Regional Partnership Advisor at Danish Refugee Council

Overall purpose of the role

Reporting to the Chief of Party, the Partnership Advisor (PA) will be responsible for the oversight and provision of technical support to respective partnership units/focal points in country operations to ensure partners are adhering to project deliverables, DRC compliance procedures, and technical implementation standards. The PA will be responsible for ensuring country delivery teams and mechanisms regarding partnerships are fit for purpose, and provide day-to-day solutions to operational challenges. The PA will work alongside leads within the Project Management Unit to closely track project deliverables and maintain close communication with DRC regional office. 

Responsibilities:  

• Substantially coordinate partnership capacity assessments with in country teams ensuring assessments capture absorption capacity, and implementation frameworks are in line with donor and DRC requirements; 
• Lead on the development of partnership units with in country teams ensuring all partners are adhering to project deliverables;  
• Support the COP and Grants Management Coordinator on contributing to addressing in a timely manner all comments by donors on proposals and reports with strong coordination with DRC HQ GMU and finance; 
• Provide ad-hoc support to programme PMU staff related to involvement of partners; 
• Provide day-to-day support to project Country Leads for the development, planning and management of partnership  
• Support the coordination and communication between the project team and the DRC Country Offices to ensure optimal cooperation and collaboration so that project is supported, integrated, and follows all applicable DRC policies and processes; 
• When assigned, take responsibility for implementing specific risk mitigation measures outlined in the EMP Risk Matrix; and 
• Provide support on ensuring implementing partners are utilizing technical optimal approaches to implementation across all sectors. This will require close coordination with the Emergency Technical Advisor to ensure global standards are harmonized across all country operations.  
• Lead on the compilation and consolidation of reporting from in-country partnerships and conduct Real Time Reviews to feed into MEAL mechanisms established.  

Qualifications and Experience

• Minimum bachelor’s degree in in relevant field. 
• 8-10 years’ experience in managing the implementation of complex programmes, including the involvement of implementing partners 
• Experience in working in consortia with multi-donors, multi-partners 
• Experience of working with large awards 
• Excellent organisational and planning skills 
• Proven ability to work independently, with a clear understanding of risk escalation requirements 
• Proven ability to propose creative solutions to challenges, and proven ability deliver results within a flexible and adaptive framework 
• Proven capability in budget and financial management, VFM, and needs-based cost reduction 
• Successful experience working within culturally and politically diverse teams and institutions, in a fluid and dynamic environment 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including ability to engage diplomatically 
• Knowledge of Swahili, Amharic or Somali an added advantage. 
• Previous experience in the Horn of Africa or East Africa desirable.