Partnership Specialist

Partnership Specialist

No. of Vacancy: 1
Functional Area: Programme

Reports to: Director of Partner Management and Impact

Location: Country Office, Kathmandu

Travel required: Plan International Nepal working districts

Grade: D1

Type: Open to all applicants, Fixed term employment for two years from date of joining; based in Country Office, Lalitpur

ABOUT PLAN INTERNATIONAL

Plan International is a development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We strive for a just world, working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners in over 75 countries. Our programs are underpinned by a core of defined values, including transparency and accountability, team collaboration, inclusion and integration, as well as the overall ambition to empower girls and young women as legacy.

Plan International has been working in Nepal since 1978 and developed a strong reputation as a respected development and humanitarian actor helping marginalised children, their families and communities to access their rights to health, education, economic security and protection. Through the support of local partners, Plan International works in 24 districts in Nepal.

Plan International Nepal has a vision for 2030 as “an inclusive, just and safe society where all girls and young women enjoy their rights and live in freedom”. This is coupled with the ambition of taking action so that 100 million girls learn, lead, decide and thrive as “Girls and young women in all of their diversity reach their full potential as equal and active citizens” by 2023. The country strategy is put into action through the implementation of three interrelated program areas defined as follows:

LEARN: the “Education and Skills and Opportunities for Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship (SOYEE)” program aims to assist vulnerable and excluded girls and young women in adapting and thriving in a changing climate;

LEAD AND DECIDE: the “Youth as Active Drivers of Change and Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR)” program aims to empower girls and young women in leading change, having control over their bodies and making informed decisions; and

THRIVE: the “Early Childhood Development (ECD), Child Protection and Child Poverty” program enhances vulnerable and excluded children, especially girls, to be valued and cared for without discrimination, fear and any forms of violence.

Plan international Nepal seeks candidates who practice feminist leadership, promote diversity, actively seek innovative solutions for problems, courageously and respectfully share their opinions and ideas, break down barriers and engender cross-department collaboration, practice active listening, maintain confidentiality, build trust and are passionate about children’s rights and equality for girls.

ROLE PURPOSE

The Partnership Specialist role aims to improve our partnership skills, develop partnership with right partners, build the capacity of all existing partners of Plan International Nepal to effectively reach our strategic ambitions for girls and young women and ensure that the partners are adequately resourced to do their designated work.

Description
DIMENSIONS OF THE ROLE

Reports to: Director of Partner Management and Impact

Budget Accountability: None

Number of reports: None

Key stakeholder groups: The primary stakeholder for this role is our local NGO implementing partners and their staff. However, the role will also require active engagement with a diverse set of local, regional and international stakeholders including Plan Regional Office, Field Offices and MERL;, Government, UN Agencies, Donors, INGOs, Academia, CSOs and Media

External relationships and representation: Frequently represents Plan International Nepal to external stakeholders.

ACCOUNTABILITIES

Strategically develop a positive and collaborative partnership skills

• Develop a competency and skills framework in partnering for Regional Field staff as well as at country level staff.
• Facilitate capacity building of Plan staff at country and field level on partnership through guiding, mentoring and formal training.
• Promote partnering capacities of Partners and Plan staff in line with Plan’s partnering strategy.
• Preposition Partners in each working district for technical and strategic programming.
• Facilitate high quality delivery of projects through partners.

Develop partnership with right partners

• Keep an up-to-date database of potential partners in the field and Country Office for strategic program design and implementation.
• Understand stakeholder context in both field and Country Office through analysis and engagement with external stakeholders.
• Review Plan’s partnership policy periodically and provide periodic recommendations for necessary changes.
• Understand strengths and weaknesses of both Plan and existing partners and develop strategy to complement through collaboration or through new partnership.

Support the Partners to enable effective implementation and results for programme and influencing

• Develop short and long-term plans to strengthen the capacity of partner staff.
• Identify training needs of Plan and partner staff and follow-through incorporating continuous feedback and learning.
• Ensure partners understand and follow policies, processes and procedures required by Plan International Nepal as well as the Government of Nepal.
• Assist partners, as required, in performance in financial management, people management and project management.
• Regularly update partners on key information from Plan on projects, new thinking, key events and information of use to the partner.

