Partnership Coordinator

TITLE: Partnership Coordinator (Maternity Cover)
TEAM/PROGRAMME: Program Operations LOCATION: Kabul Country Office
GRADE: NAT 3 CONTRACT LENGTH: 6 months

CHILD SAFEGUARDING: Level 3: The post holder will have contact with children and/or young people either frequently (e.g. once a week or more) or intensively (e.g. four days in one month or more or overnight) because they work country programs; or are visiting country programs; or because they are responsible for implementing the police checking/vetting process staff.

ROLE PURPOSE:
The Partnership Coordinator will be based in the Country office, with solid reporting to the Partnership Manager and close working with the Education department in the GPE STG project.

Afghanistan CO is embarking on a light-touch Country Strategic Plan CSP refresh considering the contextual changes and directives from the defector authorities especially in Health and Nutrition and Education Sector. To manage the transition and drive the new vision, the CO wants to review, align and strengthen its partnership strategy, program and award management and donor compliance. The CO is in the process of working out a new partnership strategy and strengthening award management and donor compliance in line with the new context.

Partnership Coordinator takes the lead role as focal point for SCIs engagement with local/national/international partners at their respective field/area level. The overall aim of the Partnership Coordinator will be to lead the implementation of partnership ways of working and procedures at the field/area level. The post holder is responsible for ensuring staff and partners’ capacities at her/his respective field/area are developed to ensure quality programming to children. The post holder will be expected to coordinate overall partnership management function at field/area level, which includes facilitate standard partner assessments and selection process, programme co-design and budgeting with partners, facilitate partner capacity strengthening plans and development, feeding information to CO on staff capacity strengthening, and joint implementation and monitoring of the programme. In coordinating and facilitating the process, the post holder will be in consultation with and supported by GPE team, particularly Education team, Programme/Project Manager, and other relevant functions such as Technical Team.

SCOPE OF ROLE:
Reports to: Partnership Manager
Staff reporting to this post: N/A
Direct: 0
Indirect: 0
Budget Responsibilities: None

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:
In line with SC’s Partnership Functions Matrix, key functions are:

Coordinating the overall partnership management function at CO Office particularly in GPE STG project:
• Ensure coordination and implementation of the partnership management among different functions at CO as adherence to partnership procedures and tools (e.g. coordinated operational system for partnerships across projects, programmes, support team, technical team, and partnerships).
• With support and endorsement from the Education team and Partnership Manager, ensure staff and resources coverage for partnership functions.
• Provide inputs to HR and the Partnership Manager on the needed training/orientations to staff and GPE partners.
• Coordinate and/or facilitate safer partnership process (COSA assessment, where applicable)
• Documenting lessons learned and practices related to partnerships in their respective office.
Develop and manage the partner relationships:
• Ensure that relations with partners respect SC’s Partnership Principles and are aligned with SCs Approach to Humanitarian Action.
• Together with education GPE team, maintain engagement with and become as main focal point for all partners (strategic, implementation, network/alliance) in the office.
• Scoping of key actors and/or potential partners in the office
• Partner selection for assessments, constituting the assessment team together with the programme operations team. The team make the recommendation for the way forward with the partner based on which the decision is taken by their respective education team, the relevant programme/project manager and potentially the relevant technical team and consulted with the Partnership Manager.
• Initiate discussion to gather emerging child right issues and to co-create or co-design programme (as necessary, involving technical team such MEAL, TAs, and/or Specialists).
• Ensure partnership and risk assessments are conducted (either directly or facilitate the processes).
• Coordinating the process in carrying out regular Monitoring in Partnership covering the complete 4 aspects: health of partnership, SC and donor compliances (include financial), programme/project delivery, and capacity strengthening partners. This includes coordinating with relevant department/function involved in the monitoring at their respective file/are office.
• Feedback mechanisms: partner satisfaction survey and MEAL partnership standards, including monitoring the health of partnership using the partnership effectiveness monitoring tool.
• Ensure overall coordinated communication with partners.

Support award management:
• Depending on structure and staff be responsible for or support Award Managers to, as well as in close coordination with the respective Programme/Project Manager:
o In consultation with Award Team, draw-up contract/agreement/MoU.
o Coordinate or facilitate partner’s involvement in kick-off meetings.
o Ensure the understanding of partners on risk and financial operational compliance.
o In coordination with Award Team and Field Finance Team, conduct compliance investigations as needed.
o Ensure capacity strengthening addresses related risks and compliance issues

General:
• Comply with Save the Children policies and practice with respect to child safeguarding, code of conduct, health and safety, equal opportunities and other relevant policies and procedures.

Creativity:
• Innovative solutions for problem in field

Integrity:
• Honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity.

QUALIFICATIONS
Required
• University degree in Business Administration, Finance or relevant field.
Desirable
• At least five (5) years of work experience in grants management, capacity development areas, or partnership background preferably with international NGOs.
EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
• Very good spoken and written Dari, Pashto – strong understanding of English language is essential.
• Able to travel inside Afghanistan.
• Good working skills on computer (Microsoft office).
• Good communication and interpersonal relation skills.
• Ability to work independently in the field and country office.
• A good team player & problem solver.
• Excellent in report writing.

In the event of a significant humanitarian emergency, the post-holder will be expected to work outside their normal job description; vary their working hours; and occasionally work from a different location should the need arise.

Additional job responsibilities
The duties and responsibilities set out above are not exhaustive and the post holder may be required to carry out additional duties from time to time which are reasonable in relation to their level of skills and experience.
Equal Opportunities
The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.
Child Safeguarding:
We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.
Safeguarding our Staff:
The post holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI anti-harassment policy.
Health and Safety
The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.