The Program Specialist Gov. Relations and Partnerships is responsible for supporting and promoting DRC’s positive working relationships with national and local authorities and to provide support to programmes teams in: obtaining sub agreements, Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreements, and other permits needed for implementation of DRC activities in Yemen. As part of the Partnerships and Localization team the Specialist plays a lead role in the timely implementation of projects by supporting timely submission of all documents with the authorities, follow up on approvals, and negotiation on behalf of DRC Yemen. The Specialist also support national partners of DRC in obtaining their necessary permissions to operate and works closely with the authorities to build their capacity in relevant areas. The Specialist reports to the Partnership and Localisation Manager and coordinates internally with all departments to collect necessary documentation for submission. The Partnership Specialist is an excellent communicator, negotiator, self-motivator, and can work both independently and as part of a team.
This position will be based at Country Office level in Sana’a and may require extensive field travel.
Main responsibilities:
Representation of DRC and coordinatation with authorities
Represent DRC in negotiations with government entities, national and local authorities, and other key stakeholders to establish/maintain effective relationships
Work closely with DRC’s programme teams and support the development and submission of projects sub agreements to local authorities, including development of budgets and timelines aligned with requirements by authorities
Provide support to DRC’s local partners in securing sub agreements with relevant authorities
Ensure, as far as possible, that DRC sub agreements are submitted and approved on time and in compliance with DRC requirements and principles
Prepare periodic reports for local authorities in coordination with DRC Programme staff and ensure that the required reports are submitted in timely manner
Regularly meet focal points and key stakeholders from national and local authorities to maintain effective organizational communication
Keep DRC management informed about new announcements/requirements coming from local authorities and ministries that are relevant to DRC operations
In consultation with management, prepare and issue correspondence to national authorities as necessary. Respond to any official correspondence or requests for information in a timely manner.
Capture and share lessons learned for ensuring positive collaboration with national and local authorities in the north of Yemen
Provide coordination and required support for meeting or events with relevant officials
Liaise with DRC staff in governorates outside Sana’a to support their coordination with authorities, traveling as needed
Understand and maintain DRC’s commitment to DRC Core Competencies, the Core Humanitarian Standard, and the humanitarian principles as they relate to liaison and access negotiations
Capacity and Needs Assessments and Partnership Engagement
Support DRC programmes teams in tailoring in-depth capacity assessment tools related to liaison with government entities and local authorities
Develop and facilitate the delivery of capacity development for different stakeholders including CSO, DRC staff, government entities, and local authorities
Support partner selection processes for national NGOs including local authority liaisons as needed
Manage positive and productive relations with selected NNGOs across the country in relation to access negotiatons and permissions with local authorities
Provide support to DRC’s Partnerships team in establishing and maintain productive links between partners and DRC Programme teams when drafting sub agreement documents, conducting partner selection, and assessing due diligence criteria
Liaison with Technical Teams, Grants, and Finance
Work closely with the programmes and support teams to collect relevant information and documentation related to sub agreements and approvals
Regularly update programmes teams on sub agreement progress, including during weekly or biweekly coordination meetings
Brief relevant clusters, technical working groups, and other coordination fora about liaison with national authorities as needed
Briefing new staff on authorities/local institutions and local environment
Ensure all documents and reports are up to date and accessible to relevant staff, and compiling and filing all job-related documents and letters in an organized archive system
Maintain database of all relevant stakeholders and focal points
About you
To be successful in this role you must have:
Experience and technical competencies:
Experience working with SCMCHA and other local authorities is required
Full professional proficiency in English and Arabic is required
Experience in humanitarian negotiation is an advantage
Experience writing reports and working with budgets
At least 4 years work experience with a CSO in Yemen
Experience working with national partners and/or sub grants
Good knowledge of relevant donor compliance regulations is an advantage
Professional background in working in contexts with internally displaced persons and/or refugees
Experience working in multicultural work settings
Willingness to embrace and further develop overall objectives such as gender equity, impact monitoring, and cross-sector cooperation
In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’ five core competencies:
Striving for excellence: Focusing on reaching results while ensuring efficient processes.
Collaborating: Involving relevant parties and encouraging feedback.
Taking the lead: Taking ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
Communicating: Listening and speaking effectively and honestly.
Demonstrating integrity: Upholding and promoting the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to DRC’s values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.
Moreover, we also expect the following:
Required qualifications:
Education :
Degree in political science, international development, economics or other relevant field is an asset
