Partnership and Capacity Strengthening Coordinator at Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

Job Identification: 3001118

Job Summary

• The PCS Coordinator will be the primary implementer of the CRS partnership strategy and ensure overall quality standards in partnership management and capacity strengthening across the projects.
• The successful candidate will build a results-focused and impact-oriented team of partnership and capacity-strengthening professionals, to provide strategic support to CRS’ current and potential partners through participatory assessment of their needs; development and implementation of appropriate interventions that will strengthen their institutional, and program management; financial and administrative capacities.
• The PCS Coordinator will closely collaborate with the CRS Global Partnership and Capacity Strengthening Unit (P-CS) to develop and continuously improve an agency-wide standard for the methodology, measurement, and implementation of partner capacity strengthening.
• Additionally, the utilization of the empirical evidence gleaned from this initiative will ultimately be used as a platform to demonstrate CRS’ approach and success in developing local CSO/NGO capacity to donor entities, peer organizations, local governments and civil society. Four main objectives will measure the success of the Nigeria Partner.

Capacity Strengthening (PCS) Unit:

• Development and implementation of CRS Nigeria’s Partnership & Capacity Strengthening Strategy which includes partnership management (consisting of identifying strategic partners, managing CP information on partners etc.) and capacity strengthening in line with the Agency’s PCS strategy.
• Development and implementation of a system for measuring CRS’ strengths and weaknesses in partner capacity strengthening initiatives facilitated using the Gateway platform.
• Improvement in CRS’ methodology to provide impactful partnership and partner capacity strengthening through a systematic progression; evaluated against predetermined benchmarks.
• Analysis on how the proven increase in partner programmatic and financial management capacity, correlates with CRS’ cost efficiency and effectiveness in the provision of higher quality services to beneficiaries.

Roles and Key Responsibilities
Identification and Engagement of Strategic Partnerships for the CP:

• Facilitate a process for the LT and SMT to identify strategic/organizational partners for each SPA.
• Develop individual partnership strategies for all identified strategic partnerships (per SPA), harmonized with the CRS Nigeria’s Country Program strategy and the CRS HQ P-CS unit.
• The PCS coordinator supports the LT to monitor and implement such strategies and revise as necessary.
• In collaboration with the DCR, spearhead capacity development planning with target faith-based and secular partner directors.
• Implement the partnership feedback evaluation through the use of the CRS’s Partnership Scorecard platform and coordinating partnership reflection meetings.
• Promote the CP’s effective collaboration with government institutions across the SPAs, to facilitate the delivery of quality services to the poor and vulnerable
• Work with respective CRS Program and Operations teams to enhance partnership skills through feedback and mentoring.

Coordination (Internal/External):

• Identify and support the creation of strong inter-organizational networks that contribute to CRS and partner goals;
• Serve as the focal point for issues that may affect key partnerships, including issues with program implementation, reporting, etc.;
• Lead efforts with key CRS staff to ensure an appropriate level of coordination of partner activities, including sub-recipient management, reporting requirements, monitoring visits, training, etc.;
• Serve as primary liaison with regional and HQ-based partnership/capacity strengthening staff, ensuring efforts are integrated with agency strategy, best practices are being applied, and success stories are shared;
• Coordinate with peer/donor agencies, especially Catholic agencies, in their partnership and institution-strengthening efforts, working to ensure complementarity of effort.

Programmatic and Financial Capacity Strengthening of Project Partners:

• Continue in the development of a system for measuring impact of CRS’ partner capacity strengthening through a standardized methodology.
• Establish target partners’ organizational capacity baseline, through the use of the HOCAI.
• Conduct the HOCAI Plus assessment and develop partner-specific capacity action plans in collaboration with partner teams.
• Establish target partners’ financial management capacity baseline through the use of the SRFM Assessment Tool.
• Follow up with the appropriateFinance and Program staff to ensurethat the country program is in full compliance with SRFM.
• Support partners in implementing their respective corrective action plans targeted at achieving the predetermined benchmarks for assessment topics where gaps were determined.
• Sources and/or designs and administers technical training specific to each partner’s capacity needs.
• Remains up-to-date with the latest methodologies, best practices, and donor requirements within the field of capacity strengthening and organizational development.
• Supports country program technical staff in the development of comprehensive plans and materials for the incorporation of local capacity strengthening in each development sector and theme.
• Networks with institutions and experts in capacity strengthening within CRS, among peer agencies, and professional circles.

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning:

• Develop rigorous, results-based and impact-focused programmatic monitoring systems based on the HOCAI sub-recipient programmatic monitoring framework and linked to the sub-recipient financial monitoring policy.
• In collaboration with the CARO PCS Unit, CRS HQ P-CS Unit and HQ MEAL Unit, document standardized approaches and best practices in local partner capacity strengthening.
• Develop and disseminate knowledge assets in support of capacity strengthening, including guidelines, tools, case studies, and e-learning. Coordinates with colleagues globally to share and incorporate lessons learned from other CRS CPs.

Strengthen Program Quality Across the CP:

• Conduct regular training sessions on CRS’ partnership and capacity strengthening processes and procedures during the onboarding of new staff, and other training for older CRS staff, and during project meetings with their partners.
• Facilitate the integration of partnership and capacity strengthening in all CRS projects, at all stages of the project life cycle – design and planning, start-up, implementation (including monitoring evaluation accountability and learning), and close-out. This will involve full participation of the PCS Coordinator in predesign and design workshops of upcoming proposals and projects, budget development, participation in certain project activities and meetings etc.
• Strengthen the capacity of in-CP PCS focal points by leading the PCS community of practice and all its activities.
• Liaise with the region and the HQ PCS Unit to ensure resources and learning are shared with the CP, as appropriate.
• Develop and produce proposals (narrative and budget) for various potential donors to expand the depth of the CS department.

