The purpose of the Partnership Officer position is to deepen corporate level collaboration with key stakeholders and provide an interface for environmental scanning, knowledge exchange, resource mobilization, and policy influence within the scope of assignment. S/He may also serve as focal point and resource for GPR colleagues on specific thematic areas of strategic relevance for partnership development. The Partnership Officer works within cross-functional key partner management teams to leverage relationship management skills, assets and, most importantly, professional social networks. Partnership Officers are experts in their focus areas. They provide technical expertise and develop new approaches which materially expand the range of services or programmes delivered to closely support internal and external stakeholders. Partnership Officers work collaboratively with the other colleagues across the GPR Division to ensure consistency, cohesion and synergy in the application of technical advice and provision of programme development support within their assigned portfolios. The key result is to ensure greater visibility and influence for IFAD in support of its mission.

Key Functions and Results:

Partnership Building:

• The Partnership Officer seeks and promotes new partnerships and resource mobilization opportunities, working with IFAD colleagues to identify needs and broker resource mobilization agreements to meet those needs. S/he receives and screens inquiries from potential collaborators and facilitates communication with appropriate IFAD staff and advocates divisional priorities. S/he scans and scouts external environment within designated focus areas for opportunities and risks and shares information in a timely fashion with relevant IFAD staff. In addition, s/he provides strategic, logistical and programmatic support to senior management and other IFAD staff in corporate engagement and interaction with assigned partners.

Developing And Supporting Partnership Strategies:

• The Partnership Officer collaborates with internal stakeholders to strengthen IFADs approach to partnerships. S/he develops annual partnership engagement and resource mobilization plans and supports the implementation of partnership strategies within assigned portfolios. In addition, s/he builds IFAD's institutional capacity and knowledge for its partnership performance and ensures the development of efficient approaches for partnership knowledge management.

Global Policy Engagement, Sstc, And Replenishment, And Resource Mobilization And Advocacy:

• The Partnership Officer is responsible for providing technical expertise to the development and implementation of corporate strategies for the engagement in global policy debates. S/he supports and contributes to IFAD's engagement in SSTC and other policy dialogues, including replenishment, resource mobilization and advocacy.

Focal Point For Outreach, Engagement, Policy Influence And Collaboration:

• The Partnership Officer acts as focal point for identification and pursuit of opportunities for outreach, engagement, policy influence and collaboration, including on how to anticipate and respond to partners' concerns and priorities, ensuring that IFAD's interests, perspectives, and knowledge are taken into account in relevant policy and institutional processes, and ensuring that they are fully aware of IFAD's perspectives, policies, priorities and capabilities. S/he contributes to the development and management of initiatives for high-level outreach, including for IFAD Senior Management.

Managerial Functions:

• The Partnership Officer is accountable for integrity, transparency, and equity in the personal use of assigned IFAD resources, including equipment, supplies and, as applicable, staff supervised.

The Partnership Officer:

• Leads the work on the issue areas and policy platforms assigned, working in close collaboration with other relevant units within IFAD.
• Promotes partnership and resource mobilization opportunities (both globally and at the country level with State and non-State actors – including from the private sectors and Foundations) by supporting the related outreach, policy engagement, influence and collaboration activities; aiming at reaching Replenishments’ targets for Core resources 
• Supports the mobilization of supplementary funds (i.e. IPAF, GTM, ASAP+ and the PSFP) in support of IFAD’s corporate priorities and the finalization of relevant agreements with Donors.
• Provides logistical and programmatic support to management for the engagement and interaction with partners.
• Supports the preparation of IFAD’s Senior Management and other IFAD staff in-person/virtual visits to UNHQ/New York.
• Nurtures and maintains networks of partners (peoples and institutions) who are willing and able to advocate for small scale farming and inclusive rural transformation, with specific effort on establishing networks in strategic countries of responsibility, such as UN System entities and other advocacy partners.
• Supports the internal coordination of  IFAD’s engagement in global processes, as well as facilitating related engagement with relevant IFAD’s counterparts, particularly around UN-centred processes such as the UN General Assembly, the High-level Political Forum, the Commission on the Status of Women, the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, Our Common Agenda and the Summit of the Future, among others.
• Supports the Programme Management Department (PMD) Regional Divisions and Sub-regional hubs and country directors facilitating consultations and tracking progress, including through participation in field missions 
• Contributes to reports, blogs, social media and other communication materials related to donors, and provide feedback on donor messaging, needs and perspectives.

Education:

• Level – Advanced university degree from an accredited institution in a technically relevant area. In lieu of an advanced university degree, a first university degree (Bachelor or equivalent) plus at least four (4) additional years of relevant professional experience over and above the minimum number of years of experience requirement may be considered
• Areas - international development, international relations, political science or related field or other job-related field
• Degree must be from an accredited institution listed on https://www.whed.net/home.php .

Experience:

• At least five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience in outreach and liaison and/or any resource mobilization related activities;
• Three (3) years in a multi-cultural organization or national organization providing support on a global scope
• Position-specific experience:  Experience working with/in the UN System is strongly desirable.

Languages:

• English 
• French, Spanish and/or Arabic 

Skills:

• Advocacy: Know-how in advocacy, to maintain and promote constructive dialogue around IFAD¿s vision to external actors
• IFAD partners: Knowledge of IFAD's partners' functioning and mandate , such as the public sector (e.g. governments and policy, institutions and system), non-state actors (NGOs, CSOs, Foundations, etc.) and private sector actors
• Partnership building: Ability to formulate new approaches or identify new opportunities to build relationships with both traditional and non-traditional partners, focusing on impact and results.
• Resource mobilization: Know-how in resource mobilization strategies (including marketing and communication) for IFI, international public bodies and within the UN
• Stakeholder management: Strong alignment capabilities and consultation skills, building on effective interactions and relationships with different stakeholders (e.g. for the co-creation of communication material with member states) and ability to build and maintain a strong network (e.g. with journalists, media outlets, etc.)
• Leadership: Group thought leader, sought out by others and providing mentorship and effective guidance to others; Ability to build trust, inside and outside the organization by acting as a role model for IFAD's core values and competencies, and to provide a clear sense of direction, mentorship and effective guidance to the team, strategizing the IFAD's goals, giving the vision, empowering the team and ensuring a positive environment for all.
• Listening: Effective and active listening to others; understanding and acting upon indirect statements
• Political acumen: Ability to conduct sound political analysis and understand complex environments, providing options and advice
• Problem solving: Strong systemic and structured thinking, ability to identify and dissect problems into components and formulate a comprehensive set of creative viable and sustainable solutions and strategies
• Verbal communication: Clear, succinct and convincing verbal communication; highly professional, balanced and diplomatic language
• Written communication: Clear, succinct and convincing written communication in the language needed for specific role; highly professional, balanced and diplomatic language (e.g. for drafting of position papers, briefings, etc.)

Source:https://job.ifad.org/psc/IFHRPRDE/CAREERS/JOBS/c/HRS_HRAM_FL.HRS_CG_SEARCH_FL.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST_FL&JobOpeningId=13088&PostingSeq=1&SiteId=1000&languageCd=ENG&FOCUS=Applicant&ifad_back=y&