Partnership Coordinator

Who are we?

The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunity for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and – whenever possible – for the fulfillment of the wish to return home. 

The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956, and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced.

All of our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency.

DRC Syria

DRC has been actively operating in Syria since 2008 mainly supporting refugees. In June 2012, DRC was authorized by the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) to expand its humanitarian efforts and provide assistance to IDPs and the vulnerable resident population countrywide. Since then, DRC activities have been focused on NFI distributions, Shelter, WASH, Protection, Education, Livelihoods and Mine Risk Education in six Governorates (Damascus, Rural Damascus, Dara'a, Aleppo, Hama, and Homs). While Protection/community service activities are provided to beneficiaries throughout our Community Centers.

About the job:

The Partnership Coordinator will be responsible for working to implement a strategic framework and dedicated systems to strengthen DRC Syria’s partnerships with local and national authorities, civil society organisations, the private sector, research institutions, and others across Syria. This role will develop and coordinate the DRC partnership approach in Syria, improving and adapting tools and practices to the local context. The Partnership Coordinator will play a lead role in framing DRC Syria's approaches to localisation, building on our global partnership principles and civil society engagement strategies, aligned with Strategy 2025 and our Localisation Vision for 2030. This role works across departments to establish systems and approaches for identifying, pursuing, and maintaining effective partnerships that contribute to DRC’s strategic objectives. The Partnership Coordinator will map and identify new partnership opportunities, assess partner organisation capacities, facilitate relevant capacity-strengthening support, and provide ongoing support to partner organisations throughout and after program implementation. The Partnership Coordinator reports to the PDQM Manager, with an oversight from Head of Programme, especially on strategic engagement and contractual compliance. On the day-to-day work on partnerships and localization, the position is managed the PDQ Manager.

This position will be based at the Country Office in Damascus and may require extensive field travel.

Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership and Coordination

• Lead in facilitating the development, implementation and continuous assessment of DRC Syria's localisation strategy and roadmap in line with DRC’s global strategy for 2025 and beyond
• Promote DRC Syria’s localization vision with DRC staff and partners and support staff with its implimentation
• Participate in relevant country-level and regionally relevant partnerships and localisation working groups and advocate for the inclusion and support of national organisations in these forums
• Stay up to date on current trends in partnerships and localisation practice regionally and share learning with country SMT and relevant programmes teams, as well as linking with the Regional Office and DRC HQ Global Localisation Unit
• Ensure partners involvement in strategic planning, programme design, and proposal/concept note development
• Coordinate with external agencies working with the same partners or partners in the same sectors or locations, ensuring a partner-centred approach
• Input into strategy development of various sectors to include plans and targets on programme models that include NNGO partners
• Support Technical Coordinators to work with duty bearers and newly established coordination and government ministries in different governorates in Syria understand the role of NNGOs in humanitarian programming and to strengthen their capacity to engage with NNGOs in programme design and implementation

Partnership Development and Field Support

• Lead the DRC Syria Country Office in developing systematic approaches to selecting partners, and in identifying and pursuing strategic partnerships
• Liaise with DRC Syria Technical Coordinators and Support teams to support the design of partner programming in sectors including Protection, Shelter, WASH, HMA, and Economic Recovery
• Work across departments to develop systems and policies that are supportive of the Localisation Strategy, and ensure periodic review and updating of policies
• Define a standard framework of roles and responsibilities among various DRC departments and between Area Offices for partnership communication and engagement

Capacity and Needs Assessments and Partnership Management

• Coordinate the strengthening of local and national partner capacity to deliver quality humanitarian programming, supporting Programme and Support staff to work across relevant departments to set up systems for coaching and other capacity support interventions
• Coordinate across teams to carry out partner organizational capacity assessments and analyse assessments jointly with partners to identify priority organizational development needs. Develop capacity development plans to support partners to address priority gaps identified – including through financial support.
• Promote relationships of mutual respect and mutual learning with partners, and provide guidance to relevant staff in supporting them
• Support DRC Syria staff to establish and maintain a partnership database that maps out partner capacity, influence, and strategic alignment with DRC programming
• Review existing partnerships resources and identify additional needs to support capacity assessment, monitoring, compliance, project cycle management, etc. Roll out and/or adapt global DRC partnership tools that support partnership management.
• Input into in-depth capacity assessment tools related to project and programme design and management, including grants management processes
• Support partner selection processes for national NGOs including local authority liaisons as needed
• Manage positive and productive relations with selected NNGOs across the country; conduct periodic partnership reviews with local civil society partners.

