Partnerships Officer

The position’s purpose is to support Partnership Specialists and senior management in deepening collaboration with key stakeholders and helping to provide an interface for environmental scanning, knowledge exchange, resource mobilization, and policy influence within the scope of assignment.  The key result is to ensure greater visibility for UNICEF and influence in support of its mission.

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks:

• Contribute to the implementation of the work plan for assigned area, to ensure timely and cost-effective delivery of results, in accordance with UNICEF’s partnership strategy.
• Build and maintain UNICEF’s partnerships, by supporting the development and implementation of standards and guidance for UNICEF partnerships; formulation of work plans and strategies.
• Support the development of frameworks and templates and review partner agreements and amendments for senior staff approval, ensuring compliance with UNICEF rules and regulations.
• Maintain up-to-date information on partner and income trends, analyse development assistance policies and keep resource partner profiles updated.
• Help supervisor maintain effective relationships with member states, UN agencies, NGOs, host government and other partners, in order to keep them informed on important, strategic operational UNICEF issues.
• Attend meetings with the UN and other multilateral bodies, NGOs, member states, taking notes, sharing information, and supporting joint information programmes to increase UNICEF’s profile, and protect its interests.
• Contribute to ideas for opportunities to develop new and existing synergies with other UN agencies to senior external partnership officers in order to support a more effective and efficient approach to programme delivery
• Assist with the preparation of information to provide to member states, UN agencies, NGOs, host government and other partners on the strategy, design, relevance and impact of programmes, to advocate the work of UNICEF.
• Collate and share relevant discussion and feedback on programme activities and issues of priority to UNICEF, gathered from member states, UN agencies, NGOs, host government and other partners, to engage them with inter-governmental/inter-agency discussion and inform future activities.
• Gather inputs from UNICEF that will contribute to inter-governmental/inter-agency work, to ensure that UNICEF positions are properly explained and taken into account in decision making
• Maintain awareness of current activities, political and social events of UN and other multilateral bodies/governments, conduct analysis to understand how they may impact UNICEF activities and programmes and provide timely information to UNICEF staff for decision-making.
• Conduct research on perspective new partners for UNICEF, and provide analysis of the areas of work, outreach, financial based and reputation of prospective partners.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements:

• Education: A university degree (bachelor’s degree or equivalent) is required in one of the following fields: international relations, political science, communications, international development, or another relevant technical field.
• Work Experience: A minimum of two years of professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required: public affairs, programme management, resource mobilization, external relations, or other relevant area.

Skills :

• Current knowledge of development issues, strategies, as well as programming policies and procedures in international development cooperation.
• Strong communications skills, verbal and written.
• Strong networking and negotiation skills
• Strong familiarity with political and governmental processes
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious working relationships, both within and outside the organisation.
• Advanced knowledge of partnership development and resource mobilization.
• Ability to conduct sound policy analysis.
• Ability to contribute to formulation of strategies and policies.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

Source:  https://jobs.unicef.org/cw/en-us/job/577668