Partnership Coordinator (Maternity Cover)

We employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realize the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard.  

We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:

• No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday 
• All children learn from a quality basic education and that,
• Violence against children is no longer tolerated 

We know that great people make a great organization and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children.  We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive workplace where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.

SCI - Afghanistan
Save the Children has been working in Afghanistan since 1976. Our way of working close to people and on their own terms has enabled us to deliver lasting change to tens of thousands of children in the country. The UN Convention of the Rights of the Child is the basis of our work.
We are helping children get a better education, we make it possible for more boys and girls to attend school, we help children protect themselves and influence their own conditions. We work with families, communities and health workers in homes, clinics and hospitals to promote basic health in order to save lives of children and mothers

CHILD SAFEGUARDING:

Level 3: The post holder will have contact with children and/or young people either frequently (e.g. once a week or more) or intensively (e.g. four days in one month or more or overnight) because they work country programs; or are visiting country programs; or because they are responsible for implementing the police checking/vetting process staff.

ROLE PURPOSE: 
The Partnership Coordinator will be based in the Country office, with solid reporting to the Partnership Manager and close working with the Education department in the GPE STG project. 

Afghanistan CO is embarking on a light-touch Country Strategic Plan CSP refresh considering the contextual changes and directives from the defector authorities especially in Health and Nutrition and Education Sector. To manage the transition and drive the new vision, the CO wants to review, align and strengthen its partnership strategy, program and award management and donor compliance. The CO is in the process of working out a new partnership strategy and strengthening award management and donor compliance in line with the new context.

Partnership Coordinator takes the lead role as focal point for SCIs engagement with local/national/international partners at their respective field/area level. The overall aim of the Partnership Coordinator will be to lead the implementation of partnership ways of working and procedures at the field/area level. The post holder is responsible for ensuring staff and partners’ capacities at her/his respective field/area are developed to ensure quality programming to children. The post holder will be expected to coordinate overall partnership management function at field/area level, which includes facilitate standard partner assessments and selection process, programme co-design and budgeting with partners, facilitate partner capacity strengthening plans and development, feeding information to CO on staff capacity strengthening, and joint implementation and monitoring of the programme. In coordinating and facilitating the process, the post holder will be in consultation with and supported by GPE team, particularly Education team, Programme/Project Manager, and other relevant functions such as Technical Team.

SCOPE OF ROLE:
Reports to: Partnership Manager
Staff reporting to this post: N/A
Direct: 0
Indirect: 0
Budget Responsibilities: None

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:
In line with SC’s Partnership Functions Matrix, key functions are:

Coordinating the overall partnership management function at CO Office particularly in GPE STG project:
•    Ensure coordination and implementation of the partnership management among different functions at CO as adherence to partnership procedures and tools (e.g. coordinated operational system for partnerships across projects, programmes, support team, technical team, and partnerships).
•    With support and endorsement from the Education team and Partnership Manager, ensure staff and resources coverage for partnership functions.
•    Provide inputs to HR and the Partnership Manager on the needed training/orientations to staff and GPE partners.
•    Coordinate and/or facilitate safer partnership process (COSA assessment, where applicable)
•    Documenting lessons learned and practices related to partnerships in their respective office.
Develop and manage the partner relationships:
•    Ensure that relations with partners respect SC’s Partnership Principles and are aligned with SCs Approach to Humanitarian Action.
•    Together with education GPE team, maintain engagement with and become as main focal point for all partners (strategic, implementation, network/alliance) in the office.
•    Scoping of key actors and/or potential partners in the office 
•    Partner selection for assessments, constituting the assessment team together with the programme operations team. The team make the recommendation for the way forward with the partner based on which the decision is taken by their respective education team, the relevant programme/project manager and potentially the relevant technical team and consulted with the Partnership Manager.
•    Initiate discussion to gather emerging child right issues and to co-create or co-design programme (as necessary, involving technical team such MEAL, TAs, and/or Specialists).
•    Ensure partnership and risk assessments are conducted (either directly or facilitate the processes).
•    Coordinating the process in carrying out regular Monitoring in Partnership covering the complete 4 aspects: health of partnership, SC and donor compliances (include financial), programme/project delivery, and capacity strengthening partners. This includes coordinating with relevant department/function involved in the monitoring at their respective file/are office.
•    Feedback mechanisms: partner satisfaction survey and MEAL partnership standards, including monitoring the health of partnership using the partnership effectiveness monitoring tool.
•    Ensure overall coordinated communication with partners.

Support award management:
•    Depending on structure and staff be responsible for or support Award Managers to, as well as in close coordination with the respective Programme/Project Manager: 
o    In consultation with Award Team, draw-up contract/agreement/MoU.
o    Coordinate or facilitate partner’s involvement in kick-off meetings.
o    Ensure the understanding of partners on risk and financial operational compliance.
o    In coordination with Award Team and Field Finance Team, conduct compliance investigations as needed.
o    Ensure capacity strengthening addresses related risks and compliance issues

General:
•    Comply with Save the Children policies and practice with respect to child safeguarding, code of conduct, health and safety, equal opportunities and other relevant policies and procedures.

Creativity:
•    Innovative solutions for problem in field 

Integrity:
•    Honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity.

QUALIFICATIONS  

Required
• University degree in Business Administration, Finance or relevant field. 
Desirable
• At least five (5) years of work experience in grants management, capacity development areas, or partnership background preferably with international NGOs.  

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

• Very good spoken and written Dari, Pashto – strong understanding of English language is essential. 
• Able to travel inside Afghanistan. 
• Good working skills on computer (Microsoft office). 
• Good communication and interpersonal relation skills. 
• Ability to work independently in the field and country office. 
• A good team player & problem solver. 
• Excellent in report writing.

Additional job responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities set out above are not exhaustive and the post holder may be required to carry out additional duties from time to time which are reasonable in relation to their level of skills and experience.

In the event of a significant humanitarian emergency, the post-holder will be expected to work outside their normal job description; vary their working hours; and occasionally work from a different location should the need arise.

Equal Opportunities 
The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.

Child Safeguarding:
We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

Safeguarding our Staff:
The post holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI anti-harassment policy.
Health and Safety
The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.

Qualified applicants are highly encouraged to apply for the position by filling in the online application form. In addition to the online application form, they can also attach their CV and cover letter in the online system. Please note that only the applications received through the online portal will be considered for this position.

Applicants can login to the online application system by copying and pasting the following link intro their web browser. Returning users will need to enter their username and password, first time users will need to create a user account.

It is recommended that you save your username and password for future job applications through the online system.

Link:Partnership Coordinator - SCI Career Site Careers

Save the Children International (SCI) is committed to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion as core to our vision and values. We provide equitable employment opportunities and aim to increase the representation of women, people with disabilities, and individuals from minority groups to effectively meet the diverse needs of the children and communities we serve.

At SCI, we value the authentic selves of everyone, including you! If you have any access needs or require support due to a disability or other reasons, please let us know at the time of your application. We are here to assist you and ensure an accessible and inclusive recruitment experience.

Please note: SCI does not request any fees during any stage of the recruitment process.

We need to keep children safe so our selection process reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.