Relationship building to ensure efficiency and effectiveness of partnerships

• Ensure two-way accountability between Plan and Partners through partner selection, performance review, conflict management, development of feedback mechanisms and clear communication.
• Develop a range of Partnering Agreements that can be used to govern different types of partnering relationship with a specific focus on youth-led organisations.
• Ensure a clear and efficient end-to-end processes for Partner Agreement, liquidation and other processes.
• Periodic analysis of resource gaps of partners in all working districts to inform to make necessary changes where required.
• Timely review of agreements as per the organizational requirement and changing context.
• Provide technical support at district and national level to promote multi-stakeholder partnerships in project implementations.
• Facilitate resolution of operational blockages related to partners.

Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Child Protection (CPP) and Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI) are fully embedded in accordance with the principles and requirements of the policy including relevant Implementation Standards and Guidelines as applicable to their area of responsibility. This includes, but is not limited to, ensuring staff and associates are aware of and understand their responsibilities under these policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), their relevance to their area of work, and that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures.

TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

Essential

• Highly skilled in listening, critical thinking and placing strong logical arguments.
• Strong organizational and planning skills.
• Strong virtual presentation skills, with prior experience of leading and facilitation particularly using virtual platforms.
• Master’s degree in relevant field with 2-3 years of experience in similar sector OR a Bachelor’s degree with 4-5 years of progressive responsibility in training, coaching or project management.
• Strong visioning and analytical skills.
• Capacity to make analytical studies and make policy recommendations.
• Experience in stakeholder analysis and engagement with ability to undertake independent surveys to understand needs and gaps.
• Prioritise, analyse and synthesize data and present it in a reader-friendly format.
• Ability to work independently and also in team.
• Strong interpersonal skills – ability to draw commitment from other parts of the organization.
• Good understanding of different approaches to partnering, and the requirements these involve.
• Previous work in developing partnering approaches.
• Experience in networking/engaging with key actors on Partnering.
• Experience in capacity development of project staffs.
• Good knowledge of written and spoken English and Nepali.

Desirable

• Understanding of the structures, processes and trends in the Nepal political system and civil society movement of Nepal.
• Good understanding of change management.
• Strong analytical skills in understanding of power structures.
• Ability to plan work and meet deadlines when working under pressure on a number of projects.
• Commitment to Plan’s values including gender equality and girls rights.

Skills and Character

• Respectful but firm
• Operational planning & execution
• Analysis & reasoning
• Managing relationships
• Visionary, able to envision a better collaborative strengthened NGO
• Communicating, one to one, in groups both in writing, verbally, presentations and reports, in English, Nepali and relevant local languages.
• Preparation and management of budgets and assessment of financial implication in work situations
• Facilitation, negotiation and networking
• Persuasion and ability to influence
• Ability to problem solve, handle setbacks and pressure
• Ability to use basic office electronic equipment & computer applications

PLAN INTERNATIONAL’S VALUES IN PRACTICE

We are open and accountable

• Promotes a culture of openness and transparency, including with sponsors and donors.
• Holds self and others accountable to achieve the highest standards of integrity.
• Consistent and fair in the treatment of people.
• Open about mistakes and keen to learn from them.
• Accountable for ensuring we are a safe organisation for all children, girls & young people.

We strive for lasting impact

• Articulates a clear purpose for staff and sets high expectations.
• Creates a climate of continuous improvement, open to challenge and new ideas.
• Focuses resources to drive change and maximise long-term impact, responsive to changed priorities or crises.
• Evidence-based and evaluates effectiveness.

We work well together

• Seeks constructive outcomes, listens to others, willing to compromise when appropriate.
• Builds constructive relationships across Plan International to support our shared goals.
• Develops trusting and ‘win-win’ relationships with funders, partners and communities.
• Engages and works well with others outside the organization to build a better world for girls and all children.

We are inclusive and empowering

• We empower our staff to give their best and develop their potential.
• We respect all people, appreciate differences and challenge equality in our programs and our workplace.
• We support children, girls and young people to increase their confidence and to change their own lives.

PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

• Based in Country Office, Lalitpur with frequent travel to project areas (30%) OR frequent virtual visits.
• Able to work in difficult circumstances (disaster areas, etc.).
• Work with multi-culture and multi-lingual staff/team members.

LEVEL OF CONTACT WITH CHILDREN

Mid contact: Occasional interaction with children

“Say Yes ! To Keeping Children and Young people safe and Protected”

Application Deadline: Sunday 26th Jan, 2025