maintain established strategic partnerships to identify opportunities for collaborative approaches and initiatives that improve assistance packages and support advocacy work.
• Facilitate partnership growth, by exploring opportunities to expand existing partnerships and scope of new partners, guided by assessments, analysis and due diligence; Present recommendations to senior management and ensure follow-up.
• Initiate and lead complex negotiations of cooperating partners (CP’s) proposals and budgets, joint memorandum of understanding (MoU) and joint implementation plans in line with WFP corporate norms and resources availability.
• Contribute to the preparation of partnership proposals, strategic agreements, Field Level Agreements (FLA), joint strategies and/or MOU, taking into account corporate norms, processes and external regulations; Ensure quality control of content by engaging with relevant functional units.
• Monitor the implementation of a work plan for an assigned area that will enable WFP to identify, develop and strengthen quality partnerships in support of the WFP Nigeria Country Strategic Plan.
• Use socio-political insights to support WFP’s effective positioning vis-à-vis national and state governments, with the aim to influence the policy agenda and support the Government priorities.
• Take responsibility for gender transformation perspectives in all areas of work with our Cooperating Partners to ensure equal participation of women and men, and women empowerment.
• Ensure the best use of assigned financial resources for achievement of set objectives within a moderate budget.
• Review Cooperating Partners’ performance, proactively support growth and improvement and ensure that selection process is transparent and timely.
• Consolidate and review FLA and MoU templates and notes for the record (NFR) for Cooperating Partners Committee (CPC) and ensuring timely approval of agreements;
• Coordinate inputs from other units for CP performance evaluations and ensure that periodic assessments are carried out as per corporate guidance.
• Lead, motivate and develop a team of staff to enable high performance.
• Other as required.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Education: Advanced University degree in Political Science, International Development, Development Economics, International Relations, Law, Marketing, Communications or other relevant field, or First University degree with additional years of related work experience and/or trainings/courses.
• Experience: At least six (6) years of progressively responsible professional post graduate experience relevant to the field is required. Experience working across the entire Programme portfolio including Relief, Nutrition and Livelihoods
• Knowledge & Skills: Broad knowledge of all aspects of partnerships, Humanitarian Development Peace nexus, communication and negotiation skills.
• Language: Proficiency (level C) in English language. Intermediate knowledge (level B) of a second official UN language: Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish, and/or Portuguese (a WFP working language) is preferable..

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE

•  Has gained experience in implementing the work plan for assigned area
• Has built and maintained effective relationships with member states, UN agencies, NGOs, host government and other partners
• Has researched and analysed social and political trends data
• Has managed small teams of staff with related areas of expertise