Background/Context

Since 2015, NRC Nigeria has been working to help displacement affected communities meet their basic needs, improve their livelihoods, access essential services, and enhance their resilience to future shocks through our six core competencies: water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), Shelter, Education, Information, Counselling and Legal Assistance (ICLA), Livelihoods and Food Security (LFS), Camp Management, and Protection. NRC provides immediate assistance during the onset of emergencies through the rapid response mechanism (RRM). In 2021, NRC reached over 269,000 people with assistance.

The crisis in Nigeria is marked by brutal violence against civilians causing acute humanitarian needs and displacement. In the north-east, the 13-year conflict has shattered lives, infrastructure, basic services, and social fabric.

Two million people are internally displaced across Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states. Approximately half of these are living within local communities, putting increasing pressure on scarce resources. Access to food is limited, particularly in Borno state where most families are already facing crisis levels of food insecurity. Civilians, including aid workers, continue to be the target of deadly attacks by non-state armed groups and transport corridors are persistently insecure.

In the north-west and north-central regions, violence and displacement are rooted in disputes over land and resources, which has been worsened by climate change. Criminality is on the rise.

Livelihood opportunities are scarce, and children face an uncertain future, unable to access quality education. Many families have either lost identity papers while fleeing or never obtained them, hindering their ability to access essential services

The position holder will also oversee the establishment of the NRC Nigeria Partnerships’ Facility “Naija First” which aims at providing flexible funding to partners to strengthen their institutional foundation, advocacy, and human resources capacity.

What we are looking for 

Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is rapidly expanding partnership portfolio of national organizations in Nigeriain order to rapidly scale up services delivery and enhance localization commitments.

NRC is seeking an experienced Partnership Manager to  provide leadership for all the work with local partners across the response as it works to build the ownership, capacity, and resources of local partners to effectively respond to humanitarian needs in the country.

This position will lead the development and implementation of the partnership strategy that contributes to programme sustainability and high-quality programs. Leads implementation of the core process of partnership management.

What you will do 

• The Partnerships  Manager will identify and map potential partners in Nigeria including but not limited to exploratory missions, analyzing opportunities and preparing RFPs
• Managing partners’ performance and objectives achievements against the set action plans but also to ensure parents work is aligned deliverables oversight
• Contribute to the identification, design, formulation and negotiation of new projects and programs and draft concept notes and project briefs for discussion with partners.
• Coordinate technical and financial requirements, and negotiate proposals to conclude new project agreements.
• Drafts agreements and/or contractual documents required for the signature and implementation of new projects.
• Support the Head of Programmes and other relevant staff in organizing meetings and engagements with relevant local actors, and during meetings, follow-ups, and negotiations with partners in order to achieve the most cost-effective and mutually beneficial terms for NRC engagement with prospective partners.
• Promote NRC’s learning and skills transfer with its partners, showcasing partnership success and lead reflections on the key challenges of working in programmepartnership..
• Proactively solve conflicts and address issues and misunderstandings that could occur between NRC and various partners.
• Identify training and capacity-building needs for NRC staff and contribute to developing a culture of equitable partnership based on key NRC principles, improving collaboration with various stakeholders in Nigeria.

Please download the Job Description_Partnership Manager Nigeria Abuja to learn more about the position.

What you will bring 

Professional Competencies

• Minimum 5 years of experience of grants management and programmatic implementation in a humanitarian/recovery context
• Good skills and experience in all aspects of programme cycle management – design and development, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation
• Experience from working in complex and volatile contexts
• Experience in mainstreaming protection concepts within a humanitarian operation.
• Ability to coordinate tasks and work processes and work with short deadlines
• Documented results related to the position’s responsibilities
• Experience with facilitating and leading internal organisational processes.
• Fluency in English, both written and verbal

Context related skills, knowledge and experience 

• Previous experience of working with local partners
• Diplomacy and facilitation skills are essential
• Knowledge of Nigeria context
• Advanced computer skills, especially in Word, Excel, Power Point and Outlook.

Behavioural competencies

• Strategic thinking
• Initiate action and change
• Empowering and building trust
• Influencing and consensus building
• Analysing
• Coordinating and communicating effectively
• Leadership and conflict resolution

Publication closing – 12^th February 2024

What we offer 

• Duty station: Nigeria, Abuja
• Contract: national contract, 12 months
• Travel: up to 40%
• Salary/benefits: grade 9 on NRC’s national salary scale
• NRC is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to diversity and highly encourage potential female applicants to apply!  We think outside the box, encourage ideas, and give responsibility to all employees at all levels. You will have many opportunities to be heard and take the initiative.

Find out more about the benefits of working for NRC https://www.nrc.no/career/what-we-offer/

Important information about the application process

When creating your profile, include your full name as given on your passport. Complete all the system-required fields for experience, employment history and education.

We receive many applicants for each vacant position; therefore, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Kindly send any questions in relation to the application process to: cwa.recruitment@nrc.no. Applications sent via email will not be accepted. Please check your application status on your NRC application profile