ROLE PROFILE

Title: Partnership Specialist

Functional Area: Programme

Reports to: Director of Partner Management and Impact

Location:Country Office, Kathmandu

Travel required: Plan International Nepal working districts

Grade: D1

Type: Open to all applicants, Fixed term employment for two years from date of joining; based in Country Office, Lalitpur

ABOUT PLAN INTERNATIONAL

Plan International is a development and humanitarian organization dedicated to advancing children’s rights and achieving equality for girls. With a presence in over 75 countries, we work alongside children, young people, supporters, and partners to create a just world. Our work is guided by core values such as transparency, accountability, collaboration, inclusion, and the overarching ambition to empower girls and young women as part of our legacy.

Plan International has been operating in Nepal since 1978, earning a strong reputation as a trusted development and humanitarian actor. Over the years, we have worked in 23 districts across the country, helping marginalized children, their families, and communities access their rights to health, education, economic security, and protection.

Committed to feminist leadership and a gender-transformative approach, Plan International Nepal collaborates with local partners to ensure sustainable impact and foster equality, particularly for girls and young women.

Plan International Nepal strives for an inclusive, just, and safe society that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. Our mission from 2023 to 2028 is to see all girls and young women standing strong enjoying their rights, and freedom with dignity in Nepal.

ROLE PURPOSE

The Partnership Specialist role aims to improve our partnership skills, develop partnership with right partners, build the capacity of all existing partners of Plan International Nepal to effectively reach our strategic ambitions for girls and young women and ensure that the partners are adequately resourced to do their designated work.

DIMENSIONS OF THE ROLE 

Reports to: Director of Partner Management and Impact

Budget Accountability: None

Number of reports: None

Key stakeholder groups: The primary stakeholder for this role is our local NGO implementing partners and their staff. However, the role will also require active engagement with a diverse set of local, regional and international stakeholders including Plan Regional Office, Field Offices and MERL;, Government, UN Agencies, Donors, INGOs, Academia, CSOs and Media

External relationships and representation: Frequently represents Plan International Nepal to external stakeholders.

ACCOUNTABILITIES

Strategically develop a positive and collaborative partnership skills

• Develop a competency and skills framework in partnering for Regional Field staff as well as at  country  level staff.
• Facilitate capacity building of Plan staff at country and field level on partnership through guiding, mentoring and formal training.
• Promote partnering capacities of Partners and Plan staff in line with Plan’s partnering strategy.
• Preposition Partners in each working district  for technical and strategic programming.
• Facilitate high quality delivery of projects through partners.

Develop partnership with right partners

• Keep an up-to-date database of potential partners in the field and Country Office for strategic program design and implementation.
• Understand stakeholder context in both field and Country Office through analysis and engagement with external stakeholders.
• Review Plan’s partnership policy periodically and provide periodic recommendations for necessary changes.
• Understand strengths and weaknesses of both Plan and existing partners and develop strategy to complement through collaboration or through new partnership.

Support the Partners to enable effective implementation and results for programme and influencing

• Develop short and long-term plans to strengthen the capacity of  partner staff.
• Identify training needs of Plan and partner staff and follow-through incorporating continuous feedback and learning.
• Ensure partners understand and follow policies, processes and procedures required by Plan International Nepal as well as the Government of Nepal.
• Assist partners, as required, in performance in financial management, people management and project management.
• Regularly update partners on key information from Plan on projects, new thinking, key events and information of use to the partner.

Relationship building to ensure efficiency and effectiveness of partnerships

• Ensure two-way accountability between Plan and Partners through partner selection, performance review, conflict management, development of feedback mechanisms and clear communication.
• Develop a range of Partnering Agreements that can be used to govern different types of partnering relationship with a specific focus on youth-led organisations.
• Ensure a clear and efficient end-to-end processes for Partner Agreement, liquidation and other processes.
• Periodic analysis of resource gaps of partners in all working districts to inform to make necessary changes where required.
• Timely review of agreements as per the organizational requirement and changing context.
• Provide technical support at district and national level to promote multi-stakeholder partnerships in project implementations.
• Facilitate resolution of operational blockages related to partners.

TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

Essential

• Highly skilled in listening, critical thinking and placing strong logical arguments.
• Strong organizational and planning skills.
• Strong virtual presentation skills, with prior experience of leading and facilitation particularly using virtual platforms.
• Master’s degree in relevant field with 2-3 years of experience in similar sector OR a Bachelor’s degree with 4-5 years of progressive responsibility in training, coaching or project management.
• Strong visioning and analytical skills.
• Capacity to make analytical studies and make policy recommendations.
• Experience in stakeholder analysis and engagement with ability to undertake independent surveys to understand needs and gaps.
• Prioritise, analyse and synthesize data and present it in a reader-friendly format.
• Ability to work independently and also in team.
• Strong interpersonal skills – ability to draw commitment from other parts of the organization.
• Good understanding of different approaches to partnering, and the requirements these involve.
• Previous work in developing partnering approaches.
• Experience in networking/engaging with key actors on Partnering.
• Experience in capacity development of project staffs.
• Good knowledge of written and spoken English and Nepali.

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Application Deadline: Sunday 26th Jan, 2025