Concern Worldwide is a non-governmental, international, humanitarian organisation dedicated to the reduction of suffering and working towards the ultimate elimination of extreme poverty in the world’s poorest countries

Founded in 1968, Concern Worldwide works in 25 countries in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean with its headquarters in Ireland. Active in Malawi since 2002, Concern’s vision, our mission and our work are all defined by one goal – ending extreme poverty, whatever it takes. Concern strives for a world free from poverty, fear and oppression. Our culture is values driven and we believe that our people are central to all that we do and are key to delivering on our goal of Reaching the Furthest Behind First. We are committed to ensuring a workplace where everybody feels valued and are enabled to succeed in their work and contribute to delivering on our mission.

Responsibilities or duties

Partner Relationships and Engagement:

• Explore and develop new partnerships with NGOs, civil society organizations, the private sector or other partners.
• Foster a relationship based on trust and mutual respect with partner organizations across programme and support system functions.
• Support internal coordination on partnerships between Programme, Finance and other support functions to ensure effective cooperative, accompaniment and management of programmes with partners.

Partner Identification, Selection and Assessment:

• In coordination with relevant colleagues, lead the identification of potential partners in target areas for future partnerships and programmes.
• Coordinate with other local NGOs, INGOs and Alliance 2015 or any relevant coordination bodies to map potential partnerships.
• In coordination with relevant colleagues, support due diligence assessments with existing and new partners.
• Work with partners to identify gaps in policies and procedures, technical capacity gaps, facilitate development of targeted capacity development plans and ensure timely capacity support from relevant Concern departments.
• Lead in development of partnership agreements, MOUs etc.

Peer Learning And Capacity Sharing:

• Support the facilitation of joint learning sessions between Concern and partners.
• Work with partners and respective Concern staff to identify gaps in policies and procedures and technical capacity gaps.
• In coordination with the partner and project lead, and respective Concern Advisors, ensure provision of technical assistance to partners to ensure project implementation is carried out in accordance with programme approaches, objectives and international standards.
• Identify with partners areas of expertise to share with Concern and/or other consortium partners.
• Adapt, update, and document the progress made on the capacity development plan throughout the project cycle.

Compliance and Accountability:

• In coordination with the Programme Director, Programme Coordinator and Managers, support partners to comply with Concern and donor requirements on timely and quality narrative and financial reporting – coordinating with Partnership Accountant.
• With respective Concern staff, monitor the progress and performance of partners following the implementation of the capacity development plan.
• Build together with relevant Project Managers and MEAL team adequate training and evaluation material to support evidence of improvement against the capacity development plan.

Programme Development:

• In coordination with the PD, BDC, PC and PMs, ensure partners are involved in programme designing and development, where possible ensuring partner-led processes, and inclusion in decision-making.
• Coordinate with Programme Coordinator and Managers to work with partners to adapt and/or develop new proposals / interventions, including ensuring provision of technical and practical support on project design and budget development.

Partnership Management:

• Organize and facilitate partnership review meetings, to reflect on lessons learned and ensure accountability and mutual learning between Concern and its partners.
• In coordination with MEAL / Programme Team, conduct visits to project locations to capture learning on what is working well and/or areas for improvement in the partnership. Support the Programme Manager/Programme coordinator and the partners to implement agreed actions arising from such visits.
• In coordination with the Operations functions, ensure support is provided to partners in their procedures to not conflict with Concern’s policies on HR, Procurement, Logistics and Financial management, nor donors’
• Conduct regular verification and spot checks visits in partners’ offices and projects sites to ensure the compliance of activities, documentation, operations and reporting against Concern and donors’ procedures and requirements.

Reporting

• Document through accurate and detailed reports partners’ visits (project sites and offices) to enhance tracking of progress against activities achievement and capacity development plan.
• Support Concern and Partners programme teams in meeting reporting requirements through technical reviews of the partnership and coordination aspect.

Strategy, Learning and Representation:

• Support Concern Malawi teams to deliver on the country strategic plan objectives on building strong partnerships.
• Work with the relevant team members to develop and support the implementation of the Partnership Strategy.
• Conduct induction and periodic capacity strengthening sessions for Concern staff, across programme, operations and finance departments, on partnership approaches.
• Work with the Concern Management Team (CMT) to ensure that all the relevant department positions have partnership roles and responsibilities in their job descriptions, set SMART objectives against them, and are aware of the success criteria relating to these roles.
• Represent Concern in networks or platforms focused on locally led programming (localization) and partnerships.
• Identify opportunities to share learning by partners and at relevant fora (e.g. Capacity Strengthening Working Groups, INGO partnership sub-committee, webinars, etc.).

