Description
Are you a very passionate advocate for education? Do you want to make a difference in the lives of children? The Global Partnership for Education Secretariat (GPE) would like to hear from you.
Who We Are
GPE is a shared commitment to end the world’s learning crisis. It is the only global partnership and fund dedicated entirely to helping children in lower-income countries get a quality education, so they can unlock their potential and contribute to building a better world. We bring together governments, teachers, civil society, donors, United Nations agencies, development banks, businesses and private foundations to transform education systems so that every girl and boy can have hope, opportunity and agency.
What We Do
GPE helps low- and lower-middle-income countries to build stronger education systems so that all children can get the education they need to thrive. We currently support nearly 90 countries where the needs are greatest and focus on reaching the children who are the most vulnerable, including girls, children with disabilities and those affected by extreme poverty or conflict. Our unique approach works. Since 2002, 160 million more children in GPE partner countries have set foot in classrooms for the first time, more than half of them girls. GPE is also the largest provider of education grants in the global COVID-19 response, providing partner countries with vital resources to ensure that learning can safely continue.
How We Work
Now, GPE is working to help governments transform their education systems to get the most vulnerable children in school, improve teaching and learning, and build equitable, inclusive and resilient education systems fit for the 21st century. Between 2020-2025, GPE will support transformative change in up to 90 countries and territories, which are home to 1 billion children. Transforming education is about creating lasting changes and achieving impact at scale. GPE sets out to deliver this transformative change by convening partners, mobilizing funds and catalyzing reforms to help partner countries accelerate access, learning outcomes and gender equality.
Raise Your Hand
In July 2021, the Global Education Summit put GPE firmly on the path to be fully-funded by 2025, by raising a record US $4 billion from donors for GPE’s Raise Your Hand campaign. At the Summit, Heads of State and Government from partner countries made historic commitments to education financing and GPE also mobilized an unprecedented number of pledges from businesses, private foundations and development banks.
A fully funded GPE would support transformed education systems in up to 90 countries and territories, enable up to 175 million children to learn and help get 88 million more girls and boys in school by 2025. In the longer term, this investment could add $164 billion to economies in GPE partner countries, lift 18 million people out of poverty, and protect 2 million girls from early marriage.
Governance And Organizational Arrangements
The GPE Board of Directors includes ministerial-level board members and alternates representing 20 constituencies that reflect the Partnership’s breadth. The Board Chair is HE President Jakaya Kikwete and the Board Vice Chair is Christine Hogan. The Board of Directors, with its three standing committees, provides policy and strategic oversight and approves or delegates funding decisions.
The GPE Secretariat, with 160 employees and hosted by the World Bank, is responsible for translating the policies and strategies set by the Board into practical support for partner countries, coordinating with diverse stakeholders and galvanizing global support for SDG4. The Secretariat’s headquarters are in the World Bank’s offices in Washington, D.C. and the European office is in Paris with a satellite office in Brussels and a support office in Chennai.
ABOUT THE TEAM
The External Relations team (EXR) responsibilities include donor relations, communications, advocacy, civil society outreach, private sector and private foundation outreach and it has the primary responsibility for overseeing GPE’s Financing Campaigns.
The Private Sector and Foundations Team (PS&F) is part of the External Relations Team (EXR) and drives GPE’s engagement plans with the private sector and foundations. The team also manages the Secretariat’s support to the Private Foundations and the Private Sector constituencies.
ABOUT THE JOB
This position will be based initially in Paris or Brussels.
Description
The Lead Private Foundations will play a critical role in driving GPE’s philanthropic partnerships and engagement strategies, with a primary focus on scaling relationships with private foundations, and philanthropic organizations to support GPE’s mission. This position involves high-level strategic thinking, extensive relationship management, and close collaboration across internal teams and external stakeholders to maximize resource mobilization and partnership opportunities
The successful candidate will report to the Team Lead and work closely with the Manager of External Relations, the Country Engagement and Policy Team, and the Governance Team. This position will require exceptional leadership, influence, and the ability to represent GPE at the highest levels with philanthropic stakeholders globally.
