Consultant External Partnerships Officer, Antananarivo, Madagascar (6 months)

.

WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status or disability.

ABOUT WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. The mission of WFP is to end global hunger. Every day, WFP works worldwide to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women and children, can access the nutritious food they need.

In emergencies, WFP gets food to where it is needed, saving the lives of victims of war, civil conflict and natural disasters. After an emergency, WFP uses food to help communities rebuild their shattered lives. Present in nearly 80 countries, the organization has the global footprint, deep field presence and local knowledge and relationships necessary to provide access to nutritious food and contribute to the lasting solutions, especially in many of the world’s most remote and fragile areas. We manage an operating budget of approximately $5.9 billion each year, distributing 12.6 billion rations to those most in need. We reach an average of 80 million people with food assistance in around 80 countries each year. The World Food Programme office in Johannesburg is a Regional Office coordinating and supporting the delivery of humanitarian assistance and providing technical support to 12 Southern Africa countries including, Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Republic of Congo, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

For more on WFP and what we do, please go to http://www.wfp.org/videos/zero-hunger

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

Under the direct supervision and leadership of the WFP Madagascar Country, the head of the Partnership/Reporting Unit will guide the WFP’s resource mobilization efforts, including from source of funding and enhanced partnerships, as well as ensure that reporting and communications efforts contribute to enhancing the visibility of WFP’s work in Madagascar.

JOB PURPOSE

Guided by the Corporate Partnership Strategy, the position manages effective relationships and collaboration with external partners in order to meet WFP strategic objectives. Represents WFP externally to safeguard and promote WFP interests and ensure a flow of relevant information between WFP and partners, and propose opportunities for synergies that maximize results.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Advanced university degree in Political Science, International Relations, Development studies or any other academic field such as, Journalism, International Relations, Communications.

Experience: 6 years or more of postgraduate professional experience in a relevant field of work, with a background and interest in international humanitarian development

Language: Fluency level (C) in both written and spoken English Language. Proficiency in French is desirable.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

1. Manage and lead the External Relations Unit to enable high performance. 2. Lead the implementation of the work plan for an assigned area by overseeing and delivering activities that identify, develop and maintain donor partnerships and reporting and maximize funding and visibility. 3. Manage a team composed of both national and international reporting and communications staff. 4. Develop work plans, monitor performance against objectives, and ensure appropriate development to enable high performance.

Partnerships: 5. Oversee and manage a portfolio of partnerships, soliciting contributions, providing donor stewardship, forecasting, negotiating changes and assessing results, to maximize resources raised. 6. Provide advice to management and other staff in order to assist them to effectively manage and mobilize donor resources. 7. Ensure senior management is adequately equipped to conduct negotiations for contributions and partnership agreements, in line with internal policies and external regulations 8. Ensure the preparation of top-quality donor proposals and appeals according to opportunities identified, as well as the delivery of specific donor reporting as required. 9. Provide advice and briefs on resourcing issues to management and staff, participate to relevant committees/processes to ensure issues are addressed. 10. Coordinate with the Programme unit the development, and ensure the regular review, of the Partnership Action Plan (PAP) to serve the objectives of the CSP. Analyze data and propose well-researched ideas to

Senior government partnerships officers for strategies to maintain and increase funding from new and traditional donors, in line with the PAP: 11. Inform new and potential donors on the strategy, design, relevance and impact of programmes, to advocate for the work of WFP. 12. Build and maintain effective relationships with representatives of government donors through appropriate channels and participate in regular donor meetings. 13. Contribute to preparedness actions, providing technical recommendations and guidance and monitoring the management of risks.

Reporting: 14. Oversee and ensure the effective information management and reporting requirements (corporate and country-specific) through the Partnerships/Reporting Unit are met, as well as the preparation of the annual performance reporting through Annual Country Reports (ACR). 15. Ensure briefing documents and accurate reporting for senior level management meetings, on donors and resourcing status of programmes, identifying trends and issues, and proposing solutions, to enable informed decision-making and action planning by senior stakeholders.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (continued)

Communications: 16. Develop, maintain and update an appropriate work plan for the assigned area, which implements the corporate communications strategy, in order to maintain and enhance the visibility and reputation of WFP, and support fundraising activities. 17. Plan, manage and evaluate communications campaigns that favorably impact the views of the public, opinion leaders and donors in order to raise WFP’s profile and support fundraising activities. 18. Oversee the preparation communications products that effectively convey the desired message to targeted audience(s). 19. Supervise the production of donor specific visibility content including, text, photos, videos and audio for use across a range of integrated online platforms, in order to support global and country fundraising activities, ensuring consistency with corporate messages. 20. Build capacity of WFP staff on all aspects of external relations communication, providing advice, guidance and training to ensure consistent, quality communications activities that deliver the desired impact. 21. Other tasks as required.