Experience needed

• Minimum five (5) years of relevant experience with an NGO, UN agency or donor.
• Experience in Budget management and fiscal oversight.
• Experience of partnership approach and capacity development of partner staff
• Demonstrable facilitation skills, including ability to facilitate difficult conversations
• Strong skills in designing and managing effective trainings, workshops, and meetings with diverse participants.
• Strong skills in written communication, including effective report writing.
• Ability to work effectively with multiple stakeholders in a complex, multi-actor environment
• Experience of organisation representation, advocacy and coordination with NGOs/UN, donors
• Demonstrable mind-set of and passion for continuous learning and process improvement
• Aptitude to inspire creative growth, innovation and learning.
• Advocacy to stakeholders for resources and recognition of complex development problems.
• Ability to be flexible and work well under pressure in a fast-paced, detail-oriented team environment.
• Sensitivity to cultural differences and the ability to work effectively across a wide variety of cultural contexts and Strong team player capable of developing and maintaining effective working relationships

• Explore and develop new partnerships with NGOs, civil society organizations, the private sector or other partners.
• Foster a relationship based on trust and mutual respect with partner organizations across programme and support system functions.
• Support internal coordination on partnerships between Programme, Finance and other support functions to ensure effective cooperative, accompaniment and management of programmes with partners.
• In coordination with relevant colleagues, lead the identification of potential partners in target areas for future partnerships and programmes.
• Coordinate with other local NGOs, INGOs and Alliance 2015 or any relevant coordination bodies to map potential partnerships.
• In coordination with relevant colleagues, support due diligence assessments with existing and new partners.
• Work with partners to identify gaps in policies and procedures, technical capacity gaps, facilitate development of targeted capacity development plans and ensure timely capacity support from relevant Concern departments.
• Lead in development of partnership agreements, MOUs etc.
• Support the facilitation of joint learning sessions between Concern and partners.
• Work with partners and respective Concern staff to identify gaps in policies and procedures and technical capacity gaps.
• In coordination with the partner and project lead, and respective Concern Advisors, ensure provision of technical assistance to partners to ensure project implementation is carried out in accordance with programme approaches, objectives and international standards.
• Identify with partners areas of expertise to share with Concern and/or other consortium partners.
• Adapt, update, and document the progress made on the capacity development plan throughout the project cycle.
• In coordination with the Programme Director, Programme Coordinator and Managers, support partners to comply with Concern and donor requirements on timely and quality narrative and financial reporting – coordinating with Partnership Accountant.
• With respective Concern staff, monitor the progress and performance of partners following the implementation of the capacity development plan.
• Build together with relevant Project Managers and MEAL team adequate training and evaluation material to support evidence of improvement against the capacity development plan.
• In coordination with the PD, BDC, PC and PMs, ensure partners are involved in programme designing and development, where possible ensuring partner-led processes, and inclusion in decision-making.
• Coordinate with Programme Coordinator and Managers to work with partners to adapt and/or develop new proposals / interventions, including ensuring provision of technical and practical support on project design and budget development.
• Organize and facilitate partnership review meetings, to reflect on lessons learned and ensure accountability and mutual learning between Concern and its partners.
• In coordination with MEAL / Programme Team, conduct visits to project locations to capture learning on what is working well and/or areas for improvement in the partnership. Support the Programme Manager/Programme coordinator and the partners to implement agreed actions arising from such visits.
• In coordination with the Operations functions, ensure support is provided to partners in their procedures to not conflict with Concern’s policies on HR, Procurement, Logistics and Financial management, nor donors’
• Conduct regular verification and spot checks visits in partners’ offices and projects sites to ensure the compliance of activities, documentation, operations and reporting against Concern and donors’ procedures and requirements.
• Document through accurate and detailed reports partners’ visits (project sites and offices) to enhance tracking of progress against activities achievement and capacity development plan.
• Support Concern and Partners programme teams in meeting reporting requirements through technical reviews of the partnership and coordination aspect.
• Support Concern Malawi teams to deliver on the country strategic plan objectives on building strong partnerships.
• Work with the relevant team members to develop and support the implementation of the Partnership Strategy.
• Conduct induction and periodic capacity strengthening sessions for Concern staff, across programme, operations and finance departments, on partnership approaches.
• Work with the Concern Management Team (CMT) to ensure that all the relevant department positions have partnership roles and responsibilities in their job descriptions, set SMART objectives against them, and are aware of the success criteria relating to these roles.
• Represent Concern in networks or platforms focused on locally led programming (localization) and partnerships.
• Identify opportunities to share learning by partners and at relevant fora (e.g. Capacity Strengthening Working Groups, INGO partnership sub-committee, webinars, etc.).

• Demonstrable facilitation skills, including ability to facilitate difficult conversations
• Strong skills in designing and managing effective trainings, workshops, and meetings with diverse participants.
• Strong skills in written communication, including effective report writing.
• Ability to work effectively with multiple stakeholders in a complex, multi-actor environment
• Demonstrable mind-set of and passion for continuous learning and process improvement
• Aptitude to inspire creative growth, innovation and learning.
• Advocacy to stakeholders for resources and recognition of complex development problems.
• Ability to be flexible and work well under pressure in a fast-paced, detail-oriented team environment.
• Sensitivity to cultural differences and the ability to work effectively across a wide variety of cultural contexts
• Strong team player capable of developing and maintaining effective working relationships

• Post Graduate Degree in Development or a related discipline.
• Minimum five (5) years of relevant experience with an NGO, UN agency or donor.
• Experience in Budget management and fiscal oversight.
• Experience of partnership approach and capacity development of partner staff