WFP recruits a Government Partnerships Officer (106013) – Bamako, Mali

Background :

The World Food Programme (WFP) is the world’s largest humanitarian agency, fighting hunger worldwide. WFP Mali is currently seeking a Government Partnerships Officer to strengthen partnerships and explore and pursue strategic opportunities for establishing new ones, including with multi-donor, thematic, and global Funds.

WFP Mali’s operations encompass a portfolio of interventions, including food and nutrition assistance to food insecure households, the distribution of school meals to provide a safety net to vulnerable schoolchildren, the treatment of moderate acute malnutrition as well as asset creation activities, livelihood support and capacity development of smallholder farmers. The Country Strategic Plan, covering 2020-2024, will place increasing emphasis on policy coherence, resilience building and social protection, as part of a medium-term strategy. The key objectives are to reduce the need for emergency assistance in response to shocks, by increasing the ability to cope with moderate shocks while developing the capacity of Government.

The Government Partnerships Officer will contribute to the development of new and existing partnerships with government donors in order to advocate the work of WFP, and raise and mobilize resources to support WFP programmes in Mali. Furthermore, the Officer will support the development of new initiatives in the field of peacebuilding, stabilization, recovery and gender/protection through engagement with thematic and global funds.

Accountabilties / responsabilities :

Donor relations (65%) :

• Contribute to the management of a portfolio of partnerships, soliciting contributions, providing donor stewardship, and analyzing results, in order to maximize resources raised ;
• Lead on the development of concept notes, projects, or programme proposals, as well as other funding opportunities as per donor requirements ;
• Develop relationships with key decision makers in donor agencies and ensure that all stakeholders are well informed on WFP’s activities, operations as well as overall financial situation ;
• Attend external strategic meetings with the Country Director/Deputy Country Director and prepare read-outs ;
• Organize, and carry out donor missions to WFP’s projects in the field and multi-donor meetings to brief donors ;
• Support Management in its overall dialogue with donors at all levels. Tasks will include preparing background summary notes, talking points, notes for the records and ensure that all decisions are duly followed up on ;
• Advise on donor regulations and compliance and support other units (Programme, Supply Chain, Communications) ;
• Coordinate and ensure quality of donor specific reporting in compliance with contractual obligations ;
• Liaise with WFP’s regional bureaux, HQ, and donor country based as needed to identify funding options and advocate for WFP Mali ;
• Perform other duties as needed .

Strategic initiatives/opportunities, including engagement with global and thematic funds (35%): 

Support CO Management and the Programme Unit with the following task and responsibilities:

• Lead on the engagement with and development of project proposals for key global and thematic Funds, including but not limited to the Sustainable Development Goals Fund and the Peacebuilding Fund, in collaboration with programme colleagues and other UN Agencies ;
• Develop complimentary partnerships and joint projects with other UN agencies and relevant stakeholders to further WFP’s position in the fields of peacebuilding, stabilization, recovery, resilience and/or gender/protection ;
• Participate and represent WFP in key thematic and strategic meetings, with a view to capitalizing on WFP’s current engagement in areas including the humanitarian-development-peace Nexus and peacebuilding ;
• Analyze relevant political and social events and developments within the UN system, other multilateral bodies and the donor community in Mali to identify new strategic opportunities and present timely information to WFP colleagues and Management for decision-making.

Deliverables at the end of the contract :

• Has implemented the resource mobilisation work plan by delivering specific activities as defined ;
• Has participated and assisted in negotiations for contributions and partnership agreements with donors and host governments, in line with internal policies and external regulations ;
• Has broadened and strengthened WFP Mali’s engagement with global and thematic funds ;
• Has assisted in drafting resourcing analysis and collaborated with accurate and timely briefs as well as reporting to donors.

Qualifications and experiences :

Languages : Fluency (level C) in the English language. Strong command (at least level B) of French

Competences :

Relationship management, including an ability to build and sustain effective collaborative relationships with stakeholders; resource mobilisation and grant management; project specific reporting; strong writing skills and ability to write clearly and concisely in English and French; ability to analyse data and conceptualize issues; good interpersonal and communication skills ; ability to gather and analyse information.

Apply here