Overview
The Senior Partnerships Officer is responsible for supporting effective management, monitoring, and strengthening partnerships with implementing partners to ensure high-quality program delivery and compliance with organizational and donor requirements.
Key Responsibilities
- Serve as the primary focal point for day-to-day coordination with the implementing partner.
- Facilitate regular coordination and follow-up with the partner to ensure timely and effective implementation of activities and compliance with program requirements.
- Conduct regular field visits to monitor the implementation of the activities planned in the project.
- Organize and facilitate monthly program coordination meetings with partners and relevant internal departments.
- Follow up on action points and ensure timely resolution of implementation challenges.
- Monitor the quality of the partner program implementation to ensure all activities are delivered according to approved work plans, budgets, and donor requirements.
- Review partner narrative reports and provide constructive feedback to ensure quality and compliance before submission.
- Coordinate with MEAL, Finance, Awards, and Technical Advisors to consolidate feedback on partner reports.
- Support the incorporation of partner narrative and financial reports into donor reports.
- Monitor Indicator Performance Tracking Tables (IPTT) and verification methods.
- Validate the data reported by the partner to ensure the targets achieved are verified correctly.
- Monitor partner budgets and expenditures to ensure compliance with financial policies and donor requirements.
- Support the review of partner financial reports and ensure alignment between budget and programmatic reporting.
- Follow on financial transfers to partners and coordinate with Finance to ensure timely disbursement.
- Coordinate the regular feedback meetings with partners and finance focal point.
- Support and monitor the implementation of partner risk management including risk assessments, safety concerns, and proper documentation.
- Support compliance monitoring of partners to ensure adherence to organizational policies, donor regulations, and partnership agreements.
- Lead the development and monitoring of risk mitigation plans, procurement plans, and supporting documentation checklists.
- Identify risks related to program implementation, financial management, or compliance, and work with relevant teams to develop mitigation measures.
- Identify capacity development needs of partners and coordinate capacity-building initiatives.
- Joint plan the capacity building plan with partner considering partner priorities.
- Facilitate or coordinate capacity-building sessions related to program management, financial compliance, procurement processes, and reporting requirements.
- Arrange for all agreed capacity building plans in close coordination partner and relevant departments.
- Coordinate partner final external audits in line with partnership agreements and donor requirements.
- Liaise with the Supply Chain department to arrange contracts for external audit services.
- Ensure all required partner documentation is properly maintained and accessible for internal and donor compliance requirements.
- Discuss the audit finding with the partner and support it to develop mitigation plan.
- Ensure that all partner activities are implemented in accordance agreed plan and according to donor requirement.
Required Experience
- Minimum of five (5) years’ professional experience in partnership and project management, working with refugees and host communities in comparable humanitarian or development roles.
- Proven experience managing sub-grants and partnerships, including due diligence, compliance monitoring, performance tracking, and partner oversight.
- Demonstrated experience in project planning, implementation, coordination, facilitation, monitoring, and reporting, ensuring quality delivery and achievement of results.
- Experience in capacity building of partners and stakeholders, including conducting assessments, delivering technical support, and strengthening institutional and operational capacities.
- Strong negotiation and stakeholder engagement skills, with experience working with partners, local authorities, and other key actors in complex environments.
- Experience in financial monitoring and budget oversight, including expenditure tracking, ensuring donor compliance, and supporting financial reporting processes.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Education /relevant Social Science field or equivalent experience