Duties And Accountabilities
Strategic Leadership and Partnership Development:
– Lead the implementation of GPE’s Foundations Engagement Plan, working closely with senior leadership to ensure alignment with GPE’s overarching goals and resource mobilization objectives.
– Provide senior-level advisory support to the Team Lead and senior leadership on emerging trends in global philanthropy, innovative financing mechanisms, and best practices in philanthropic engagement.
– Drive high-level relationship management with GPE’s foundation partners, ensuring that GPE’s value proposition is clearly articulated and that partner expectations are managed effectively.
High-Level Engagement and Resource Mobilization:
– Ensure the timely execution of commitments and partnerships announced at the Global Education Summit (GES) 2021, working with internal and external stakeholders to convert commitments into actionable and impactful partnerships.
– Oversee philanthropic convening efforts, developing strategies to engage private foundations in GPE’s global and regional initiatives, ensuring their contributions align with GPE’s goals and funding needs.
– Champion and leverage GPE’s Technical Assistance Initiatives as key entry points for engagement for private foundations to provide targeted support, capacity building, and knowledge sharing across partner countries.
– Contribute to the development of the team’s private sector and foundations’ pledging framework and plan for GPE’s 5th replenishment campaign.
Leadership and Stakeholder Management:
– Serve as the senior focal point for GPE’s foundation partners, providing high-level advise and coordination to ensure smooth implementation of partnerships and maximum engagement from philanthropic stakeholders.
– Oversee the engagement of foundation partners in GPE’s governance structures, supporting the integration of philanthropic perspectives into GPE’s strategic direction.
– Coordinate high-level meetings with GPE leadership and philanthropic partners, including organizing and facilitating strategic discussions with key decision-makers in the philanthropic sector.
– Represent GPE at international forums and conferences, promoting GPE’s partnership model, resource mobilization efforts, and strategic priorities in the philanthropic community.
– Build and maintain strong networks with key philanthropic associations such as the International Education Funders Group, ensuring that GPE remains a key player in global education philanthropy conversations.
Cross-team Collaboration
– Work collaboratively across GPE teams, including External Relations, Country Engagement, Funding and Grants Operations and Governance, to ensure coherent and aligned partnership development and resource mobilization efforts.
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting
Track and report on the impact of philanthropic partnerships, ensuring that engagement activities are effectively measured and contribute to GPE’s long-term goals.
Contribute to reporting requirements for GPE’s Senior Leadership, providing insights on the progress of philanthropic engagements and partnerships.
Ensure adherence to internal processes and compliance standards related to partnership agreements, due diligence screening, legal frameworks, and governance structures for philanthropic engagement.
Selection Criteria
Education
Master’s degree in relevant field of study or equivalent experience.
Experience
Minimum 10 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Relevant partnership development experience and engagement with foundations, including working within a comparable international organization or partnership, and a strong familiarity with developing countries.
Expertise in two or more of the following areas: project lead and co-creation/cooperation development in global education, health, or other areas relevant to the work of the Global Partnership;
Competencies
Accountability & Results Focus – Engages in productive consultation without losing sight of responsibility for own, and team, decisions, deliverables and deadlines. Doesn’t let the pursuit of perfection prevent forward progress, in self or on teams. Seeks clarity from colleagues or leadership team when needed; Helps junior staff get needed clarity to move work forward; works within and across teams to remove obstacles and resolve issues. Takes ownership of own mistakes, failures or oversights, and seeks to correct them; Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team mistakes. Manages differences of opinion to productive resolution so as not to impede progress. Ensures group efforts produce clear actions and decisions and tasks conclude.
Adaptability – Models flexibility – responds to changing circumstances by innovating and altering behavior to better fit different situations. Learns new skills, performs work in different ways and coaches team members to do the same. Exerts a calming influence on colleagues and staff in stressful situations. Professionally deals with personal discomfort in a changing work environment and helps others do so.
