Partnerships Officer, NOC

The Partnerships Officer provides advice and support to the Development Coordinator and the United Nations Kosovo Team on strategic partnerships and resource mobilization for SDG achievement. The role involves supporting strategic planning, coordination of partnerships, resource mobilization initiatives, financing for SDGs, and knowledge management related to partnerships in Kosovo.

Responsibilities

• Provides advice on and monitors the development and implementation of the UNKT Resource Mobilization and Partnership Strategy in alignment with and support of the UNKT Strategic Plan.
• Supports relevant UNKT working groups or similar platforms for the effective implementation, monitoring and assessment of the strategy at regular intervals to harness new emerging opportunities, to anticipate changes to the internal direction and external environment, and to make mid-term adjustments.
• Conducts liaison and coordination with UN entities at local, regional and HQ levels, to help package and defines value propositions for local UN partnerships that can engage a wide range of stakeholders, including the private sector, civil society and other non-traditional partners, to implement the UNKT Strategic Plan.
• Serves as an entry points for external stakeholders seeking guidance and support in navigating opportunities to partner with the UNKT.
• Builds strong and structured relations with critical development partners, government, private sector, civil society and other non-traditional partners.
• Provides substantive support to the Development Coordinator and the UNKT in identifying risks and opportunities related to specific partnerships, and suggests mitigation measures as relevant.
• Provides inputs on due diligence processes of potential investment and partnership opportunities, in accordance with UN regulations and procedures.
• Provides substantive support to DC/UNKT to develop and implement strategic partnerships with academia, CSOs, and the private sector to accelerate SDG achievement.
• Serves as liaison to UN Global Compact regional hub to promote the UN Global Compact Ten Principles and business support for the SDGs.
• Provides substantive support to DC/UNKT to develop and implement locally tailored resource mobilization strategies and initiatives for Strategic Plan priorities, and identify appropriate data and benchmarks to measure progress and success.
• Monitors and analyzes existing resource mobilization partnerships and relationships, including traditional and non-traditional partners and development partners, donors (including high net-worth individuals, private sector, innovative funds) to be explored for direct funding to the UN.
• Supports the UNKT with regularly updated analysis of existing and potential funding streams from internal and external sources, enabling their timely and coordinated engagement around preparation of proposals.
• Supports the UNKT in preparation of the Funding Framework of the UNKT Strategic Plan.
• Provides support to the design of joint programmes for use in joint resource mobilization and coordination during the implementation of joint programmes as needed.
• Advises DC/UNKT and external partners on offers from specialized UN entities for the UNKT Strategic Plan, including through the Expertise on Demand offer, and ensures the development of partnership strategies to support the SG priorities on youths, disability inclusion, gender and other thematic issues.
• Advises the DC/UNKT on corporate policies relating to effective management of resources, including through the use of pooled funds.
• Provides advice on partnership opportunities to drive financing for development options, instruments, modalities to the DC/UNKT, in alignment with the Common Kosovo Analysis (CKA), Strategic Plan, Integrated National Financing Framework and similar processes.
• Prepares briefing papers and discussion points on partnership issues related to financing for development for consideration by DC/UNKT.
• Leads the preparation of partnership strategies, donor engagement plans, advocacy/briefing documents to support the UN's positioning.
• Working in close collaboration with the DCO Economist, ensures effective engagement of relevant counterparts, especially private sector, civil society and development partners, to develop engagement and partnerships around SDG financing.
• Undertakes the design and execution of innovative proposals to strengthen the UNKT engagement and reputation, and to generate greater financial resources in support of the SDGs.
• Promotes collaboration, peer support, innovation, good practices, lessons learned, needs, and opportunities through active participation to the local, regional and global communities of practice and knowledge networks within the Resident Coordinator System and across the UN.
• Researches, analyzes and presents best practices and lessons learned from implementation of UN partnership initiatives, with a view to advising the DC and UNKT on actions to strengthen the partnership orientation of the UN.
• Supports the UNKT with a knowledge repository of potential donors in Kosovo.
• Monitors and analyzes best practices and successful models of SDG partnerships and resource mobilization implemented by the UN in Kosovo and elsewhere.
• Provides advice on global/corporate guidelines, tools and other materials related to partnerships, resource mobilization and donor engagement.
• Keeps abreast of emerging innovative approaches in the area of partnerships, resource mobilization and donor engagement, and proposes new ways of working, where relevant.
• Reflects on processes of his/her work area at key milestones and generates knowledge valuable to others in the RC system and the UN development system.
• Works closely with the Data Analyst and Communications Officer on data, M&E, reporting, analytics and communication of same.
• Perform other related tasks as assigned.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent degree) in business or public administration, sustainable development, social sciences, education or related area is required.
• A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is an advantage.
• A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience and track record in strategic support to partnerships, project/programme management, resource mobilization in the context of development cooperation or related area is required.
• Experience of developing strategic partnerships across government, private sector and civil society organizations is required.
• Experience in developing and implementing resources mobilization strategies is required.
• Experience in preparing and/or evaluating project /programme proposals is required.
• Experience of inclusion strategies that promote Gender equality, youth participation and inclusion of persons with disability is desirable.
• Experience in UN interagency coordination is desirable.
• Experience in promoting knowledge management in the context of development cooperation is desirable.
• Experience of applied partnerships in one or more of the following areas – Food systems, Digital transformation, Jobs and social protection, energy, climate action and of Public-Private partnerships is desirable.
• Experience in supporting financing of SDGs is desirable.
• Work experience of two (2) years or more in data analytics or a related area is desirable.
• English is required at UN Level II for reading, writing, listening and speaking.
• Albanian is required at UN Level II for reading, writing, listening and speaking.
• Serbian is desirable at UN Level II for reading, writing, listening and speaking.

Skills

• Strategic Partnerships
• Project Management
• Programme Management
• Resource Mobilization
• Partnership Coordination
• Proposal Preparation
• Proposal Evaluation
• Data Analytics
• Business Analytics
• Data Science
• Inter-agency Coordination
• Knowledge Management
• Inclusion Strategies Design
• Gender Equity Promotion
• Youth Participation
• Disability Inclusion
• Public Private Partnerships
• SDG Financing
• Strategic Planning

Languages

English, Albanian, Serbian