Partnerships Coordinator (Whole of Syria)

CONTEXTUAL BACKGROUND

The Syria crisis is often described as the worst humanitarian catastrophe since the end of the Cold War. Inside Syria, 7.6 million people are internally displaced and 12.2 million need humanitarian assistance, with 4.8 million in hard-to-reach areas. There are 3.8 million Syrian refugees in neighboring countries. This is no short-term humanitarian episode. The devastating human consequences to huge numbers of people will endure for decades. The destruction of relationships, communities, livelihoods, homes, and infrastructure will take years to repair.

IRC is offering a robust humanitarian response to the Syria crisis. With an annual budget in excess of $140 million and a rapidly expanding portfolio, supported by more than 1,250 staff in the region, IRC is undertaking programs in Syria and the neighboring countries of Turkey, Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan in the fields of health, child protection, education, women’s protection and empowerment, NFI and food distribution, cash assistance, water and sanitation, and livelihood programming. Our work in these challenging settings gives rise to some of the most pressing issues facing contemporary humanitarian action, including questions of access, security, funding, and coordination.

SCOPE OF WORK

The Partnership Coordinator is responsible for the management and implementation of IRC’s approach to partnering with local and national civil society organizations in Syria, establishing IRC as a leader in its engagement with Syrian civil society to produce better outcomes for the people we serve.

Under the guidance of the Deputy Directors of Program (DDPs) for the Northwest and Northeast Syria hubs (in this second case in MiP with the NES Grants and Partnership Co), and in close collaboration with the senior management teams (SMTs), the Partnership Coordinator will lead the Syria Partnership Department to ensure strong, collaborative partnerships that deliver effective and efficient program outcomes in accordance with IRC Strategy 100 (S100) and IRC Syria’s Strategic Action Plans. The Partnership Coordinator will oversee the implementation of IRC’s partnership management system (PEERS), ensuring that IRC identifies, appropriately allocates and effectively mitigates programmatic, operational, financial and reputational risk, establishing a strong foundation for strategic partnerships that extend beyond program implementation to incorporate mutual capacity strengthening and broader collaboration.  The Partnership Coordinator will be key in fostering and promoting a culture, attitudes, values and skills conducive to collaborative partnerships throughout the Syria teams, based on a clear and shared understanding of IRC’s strategy, role and approach, and core partnership principles.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

Promote Effective Partnerships

·In collaboration with DDPs, facilitate the definition of IRC’s Strategic Action Plans in Syria as they relate to partnerships with civil society organizations, collaborating with SMTs to integrate effective partnership approaches into sectoral strategies, taking into account gender equality at every step.

·In collaboration with DDP and Programs, responsibility for the effective implementation of IRC’s SAPs, particularly with respect to partnerships.

·Collaborate with DDPs and technical coordinators (TCs) to drive processes that ensure IRC develops and maintains a detailed working knowledge of the civil society landscape in Syria, and establishes, builds and maintains a network of strategic partner relationships, including with women-led organizations as per IRC’s S100.

·Collaborate with TCs to proactively identify potential partnerships with civil society organizations.

·Work with the DDPs, TCs, and the Grants Coordinators to ensure that partnership is appropriately integrated into all new business development and support the development of new business development concepts that prioritize partnerships.

·Define and contribute to learning opportunities with respect to local partnership

·Lead in IRC’s engagement in CSO, INGO and UN partnership networks and coordination forums, and promoting the localization of the Syria response. This together with the NES Grants and Partnership Co in NES

·Support the DDPs to advocate with donors to promote approaches and requirements that are responsive to the priorities and realities of local partners, and that promote the localization of the Syria response.

·Actively engage in and help drive IRC regional partnership initiatives, including participating in working groups and thematic meetings on partnership approaches and practices, identifying opportunities for systems improvements, and coordinating to ensure a coherent, efficient and effective joint approach to partnerships.

Partnership Accountability and Results

·Serve as a technical resource for partnership-focused staff in sector teams to promote an effective, responsive and coherent approach.

·Foster and promote a culture, attitudes and values conducive to collaborative partnerships throughout the Syria teams, based on a clear and shared understanding of IRC’s strategy, role and approach, and IRC’s core partnership principles.

