Position title: Head, Middle East
Position type: Permanent
Location: Geneva
Purpose of the position: Lead the sovereign and private sector engagement in the Middle East region
Department:Resource Mobilisation and Growth (RMG)
Team: Africa, Asia, Latin America and Middle East
Reports to: Director of Africa, Asia, Latin America & Middle East
N° of positions supervised (if applicable): External consultants
Career step level:5
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance is a public-private partnership committed to saving children’s lives and protecting people’s health by increasing equitable use of vaccines in lower-income countries. The Vaccine Alliance brings together implementing country and donor governments, the World Health Organisation, UNICEF, the World Bank, the vaccine industry, technical agencies, civil society, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and other private sector partners. Gavi uses innovative finance mechanisms, including co-financing by recipient countries, to secure sustainable funding and adequate supply of quality vaccines. Since 2000, Gavi has contributed to the immunisation of more than 1 billion children and the prevention of more than 17.3 million future deaths.
Over the past years, the crisis created by the COVID-19 pandemic continues to be felt. In countries with already fragile health systems, this has had a catastrophic impact. Through the ground-breaking COVAX Facility and the COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC), Gavi is working with the international community to take urgent action in accelerating a COVID-19 vaccine and ensure it becomes available to populations no matter where they live. This is the moment where more resources from diverse and sustainable sources are required, and that available financing must be leveraged strategically and efficiently to unlock the greatest level of impact possible. What is needed now is a comprehensive approach to attract, retain, and multiply the financial and business resources of the private sector, and catalyse transformative innovations to strategically support countries, partners, and the Gavi secretariat as it seeks to ensure sustainability in its ambitious immunisation programmes and safeguard global health security.
The Resource Mobilisation & Growth department supports the Alliance by ensuring sustainable donor financing and enhanced resource innovation. This includes (i) securing donor pledges for the replenishment and deepening relationships with existing donors while helping to elevate Gavi and immunisation on global agendas, (ii) diversifying Gavi’s financing base to include new and emerging donors, development institutions, regional banks, and the private sector (iii) bringing to bear the innovation and resources of the private sector through new and expanded partnerships, innovative financing, and other initiatives; and (iv) leading key fundraising and reporting exercises.
Gavi is active in the Middle East since 2011 and have several donors and partners from both public and private sectors. A breakthrough of this engagement was in 2015 when four new donors from the region became Gavi donors. The region (UAE) has also hosted Gavi last strategic period’s
mid-term reviewin Abu Dhabi in 2018. More recently, and for 2021-2025 programme period, all six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states have come together to support global equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines (COVAX), with cash and in-kind support. Please see this for more details: Gulf countries unite to support COVAX THE ROLE
The role of the Head is to lead on growing Gavi’s sovereign & private sector engagement, shaping and implementing ambitious prospecting and fundraising strategies towards new sovereigns, corporations, foundations, philanthropists, multilateral banks, and other key investors in the Middle East region. The Head will also lead in collaboration with innovative and development finance teams to grow and develop innovative Islamic/social financing mechanisms in support of Gavi programmes. The Head will oversee and manage all existing donor and stakeholders’ relations in the Middle East region.
MAIN DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Sovereign & private sector engagement and fundraising strategies:
- Provide leadership, expert advice, and co-ordination in envisioning, developing, and growing sovereign & private sector engagement, and efforts to mobilise funding and expertise in support of Gavi programmes. Produce strategic pitches, and business & investment cases;
- Anticipate the evolving funding landscape and identify financing structures and new sources of in-kind support to match future Gavi needs. Develop strategic options with senior management for raising resources and selectively developing high-value non-monetary partnerships more effectively;
- Inform and drive structuring and implementation of new instruments to leverage private sector funding and lead associated transactions. Lead outreach to key financial and investors groups, pitch and negotiate financing mix (including existing and new funding windows);
- Identify and develop potential funding/partnerships from the corporate sector, foundations, high net worth individuals and innovative Islamic/social financing mechanisms from the region.
- Propose market-level plans to foster the strategic use of development finance and philanthropic funds to mobilise private capital. Provide advice in markets where there is not enough bandwidth or expertise;
- Think through, develop, and structure individual deals. Build new public and private donor relationships at senior level and play a promotional role in generating new business
Strategic engagement and portfolio oversight of existing donors:
- Initiate and negotiate grant and partnership agreements and renewals;
- Manage relationship with governments and private sector partners. Co-ordinate strategic engagement and operational liaison with senior government representatives and corporate senior executives. Advise Director and Gavi Leadership Team (GLT) on governments’ positions;
- Stay abreast of relevant government policies and decisions and the corporate and foundation landscape in a set of markets. Ensure systematic analysis of funding trends, develop funding targets, and forecast income projections to ensure effective resource mobilisation in these markets;
- Define and implement market engagement strategies.
