Partners Coordination Advisor -Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Job Description

FHI 360 is a nonprofit human development organization dedicated to improving lives in lasting ways by advancing integrated, locally driven solutions. Our staff includes experts in health, education, nutrition, environment, economic development, civil society, gender, youth, research and technology– creating a unique mix of capabilities to address today’s interrelated development challenges. FHI 360 serves more than 60 countries, all 50 U.S. states and all U.S. territories.

FHI-360 managed the USAID Healthy Behaviors Activity (U-HB), with its partners.  The USAID Healthy behaviors Activity (U-HB) works to increase the sustained adoption of appropriate health and nutrition behaviors in Ethiopia using evidence-based, theory-informed social and behavior change (SBC) strategies. It does so with the goal of contributing to reductions in unmet need for family planning (FP); reduced malaria-related morbidity and mortality, and its elimination; and improvements in maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) outcomes. It also supports other priority health needs related to nutrition; water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), and emerging infectious diseases (EID), like COVID-19; and works to transform social and gender norms that impede healthy behaviors and drive poor health outcomes across health areas. We are currently seeking qualified candidates for the position of Partners Coordination Advisor, based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Job Summary:

The Partners Coordination Advisor (PCA) will coordinate all the partnership interactions for the USAID Healthy Behaviors Activity. The PCA will be in charge of finding and screening potential Local Implementing Partners (LIPs), establishing sub-agreements with the LIPs under the “FHI 360 USAID Healthy Behaviors Activity” mechanism, and starting and managing capacity-building activities for both the Lips and other potential partners. As such, the PCA will closely collaborate with the National and Subnational government health offices, USAID supported implementing partners, non-USAID implementing partners through active participation in various Technical Working Groups (TWGs) so that USAID Healthy Behavior’s project activities are in line with national and subnational health programs.

The role is based in Addis Ababa, but requires travelling to the project’s implementation regions, including Amhara, Oromia, Benishangul, Gambella, Dire Diwa, and the Southern Region. The Partner Coordination Advisor will report to the Deputy Chief of Party.

Accountabilities:

Essential functions

Partnership Process Management:

• Identify, assess, and map potential partners for the USAID Healthy Behaviors Activity with a particular emphasis on local organizations.
• Create a database that catalogues all past and potential future project partners.
• Establish performance-based LIP identification, selection and deployment system in close consultation with the grants manager.
• Develop and carry out capacity and risk assessments for partners.
• Actively engage in local partners selection as per the developed RFA and provide technical support for the local partners in award competition period
• Coordinate the sub-award proposal review process for funding under the FHI360 U-HB.
• Reviewing proposals from potential partners and selecting appropriate ones based on mutual interests and potential for success
• Supporting positive relations with government counterparts and implementing partners through regular coordination and communication.
• Developing relationships with existing partners to ensure ongoing support for campaigns and initiatives
• Coordinating with internal departments to ensure that partner needs are met effectively
• Draft appropriate partnership templates collecting input from the project team.
• Work in collaboration with FHI 360 finance and program staff to verify, streamline, deploy, and manage sub-agreements under the USAID Healthy Behaviors Activity.
• Provide support to the global team and donors visiting the county for effective and efficient coordination of information sharing and messaging.

Monitor Partners:

• Create monitoring tools and follow up sub-grantees’ progress toward goals, creating monitoring tools as needed.
• Conduct and oversee regular partner monitoring visits to ensure the partners execute the agreed project activities as per the plan and as per the set standard

Capacity Building:

• Work with USAID Healthy Behaviors Activity local partners, to conduct organizational capacity assessment and an overall capacity building strategy for the project.
• Coordinating with operations and the project teams, implement the capacity building plans which may include formal training, mentoring, and experience sharing visits for the project local partners

• Communicate and source relevant resource persons as trainers and facilitators when needed.

• Continuously assess the impact of capacity building interventions, identify gaps, areas needing attention for further improvement.
• Organize forums for the project local partners to meet and share their experiences
• Facilitate networking relationships and participation with wide stakeholders such as government, and other key partners at local level.

Documentation and Reporting:

• Maintain comprehensive electronic files for the USAID Healthy Behaviors project, including partner files.
• Working with the USAID Healthy Behaviors Activity team to review/support government MOUs, Partners MoU, proposals, and reports.

Representation:

• Represent USAID Healthy Behaviors Activity at relevant coordination meetings, highlighting partnership opportunities for participants. Receive / provide feedback from those meetings to USAID Healthy Behaviors Activity senior management teams.
• Represent the USAID Healthy Behaviors Activity on relevant National and Sub National Technical Working Groups (TWGs).

