Partnership Specialist ( Re-advertised )

Position:                              Partnership Specialist

Location:                             Aden, Yemen

Reports to:                         Grants Manager

Duration:                             1 year

Position Summary

The Partnership Specialist will be an integral member of the Grants Unit at Danish Refugee Council (DRC) Yemen. The Grants Unit serves as the facilitator for grants and sub-grants management processes in country and ensures compliance with donor requirements at all stages of the project lifecycle. The Grants Unit’s responsibilities include, but not limited to, ensuring timely and quality reporting, facilitating grant and sub-grant opening and closeout processes, advising on donor rules and regulations, maintaining grants related information and files, coordinating proposal development processes, and capacity building of staff and implementing partners.

Reporting to the Grants Manager, the Partnership Specialist will support grants management processes for DRC’s programs in Yemen, with a particular emphasis on management of sub-grants to implementing partners. The Partnership Specialist will work closely with DRC Yemen’s Programs, Finance, Operations, and other departments to manage sub-grants to implementing partners, build the capacity of implementing partners, and build and maintain robust partnership practices.

Position Duties and Responsibilities

Sub-grants management:

·         Lead the development of sub-grant agreements and any subsequent modifications;

·         Facilitate sub-grant opening, review, and closeout processes with the participation of key staff/departments from DRC and the implementing partner;

·         Advise sub-grantees on compliance with donor and DRC requirements;

·         Contribute to donor reporting processes in relation to partnership management;

·         Contribute to proposal development processes, including reviewing and improving partners’ technical narratives and budgets and ensuring partners’ participation in the proposal development process;

·         In the event of a competitive selection of implementing partners, coordinate the call for proposals and partner selection processes;

·         Maintain a comprehensive and up-to-date filing system on all aspects of sub-grants management.

Capacity building:

·         Coordinate pre-award due diligence processes and organizational capacity assessments of potential partners using DRC’s standard tools;

·         Coordinate the development of a capacity building plan for each sub-grantee based on gaps identified during capacity assessments;

·         Oversee the implementation of planned capacity building activities for partners in coordination with relevant DRC departments and measure changes in partners’ capacity levels through objectively verifiable          indicators;

·         Directly conduct capacity building activities for partners, including training workshops and one-on-one mentoring of key partner staff on donor rules and regulations, reporting, program development, grants            management, and other relevant areas as needed.

Partnership practices:

·         In coordination with DRC’s headquarters and regional offices, develop and roll out partnership management tools, guidelines, and other resources as needed to effectively management partnerships;

·         Improve partnership practices by periodically assessing DRC Yemen’s partnership management approach taking into account both DRC and partners’ perspectives, capture lessons learned and best practices,           and make recommendations for improvement. 

Reporting:

•            With inputs from DRC’s Programs, Technical Teams, M&E, and other departments, help produce high quality narrative reports for donors;

•            Facilitate review of reports by DRC’s headquarters and regional offices as per internal procedures, incorporate feedback received, and address all questions and comments;

•            In coordination with the M&E department, ensure that data reported to donors is accurate, complete, and consistent;

•            Ensure that donor reports are submitted in a timely manner and that the submission package is complete (e.g. with financial report, asset inventory, evaluation reports, and other required annexes).

Other:

·         Support the Grants Manager in proposal development and grant modification processes, including conducting desk review, contributing to the writing process, preparing budget narratives and other essential          annexes, etc.;

·         Support the Grants Manager in monitoring program implementation and spending to ensure compliance with donor rules and regulations as well as internal procedures and advise program and support                    teams on various donor compliance issues;

·         Assist with the organization of grant opening, review, and closeout meetings;

·         Perform other tasks as assigned by the Grants Manager.

Qualifications & Requirements

·         Graduate degree in a relevant field preferred;

·         At least three years of work experience in humanitarian and development programs, preferably with international non-governmental organizations;

·         Understanding of grants and sub-grants management processes and partnership management practices;

·         Understanding of rules and regulations of key institutional donors, including ECHO, OFDA, DFID, and UN Agencies;

·         Fluent written and spoken English required;

·         Ability to write clearly and coherently;

·         Excellent organizational and analytical skills;

·         Ability to work well in a team and in a multi-cultural setting;

·         Excellent inter-personal communication skills, diplomacy, and courtesy;

·         Flexibility, optimism, and a sense of humor are assets and highly valued.