Strengthen Engagement with the Catholic Church and Church Partners:

• Support programs in fostering the CP’s strong foundational relationship with the Church. This will involve facilitating early church engagement at the start-up phase of new projects. The ICSC will monitor the projects’ church engagement activities throughout their project implementation and close-out phases, by tracking these activities on the church engagement platform of the ICS web portal.
• Provide capacity-building support to staff in sister church organizations (in areas like resource mobilization/ proposal development, financial management, program management, and strategy development), providing church partners with institutional capacity-strengthening support and accompaniment.
• Facilitate the CP in having open and transparent dialogues with the Church and church partners, by coordinating quarterly review meetings with CCFN, coordinating partnership scorecards and supporting regular reflection meetings with the Church.
• Build on CRS’ commitment to engage with and strengthen the capacity of the local Church to develop and manage humanitarian and development projects in response to the needs of the poor, vulnerable and marginalized. This will involve providing support to CCFN’s implementation of the Institutional Capacity Strengthening (ICS) project – involving the engagement, support and capacity strengthening of other church partners – provinces, dioceses etc. in the areas of strengthening their organizational structures and building their capacities in programmatic and financial management.

Communication and Relationship Management:

• Support the development and adoption of a common language around partnership, capacity strengthening and institution strengthening among CRS and partner staff;
• Ensure the effective sharing of information, including key decisions, status updates, successes and challenges, with the appropriate people within CRS and partners (in keeping with situational demands and the requirements of established agreements);
• Identify and apply effective communication methods (meetings, bulletins, presentations, reports, etc.) to ensure regular and effective communication is maintained;
• Build and/or maintain strong and effective relationships between CRS and partners, through the committed application of Partnership Principles and other relevant methods;
• Identify concerns of significance related to partnerships and/or partner-implemented projects, and work to address them, ensuring they are brought to the attention of the Country Representative and other senior management as needed;
• Ensure completion and dissemination of reports/documentation of partnership initiatives in keeping with established requirements.

Strengthen Engagement with the Government and the Private Sector:

• Support CP projects work more collaboratively with civil society, the public sector and private sectors; by facilitating the adoption of the use of the PCS strategy and guidelines, to guide the CP’s projects interaction with these various stakeholders.
• Support the CP work in partnership with local organizations, to build their capacity to contribute to lasting and meaningful social change; by helping the CP develop strong and diverse networks with organizations that have a better understanding if the local needs and context.
• Support projects in the development and implementation of their sustainability plans, focused on the development of the capacity of local civil society organizations, private and public-sector organizations to foster local ownership of such projects.
• Working with the Value Chains Advisor to adapt tools for private sector engagement, and provide ongoing orientation and support to staff, PCS focal points, and project managers in developing shared value through private sector partners.
• Develop a system to ensure CP engagements with different MDAs across the country and at different levels are coordinated across projects.

Support CRS’ Partner Safeguarding Assessments:

• Support CP Safeguarding efforts by supervising the Safeguarding Officer conducting and following up on assessments and action plans. Guide the officer on appropriate communications with partners.

Manage Small Diocesan project and Funds Dispersed to Church Partners:

• The CP has a number of initiatives either directly funded by external donors or through our discretionary resources that support smaller diocesan initiatives and emergency responses through both grants and contributions. Duties include proactive communication with the diocese on their requests as well as follow up on financial and programmatic reporting.

Basic Qualifications

• Master's Degree in Organizational and/or International Ddevelopment, or equivalent Degree with proven capacity strengthening experience.
• 7-10 years of progressive responsibility building institutional capacity in relief and development programs in partnership with local organizations, preferably in an international organization.
• Demonstrated ability to transfer knowledge to diverse audiences through participatory adult training, mentoring, distance education and other formal and non-formal methods.
  Strong design and facilitation skills.
• Must demonstrate a good understanding of contemporary management best practices.
• Able to use MS Office (Word, PowerPoint and Excel especially).

Required Languages:

•  English

Travel:

• Must be willing and able to travel up to 50 %.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ethical conduct in accordance with recognized professional and organizational codes of ethics
• Good communication and relationship management skills
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented
• Strong research, adult learning methodology design and facilitation skills.
• Demonstrate high level of initiative, diplomacy and tact.

Agency REDI Competencies (for all CRS Staff):
Agency competencies clarify expected behaviors and attitudes for all staff. When demonstrated, they create an engaging workplace, help staff achieve their best, and help CRS achieve agency goals. These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.

• Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions.
• Acts with Integrity - Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission. Is considered honest.
• Builds and Maintains Trust - Shows consistency between words and actions.
• Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
• Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.

Agency Leadership Competencies:

• Lead Change – Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.
• Develops and Recognizes Others – Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance.
• Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.

Key Working Relationships:

Internal:

• Country Representative, Deputy Country Representative, Program Quality Director, Regional Technical Advisors, CRS Nigeria Programs Team members, HQ PCS team, and multi-country project program management staff.

External:

• Partners, CCFN, various local church partners, dioceses and partners, academic institutions, capacity strengthening institutions.