4Ps CORE ORGANISATIONAL CAPABILITIES

P****urpose

• Understand and communicate the Strategic Objectives: Utilizes understanding of WFP’s Strategic Objectives to communicate linkages to team objectives and work.
• Be a force for positive change: Proactively identifies and develops new methods or improvements for self and immediate team to address work challenges within own work area.
• Make the mission inspiring to our team: Identifies opportunities to further align individual contributions with WFP’s mission of making an impact on local communities.
• Make our mission visible in everyday actions: Helps colleagues to see the link between their individual tasks and the contributions of their unit’s goals to the broader context of WFP’s mission.

People

• Look for ways to strengthen people's skills: Is able to identify, support and encourage focused on-the-job learning opportunities to address gaps between current skillsets and needed future skillsets for WFP.
• Create an inclusive culture: Recognizes the contributions of teammates, and encourages contributions from culturally different team mates to recognise the value of diversity above and beyond just including it in programming for beneficiaries.
• Be a coach & provide constructive feedback: Provides and solicits ongoing constructive feedback on strengths and development opportunities to help develop individual skills, whilst also helping others identify areas for improvement.
• Create an “I will”/”We will” spirit: Sets clear targets for self and others to focus team efforts in ambiguous situations (e.g., unprecedented issues and/or scenarios).

Performance

• Encourage innovation & creative solutions: Thinks beyond team’s conventional approaches to formulate creative methods for delivering food aid and assistance to beneficiaries.
• Focus on getting results: Maintains focus on achieving individual results in the face of obstacles such as volatile or fragile environments and/or organizational roadblocks.
• Make commitments and make good on commitments: Takes personal accountability for upholding and delivering upon team’s commitments and provides assurance to stakeholders.
• Be Decisive: Demonstrates ability to adjust to team’s plans and priorities to optimize outcomes in light of evolving directives, while also responding quickly in high-pressure environments, such as in emergency settings.

Partnership

• Connect and share across WFP units: Demonstrates an understanding of when and how to tactfully engage other units in conversations on impact, timing, or planning.
• Build strong external partnerships: Networks regularly with key external partners using formal and informal opportunities to understand each partner’s unique value proposition, and to build and strengthen relationships.
• Be politically agile & adaptable: Demonstrates ability to adapt engagement approach in the context of evolving partner circumstances and expectations.
• Be clear about the value WFP brings to partnerships: Demonstrates ability to articulate to internal and external audiences the value that individual contributions and immediate teams bring to partnerships.

FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITIES

Capability Name Description of the behaviour expected for the proficiency level Relationship Management Demonstrates ability to formulate and maintain strong relationships and develop networks with appropriate stakeholders. Leads in implementing identified strategy to raise the profile of WFP, build relationships and further organisational aims. Communication Expertise Facilitates and contributes to open verbal or written communication with stakeholders as required (i.e. through preparation of targeted written or visual communications materials, presentations, and official documentation) to convey tailored messages. Engages in mutually informative discussion with partners and influencers. Information Analytics, Reporting and Management Gathers, analyses and reports information in a manner that draws out fact-based insights to inform approach to partner relationships and support substantive discussion with partners. Captures relevant information and progress, and ensures internal information sharing. Sociopolitical Contextual Understanding Shows good understanding of the multilateral/interagency environment and the dynamics in which WFP operates to formulate recommendations to management which will inform decision making. NGO, UN and Other Partner Collaboration Guides interpretation of WFP’s partnering approach. Contributes to the determination of engagement strategies that inform WFP’s relationships with specific partners. Analyses and identifies new synergies with existing partners and explores new partnership opportunities.

OTHER SPECIFIC JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Partnership Action Plan is published, regularly reviewed and strengthened to match needs
• Knowledge management on donors, resources and constrains regularly conducted for CO and other offices
• Donor briefing documents prepared in time as required
• High quality donor proposals and reports timely submitted
• Donor field visits timely organized
• Unit staff duly trained to produce high quality reporting and funding proposals
• Successfully overseen OIM and reporting initiatives
• Defined quality standards were assured in all processes and products.
• Communications and visibility plans in place
• WFP mentions in local media ensured

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE

• Has led the implementation of resource mobilization work plans within area of expertise
• Has managed teams of more junior staff with related areas of expertise
• Has conducted negotiations for contributions and partnership agreements in line with internal established policies and procedures and external regulations
• Has provided resourcing analysis and prepared accurate and timely briefs as well as reporting to donors
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including substantive analysis and writing skills

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

Closing Date: 15 April 2022 at 11:59PM, Madagascar time

.

All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. Therefore, all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.