Partnerships Specialist at the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners' peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world.  Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors and United Nations organizations

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Partnerships Specialist

Vacancy code: VA/2019/B5117/18790
Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Hosted Entities: WSSCC
Job categories: Partnerships, Programme Management
Department/office: ECR, GVA, WASH
Contract type: Local ICA Specialist
Contract level: LICA Specialist-10
Duration: Ongoing ICA - 'Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.'

Background Information - Job-specific

• The Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) was established in 1990 and mandated by name in United Nations General Assembly resolution A/RES/45/181.The WSSCC Secretariat is hosted by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and aims to accelerate the achievement of sustainable sanitation, hygiene and water services for all people, with special attention to the unserved poor, by enhancing collaboration and coordination of all sector stakeholders. The WSSCC Secretariat is located in Geneva, Switzerland. More information on WSSCC can be found on the website at www.wsscc.org.
• In November 2018, President Muhammad Buhari declared a state of Emergency in the WASH Sector but also launched the roadmap to ending Open Defecation by the year 2025. This is based on the fact that by the October 2019, Nigeria may become the country with the highest number of persons practicing open defecation. With approximately one in four persons, 47 million   people having nowhere to go to toilet while the national access to basic sanitation stands at a low level of 33% (JMP, 2017). Data from the recently conducted WASH National Outcome Routine Monitoring (WASH-NORM) in 2018 showed a marginal reduction in access to improved water supply to 67.9% with only 3.7% meeting safely managed criteria while for sanitation, basic access stood at 41.5% out of which 19.2% is safely managed.
• As part of WSSCC contribution to the realization of the development agenda of the government of Nigeria, a 2-years 2019-2020 Country Engagement Plan (CEP) has been developed with the overall objective to “To support the agenda of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Towards Water Sanitation and Hygiene by 2025 with particular focus on the national ODF road map, MHM, and LNOB’. To further strengthen it work in Nigeria, WSSCC will use the facility made at its disposal by The Federal Ministry of Water Resources as a unit dedicated to supporting the WASH sector at Federal and states level and the implementation of the CEP for the period 2019-2020. The incumbent will be based in the WSSCC Nigeria Support Unit, and reports to the Regional Manager, West and Central Africa Unit (WCAU) based in Geneva.
• Under the direct supervision of the WSSCC Regional Manager (RM), West and Central Africa Unit (WCAU), the incumbent will be responsible for providing technical support for the implementation of WSSCC’s Country Engagement Plan (CEP) in Nigeria through its Nigeria Support Unit (NSU). Within the framework fo the CEP for Nigeria,  the incumbent will also be responsible for developing and managing activities in support to existing and new partnerships, including  but not limited to grant managements, collaboration with federal and state level partners, support to designing and to operationalize learning and training, documentation and links to research and monitoring systems of WSSCC. The incumbent will work pro-actively to provide technical support to key stakeholders and existing structures such as the Clean Nigeria Unit (CNU) of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, the WSSCC Wash Ambassador, the WSSCC National Coordinator and the GSF supported programme and RUWASSA’s in Benue and Cross River states. The incumbent may also engage to support WSSCC Regional Unit organize local and regional events, workshops and trainings.

Functional Responsibilities
Partnership Coordination and development:

• Support the Regional Manager,WCAU, build & strengthen ongoing and new partnership in Nigeria
• Develop and update a stakeholder and partnerships mapping exercise, defining and classifying the various types of partnerships taking place in Nigeria
• Cultivate and support the development of new partnership relationships with UN, Civil Society and other potential collaborators involved in WSSCC thematic priorities in Nigeria through direct outreach and targeted events.
• Drafts new or revise partnership concept notes, and proposals to support strategic engagement,m including through close collaboration with WSSCC Resources Mobilization unit;
• In collaboration with WSSCC Communications unit develop tailored data and materials and social media content on WSSCC approaches and successes in Nigeria that reinforce targeted partnership development and outreach
• Continuously update and seek to grow a partnership list of relevant contacts.
• Manage assigned projects at the WSSCC Nigeria Support Unit (NSU). This may  include short term initiatives and small grants under the Nigeria Country Engagement Plan (CEP) as needed.
• Identify and support the mobilization of  national-level resources through engagement with governmental and private institutions.
• Support WSSCC Regional Manager, the WASH Ambassador, and the National Coordinator in the promotion and the profiling of WSSCC.
• Support RM WCAU to bring lessons from Nigeria to the sector regionally and globally

Capacity strengthening and support to the Clean Nigeria Unit and ODF road maps at state level:

• Prepare annual work plan with the Clean Nigeria Unit to  support the delivery of workshops and training in the following areas:  strengthening in collective behavior change, equity and inclusion, MHM, societal engagement and mass collaboration, development of state level ODF road maps.
• Link with Technical Support Unit (TSU) in WSSCC Secretariat to systematize feedback loops, quality control mechanisms and systems for ongoing capacity development in the sector.

Support WSSCC and WCAU internal planning and review:

• In collaboration with WSSCC Secretariat staff, integrate lessons learned in Nigeria and in the region into the ongoing work of WSSCC as well as the forthcoming formulation of WSSCC’s new strategic plan for 2021 - 2025.
• Participate and support WCAU team in the planning, implementation and monitoring of, activities in Nigeria and in the region with a particular focus on partnership, collaboration and events/workshop management.
• Work with National Coordinators and GSF partners in cross-fertilization of learning, knowledge and best practices.
• Travel in Africa as well as to WSSCC Headquarters in Geneva as required for this position.

Education/Experience/Language requirements
Education:

• Master's Degree in Social Sciences or Social Work or Development Studies or Gender studies or Economics or Management Science or other relevant fields.
• A Bachelor's Degree with a combination of 2 additional years of relevant experience may be accepted  in lieu of the master's degree.

Experience:

• Minimum five years of relevant professional experience in partnership/project/programme management or related areas is required.

Language:

• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of any of the major Nigeria languages: Hausa, Ibo or Yoruba: reading, written and spoken is an asset/desirable.

Competencies:

• Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and externally in order to positively shape the organization. Anticipates and perceives the impact and implications of future decisions and activities on other parts of the organization.
• Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organizational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.
• Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others.
• Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role).
• Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries.
• Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements.
• Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving.
• Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.

Functional competencies:

• Demonstrated experience and professional background in partnership development, coordination, programme management, strategic development and engagement, resource  mobilization;
• Relevant experiences to WASH, Gender mainstreaming, institutional strengthening, local governments, sustainable development issues, private sector and corporate social responsibility.
• Demonstrated diplomatic skills and excellent interpersonal skills with sensitivity to cultural and political differences
• Understanding of  programmes, policies, and coordination mechanisms particularly the WASH and equality and non-discrimination context;

Contract type, level and duration:

• Contract type: Individual Contractor Agreement (ICA)
• Contract level: Local ICA Specialist Level 10
• Contract duration: Ongoing ICA - ‘Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance
• For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link: https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx

Application Closing Date
13th November, 2019.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Additional Consideration

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS. 
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns.
• Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.
• Candidates with no UN or UNOPS experience are strongly encouraged to apply!
• Open to Nationals or persons with a valid Nigeria residence/work permit
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.