Partnership Coordinator at Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC)

Job Description

• We are looking for people who are passionate about helping refugees and people forced to flee. 
• If you are those people, the Norwegian Refugee Council in Nigeria is looking for an enthusiastic and passionate Partnership Coordinator to join our team in Maiduguri, Borno State. 
• The Partnership Coordinator will contribute to achieving quality programming by closely supporting Partnership Manager in ensuring that NRC Nigeria partners consistently comply with all legal regulations, financial requirements and humanitarian standards set by NRC and its donor partners.
• Partnership Coordinator is to implement delegated areas of logistics responsibility and deliver a variety of related activities, including compliance; capacity building of staff; procurement planning; market assessment/survey; high-value procurement; management of warehouse, and fleet; assets; securing supporting documentation/archiving; reporting and coordination for the NRC Jos and office.
• Partnership Coordinator is responsible for partnership management in close cooperation with Programme Coordinators and Finance Team.
• Partnership Coordinator will contribute to the partnership mandate and deliverables, building on NRC’s existing partnership processes and toolkit in line with NRC’s internal policies and procedures and sector standards.

Responsibilities
Generic responsibilities:

• Contribute to a harmonised approach to partnership between NRC programme response and NRC partners, in line with NRC policy, guidance notes and toolkits.
• Ensure that partners adhere to key compliance standards including those set out in NRC Project Implementation Agreements, NRC Financial Handbook, other relevant NRC policies, handbooks, guidelines and procedures as well as donor and auditor standards.
• Lead the management of the Project Implementation Agreements (PIA) with local partners and NRC staff, including due diligence and organisational capacity assessments. Coordinate development of new partnership agreements (PIA) and support with management of existing partnerships. Track and maintain overall budget control and monitor cash flows for partners.
• Lead on training and coaching partners on compliance requirements.
• Lead on the PCM activities and use of NRC PCM framework of working with partners.
• Represent NRC as the main focal point with partners on partnerships related and general issues and ensure timely and consistent communication flow between partners and NRC.
• Work with programme team to support mainstreaming safe and inclusive programming and do- no-harm into partners’ projects and activities.
• Support learning and development of NRC staff on issues of partnership.

Specific Responsibilities
Partnership mapping and management:

• Contribute to the exercise of mapping of local potential partners and maintaining relations with existing partners.
• Act as focal point for contracting and sub-granting issues to NRC’s partners.
• Coordinate organizational assessment and vetting of potential partners as per NRC Partnership Toolkit.
• Coordinate development of Project Implementation Agreements between partners and NRC.
• Conduct meetings with the Partners at relevant stages of contract negotiations, prepare presentations and information sharing methods to support effective relationships. Support and facilitate communication and coordination between NRC and partners.
• Draft partnership agreements and/or contractual documents required for the signature and implementation of new projects.
• Support in modification requests on existing PIAs with programme and finance staff members
• Ensure that NRC’s partners adhere to NRC requirements and ensure smooth project implementation by providing the necessary support from NRC to the partners.
• Participate in ensuring a structured and consistent approach to partnerships in line with the Country Strategy and Partnership Strategy.
• Coordinate with Media and Communication Team for visibility of partnership in Nigeria, and update on the profile of the programme by reflecting stories and lessons learnt.
• Keep track of and lead on PCM meetings for projects implemented with partners (Project Opening Meetings, Project Review Meetings, Project Closure Meetings) are arranged and take place within expected timeframes, all mandatory internal documents are in place and actively follow up on outstanding related partnership issues.
• Perform monitoring visits to partners.
• Provide inputs to the development and implementation of NRC Nigeria partnership strategy and operational methodology for engagement with public, private, and civil society stakeholders.

Partnership tracking & filing:

• Ensure correct and up-to-date maintenance of Partnership Trackers.
• Maintain filing and documentation of all partner projects and partnership documents as per the NRC Nigeria’s Country Office filing and information management systems.
• Ensure implementing the routine for securing supporting documentation in a digital format.
• Ensure all key project and partnership documents are filed, updated, and maintained as per the NRC Nigeria’s filing and information management systems.

Partnership compliance & capacity sharing:

• Conduct Partner orientation and coaching on NRC and donor requirements on compliance matters. Be on stand by for the support of new partners with trainings and be able to identify and help address problems during implementation period in a timely manner
• Guide partners on compliance with NRC internal and donor requirements; support monitoring of

Partner’s compliance to NRC’s and where applicable to specific donor’s requirements:

• Support a structured approach to partnerships, including the development of tools for identifying, assessing, capacity building, monitoring, and evaluating partnerships.
• Actively integrate partner feedback into tools and guidance and ensure strong mutual learning between NRC and its partners.
• Support with identification of capacity development needs and coordinate systematic capacity sharing process between NRC and partners and vis-versa, by coordinating with technical NRC programme staff, and ensure that partners are receiving necessary technical support needed. This could include organizing of training, coaching and mentoring.
• Participate in and lead on community of practice exercises within the country and the region on working with partners and partner compliance.

Other duties:

• Assist with any other duties assigned by the Country Director, the Head of Programme, Global Local  Actor Adviser, Regional Risk and Compliance Advisor, Regional Finance Controller, as and when required.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Line Manager

Qualifications

• University Degree or equivalent (e.g., Social Sciences, International Relations, Education, Development, etc.).
• Minimum of 3 years’ experience with NGO and/or international organisation, preferably in partnerships and civil society strengthening.
• Strong analytical skills (data and financial)
• Excellent project management skills.
• Good coordination, communication (verbal and written) and networking skills.
• Experience managing and coaching partners.
• Excellent training and facilitation skills.
• Experience / knowledge of anti-corruption best practices and processes a distinct advantage.
• Understanding of issues in complex emergencies and crisis contexts.
• Ability to work with stress and under high time and other pressure.
• Excellent ability to work independently with very limited supervision.
• Fluency in the English language, both written and verbal.
• Excellent working knowledge of Excel.