Technical Advisor I - Capacity Strengthening at Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

Job Summary:

You will provide technical guidance, oversight, and support to a range of program design and implementation issues in the area of Partnership and Capacity Strengthening (PCS) in line with CRS partnership principles, CRS program quality principles and standards, donor guidelines, and industry best practices. You will provide guidance and support to Global Fund grant partners and implementers in the capacity strengthening of the States to ensure quality, holistic capacity strengthening interventions that align with industry best practices and lead to sustainable organizational improvements. You will support the tracking and documentation of capacity strengthening plans for the States within CRS’ Global Fund malaria grant. You will also support CRS’ strategic positioning for future grants.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Serve as the focal point to the SRs for their capacity strengthening work with the States. 
• Provide guidance and support to ensure strong partnerships based on trust, transparency, and accountability through such activities as partner satisfaction surveys and partnership reflections.
• Implement methods for colleagues and SR staff to have the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to work collaboratively and effectively with government partners through CRS PCS Level 1 and 2 courses and CRS engaging government modules.
• Advise on the use of partner-led capacity assessment tools and approaches that optimize States engagement.
• Provide technical guidance, support, and mentorship to SRs to ensure holistic capacity strengthening that leads to sustainable organizational improvements of the States. 
• Advise and provide guidance to SRs on the transition plans 
• Provide guidance and support to SRs in the delivery of capacity strengthening through a mix of capacity building, institutional strengthening, and accompaniment.
• Track progress against the capacity strengthening plan for the States; ensure that the capacity strengthening plan remains up to date as program activities evolve; advise on the updating of capacity strengthening plans to respond to organizational capacity needs and priorities vis-à-vis Global Fund standards for grant implementation.
• Assist with identifying issues in the implementation of the capacity strengthening plans and problem solving so that those issues get addressed. Promote, facilitate, and support regular meetings between SRs and States to monitor progress towards capacity strengthening and local leadership goals. 
• Collect and analyze program data, and capture and share lessons learned and best practices for the capacity strengthening activities led by the SRs to facilitate improvements in decision-making and contribute to the Global Fund program’s learning agenda.
• Identify PCS issues across organizational systems and how they may affect program quality and service delivery.
• Provide technical solutions to grant staff and partners for strategic planning and how to best apply standards, best practices, partnership principles, tools and M&E, helping to ensure high-quality implementation.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong relationship management skills with ability to influence and get buy-in from people not under direct supervision and to work with individuals in diverse geographical and cultural settings
• Good strategic, analytical, problem-solving and systems thinking skills with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgement
• Good technical writing skills
• Presentation, facilitation, training, mentoring, and coaching skills
• Proactive, resourceful, and results-oriented.

Preferred Qualifications

• Proficient in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information and budget management systems, knowledge-sharing networks.

Basic Qualifications

• Master’s degree in organizational development, capacity strengthening, international development or similar field required.
• Minimum of five years relevant work experience with progressive responsibilities, ideally with an international NGO, with minimum of two years relevant field-based experience in capacity strengthening. Experience working on Global Fund grants and/or with government partners is a plus.
• Experience and knowledge of technical principles and concepts in partnership and capacity strengthening. Capacity strengthening experience with government partners preferred.
• Proven track record of effectively facilitating workshops and trainings, transferring knowledge, mentoring, and coaching. 
• Knowledge of industry best practices in capacity strengthening and organizational development.
• Experience with program monitoring and evaluation and analysis.
• Experience and skills in networking and relations with donors, peer organizations, and government, faith-based and civil society partners. Understanding of partnership principles.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, representation, and networking skills.
• Strong capacity to facilitate collaboration between partners and different departments (programs, finance, etc.)