Partnerships Officer

Overall purpose of the role

• DRC is seeking a dynamic and self-motivated individual to implement our strategic partnerships framework and systems at country level, with the objective of strengthening our current and future partnerships with national NGOs, community-based organizations, civil society, the private sector and research institutes.
• The partnerships officer will map out and identify new partnership opportunities, assess partner organization capacities, facilitate relevant capacity strengthening support, ensure donor compliance in engaging in partnerships, and provide ongoing support, management and lead coordination to the partner organizations throughout and after project implementation.
• This role will be based in the DRC Country Office and has responsibility to support partnerships across Kenya including a focus on supporting partners in counties where DRC does not have physical presence. In-country travel is required.

Duties & Responsibilities

Internal Capacity building and Technical Guidance

• Support DRC program and support staff in understanding and adhering to donor compliance for national partnerships across DRC's portfolio in Kenya.
• Support in working with Programme Managers and relevant functions to clarify roles and responsibilities for partner communication, engagement, programme delivery, financial management, procurement, reporting and compliance
• Work with programme teams to identify partnership-related risks and compliance issues early and agree on proportionate mitigation measures with relevant colleagues.
• Help review and contextualize existing partnerships resources at country level and identify additional needs to support capacity assessment, monitoring, compliance, project cycle management, etc.

Partnerships Management and Collaboration

• Coordinate across teams to support in carrying out partner organizational capacity assessments and analyse assessments to identify partners aligned to DRC's strategy and ambition.
• Identify specific capacity strengthening and organizational development needs and provide and/or coordinate training and targeted capacity strengthening support to partners on Grants, Finance and Compliance.
• Provide technical partnerships support for partnerships with a support of Area Office teams, Technical Coordinators, Finance, and Grants Management
• Work with program teams and Grants Management to track ongoing partnerships, monitor workplan, achievements and results on the ground.
• Participate in initiatives to improve partnership practices by periodically assessing DRC Kenya 's partnership approach, considering both DRC and partners' perspectives, capture lessons learned and best practices, and make recommendations for improvement
• Regularly update partnership tracker for the assigned portfolio

Grants, Accountability, Reporting, and Learning

• Coordinate with Project Managers and relevant support-function focal points to monitor partner compliance with internal and external requirements, including procurement, HR, finance, safeguarding, reporting and documentation.
• Follow up on partner reporting schedules, supporting documents, financial liquidations and payment-related requirements with Finance, Grants Management and Programme teams to help ensure timely and complete submissions and processing.
• Prepare Sub award contracts will Working with Grants Management and Finance to ensure partnership agreements, tools, budgets and financial standards are consistent with donor requirements and DRC procedures; flag gaps and support corrective action.
• Maintain complete and accessible partnership files, including due diligence documentation, assessment reports, capacity-development plans, agreements, monitoring records, risk registers, action trackers and compliance follow-up.
• Provide Support on the organizational audit on partnerships and follow-up audit findings, compliance gaps and agreed corrective actions relating to partners, coordinating with the relevant teams and tracking actions through to closure.
• Ensure partner payments and financial liquidations are done on time.
• Support in Partner identification, vetting and due diligence procedures.
• Maintain and follow-up on the partnership risk registers for the organization.

Experience and Technical Competence

• Minimum 3 years of practical experience working with the UN or INGO in a partnerships role on programming compliance and capacity-strengthening is essential.
• Demonstrated experience in capacity-strengthening support to national partners and strong understanding of partnerships principles
• Experience in donor compliance and procedures across the project cycle

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Bachelor of commerce in Finance , economics or other relevant field is preferred
• Practical trainings or courses in partnerships principles and capacity-strengthening, Project Management.

Language

• English (excellent - spoken and written)

Key stakeholders: Internal & External

• A full array of national actors including national NGOs, community-based organizations, and research institutes
• Area Manager, Project Managers, Partners, Grants Management Team