Partnerships Specialist

Organizational Setting

The Regional Office for Africa (RAF) is responsible for leading FAO’s response to regional priorities for food security, agriculture and rural development through the identification, planning and implementation of FAO’s priority activities in the region. It ensures a multidisciplinary approach to programmes, identifies priority areas of action for the Organization in the Region and, in collaboration with departments and divisions at Headquarters, develops, promotes and oversees FAO's strategic response to regional priorities. RAF also advises on the incorporation of regional priorities into the Organization’s Programme of Work and Budget and implements approved programmes and projects in the region, monitors the level of programme implementation and draws attention to problems and deficiencies. RAF develops and maintains relations with region-wide institutions including the Regional Economic Integration Organizations (REIOs).   

Reporting Lines

The Partnerships Specialist will report to the Deputy Regional Representative (DRR) for Africa or an officer, the Regional Office for Africa (RAF) to be designated by the FAO Assistant Director-General/ Regional Representative (ADG/RR) for Africa.

Technical Focus 

Partnership, resource mobilization (RM), external relations, grant/partnerships agreement negotiation, and capacity development.

Tasks and responsibilities

•    Facilitate, support and monitor implementation of the FAO Resource Mobilization Action Plan (ReAP), the FAO Strategy for Partnerships with Civil Society Organizations and the FAO Strategy for Private Sector Engagement at the regional, sub regional and country level;.  
•    Ensures support to decentralized offices to mobilize resources and develop partnerships in line with defined corporate, regional, sub regional and national priorities 
•    Initiates contact with potential partners to explore funding/ partnerships opportunities, leads and/or support negotiations of funding/ partnerships agreements and project proposals with governments, regional and international organizations, United Nations agencies, private sector and civil society partners; maintains effective working relationships with key stakeholders throughout the project cycle, including supporting implementation, facilitates monitoring and compliance issues and ensures submission of reports, as required.  
•    Facilitates capacity development efforts in support of staff in the region with regard to resource mobilization and partnerships through policy guidance, production of training material and delivery of training.  
•    Organizes and facilitates marketing and outreach activities related to the FAO Strategic Framework and defined priority areas; facilitates and/or support partner meetings, events and outreach campaigns.  
•    Drafts briefs and other documents explaining donor/partner policies/trends and alerts senior management on major donor issues with proposals to improve FAO’s Partnerships in the region;  
•    Reviews the quality, consistency and appropriateness of country/regional- specific partnership materials, activities, processes and messages shared with partners;  
•    Analyses existing processes of working collaboratively with partners, including meetings, joint projects, information sharing, etc. and proposes improvements;  
•    Collaborates in capacity development activities involving the planning and organizing of training workshops, seminars, and major meetings and the preparation of related information, materials, on-line tools and information kits. 
•    Works in close coordination with Divisions at headquarters responsible for resource mobilization and partnerships, namely the Resource Mobilization Division (PSR) and the Partnerships and UN Collaboration Division (PSU). 
•    Perform any other duties as may be required.

Specific Functions 

•    Provides catalytic support to resource mobilization for national/sub regional/ regional projects/programmes in the Africa region, including:
•    support decentralized offices on project/programme development/ formulation;
•    organize and manage regular coordination on resource mobilization with the decentralized offices;
•    lead, facilitate and/or support the organization and preparation of Resource Partner/Development Partner meetings;
•    lead, facilitate and/or support the organization of regional RM and strategic partnership capacity development webinars/ meetings;
•    support, advise and guide decentralized offices on country/ sub regional/ regional RM action plans, with a particular emphasis on support country-level actions guided by FAO’s Country Programme Framework (CPF).

•    Provides catalytic support to strategic partnerships and alliances with the relevant stakeholders including Non-State Actors (NSAs) in the Africa region including:
•    facilitate and promote collaboration and engagement with key strategic partners including NSAs;
•    lead, facilitate and/or support negotiation of formal relationships with key strategic partners;
•    exploration of new strategic partnerships and/or engagement with the private sector;
•    initiate and coordinate of outreach activities;
•    lead and facilitate capacity development training workshops and seminars;
•    facilitation of civil society organizations (CSOs) and private sector engagement in the Regional Conference for Africa (ARC).

•    Support and coordinate the implementation of the Hand-in-Hand Initiative in the region for investment facilitation, and public and private sector engagement, including:
•    lead, facilitate and/or support to regional investment and knowledge sharing events/ activities;
•    support country/ sub regional level investment events/activities;
•    Monitor, consolidate and report the progress of the implementation of the Hand-in-Hand Initiative in the region.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    University degree in international relations, public relations, political science, international cooperation for development, development economics or a related field 
•    Seven years of relevant experience in international cooperation for development, donor aid programmes, government, fundraising, negotiations and/or public relations/advocacy or related areas 
•    Full proficiency/Working knowledge of English.

FAO Core Competencies

•    Results Focus
•    Teamwork
•    Communication
•    Building Effective Relationships
•    Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills 
 
•    Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions is desirable.
•    Extent and relevance of experience in partnership building, fundraising, negotiations, public relations/advocacy preferably in the areas of food, social and economic development.