- Develop, broaden, and strengthen network of high-level influencers and advocates in support of Gavi’s mission. Identify and engage with key centres of political support and influential constituencies and institutions, build bi-partisan constituencies, and mobilise champions;
- Proactively address private and public donor needs and requests. Fulfil donor reporting requirements included in legal agreements. Lead on high quality documentation and reports;
- Ensure effective instruments are in place to manage, forecast and track donor commitments. Develop best-practice public and private donor portfolio management, with appropriate streamlined reporting and results frameworks and management of donor agreements;
- Monitor progress and performance towards agreed log frames and deliverables.
Team management and effective partnership with other teams:
- Manage team activities, lead, guide, coach and develop staff;
- Advise the team on development of engagement strategies in donor countries, building bi-partisan constituencies and mobilising key champions;
- Lead and empower the team to engage with new sovereign and private sector partners;
- Ensure effective collaboration with the Development Finance and Private Sector teams in scouting and developing strategic partnerships with development banks/institutions in the region.
- Facilitate effective partnerships and cross-secretariat initiatives aimed at implementing selected pillars of the resource mobilisation strategy;
- As needed, serve as the focal point with specific teams whose inputs are critical to the strategy process and act as lead in cross-Secretariat discussions;
- Carry out projects assigned by the Director in accordance with the team objectives. Second the Director in managing key relationships and initiatives and represent the organisation’s leadership, as necessary.
Note: The essential functions listed in this section are not exhaustive of the job responsibilities; other duties may be assigned consistently with the department needs.
QUALIFICATIONS
Academic
- Advanced degree in business administration, international relations, public affairs, Middle East studies or other relevant fields.
Work Experience
- Minimum 10 years of relevant experience;
- Familiarity with international development and/or global health;
- Established operational track record of excellence in achieving results;
- Outstanding track record in complex projects management;
- Excellent understanding of key transformations impacting industry and the political environment; demonstrated ability in translating macro trends to the development sector.
- Credibility in public and private engagement, fundraising and partnerships, excellent understanding of both public and private sector perspectives is necessary;
- Demonstrable experience dealing with political and technical governmental and private sector decision-making processes, and ability to operate internationally;
- Experience identifying and articulating strategic issues, trade-offs, and priorities to provide sound advice.
SKILLS/COMPETENCIES
- Detailed knowledge of Middle Eastern region’s political landscape, as well as policies and practices across global health and international development;
- Experience of working in highly complex and demanding environments, understanding of programmatic and fiduciary risks associated with grants;
- Excellent communication and executive presence;
- Demonstrated experience of working in and delivering through multi-partner environments and experience of delivering results through a matrix-style management structure;
- Demonstrated capacity to successfully manage situations of considerable complexity and/or political sensitivity;
- Experience in roles requiring extensive networking, relationship and alliance building;
- Excellent business acumen and ability to translate processes into business value.
- Excellent skills and previous experience in media relations for global multilateral development organisations and knowledge of the global health environment would be a plus.
- Proven ability to influence outside of formal hierarchical structures, and at the highest levels of leadership.
LANGUAGES
- Written and spoken fluency in English is required.
- Written and spoken fluency in Arabic is highly desirable.
CONTACTS
- Gavi Secretariat;
- Gavi Partners
- Donor Government and development agencies, private sector, foundation development banks and other investors;
- Media;
- Other key stakeholders.
If you wish to apply, please provide a cover letter and resume through our Careers webpage and apply by clicking on “Head, New Investors, Middle East. Deadline for applications is July 18th 2024.
In support of Gavi’s commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion, we hire globally and welcome applications regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, national origin, family status, sex, gender identity or expression, physical characteristics, race, religion, spirituality or sexual orientation. Gavi has zero tolerance towards sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse as well as any form of discrimination or harassment. Everyone at Gavi is expected to conduct themselves with integrity and respect towards each other. Gavi is committed to creating a work environment that is safe and professional, therefore all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference checks. Read more here.
Gavi brings together the public and private sectors to save lives and protect people’s health by increasing equitable and sustainable use of vaccines against 18 infectious diseases. You will be joining an organisation at the centre of the international COVID-19 response, at the most critical time in global health in a lifetime. You will work in a culturally diverse environment with over 70 nationalities. You will collaborate with partners such as WHO, UNICEF, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the World Bank – and from business, civil society and government. And you will work in the first global health organisation to receive equal gender salary certification. Your unique experience, skills and talents can help us achieve our vision of leaving no one behind without the life-saving power of vaccines.