Partnerships Technical Advisor

Job Purpose: The Partnership Technical Advisor will play a vital role in fostering value added partnerships and supporting effective management of grants, with local organizations, and supporting organizational learning and representation efforts. Responsibilities include:  collaborating with partners to develop interventions, conducting due diligence assessments, and supporting organizational capacity building initiatives, overseeing grant compliance, facilitating grant reporting schedules, and utilizing Concern's Grants Management System (GMS).

Job Location: Based in Tripoli, with frequent visits to projects’ sites, partners’ offices and Beirut Office

Main duties &  Responsibilities:

Partnerships:

• In line with Concern Lebanon partnership strategy, identify potential partners and build value added partnerships
• Organize due diligence assessments of existing and potential new programme partners in coordination with the relevant internal departments, using Concern partner assessment tools, and ensure these are completed timely and accurately.
• Coordinate with local partner NGOs on negotiations and signing partnership agreements or MOUs in consultation with Programme Director.
• Support on partnership with government stakeholders are relevant in collaboration with the Programme Director, PQC and Managers.
• Lead on partner organizational capacity assessments, identifying policy, procedure, technical or programmatic gaps, and develop Capacity Sharing Plans tailored for each partner in coordination with the department heads,
• Coordinate provision of technical assistance in relevant aspects of organizational development, financial and project management against the Capacity Sharing Plan, ensuring timely capacity building support from relevant Concern departments.
• Foster strong relationships with partner organizations, ensuring effective communication and collaboration to achieve shared goals.
• Facilitate joint learning sessions with local partners, collaborate on capacity strengthening plans, support the Project Managers and MEAL team with monitoring partner progress, and provide support to partnership management and coordination.
• Establish and maintain relationships with other NGOs and institutions to stay updated on best practices in localization and capacity strengthening.
• Coordinate with other civil society (INGO/NGO) and Alliance 2015 partners to map national NGOs and identify potential partners.
• Monitor the progress of partners and Concern against the objectives of the capacity support plans.
• Coordinate the Partnership Working Group within Concern Lebanon to support implementation of the Partnership strategy and facilitate regular reviews of the Partnership Strategy.
• Organize and facilitate partnership review meetings, to reflect on lesson’s learned and ensure accountability to our local partners.
• Maintain an organized database and documentation for mapped partners, due diligence assessments and associated documents, and partnership agreements/reports, etc.

Grant Management:

• Support programme and finance teams with grants compliance
• Support management of grant reporting schedules, ensuring timely and accurate financial and narrative reporting, for timely submission, in the correct formats, as per donor agreements.
• Liaise with the Desk Officer (DO) and Country Finance Controller (CFC) to file contract documents and correspondence for grants – both active and archived grants.
• Organize kick off and close out meetings for all grants.
• Liaise with finance department and project managers ensure timely submission financial and narrative reports to donors as per donor agreement and compliance guidelines.
• Use Concern’s Grants Management System (GMS), including assisting Grant Owners with data entry and document upload, and ensuring that GMS is up-to-date and in use
• Support on the use of other relevant GMS as applies to UNOCHA, UNFPA, UN Portal, etc., in liaison with Country Director (CD), PD and DO.

Programme Development and Donor Relations:

• Supporting the PD and programme team with developing new concept notes and proposals
• Support the PD and programme team in identifying new funding opportunities
• Assist the Programme Director in expanding donor and organizational partnerships using the Grants Management System (GMS) and collaborating with Desk Officers (DO).

Organizational Learning and Representation:

• Support the inclusion of partnership roles and responsibilities in the job descriptions of Concern staff at all levels
• Conduct induction and periodic capacity building sessions for Concern staff, across programme, systems and finance departments, on partnership principles.
• Provide guidance and support to team members involved in partnership activities, ensuring clarity of roles and responsibilities and fostering a collaborative work environment.
• Support Concern Lebanon teams to deliver on the country strategic plan objectives on building strong partnerships, and on the implementation of the Partnership Strategy.
• Represent Concern in networks or platforms focused on partner capacity strengthening and the localization agenda.
• Identify opportunities to share learning of partners and on partnership at relevant fora (e.g. Capacity Strengthening Working Groups, Localization Community of Practice, webinars, etc.).

Responsibilities in link to Concern’s values, workplace equality, diversity and inclusion,  safeguarding, and participation in emergency response:

• All staff are responsible for upholding and promoting Concern’s values, including our workplace equality, diversity and inclusion, and safeguarding values;
• All employees are required to undertake training in equality, diversity and inclusion; the Code of Conduct; and safeguarding, along with any other training required for the role;
• All staff are required to participate and contribute as necessary towards Concern’s emergency response as and when required.

Responsibilities in link to Complaint Response Mechanism (CRM) Accountabilities:

In line with Concern’s commitments under the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS):

• Actively promote meaningful community participation and consultation at all stages of the project cycle (planning, implementation, M&E);
• Work with relevant colleagues  to ensure that the Complaints and Response Mechanism (CRM) is functional and accessible, that feedback and complaints are welcomed and addressed;
• Work with relevant colleagues to ensure that information about CRM, safeguarding and expected staff behaviour is disseminated among programme participants and communities.

Work Ethic:

• Adhere to the standards of conduct outlined in the Programme Participant Protection Policy and Concern’s Code of Conduct;
• Support the promotion of the standards outlined in the Programme Participant Protection Policy and Concern Code of Conduct to the team and the beneficiaries, and be committed to providing a safe working environment;
• Respect confidentiality and follow ethical guidelines

Other:

• Support to the Emergency Response projects and partnerships as relevant

Requirements: 

Essential:

• Education: University Degree in Development, Finance/Economics, Policy, Business/Public Administration, Political/Social Sciences, or a related discipline

• Experience:
  • At least 3-5 years in the humanitarian sector with reputable INGOs operational in Lebanon
  • Conducting due Diligence/Capacity Assessments of NGO or other partners.
  • 3 years of management of Partnership Agreements  and working with through local partners
  • 2 years of proposal development and project design, preferably for major donors such as EU, ECHO, UN etc.
  • Grant Management, reporting, budgeting, and donor compliance.
  • Practical experience of implementing projects including Protection, Shelter, Livelihoods, Food Security, or other.
• Technology Skills: Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams)
• Languages:  Excellent written and oral communications skills in English.
• Skills:
  • Good communication and interpersonal skills
  • Able to take initiative and work independently to deliver on tight deadlines passion for continuous learning and improvement
  • Ability to work in fast paced, dynamic and results focused environment.
  •  Aptitude to inspire growth, innovation and learning.
  • Communication and negotiation with stakeholders
• Competencies:
  • Managing Yourself
  • Individual leadership
  • Communication and working with others
  • Delivering results
  • Planning and decision-making
  • Creativity and innovation
  • Influence, advocacy and networking
  • Change
• Safeguarding Competencies - For Medium to Low Risk:
  • Competence at this level is about individuals knowing the signs which may indicate possible abuse, harm or neglect and who to contact and seek advice from if they have concerns.
  • Recognizing potential indicators of adult and child abuse, harm and neglect.
  • An awareness that adults experiencing stressful situations in their own lives may have caring responsibilities, for other adults or children
  • An awareness and ability to locate local policies and procedures and how to access support to respond to safeguarding concerns
  • An awareness of appropriate action including reporting and documenting concerns safely and seeking advice. Particularly if uncertain whether a safeguarding need is present
  • Building personal confidence, skills and knowledge to take immediate action through local safeguarding procedures. This should include the ability to escalate concerns if action is not taken.
  • An awareness of consent, information sharing, data protection legislation and acting safely to share information.