Programme Manager – Partnership and Localization Manager

Who are we?

The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunity for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and – whenever possible – for the fulfillment of the wish to return home.

The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956, and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced.

All of our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency.

DRC has been operating in the Middle East (ME) region for over a decade, running a combination of emergency, livelihood, protection and advocacy programmes through Country Offices (COs) in Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey with a Regional Office (RO) in Amman.

DRC Yemen’s response

Throughout its nine field offices and a workforce of 450 staff, DRC upholds its main programmatic objectives to provide immediate and life sustaining assistance, to strengthen the protective environment, and to reduce displacement related risks and vulnerabilities by promoting self-reliance at household and community level, food security & livelihoods, WASH, Shelter, humanitarian mine action and CCCM.

About the job

Overall purpose of the role

The Partnership and Localisation Manager will be responsible for working to develop a strategic framework and systems to strengthen DRC Yemen’s partnerships with local and national authorities, civil society organisations, the private sector, research institutions, and others across Yemen. This role will coordinate the DRC partnership approach in Yemen, and support its development to improve and adapt tools and practices. The Manager will play a lead role in strengthening DRC Yemen’s approaches to partnership, building on our global partnership principles and civil society engagement strategies, aligned with Strategy 2025. This role works across departments to establish systems and approaches for identifying, pursuing, and maintaining effective partnerships that contribute to DRC’s strategic objectives. The Partnership and Localization Manager will map and identify new partnership opportunities, assess partner organization capacities, facilitate relevant capacity strengthening support, and provide ongoing support to the partner organization throughout and after program implementation.

This position will be based at Country Office level in Sana’a and will require extensive field travel.

Main Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership and Coordination

• Project Management for a 4-year project dedicated for supporting civil society organisation in Capacity development and sustainability.
• Support secotr-specific strategies development focusing on partnership and localisation element to include plans and targets on programme models that include NNGO partners
• Provide oversignt and leadership on DRC’s sub agreements with related authorites in Yemen, including preparation, submittion, negotiation and reportimg.
• Lead on DRC civil society Mapping including provivate sector, academia and univertisites.
• Clearly articulate a vision for DRC Yemen’s partnership approach, and help promote that vision with DRC staff and partners
• Participate in relevant country-level and regionally relevant partnerships and localisation working groups and advocate for the inclusion and support of national organisations in these forums
• Stay up to date on current trends in partnerships and localisation practice regionally and share learning with country SMT and relevant programmes teams, as well as linking with the Regional Office and DRC HQ Global Civil Society Engagement Unit
• Ensure partners involvement in strategic planning, programme design, and proposal/concept paper development
• Coordinate with external agencies working with the same partners or partners in the same sectors or locations, ensuring a partner-centred approach
• Support technical coordinators to work with duty bearers in different governorates in Yemen understand the role of NNGOs in humanitarian programming and to strengthen their capacity to engage with NNGOs in programme design and implementation

Partnership Development and Field Support

• Lead the DRC Yemen Country Office in developing systematic approaches to selecting partners, and in identifying and pursuing strategic partnerships
• Liaise with DRC Yemen technical coordinators and Partnerships Specialists to support the design of partner programming in sectors including Protection, CCCM, WASH, HMA and Economic Recovery
• Work across departments to develop systems and policies that are supportive of the Partnership and Localisation Strategies, and ensure periodic review and updating of policies
• Define a standard framework of roles and responsibilities among various DRC departments and between area and base office levels for partnership communication and engagement
• Support field teams and department in mapping roles and responsibilities in partnership management

Capacity and Needs Assessments and Partnership Management

• Coordinate the strengthening of local and national partner capacity to deliver quality humanitarian programming, supporting the Partnerships team to work across relevant departments to set up systems for coaching and capacity building
• Coordinate across teams to carry out partner organizational capacity assessments and analyse assessments to identify specific capacity building and organizational development needs, and provide training and targeted capacity strengthening support
• Promote relationships of mutual respect and mutual learning with partners, and provide guidance to relevant staff in supporting them
• Support Partnerships team to establish and maintain a partnership database that maps out partner capacity, influence, and strategic alignment with DRC programming
• Review existing partnerships resources and identify additional needs to support capacity assessment, monitoring, compliance, project cycle management, etc.
• Support partner selection processes for national NGOs including local authority liaisons as needed
• Manage positive and productive relations with selected NNGOs across the country
• Establish and maintain productive links between NNGO partners and staff, and with DRC Program teams

Grants, Accountability and Reporting

• Guided by the DRC Programme Handbook, continuously monitor and develop relevant accountability initiatives as well as strengthening the effort to document the impact and lessons learned of activities
• Ensure compliance with internal and external reporting requirements including procurement
• Provide input for monthly, quarterly and annual donor reports as needed
• Lead initiatives to improve partnership practices by periodically assessing DRC Yemen’s partnership management approach taking into account both DRC and partners’ perspectives, capture lessons learned and best practices, and make recommendations for improvement
• Analyse results of on-going partnerships, remote management and results on the ground to produce lessons learnt and inform strategic decision-making
• Lead on proposal development for funding opportunities directly related to partnerships and localisation and actively support identification of and liaison with new and existing donors
• Work with the Grants team to ensure that partnership tools and financial standards meet donor requirements and allow for adaptation and flexibility and advocate for these changes at country and donor level
• Act as the focal point for the Civil Society project funded by DANIDA
• Contribute to DRC proposals and reports on partnerships and localization

People Management

• Manage a team of four Partnerships staff across Yemen including coaching, coordination, recruitment, and capacity development
• Provide on the job training as much as required and adapt trainings/coaching to specific staff needs within the partnerships team

Required experience and competencies

All DRC roles require the post-holder to master DRC’s core competencies:

• Striving for excellence: Focusing on reaching results while ensuring efficient processes.
• Collaborating: Involving relevant parties and encouraging feedback.
• Taking the lead: Taking ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
• Communicating: Listening and speaking effectively and honestly.
• Demonstrating integrity: Upholding and promoting the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to DRC’s values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

About you

Experience and technical competencies

• At least 5 years experience with project or programme management in relevant field in an INGO or humanitarian actor
• At least 2 years experience working on partnerships and localization
• Good knowledge of relevant donor compliance regulations
• Significant experience dealing with national partners and local/government authorities
• Professional background in working with internally displaced persons and/or refugees
• Significant experience in training and liaising with national NGOs
• Experience working in multicultural work settings
• Willingness to embrace and further develop overall objectives such as gender equity, impact monitoring, and cross-sector cooperation

Education:

• Advanced degree in political science, international development, economics or other relevant field

Languages:

• Proficiency in spoken and written English

Key stakeholders:

• NNGOs in Yemen
• Local / National Authorities
• Cluster Coordinators
• DRC Technical Coordinators
• Area Program Managers
• Head of Program/Ops/Head of Support Services
• Country Director

We offer

Contract length: We are providing a one-year contract, renewable based on both good performance and Funding. This position is reporting to the Head of Programme

Work place: Sana’a.

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates; please refer to www.drc.ngo under Vacancies. This position will be placed at level (F1 Manager).