Applied Knowledge & Skills:

• Ensures appropriate and timely technical support for field projects.
• Ensures the quality of implemented technical activities and systems at all levels.
• Conducts routine coordination with employees and consultants, on-site and in the field.
• Strong knowledge and skills in a specific technical area/function and general understanding of concepts and principles of related technical areas/functions.
• Solid knowledge of standards for the technical area/field, operational processes and procedures, work, and task flow.
• Has the ability to manage projects, set realistic priorities, and plan for the successful implementation of activities.
• Proficient writing and verbal communication skills.
• Relevant computer software skills (including, at a minimum, the standard applications in MS Office).
• Ability to manage their own work to job and performance standards.
• Must be able to read, write and speak fluent English fluent in host country language.

Competencies:

There are 31 FHI 360 development competencies, of greatest focus for this particular job will be:

• Project Management (Planning and Time Management) – Accurately scopes out length and difficulty of tasks (sets objectives/goals/measures). Breaks down work into steps, schedules, task/people assignments. Marshals people, time, and resources efficiently. Arranges information in a useful manner and orchestrates multiple activities at once.
• People Management (Making Others Great) – Facilitate professional development of staff by providing challenging, learning assignments and opportunities. Shares and solicits feedback monthly at the very least. Helps establish compelling development plans. Assigns responsibility and accountability for tasks/decisions. Monitors process, progress, and results. Creates a climate in which people want to do their best.
• Creating and Managing Systems and Processes – Recognizes the need for standardization and balances client and organization need in systems design. Anticipates the effects of process change on people while optimizing task efficiency and simplicity.
• Employees are expected to possess or have high potential for the development of these three fundamental competencies.

Problem Solving & Impact:

• Demonstrates the ability to assess needs within agreed upon duties and considers course of action best to meet those needs.
• Effectively applies knowledge of technical area to solve a range of problems.
• Demonstrates the ability to develop solutions to problems that cannot be solved using existing methods or approaches.
• Faulty decisions/ recommendations /failures to complete assignments will normally result in serious delays to assigned projects resulting in considerable expenditure of additional time, resources, and funds.
• Decisions and actions impact primarily workflow, project processes and timeframes.
• Problems encountered are varied, requiring review of practices and precedents to resolve.
• Problem solving involves evaluating and resolving discrepancies with data, analyses, processes, etc. within prescribed guidelines.
• Policies or guidelines exist for most problems; others must be referred to by a supervisor or more senior professional.

Supervision Given/Received:

• May supervise junior staff members.
• Coordinates own workflow and sets individual priorities.
• Works under general guidelines for completion and accuracy as determined by the supervisor.
• Accomplishes results through lower-level staff managers or through experienced staff who exercise independence in their assignments.
• May manage a centralized functional area of activity.
• Serves as mentor to more inexperienced technical staff.
• Typically reports to Deputy Chief of Party.

Education:

• Master’s degree in public health, in Development Studies and Social Sciences
• Project Management (PM) Certification preferred.

Experience:

• 15 years of work experience, out of which 5 years in advisor position / role, in national and subnational government and non-government health programs and offices.
• Has a very good understanding of national and subnational health programs
• Strong knowledge in partner relationship management
• Good knowledge and practical experience on Project management
• Solid experience in facilitating sub-grants, including proposal review, agreement development, and monitoring.
• Experience in designing and implementing organizational capacity building programs.
• Ability to deal with professional people from programs, operations, and finance backgrounds.

Typical Physical Demands:

• Typical office environment.
• Ability to spend long hours looking at computer screen and doing repetitive work on a keyboard.
• Ability to sit and stand for extended periods of time.

Technology to be Used:

• Personal Computer/Laptop, Microsoft applications (i.e., Office 365, SharePoint, Skype/Zoom/Teams), cell phone/mobile technology, and standard office equipment.

Travel Requirements:

• 10%-30%

This job posting summarizes the main duties of the job. It neither prescribes nor restricts the exact tasks that may be assigned to carry out these duties. This document should not be construed in any way to represent a contract of employment. Management reserves the right to review and revise this document at any time.

FHI 360 is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer whereby we do not engage in practices that discriminate against any person employed or seeking employment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law.

FHI 360 will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws.

FHI 360 fosters the strength and health of its workforce through a competitive benefits package, professional development and policies and programs that support a healthy work/life balance. Join our global workforce to make a positive difference for others — and yourself.