Localization and Partners Management Officer at ZOA International

About the job:

• The Partnership Officer is responsible for supporting and strengthening ZOA Nigeria’s local partnerships through effective partnership management, organisational capacity strengthening, and compliance oversight including conducting organizational capacity assessments, developing and implementing tailored capacity strengthening plans, and systematically following up on agreed support actions. The position aims to enhance the effectiveness, accountability, and sustainability of local partners while contributing to ZOA’s localisation agenda and ensuring adherence to ZOA policies and back-donor requirements. The role requires a professional with proven experience in developing training materials and delivering capacity-building initiatives, as well as strong facilitation, negotiation, coaching, and training skills to effectively support partners across a wide range of organizational, programmatic, and compliance-related areas

Responsibilities:

• Support the identification, onboarding, and management of local partners in line with ZOA’s partnership framework and localisation strategy.
• Coordinate and conduct organisational capacity assessments (OCAs) for all local partners using ZOA-approved tools.
• Develop, implement, and monitor tailored capacity strengthening plans in collaboration with partners.
• Facilitate technical support to partners on organisational development, governance, financial management, safeguarding, MEAL, and compliance with donor and ZOA requirements.
• Monitor partner compliance with partnership agreements, policies, procedures, and back-donor regulations.
• Support partners in meeting reporting, documentation, and accountability standards.
• Contribute to facilitate learning, reflection, and experience-sharing among partners.
• Contribute to partnership risk analysis and mitigation planning.
• Maintain accurate partnership records and documentation.
• Maintain relations with a range of local (implementing & strategic) partners and stakeholders
• Maintain database, and report on all capacity building opportunities and deliverables and actively update with new information as necessary
• Support and facilitate communication and coordination among partners.
• Coach and support the partners in the design- and implementation of the capacity strengthening plan (including deliverables and objectives) and supporting + stimulate partner trainings or capacity building initiatives.
• In coordination with the Program Manager/MoPQ, ensure effective monitoring and evaluation on the performance of the partners progress against organizational development and including capacity building deliverables through ZOA’s capacity building initiatives.
• Support, mentor and coach ZOA’s partners with creating and/or improving policies and procedures.
• Identify/incorporate best practices and lessons learned into program plans.
• Provides a broad range of consultative services to all partners regarding organizational development and system strengthening
• Design and review evaluations of training courses, objectives, and accomplishments.

Other Tasks:

• Assist in the partner selection for new projects.
• Support partnership-related inputs to proposals, reports, and internal documentation
• Contribute to organisational learning on partnerships and localisation
• Train staff on how to interpret and actively use internal partnership policy
• Advice staff in how to improve capacity building of local partners.
• Participate in coordination meetings, reviews, and capacity-building events as required.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the program Manager in line with the role

Requirements:

• Minimum of 3 years’ experience working with local partners in humanitarian or development contexts.
• University degree in development studies, social sciences, organisational development, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience in organisational capacity assessments and capacity strengthening.
• Ability to set targets and objectives for local partners, and being able to report on these objectives periodically.
• Strong understanding of donor compliance and partnership management.
• Fluency in English (reading, writing, speaking).
• Excellent communication skills, approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.
• Basic knowledge on M&E
• Knowledge on basic financial systems
• Excellent computer skills ( Excel, Word, and PowerPoint, etc)
• A good understanding of Hausa and Kanuri is an added advantage
• Experience working in complex or fragile contexts, preferably in Nigeria or similar settings.

Skills

• Strong facilitation, training, coaching, and mentoring skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, negotiation, and communication skills.
• Strong analytical and documentation skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders.
• Proficiency in MS Office applications; familiarity with partnership and compliance tools is an asset.
• Strong management skills, technical & supervisory skills and experience required;
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members is required;
• Experience in subgrant design, negotiation, and administration is required;
• Adequate understanding of donor requirements and regulations is required;

Attitude and behaviours

• Commitment to ZOA’s values and localisation principles.
• Respectful, culturally sensitive, and inclusive approach.
• High level of integrity and accountability.
• Proactive, solution-oriented, and adaptable.
• Willingness to learn and support continuous improvement.
• Commitment to AAP
• Be a self-starter
• Motivated to work independently / self-managing

Special requirements

• Willingness to travel to project locations, including remote and insecure areas.
• Commitment to safeguarding, protection, and ethical standards