Partnership and Localization Officer

Danish Refugee Council, one of the world’s leading humanitarian NGOs, we are excited to invite you to join our team as a Partnership and Localization Officer. If you are a skilled and motivated professional ready to make a difference, we want you on board! Together, we’ll work to deliver impactful humanitarian solutions in challenging environments.

About the job
The purpose of the AHEAD Partnership and Localization Officer is to support DRC’s local partner in Pibor in implementing AHEAD project activities as well as strengthening partner capacities on anticipatory action (AA) to enable effective partner programming on AA beyond the AHEAD project period. This will involve capacity strengthening on approaches toward participatory AA system design and coordination, service delivery aligned with DRC standards across multiple relevant technical sectors (including protection, shelter, and HDP/peacebuilding), coordination and advocacy, evidence generation (MEAL), and potentially additional wider capacities on business development and project cycle management. The scope of the support will be defined on the basis of a participatory capacity building assessment and connected plan which will be led on by the Partnership and Localization Officer. The role will leverage DRC capacities in DRC’s Akobo office and Country offices to deliver trainings where appropriate, but also act as a project support secondment to the partner to ensure effective routine implementation of AHEAD activities.

• Partner selection: support the selection of an implementing partner in Pibor in alignment with DRC standards; support the rollout of due diligence assessments in the verification process prior to final selection

• Contractual and connected admin/finance tasks: work with the AHEAD AA Coordinator and other colleagues as appropriate in preparing MoUs and contractual documentation (subgrant agreements), and supporting as appropriate with disbursements and connected reviews
• Design of capacity building plan: lead the development of a participatory capacity building plan with the partner, involving the selection of an appropriate scope of work that supports AHEAD project objectives and sustainability but without diverting focus from the intervention logic
• Capacity building activities: either directly deliver or leverage DRC staffing/expertise from DRC’s Akobo or Country offices to strengthen partner capacities on participatory AA system design and coordination, use of predictive modeling for AA, service delivery aligned with DRC standards across multiple relevant technical sectors (including protection, shelter, and HDP/peacebuilding), coordination and advocacy, safeguarding, evidence generation (MEAL), community feedback and accountability, and–subject to the definition of the scope of work of the capacity building plan–additional wider capacities on business development and project cycle management.
• Risk and compliance: Work closely with the AHEAD AA Coordinator and Country Risk & Compliance Specialist to ensure risks connected to the local partner subcontract/subaward are captured and monitored regularly; escalate any materialized risks to the senior management team (SMT) and other internal project stakeholders as per the AHEAD risk management plan.
• Partner performance monitoring: Support the AHEAD MEAL Assistant in conducting MEAL activities implemented by the partner as well as monitor the performance of the partner toward meeting mutually defined capacity building goals. This will include the rollout of capacity assessments and connected reports
• Knowledge management: consolidate lessons learned on effective ways of working with local partners to support DRC’s Localisation Vision 2030
• Advocacy and coordination: represent DRC in key coordination and partnership meetings, particularly on anticipatory action topics, to advocate for increased investment in proactive disaster risk reduction and anticipatory approaches; and promote DRC’s approach to anticipatory action within broader humanitarian coordination mechanisms and at policy forums, engaging with donors, government agencies, and other stakeholders; additionally facilitate partner input into advocacy initiatives, amplifying their voices and priorities

About you
To be successful in this role we expect your Strong demonstrable experience in capacity building, including organizational capacity building, human resource development, and institutional/legal framework development; and demonstrable experience in monitoring performance against capacity building goals and milestones

Moreover, we also expect the following:

Required

• Undergraduate degree in relevant social sciences field, for example project management, local humanitarian leadership, international development, or others
• Experience with humanitarian cluster system and other coordination structures in South Sudan
• Excellent collaborative and interpersonal skills
• Full proficiency in spoken and written English
• Strong demonstrable project cycle management skills
• Strong level of computer literacy (Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint)

Desirable

• At least 4 years of experience in the humanitarian or development sectors
• Formal training in partnerships/localization
• Familiarity working in insecure environments
• Comfortable in a multi-cultural environment, flexible and able to handle pressure well.
• Good knowledge of anticipatory action on conflicts and displacement in South Sudan, and the relevant INGO’s, NGO’s, UN, Governmental institutions, and Donor.

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’ five core competencies:

Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.

Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.

Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.

Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.

Demonstrating integrity: You uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to our values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

We offer
Contract length: 12 Months

Band: H

Department:

Location: Pibor