·Support DDP in facilitating a process that defines clear roles, responsibilities and management structures in the Syria country programs to ensure efficient and responsive processes with respect to sub-award partnerships, consistent with PEERS.

·Chair the IRC Syria partnership working groups to promote a coherent, strategic and coordinated approach to local partnerships. In NES this is done in partnership with the NES Grants and Partnership Co

·Collaborate with Syria SMTs to ensure that IRC includes key partnership competencies in recruitment for relevant technical and operational positions; provides staff with necessary support for skills development for core partnership skills (mentoring, negotiation, etc.); and includes performance objectives for relevant positions that incentivize effective partnerships.

Partnership Management

·Oversee all aspects of partnership management (in NES in collaboration with NES Grants and Partnership Co) - from due diligence vetting, project and agreement development, sub-award management, monitoring and accountability, through to closure - coordinating all program, operations and finance components.

·Facilitate and lead the development of the structure and approach to individual partner relationships – including the selection of the appropriate funding mechanism and the development of appropriate reporting, monitoring and advance terms - based on the findings of the pre-award due diligence and in line with IRC policy, appropriately analyzing and mitigating risks, in collaboration with SMTs and TCs.

·Ensure that IRC’s approach to sub-award management, monitoring and accountability during the sub-award period prioritizes the best possible outcomes for clients, while effectively mitigating and managing risk, and promoting the core partnership principles.

·Facilitate systematic partner feedback on IRC’s management of and performance in partnerships, as well as appropriate action in response to the feedback.

·Supervise the Senior Partnership Finance Manager to ensure appropriate financial documentation in compliance with IRC and donor regulations, and to facilitate timely processing of all partnership payments according to schedule.

·Support effective sub-award close out processes, incorporating reflection and lessons learned.

Partner Support and Capacity Sharing

·Ensure all partners have collaboratively developed project support plans in place and oversee the delivery of timely and effective support, in close collaboration with the SMTs and with NES Grants and Partnership Co for NES.

·Ensure IRC understands the capacity strengthening priorities of its partners, including through Organizational Capacity Assessment processes where appropriate, and identify opportunities for IRC to support partner capacity strengthening efforts where aligned with prime award objectives.

·Oversee and facilitate IRC’s delivery of organizational capacity strengthening support, appropriately coordinated and integrated with technical capacity strengthening support.

·Work with the Regional Gender Advisor to ensure alignment with IRC’s approach as a feminist organization and its commitment to gender equality under S100

·Work with M&E Coordinator and Senior Capacity Sharing Manager to ensure that the impact of IRC’s support to partners is effectively tracked and measured.

Human Resource Management

·Direct management oversight of the Syria Partnership Department for NWS and in MIP with the Grants and Partnership Co for NES, including ensuring that the unit is appropriately resourced and structured, and the recruitment, performance management, and professional development of all unit staff. Supervise the Senior Partnership Manager, Senior Partnership Finance Manager, and Senior Capacity Sharing Manager

·Coach, train, mentor and supervise direct-report staff, including communicating clear expectations, setting quarterly performance objectives, providing regular and timely positive and constructive performance feedback, and providing documented semi-annual performance reviews. Look for opportunities to support staff in their career growth.

·Provide a measurable development plan including on-the-job learning with the aim of strengthening technical capacity, exchanging knowledge within the team and providing guidance on career paths.

·Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.

·Support appropriate interventions in response to identified staff care needs of both national and international staff.

·Work with HR staff to identify and implement recruitment and retention strategies.

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Position reports to: NWS and NES Deputy Directors of Program (DDPs) (management in partnership)

Position directly supervises: Senior Partnership Manager(s), Senior Capacity Sharing Manager, Senior Partnership Finance Manager. Manages NES partnership team in MiP with NES Grants and Partnership Co

Other internal: Technical Coordinators, Deputy Directors of Finance, Grants Coordinators, M&E Coordinators, Regional Partnership Director, Partnership Supply Chain Coordinator, Regional Gender Advisor.

Other external: Syrian NGOs, INGO and UN actors with respect to partnerships, as well as donors.