Partnerships Officer - NOB at World Food Programme (WFP)

Requisition ID: 140902
Employment Type: Fixed Term
Reports to: The incumbent will report to the Head of Unit in Abuja

Job Purpose

• Provide substantial value to WFP’s effective positioning with public, private and external partners to attract policy support, resources, technical assistance and innovative solutions to advance the work of WFP, while supporting member states in the achievement of the SDGs and Zero Hunger and emphasizing WFP’s contributions in this regard.

Key Accountabilities (not all-inclusive)

• Implement the work plan for an assigned area to enable WFP to identify, develop and strengthen quality partnerships in support of WFP strategic objectives.
• Proactively contribute to a partnerships portfolio, including partner profiling, data/trends analysis, and outreach activities, with the aim to maximize resources and leverage policy and technical support for WFP’s work; Ensure partner visibility and that partner conditions are met.
• Use data to propose options to managers to expand support from existing partners and to scope new partners, guided by programmatic assessment and context-specific analysis, with the aim to enhance the impact of WFP’s work and diversify the resource base.
• Gather and share partner intelligence (including forecasting), using key information systems (e.g. Salesforce, WINGS, WFPGo).
• Solicit inputs from other functional entities, RBs, and COs on WFP’s programmatic offering that can gain traction with individual partner audiences; Conduct analysis and draft quality briefs in support of outreach opportunities.
• Gather socio-political insights to support WFP’s effective positioning vis-à-vis national governments, regional and international institutions with the aim to influence the policy agenda.
• In the context of the UN system and multilateral fora, support the development of partnerships and joint events with member states, civil society and intergovernmental organizations to advocate for the SDGs and Zero Hunger on the global agenda and advance WFP priorities and objectives, based on a basic understanding of member states’ dynamics and interests.
• Provide inputs to partnerships strategies, including the development of Partnership Action Plans; Draw up quality partner proposals and reports by engaging with other WFP entities and external stakeholders.
• Contribute to the preparation of strategic agreements, joint strategies, and MOUs in order to promote the SDGs and Zero Hunger on the national, regional, and global agenda and to reach advantageous outcomes for WFP.
• Facilitate corporate dialogue with partners through networking and information sharing; Proactively highlight strategic issues to senior managers and propose options for the best course of action to nurture trust and partnership growth.
• Contribute to preparedness actions, providing technical recommendations and guidance, and monitor defined risks.
• Other as required.

4Ps Core Organisational Capabilities
Purpose:

• Understand and communicate the Strategic Objectives: Understands WFP’s Strategic Objectives and the link to own work objectives.
• Be a force for positive change: Flexibly adapts individual contributions to accommodate changes in direction from supervisors and internal/external changes (such as evolving needs of beneficiaries, new requirements of partners).
• Make the mission inspiring to our team: Recognizes and shares with team members the ways in which individual contributions relate to WFP’s mission.
• Make our mission visible in everyday actions: Sets own goals in alignment with WFP’s overall operations, and is able to communicate this link to others.

People:

• Look for ways to strengthen people's skills: Assesses own strengths and weaknesses to increase self-awareness, and includes these in conversations on own developmental needs.
• Create an inclusive culture: Participates in open dialogue, and values the diverse opinion of others, regardless of background, culture, experience, or country assignment.
• Be a coach & provide constructive feedback: Proactively seeks feedback and coaching to build confidence, and develop and improve individual skills.
• Create an “I will”/”We will” spirit: Participates in accomplishing team activities and goals in the face of challenging circumstances.

Performance:

• Encourage innovation & creative solutions: Shows willingness to explore and experiment with new ideas and approaches in own work.
• Focus on getting results: Consistently delivers results within individual scope of work on time, on budget and without errors.
• Make commitments and make good on commitments: Commits to upholding individual accountabilities and responsibilities in the face of ever-changing country or functional priorities.
• Be Decisive: Makes rational decisions about individual activities when faced with uncertain circumstances, including in times of ambiguity regarding information or manager direction.

Partnership:

• Connect and share across WFP units: Seeks to understand and adapt to internal or cross-unit teams’ priorities and preferred working styles.
• Build strong external partnerships: Demonstrates ability to understand and appropriately respond to and/or escalate needs of external partners.
• Be politically agile & adaptable: Portrays an informed and professional demeanor toward internal and external partners and stakeholders.
• Be clear about the value WFP brings to partnerships: Provides operational support on analyses and assessments that quantifies and demonstrates WFP’s unique value as a partner.

Functional Capabilities:

• Capability Name: Description of the behaviour expected for the proficiency level
• Relationship Management: Demonstrates ability to build and sustain effective collaborative relationships with appropriate stakeholders and contacts in area of expertise to raise the profile of WFP, build relationships and further organisational aims.
• Communication Expertise: Collates accurate and timely information in required format (i.e. written or visual communications materials as well as verbally), to facilitate information flows and informed decision making on communications issues.
• Information Analytics, Reporting and Management: Gathers and summarises information relevant to partners (trends, regulations, practices) to enable supervisor(s) to efficiently make informed decisions and enhance partner relationships. Captures important information, synthesises and facilitates internal reporting.
• Sociopolitical Contextual Understanding: Shows awareness of the multilateral/interagency environment and the dynamics in which WFP operates which informs approach to daily tasks.
• NGO, UN and Other Partner Collaboration: Actively promotes WFP’s partnering approach. Individually contributes to development and maintenance of partnerships with NGOs, UN agencies, governments and other partners. Is able to provide suggestions that help inform WFP’s evolving engagement with relevant partners. Provides and coordinates input to be shared with partners.

Desired Experiences for entry into the Role:

• Has understanding of government and corporate strategies and priorities and experience in developing multi-stakeholder partnerships.
• Has explored new partnership opportunities, provided inputs into developing solutions with prospective partners and explored new areas to scale-up existing activities.
• Has designed and managed all resource mobilization processes and resource strategies negotiated contract terms and provided resourcing advice to seniors.
• Has gained experience in using technology and digital tools for data collection, analysis and shared data-based insights to add value to all partnerships.
• Has supported the creation of external communications and briefing materials.
• Has provided advanced technical support and identify opportunities for service delivery excellence to strengthen partnerships.
• Has motivated team spirit and contributed to a gender-balanced, inclusive and sound working environment.

Standard Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Advanced University degree in Political Science, International Development, Development Economics, International Relations, Law, Marketing, Communications or another relevant field, or First University degree with additional years of related work experience and/or training/courses.
• Experience: Minimum three or more years of relevant professional work experience in partnership roles
• Language: National Professional: Fluency (level C) in English language and the duty station’s language, if different.