Collaboration & Teamwork – Views the whole of the Secretariat as greater than sum of the parts and works collaboratively with colleagues with shared goals in mind. Acts as a teammate; steps in to supports teammates and colleagues across teams as needed, regardless of organizational boundaries. Recognizes, values and reinforces the role of each team in delivering on GPE’s mission. Approaches challenges and obstacles as shared challenges to be overcome and leads groups to this outcome. Fosters productive group dynamics and actively seeks and considers diverse ideas and approaches. Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when decisions don’t reflect own position.
Communication & Interpersonal Skills – Has extensive experience & success working in multicultural environments. Speaks and writes clearly and effectively, adapting language, tone, style and message to diverse, multicultural audiences, internally and externally. Skilled at communicating complex information in succinct and digestible ways; coaches others to develop this skill. Shares information and keeps people informed; Operates with transparency, in a way that builds trust in a culturally diverse environment; Within and across teams, addresses behaviors that undermine transparency and trust. Maintains productive working relationships with colleagues and holds team members responsible for doing the same. Engages in active listening and two-way conversation. Asks questions for clarification and responds to others appropriately. Learns from others’ ideas and expertise.
Planning & Organizing – Works well independently and in teams. Develops clear goals aligned to agreed strategies and direction. Plans and prioritizes work effectively, for self and assigned teams Works under pressure and against tight timelines, and still delivers high-quality work. Manages own and team time efficiently, and delegates appropriately. Foresees risks and identifies mitigation strategies and contingencies.
Conceptual and Analytical Skills – Expert level research skills and experience developing them in others. Extensive experience leading efforts to quickly analyze and synthesize information from technical reports and other sources, summarize it into key messages, and use it for political influencing. Experience modeling analytical and problem-solving skills for junior staff and guiding them in applying them to their operational tasks. Strategic thinker with ability to translate strategy into tactical actions.
Foundational Technical Knowledge in Education & Development – Experience supporting work on education and/or development issues in low and middle income countries. Understanding of the policy process. Understanding of unique considerations in fragile and conflict affected contexts. Knowledge of stakeholders, major issues and challenges. Knowledge and/or experience in one or more of the following GPE focus areas: Education finance, education planning and management, education in fragile contexts, girls’ education, inclusive education, learning, teacher development, other areas relevant to work of GPE.
Relationship Management – For foundations, deep knowledge of the organizations and their unique characteristics, and strong professional network with key players. Understanding of, and sensitivity to, stakeholder perspectives, interests and needs and their intersection with GPE’s goals and interests. Extensive experience forging and managing relationships and developing partnerships that expand the reach and impact of the organization. Strong influencing and negotiation skills; Skilled at getting alignment behind a common goal, and support for specific courses of action or solutions. Possesses strong political judgment, diplomatic sense, conflict resolution and problem-solving skills.
Representation Skills – Well-rounded with a broad base of knowledge about GPE, its partners, its work, its challenges and its impact (not expected for external candidates). Expert ability to think and respond quickly and extemporaneously with tact and diplomacy, and to present a credible and convincing presence. Ability to represent GPE and the full range of its activities and products to external stakeholders. Thorough understanding of the political landscape within which GPE and its partner countries operate.
BENEFITS FOR THIS POSITION
Term appointments include, but are not limited to, medical benefits, including dental and vision, Staff Retirement Plan, financial assistance program, life & disability insurance, comprehensive leave policy (minimum 26 days/annum) and parental leave policy (50-100 days).
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
Poverty has no borders. Neither does excellence. This is why we continually search for qualified individuals with a diverse set of backgrounds from around the globe. We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, creed, race, color, ethnicity, sexual orientation or disability.
GPE has a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment in line with its PSEAH policy.
Individuals with disabilities may be provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential functions of the role and support in receiving other workplace accommodations. Please contact the DAF-Disability Accommodation Fund at disabilityfund@worldbank.org for further information and support.
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We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.
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