Partnership Advisor

Plan International is a leading girls and children’s rights organization. Plan strives for a just world that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We motivate our people and partners to:

• empower children, young people and communities to make vital changes that tackle the root causes of discrimination against girls, exclusion and vulnerability
• drive change in practice and policy at local, national and global levels through our reach, experience and knowledge of the realities children face
• work with children and communities to prepare for and respond to crises, and to overcome adversity
• support the safe and successful progression of children from birth to adulthood

Plan operates in 77 countries around the world. It brings its support to millions of children, their families and communities, mainly in Africa, Asia, Middle East, and South America. It implements projects in the Health, Water and Sanitation, Education, Child Protection, Sustainable Livelihood, and cross-cultural communication. Child sponsorship forms the basis of our work with children. Worth to mention, Plan International global ambition is to support 100 million girls learn, lead, decide and thrive!

As part of its commitment to support Plan International Federation reach 100 million girls so to Learn, Lead, Decide and Thrive, Plan International Liberia has developed a new country strategy which will for the next five years (2019 to 2024) focus on reaching 600,000 marginalized girls and children all over the country, with a strong commitment to work with partners at various levels to put an end to violence against girls and young women including Child Early Forced Marriage and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and other norms and practices that hinder their development and empowerment.

Plan International Liberia is committed to ensuring that Child Protection and Youth Safeguarding, Gender Transformative programming and Influencing are key and an integral part of all its work in the country.

We are currently seeking to recruit:

Title: Partnership Advisor

Location: Monrovia (with Frequent Travel to the Field)

Status: National Position

Department: Program

Reports to: Programme Quality & Delivery Manager

role PURPOSE

Plan International Liberia (Plan) requires an Adviser to play a key role in the team responsible for implementing the Global Fund TB, HIV/AIDS grants focusing on HIV prevention and testing with Key Populations and community-based TB prevention and care. Plan International Liberia has been nominated as Principal Recipient for the TB-HIV grant alongside the Ministry of Health.

This position requires expert knowledge, experience, and skills in developing and maintain partnerships with civil society organizations, ensuring such organizations’ sustainability, and civil society capacity building overall. This will ensure that sub-recipients organizations’ capacities in various areas such as the design, implementation, and reporting on programs focussed on TB and HIV/AIDS, are transferred to the national and local entities at various levels for sustainability of these programs in Liberia. The Partnerships Adviser will be responsible for designing and implementing plans to strengthen partnerships and capacity building besides coordinating with technical and funding partners to meet the capacity needs of the National Systems and local implementing partners and stakeholders on key areas of program implementation including supply chain strengthening.

Dimensions of the Role

• Lead the process of Sub-Recipients Capacity assessment to identity capacity needs for successful implementation of the Global Fund grants awarded to Plan International as Principal Recipient
• Lead the development and implementation of plans to address the capacity needs of the selected Sub-Recipients and Implementing partners along with community-based organizations partnering with Plan International Liberia in Liberia for Global Fund grants implementation
• Provide technical support and guidance in developing organizational strategy on strengthening partnerships in Liberia
• Provide support in managing Partnerships and actively coordinate with partners and partnerships forums in Liberia on important technical and financial matters
• Provide guidance and technical support in building capacity of the community-based entities having a key role in delivering services to beneficiaries under the Global Fund grants implemented by Plan International
• Regularly assess partnership environment in Liberia and advise Plan International Leadership on strategies to further enhance partnerships in light of the evolving needs and context
• Provide trainings and capacity building sessions to partners as necessary
• Ensure that the key implementation strategies and systems are fully aligned with the national priorities, the national health policy, and disease-specific National Strategic Plans
• Provide guidance and support efforts to ensure sustainability of interventions and strategies aimed at controlling TB and HIV/AIDS, as well as building resilient health systems and liaise with the Ministry of Health in Liberia, Liberia Country Coordination Mechanism (LCM), the Global Fund, and other partners on matters related to sustainability and aid effectiveness

Accountabilities

1. Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding Children and Young People and Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded in accordance with the principles and requirements of the policy including relevant Implementation Standards and Guidelines as applicable to their area of responsibility. This includes, but is not limited to, ensuring staff and associates are aware of and understand their responsibilities under these policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), their relevance to their area of work, and that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures.

Technical expertise, skills and knowledge

• Master’s degree in relevant field
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in fostering and managing partnerships and/or building capacity of stakeholders preferably in health sector
• Proven experience with partners in health sector in Liberia including the Government Ministries and the Ministry of Health, NGOs, local Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), UN agencies, multi-lateral and bilateral organizations, Faith-based organizations, and other organizations involved in health sector in Liberia
• Sound understanding of the National Health Systems, National Health Policy, disease dynamics, National Health Priorities, Disease-specific National Strategic Plans, and partnerships environment in Liberia.
• Experience in developing shared value partnerships between corporations and international non-profits desirable.
• Sound knowledge of partnerships, sustainability, and donor financing.
• Prove experience in assessing organizational capacities in key functional areas such as Financial Management and Systems, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Research, Procurement and Supply Chain Management, Risk Management, and Program Management.
• Excellent analytical, writing, and organizational skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.

Physical Environment

Typically, office environment with 50% extensive travel in program areas

Level of contact with children

Low contact: No contact or very low frequency of interaction

Mid contact: Occasional interaction with children

High level: Frequent interaction with children

(Plan International’s Values in Practice)

We are open and accountable

• Promotes a culture of openness and transparency, including with sponsors and donors.
• Holds self and others accountable to achieve the highest standards of integrity.
• Consistent and fair in the treatment of people.
• Open about mistakes and keen to learn from them.
• Accountable for ensuring we are a safe organisation for all children, girls & young people.

We strive for lasting impact

• Articulates a clear purpose for staff and sets high expectations.
• Creates a climate of continuous improvement, open to challenge and new ideas.
• Focuses resources to drive change and maximise long-term impact, responsive to changed priorities or crises.
• Evidence-based and evaluates effectiveness.

We work well together

• Seeks constructive outcomes, listens to others, willing to compromise when appropriate.
• Builds constructive relationships across Plan International to support our shared goals.
• Develops trusting and ‘win-win’ relationships with funders, partners and communities.
• Engages and works well with others outside the organization to build a better world for girls and all children.

We are inclusive and empowering

• Seeks constructive outcomes, listens to others, willing to compromise when appropriate.
• Builds constructive relationships across Plan International to support our shared goals.
• Develops trusting and ‘win-win’ relationships with funders, partners and communities.
• Engages and works well with others outside the organization to build a better world for girls and all children.