Grants, Accountability, and Reporting

• Guided by the DRC PCM Handbook, continuously monitor and develop relevant accountability initiatives as well as strengthening the effort to document the impact and lessons learned of activities
• Ensure compliance with internal and external reporting requirements including procurement
• Provide input for monthly, quarterly and annual donor reports as needed
• Lead initiatives to improve partnership practices by periodically assessing DRC Syria's partnership management approach taking into account both DRC and partners’ perspectives, capture lessons learned and best practices, and make recommendations for improvement
• Analyse results of on-going partnerships, remote management and results on the ground to produce lessons learnt and inform strategic decision-making
• Lead on proposal development for funding opportunities directly related to partnerships and localisation and actively support identification of and liaison with new and existing donors
• Work with the Grants team to ensure that partnership tools and financial standards meet donor requirements and allow for adaptation and flexibility and advocate for these changes at country and donor level
• Contribute to DRC proposals and reports, especially in relations to partnerships and localization
• When requested, take responsibility for donor reporting deadlines (setting internal deadlines, providing clear guidance to relevant colleagues, and following-up on inputs), especially in relation to local and national partners
• Support the coordination, compilation, and review of donor narrative reports, including submission via online portals, especially in relation to local and national partners
• Coordinate with MEAL team reporting of indicator tracking table and MEAL related donor outputs, especially in relations to local and national partners
• Facilitate the administration of grants management processes (reminders of deadlines; coordination of reports; submission of proposals and reports via online portals; coordination of comments/revisions), especially in relation to local and national partners
• Ensure that DRC Dynamics is continually updated (reporting, instalments, start date, end date, total budget, and uploading of documents)
• Promote quality information management by maintaining an up-to-date filing system on SharePoint, including careful version control of proposals, grant amendments, top-ups, donor reports, etc.
• Other tasks delegated by the PDQM, as required

People Management

• Provide technical management of a team of 2 Partnership staff (funding dependent) across Syria including coaching, coordination,recruitment, and capacity development
• Provide on the job training as much as required and adapt trainings/coaching to specific staff needs within the partnerships team

Experience:

• At least 5 years experience in relevant field in an INGO or other humanitarian actor
• At least 3 years experience with project or programme oversight and proven organizational skills
• Good knowledge of relevant donor compliance regulations
• Significant experience dealing with national partners and local/government authorities
• Professional background in working with internally displaced persons and/or refugees
• Significant experience in training and liaising with national NGOs
• Experience working in multicultural work settings
• Full professional proficiency in English and Arabic
• Willingness to embrace and further develop overall objectives such as gender equity, impact monitoring, and cross-sector cooperation

Education

Advanced degree in political science, international development, economics or other relevant field desireabl.

Languages

Fluency in written and spoken English and Arabic

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’ five core competencies:  

• Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.  
• Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.  
• Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.  
• Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.  
• Demonstrating integrity: You act in line with our vision and values.

We offer:

Contract length: 1 year (extension based on performance and funds)

Level: G

Location: Damascus – Syria

Expected Start date: As soon as possible

Application process

Interested? Then apply for this position by clicking on the link below:

Partnership Coordinator - Application Form

All applicants must send a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages). Both must be in the same language as this vacancy note. CV only applications will not be considered.

Applications close on 28th of April-2025

Need further information?

If you have questions or are facing problems with the online application process, please visit drc.ngo/jobsupport.

For further information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult our website www.drc.org