International Rescue Committee

Program Brief

Founded in 1933, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) is one of the world’s leading agencies working in post-conflict and development contexts, supporting communities in over 40 fragile, failed and developing states. In this capacity, we work to restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted, struggling to endure and wishing to advance on a path of development.

The IRC has been present in Bangladesh since 2017 and obtained registration with the NGOAB in March 2018. Since the IRC obtained registration in March 2018, it has moved quickly to expand its integrated emergency health and protection response through both direct and partner-based programming focused on primary healthcare, women’s protection and empowerment, sexual and reproductive health, gender-based violence and child protection. Through 2018, the IRC’s response strategy will primarily target Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar, while meeting the significant needs in both refugee and host populations, as already existing vulnerabilities are compounded with cyclical monsoon and cyclone seasons that impose additional threats to the lives and protection of those refugees as well as vulnerable host populations. IRC Bangladesh’s strategic vision is to protect, empower and meet the needs of the most vulnerable women, children and youth through technical expertise and partnerships in the areas of integrated protection, health, education and economic wellbeing before, during, and after displacement caused by conflict and climate-induced disaster. IRC will grow over time its geographic coverage within Cox bazar and to other parts of the country, thus expand its’ networks and partnerships around emergency preparedness and response work, reach beyond the Rohingya refugees, also targeting the vulnerable host communities in Cox Bazar and Southern parts of Bangladesh.

Purpose of the Role

The Partnerships Coordinator is responsible for the management and implementation of IRC’s approach in partnering with local and national NGOs and CSOs as well as International NGOs working in the country; establishing IRC as a leader in its engagement with Bangladesh civil society to produce better outcomes for the people we serve.

Under the guidance/supervision of the Senior Coordinator Grants, Partnership and Accountability, and in close collaboration with the senior management teams (SMTs), the Partnership Coordinator will lead the Partnership Department to ensure strong, collaborative partnerships that deliver effective and efficient program outcomes in accordance with IRC’s Global Strategy 100 (S100) and IRC Bangladesh’s Strategic Action Plans (SAP). The Partnership Coordinator will oversee the implementation of IRC’s partnership management system (PEERS) in line with the IRC’s SAP and Programmatic requirements, and ensure that IRC identifies, appropriately allocates and effectively mitigates programmatic, operational, financial and reputational risk, establishing a strong foundation for strategic partnerships that extend beyond program implementation to incorporate mutual capacity strengthening and broader collaboration. The Partnerships Coordinator will be a leader in fostering and promoting a culture, attitudes, values and skills conducive to collaborative partnerships throughout the Bangladesh teams, based on a clear and shared understanding of IRC’s strategy, role and approach, and core partnership principles. The Partnerships Coordinator will work closely with other functions including Grants, Finance, Operations and Program internally (e.g., HQ, Region, Country Office programs etc.) externally (e.g., partners, Consortia, Emergency Partners, relevant government institutions, wider public etc.). Partnerships Coordinator will directly manage Sub-Award Managers and Sr. Partnership

Highlights of Key Responsibilities

Strategic:

• Provide leadership and guidance for development and management of partnerships with potential local and national NGOs, Private Sector and other relevant actors which are in line with IRC’s Strategic Vision, Partnership and Fundraising Strategy.
• Forster building and strengthening relationship with partner organizations based on transparency, mutual respect, inclusion, accountability, effective communication, and quality service delivery.

Promote Effective Partnerships:

