Strategic Partnership Manager

Winrock International is a nonprofit organization that works with people in the United States and around the world to empower the disadvantaged, increase economic opportunity, and sustain natural resources. By linking local individuals and communities with new ideas and technology, Winrock is increasing long-term productivity, equity, and responsible resource management to benefit the poor and disadvantaged of the world.

BACKGROUND:

The USAID Hamro Samman II project builds on the successes and lessons learned of the Hamro Samman (HS) project. The new 24-month USAID HS II project will collaborate closely with the Government of Nepal (GON), the private sector (PS), and civil society organizations (CSOs) to reduce trafficking in persons (TIP) in Nepal. Together, these partners will address TIP through three objectives: 1) strengthening federal, provincial, and local government (LG) efforts to combat TIP; 2) improving CSO advocacy and engagement to address TIP; and 3) increasing private-sector partnerships to service TIP survivors and at-risk populations. By convening both public and private stakeholders and refining coordination, capabilities, policies, and systems, USAID HS II will contribute significantly to establishing enduring partnerships and increasing prevention, protection, and prosecution of TIP cases in Nepal.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Strategic Partnership Manager’s role is pivotal in executing the project in different tiers of governments in collaboration with CSOs and private sectors. This involves close collaboration with various stakeholders, including the Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizen (MOWCSC), Anti-Human Trafficking Bureau of Nepal Police (AHTB), LGs, provincial governments, The Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security (MOLESS), Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies (NAFEA), private sector actors, CSOs and networks of TIP survivors and at-risk-people. The position is responsible to ensure GESI mainstreaming in project cycle and lead evidence-based advocacy in Hamro Samman II Project. The position will work with program team, M& E and implementing partners to ensure GESI aspects in program design, implementation, monitoring and reporting. The Position initiates capacity building activities on GESI and advocacy with the close collaboration with AES and Survivor networks. He/She represents Hamro Samman II in external forum about the advocacy and GESI concerns.

Key responsibilities of this position include providing strategic guidance to implementing partners and provincial level USAID Hamro Samman II staff on CTIP, coordinate and build working relations with justice sector actors, provide strategic inputs on research, assessments, and learning documentation, coordinate with government agencies for policy reform advocacy, engage with MOWCSC for effective SIMS implementation.

Reporting to the Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) and collaborating closely with other team members of the USAID Hamro Samman II project, the Strategic Partnership Manager will offer technical assistance on CTIP and safe migration expertise to all implementing partners and staff, and LGs as needed. The position will frequently visit the project area, engage with stakeholders, and contribute to establish strategic collaboration and coordination for effective implementation of the project.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Strategic Partnership Manager shall hold a deep understanding of the drivers of trafficking and unsafe migration, key issues associated with it and potential interventions to address those problems.

• Program Design and Implementation:
  • Engage in project co-creation workshops to develop key intervention activities, offering strategic insights during project planning and review events as a CTIP expert. Provide constructive feedback to enhance overall project design and implementation.
  • Identify emerging trafficking in persons (TIP) related issues and vulnerabilities among at-risk populations at the federal, provincial, and local government levels. Provide strategic guidance to integrate these issues into project planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation processes.
  • Offer strategic guidance and support to USAID Hamro Samman II implementing partners to enhance the contextual relevance and efficiency of their interventions throughout the design, implementation, and monitoring phases.
• Government and Justice Sector Actor Engagement:
  • Facilitate coordination with the Ministry of Women, Children, and Senior Citizen (MOWCSC), Anti-Human Trafficking Bureau of Nepal Police (AHTB), and federal-level state institutions to advocate for policy reform, strengthen systems, and foster collaboration with civil society organizations (CSOs).
  • Collaborate with justice sector actors on Counter Trafficking in Persons (CTIP) initiatives, taking the lead in promoting collaboration and coordination among these institutions to enhance access to justice for trafficking in persons (TIP) survivors and their families.
  • Engage with the Ministry of Women, Children, and Senior Citizen (MOWCSC), provincial governments, and local governments (LGs) to implement the Social Information Management System (SIMS) for enhancing TIP-related data collection, sharing, and utilization. This supports policy formulation, coordination, and public reporting efforts.
  • The Strategic Partnership Manager will serve as the primary liaison with MoWCSC and the Provincial Government.
• Technical Support to Implementing Partners:
  • Provide technical support and guidance to implementing partner organizations and CTIP champions, encouraging policy advocacy on Counter Trafficking in Persons (CTIP), community-targeted campaigns, outreach events, and sensitization activities.
  • Provide technical assistance to civil society organizations (CSOs) in crafting targeted advocacy initiatives with sub-national governments to formulate pertinent CTIP policies, integrating best practices and engaging relevant stakeholders in the process.
  • Act as a technical expert on CTIP and provide ongoing support to implementing partners, provincial Coordinators, and officer. Assist in activity design, implementation, and the creation of CTIP-focused reports, learning documents, and case studies.
  • Work closely with Private Sector focal person of the project and ensure all the intervention designed by private sector partners are in line with CTIP effort of the project and victim centric approach in project implementation. Further, ensure collaboration and coordination between CSOs partner and private sector partners to achieve the expected result of the project.
  • Conduct regular monitoring and evaluation of implementing partners’ activities, offering technical support and assistance as needed.
• Team Management and Ensure GESI and Safeguarding:
  • Work collaboratively with all project staff to ensure GESI and safeguarding measures are incorporated in all phases of the project design and implementation and provide necessary support to implementing partners on GESI integration in the interventions and safeguarding measures.
  • Provide technical guidance and offer necessary support to Senior Provincial Coordinators and Provincial Officer for effective implementation of project through implementing partners.
  • Provide technical support for strengthening survivor networks, AES Networks to make them effective through Provincial Coordinators and officer.
• Finance and Budget Management:
  • Work collaboratively with the USAID Hamro Samman II team and provide technical expertise on CTIP for designing budget for the project intervention, ensure budget for GESI and Safeguarding initiatives under project.
  • Provide technical expertise to Provincial Coordinators and Officer to review partners’ budget to ensure the CTIP efforts are adequately addressed.
• Knowledge and Data Management:
  • Provide strategic support and guidance to implementing partners to document case stories and success stories.
  • Participate in CTIP events organized by various stakeholders and share project learning and knowledge representing Hamro Samman II and share new ideas and knowledge to the team members acquired from the field and events.
  • Provide strategic guidance and support for developing knowledge products, learning documents and relevant documents produced by project.
• Donor Relations:
  • Participate and contribute to consultation meetings, workshops, and seminars organized by donors and development partners.
  • Prepare documents, briefs, and information as requested by donor and development partners on Projects interventions and contemporary issues on TIP.
• External Liaison and Networking:
  • Cultivate robust, collaborative partnerships with federal, provincial, and municipal government institutions, as well as civil society and private sector partners at the federal, and provincial levels of project working area.
  • Coordinate on behalf of USAID Hamro Samman II with Government of Nepal (GON), civil society, and private sector partners for assessment, research, and study.
  • Represent the project in various technical meetings with relevant stakeholders and government agencies.
• Others:
  • Collaborate with supervisor and carry out the assigned activity.

