Partnership Officer/ Консультант з питань партнерства

MISSION: 

The humanitarian aid organization Arzte der Welt e. V. is the German division of the international network Medecins du Monde/Doctors of the World (MdM). The 17 national members of the network implement domestic and international healthcare projects, currently almost 340 projects in 75 countries around the world.

MdM provides emergency medical aid in disaster and crisis situations, supports access to health care and, if possible, assists with reconstruction measures. The network is also active in risk reduction and preparedness as well as long-term development co-operations in neglected regions around the world that receive little public attention. MdM ensures that its health services are provided equally to the most vulnerable citizens, refugees, internally displaced people, and host communities, regardless of their ethnic, social, religious, or political backgrounds. 

MdM has been operating in Eastern Ukraine since 2015, targeting the most vulnerable communities and people by improving access and quality of health care services for the population in Luhansk Oblast and Donetsk Oblast. Since February 2022 MdM has restructured its setting in Ukraine and adjusted the program accordingly. Currently, MdM Germany maintains a field office in Dnipro and Vinnytsia. The emergency response in Ukraine is currently implemented around two main components: direct delivery of services through multidisciplinary mobile units (including PHC, SRH, MHPSS, and support to GBV survivors) to IDPs and strengthening the local health system through the distribution of medicines and medical supplies to several hospitals and primary health care facilities. 

In support of our work in Donetsk Oblast, Dnipropetrovsk, and Vinnytsia Oblast, MdM Germany is looking for an experienced Partnership Officer to be based in Dnipro.  

GEOGRAPHICAL SCOPE OF INTERVENTION:

The Partnership Officer is based in Dnipro with frequent travels to other Oblasts.  

ORGANIZATION CHART

Line Manager: Program Manager/Coordinator 

JOB SUMMARY

MdM Germany is looking for an experienced Partnership Officer who will act as the focal point for MdM Germany’s partnership management in Ukraine. The Partnership Officer will support the Program Manager/Coordinator in all partnership-related tasks, including supporting the management of partners’ sub-grants and overseeing capacity-building activities. 

FUNCTIONS 

Partnership Strategy:

• With support of the coordination team, drafts the Partnership Strategy, informed by MdM Spain and MdM Germany Partnership frameworks and the context.
• Participate in meetings related to a potential or existing partnerships to support the development and operationalization of the partnership strategy
• Stay abreast of current trends in partnerships and share learning with country coordination team and others, as well as linking with the desk officers in the HQs.
• Support the MdM mission in Ukraine in developing systematic approaches to selecting partners, and in identifying and pursuing strategic partnerships.

Partnership Systems and Policies:

• Work across departments to develop tools and policies that are supportive of the development of new partnerships. 
• Review partnership management practices; identify and follow up on actions to improve management practices
• Help ensure partners’ involvement in the planning, program design and proposal/concept paper development;
• Define a standard framework of roles and responsibilities among various departments for partnership communication and engagement;
• Establish and maintain a partnership database that maps out partner capacity, influence, and strategic alignment.
• Provide a training to the MdM teams in Ukraine on the partnership strategy and tools.

Establishing partnerships:

• Assess the current partnership portfolio identifying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and risks related to current partners 
• Identify and explore new partnerships, including the updating of the partnership mapping and establishing relationships for collaborating on programming and capacity building
• Review existing partnering resources and identify additional needs to support capacity assessment, monitoring, compliance/vetting, project cycle management etc., coordinating closely with the field teams. 
• Provide support to MdM field teams in conducting the initial risk and capacity assessment of the partners
• Coordinate partners’ inductions with different departments on programmatic, technical, and compliance aspects, and lead inductions on partnerships sub-grant management, tools, and reporting
• Act as a focal point for drafting partners’ sub-grant agreements and amendments in English and Ukrainian by liaising with relevant MdM Germany program and support departments in collaboration with Program Manager/Coordinator
• Ensure that sub-grant agreements are signed on time and shared with relevant departments (Finance, Admin, etc.)
• Organize partners’ kick-off meetings, review, and close-out meetings, in coordination with Program Manager/Coordinator and support units, and follow up on action points arising from these meetings.
• Lead and facilitate the review of partners’ progress reports to ensure implementation is on track, address any questions and comments to partners, and escalate major issues to the management (e.g. significant implementation challenges, change in a program approach, underachievement, underspending) in collaboration with Program Manager/Coordinator, Admin Management, MH Coordinator, and Medical Coordinator.
• Review partners’ financial reports to ensure expenses are in line with program objectives and approved budgets, and that spending and forecasting are on track to ensure full utilization of the budget in collaboration with the Program Manager/Coordinator and Admin Manager. 
• Identify gaps and support the development of partners’ capacity-building plans

Partner program management:

• Develop, and/or coordinate with other departments in the management and monitoring systems in regards to partner programming
• Conduct partner monitoring visits to all oblasts where MDM Germany is implementing 
• Ensure that the sub-grant agreements, TOR and terms of Partnerships, as well as institutional policies and procedures are complied with by the partner organizations
• Work with the Program Manager/Coordinator to ensure that partnership tools and  financial standards meet donor requirements;
• Provide support to the partner organization in the project cycle management, including ensuring work plans, budgets, procurement processes are in place and assist partner teams to put these in place
• Organize partner review meetings on a regular basis with representation from partners and program staff to discuss progress, roles, responsibilities, expectations, communication between the organizations, any conflict of policies, any areas of concern and future planning. 
• Support mutual learning with partners in terms of program delivery and partnership building
• Act as the focal point across MdM Germany departments to ensure that capacity-building activities are implemented as planned.
• Facilitate the provision of training and orientation sessions on public health and MH, where needed and requested by partners.
• Facilitate network and communication within MdM Germany and partners.
• Manage the administration of partner assessments (vetting, relevancy, and capacity assessments), including liaising with program and support unit staff and ensuring departments’ participation in the vetting process with potential and existing partners

Additional tasks

• Provide assessments of new locations in coordination with Access and Liaison officer and program leads;
• Assist in writing the project proposal.
• Support in writing reports and providing recommendations.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Academic background: Degree in social sciences or related field

REQUIREMENTS:

• Language requirements: Advanced English required 
• Computer requirements: Competency in MS Word and Excel.

EXPERIENCE:

The successful candidate must have:

• Minimum 2 years of experience in working in partnership and building the capacity of civil society organizations in Ukraine. 
• Good knowledge of humanitarianism is a great asset.
• Program development expertise in the humanitarian sector 
• Willingness to travel between Oblasts and commit to partner visits. 

 COMPETENCE PROFILE:

• Ability to work quickly, under pressure, and with short deadlines.
• Necessity to manage priorities and to adapt them daily according to the context.
• Flexibility to adapt to changing requirements.
• Cultural sensitivity and ability to work in a multicultural environment-
• Ability to listen and share decisions.
• Sense of humor
• Good writing and communication skills
• Team player
• Alignment with principles and ethics of Arzte der Welt

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT 

• Starting date: as soon as possible
• Length of the contract: 3 months with possibility to extend
• Salary: according to MdM Germany’s terms and conditions