The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide.  The mission of WFP is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetimes.  Every day, WFP works worldwide to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women and children, can access the nutritious food they need.

In Niger, the most vulnerable are affected by poverty, food insecurity and malnutrition, especially women and children. This is aggravated by land degradation and recurrent crises, such as natural (floods, droughts) and economic shocks, climate change, conflict and insecurity. WFP, together with the Nigerien Government, is working to achieve Zero Hunger through its 2019 Transitional Interim Country Strategic Plan (T-ICSP) and subsequent Country Strategic Plan (CSP) 2020-2024. By means of a multi-sector and multi-actor integrated approach that combines asset creation, education, and nutrition activities with a focus on the strengthening of capacities among local and national stakeholders, WFP aims to enhance resilience to shocks. WFP also responds to the food and nutrition needs of crisis-affected populations in the areas at the border with Nigeria, Mali, and Burkina Faso. A wide operational presence, with a Country Office in Niamey, five sub-offices and two antennas, allows proximity to its programmes and beneficiaries. The WFP-managed United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) provides crucial air services to the humanitarian community in the vast country.

Under the direct supervision of the Deputy Country Director Operations and overall leadership of the CD, the head of the Partnership/Reporting Unit will guide the CO’s resource mobilization efforts, including from source of funding and enhanced partnerships, as well as ensure effective information management and reporting requirements of the Niger Country Office, including through revised mechanisms and tools, are met

• Lead the implementation of the work plan for an assigned area by overseeing and delivering activities that identify, develop and maintain donor partnerships and reporting and maximise funding ;
• Manage a portfolio of partnerships, soliciting contributions, providing donor stewardship, forecasting, negotiating changes and assessing results, to maximise resources raised ;
• Provide advice to management and CO staff in order to assist them to effectively manage and mobilise donor resources.
• Ensure CO management is adequately equipped to conduct negotiations for contributions and partnership agreements, in line with internal policies and external regulations ;
• Ensure the preparation of donor proposals and appeals according to opportunities identified, as well as the delivery of specific donor reporting as required ;
• Provide advice and briefs on resourcing issues to management and CO staff, participate to relevant committees/processes   to ensure issues are addressed ;
• Ensure briefing documents and accurate reporting for senior level management meetings, on donors and resourcing status of programmes, identifying trends and issues, and proposing solutions, to enable informed decision-making and action planning by senior stakeholders ;
• Manage and lead the Partnerships/Reporting Unit to ensure appropriate development and enable high performance.
• Co-lead with the Programme unit the development and ensure the regular review of the Partnership Action Plan (PAP) to serve the objectives of the CSP. Analyse data and propose well-researched ideas to senior government partnerships officers for strategies to maintain and increase funding from new and traditional donors, in line with the PAP.
• Educate new and potential donors on the strategy, design, relevance and impact of programmes, to advocate for the work of WFP ;
• Build and maintain effective relationships with representatives of government donors through appropriate channels, and participate in regular donor meetings ;
• Contribute to preparedness actions, providing technical recommendations and guidance and monitoring the management of risks ;
• Oversee and ensure the effective information management and reporting requirements (corporate and CO-specific) through the Partnerships/Reporting Unit are met, as well as the preparation of the annual performance reporting through Annual Country Reports (ACR) ;
• Other as required.

• Partnership Action Plan is published, regularly reviewed and strengthened to match needs ;
• Knowledge management on donors, resources and constrains regularly conducted for CO and other offices ;
• Donor briefing documents prepared in time as required ;
• High quality donor proposals and reports timely submitted ;
• Donor field visits timely organized ;
• Unit staff duly trained to produce high quality reporting and funding proposals ;
• Successfully overseen OIM and reporting initiatives ;
• Defined quality standards were assured in all processes and products .

Education : Advanced University degree in Political Science, International Development, Development Economics, Marketing Communications or other relevant field, or First University degree with additional years of related work experience and/or training/courses.

Experience : 5 years or more of postgraduate professional experience in a relevant field of work, with a background and interest in international humanitarian development.

Languages : Fluency (Level C) in both English and French

Desired experience/knowledge for entry in the role :

• Has led the implementation of resource mobilisation work plans within area of expertise ;
• Has managed small teams of more junior staff with related areas of expertise ;
• Has conducted negotiations for contributions and partnership agreements in line with internal established policies and procedures and external regulations ;
• Has provided resourcing analysis and prepared accurate and timely briefs as well as reporting to donors ;
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including substantive analysis and writing skills, in both English and French.
• Knowledge of UN/WFP specific processes and systems.

Purpose :

• Understand and communicate the Strategic Objectives : Utilizes understanding of WFP’s Strategic Objectives to communicate linkages to team objectives and work.
•  Be a force for positive change : Proactively identifies and develops new methods or improvements for self and immediate team to address work challenges within own work area.
•  Make the mission inspiring to our team : Identifies opportunities to further align individual contributions with WFP’s mission of making an impact on local communities.
•  Make our mission visible in everyday actions : Helps colleagues to see the link between their individual tasks and the contributions of their unit’s goals to the broader context of WFP’s mission.

People :

• Look for ways to strengthen people’s skills : Is able to identify, support and encourage focused on-the-job learning opportunities to address gaps between current skillsets and needed future skillsets for WFP.
•  Create an inclusive culture : Recognizes the contributions of teammates, and encourages contributions from culturally different team mates to recognise the value of diversity above and beyond just including it in programming for beneficiaries.
•  Be a coach & provide constructive feedback : Provides and solicits ongoing constructive feedback on strengths and development opportunities to help develop individual skills, whilst also helping others identify areas for improvement.
•  Create an “I will”/”We will” spirit : Sets clear targets for self and others to focus team efforts in ambiguous situations (e.g., unprecedented issues and/or scenarios).

Performance

• Encourage innovation & creative solutions : Thinks beyond team’s conventional approaches to formulate creative methods for delivering food aid and assistance to beneficiaries.
•  Focus on getting results : Maintains focus on achieving individual results in the face of obstacles such as volatile or fragile environments and/or organizational roadblocks.
•  Make commitments and make good on commitments : Takes personal accountability for upholding and delivering upon team’s commitments and provides assurance to stakeholders.
•  Be Decisive : Demonstrates ability to adjust to team’s plans and priorities to optimize outcomes in light of evolving directives, while also responding quickly in high-pressure environments, such as in emergency settings.

Partnership :

• Connect and share across WFP units : Demonstrates an understanding of when and how to tactfully engage other units in conversations on impact, timing, or planning.
•  Build strong external partnerships : Networks regularly with key external partners using formal and informal opportunities to understand each partner’s unique value proposition, and to build and strengthen relationships.
•  Be politically agile & adaptable : Demonstrates ability to adapt engagement approach in the context of evolving partner circumstances and expectations.
•  Be clear about the value WFP brings to partnerships : Demonstrates ability to articulate to internal and external audiences the value that individual contributions and immediate teams bring to partnerships.

Contract Type : Short Term Professionnal

Contract duration  : 11 months (renewable)

Remuneration : a competitive compensation and benefits package is offered.

WP is an equal opportunity Employer. Female candidates meeting the above qualifications are encouraged to apply

Closing date of application: 11 July 2019

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.