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS:

• Education:
  • Master’s degree in law, policy and governance, human rights, social justice, international development or other relevant field.
• Technical:
  • Minimum 7 years’ relevant experience in advocacy and policy collaborating with governments, CSOs, and private sector. Must have significant technical knowledge about CTIP and/or foreign migration and working with different governments and justice sector actors.
• Experience:
  • Intensive experience and knowledge on CTIP issues, drivers for TIP, and legislations like HTTCA, FEA, and foreign labor migration.
  • Experience of working with justice sector actors, government, I/NGOs, CSOs working in CTIP.
  • Experience in technical monitoring, advocacy and outreach related to CTIP.
  • Experience of providing technical guidance on CTIP.
  • Experience of working with federal government institutions, as well as Provincial and Local governments.
  • Knowledge of GESI and safeguarding measures for CTIP project implementation preferred.
• Position Specific Skills/Knowledge:
  • Knowledge of compliance and grant management, research, policy advocacy.
  • Technical experience or knowledge of prevailing laws on human trafficking, labor migration and related themes and keep track of the latest amendments and regulations of law.
  • Excellent panning and problem-solving skills and USAID project cycle understanding
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and Nepali required.
  • Good computer skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, data management systems and other office packages.

CORE COMPITENCY:

• Professionalism:
  • Deep technical knowledge of social, economic, and political context governing anti-trafficking and safe migration issues in Nepal and internationally.
  • Proven experience designing and leading complex advocacy initiatives.
  • Proven experience strengthening the organizational and technical capacity of civil society.
  • Proven experience designing and overseeing targeted policy and action-oriented quantitative and qualitative research.
• Planning & Organizing:
  • Ability to plan work and manage conflicting priorities.
• Communication:
  • Excellent spoken and written communication skills, including the ability to liaise with technical staff and present information in a clear and concise style.
  • Fluency in written in English and Nepali.
• Teamwork:
  • Good interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.
• Analytical skills:
  • Ability to analyze information and solve problems with excellent attention to detail.

REQUIRED TRAVEL:

Willing to travel 60% at field level and use the office vehicles (car/motorbike) available during the field visit. Use of motorbikes will be encouraged and put in priority.

We will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis. Applicants who have previously applied need not reapply.

Winrock is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunity for all people and value diversity and inclusiveness. Winrock recruits, employs, trains, promotes, and compensates regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family care status, or any other basis protected by law.

At Winrock we have a clear mission: Empower the disadvantaged, increase economic opportunity, and sustain natural resources through unwavering dedication to accountability, equity, innovation, integrity, and transformation.

Winrock knows that its success comes from the hard work and steadfast dedication of its diverse workforce. Winrock remains committed to maintaining diversity, inclusion, and equity across the entire organization.

All employees should adhere to USAID, and Winrock International’s code of ethics, and specifically child safeguarding and trafficking in persons provisions covered in the project agreement.