• With support and in collaboration with Senior Coordinator Grants, Partnership and Accountability, DDPs and Technical Coordinators (TCs), drive the processes of developing and maintaining a working knowledge of the civil society landscape in Bangladesh; and establish, build and maintain a network of strategic partners, including with women-led organizations as per IRC’s S100.
• Collaborate with SMT to proactively identify potential partnerships with local and national NGOs as well as International Organizations.
• Champion robust partner relationship management characterized by the core partnership principles of responsibility, results-oriented approach, equality, transparency and complementarity. 
• Ensure appropriate proactive and reactive communications and engagement with IRC partners through regularly scheduled partnership management meetings and outside of formal partnership relationships.
• Facilitate systematic feedback on management of the partnership relationship, as well as appropriate action in response to the feedback, engaging SMT as needed.
• Work with the DDP, Senior Coordinator Grants, Partnership and Accountabiliy , TCs, and the Grants Coordinators to ensure that partnership is appropriately integrated into all new business development and support the development of new business development concepts that prioritize partnerships.
• Support the Senior Coordinator Grants, Partnership and Accountability and DDP to advocate with donors to promote approaches and requirements that are responsive to the priorities and realities of local partners, and that promote the localization of the Bangladesh response.
• Actively engage with and help drive IRC’s regional partnership initiatives, including participating in working groups and thematic meetings on partnership approaches and practices, finding opportunities for systems improvements, and coordinating to ensure a coherent, efficient and effective joint approach to partnerships.

Partnership Accountability and Results

• Maintain effective and efficient procedures for IRC Bangladesh that responsibly manage PEERS processes.
• Delineate clear roles and responsibilities within the Partnerships Department.
• Oversee, facilitate and coordinate all aspects of partnership life cycle management, from stakeholder analysis, partner identification, due diligence, risk assessment and capacity building plan, project development, agreement, start-up, implementation, monitoring through to close-out, coordinating effectively with all program, operations and finance components.
• Foster and promote a culture, attitudes and values conducive to collaborative partnerships throughout the Bangladesh teams, based on a clear and shared understanding of IRC’s strategy, role and approach, and IRC’s core partnership principles.

Partnership Management:

• In accordance with PEERs oversee all aspects of partnership life cycle management, from partner mapping analysis, partner identification, due diligence, project development, agreement development, sub-award management start-up, implementation, monitoring and accountability through to close-out, coordinating effectively with all program, operations and finance components.
• Facilitate and lead the development of the structure and approach to individual partner relationships – including the selection of the appropriate funding mechanism and the development of appropriate reporting, monitoring and advance terms - based on the findings of the pre-award due diligence and in line with IRC policy, appropriately analyzing and mitigating risks, in collaboration with SMTs and TCs.
• Ensure that IRC’s approach to sub-award management, monitoring and accountability during the sub-award period prioritizes the best possible outcomes for clients, while effectively mitigating and managing risk, and promoting the core partnership principles
• Facilitate systematic partner feedback on IRC’s management of and performance in partnerships, as well as appropriate action in response to the feedback.
• Liaise with HQ Awards Management Unit to facilitate partnership agreement review and approval processes and ensure partnership agreement management consistent with IRC and donor policies, and Lead on any partnership agreement modification in coordination with partner, program, finance and HQ.
• Coordinate the effective startup of partnerships, including Partnership Opening Meetings with partners, programs, M&E and other departments, as relevant.
• Maintain and coordinate partner’s program, finance, and compliance monitoring and review meeting schedules, and coordinate support for partners to address concerns as necessary. 
• Coordinate effective partnership close out processes, incorporating reflection, lessons learned and future planning.
• Contribute to donor reporting for partnership-related matters (non-programmatic)
• Ensure that key documents are kept updated and uploaded in internal file sharing platform, and maintain complete and organized partnership files for each partner

Partner Support and Capacity Sharing:

• Ensure all partners have collaboratively developed project support plans in place and oversee the delivery of timely and effective support, in close collaboration with the SMTs.
• Provide necessary capacity building support to IRC and partners on donors’ and IRC’s policy and procedures; facilitate PEERS and partnership management trainings, refresher trainings and ongoing support on partnership management and compliance for key partners and IRC staff.
• Ensure IRC understands the capacity strengthening priorities of its partners, including through Organizational Capacity Assessment processes where appropriate, and find opportunities for IRC to support partner capacity strengthening efforts were aligned with prime award objectives.
• In collaboration with Sub-Award Managers, Sr. Partnerships Officer and relevant IRC departments, ensure Project Support Plans (PSPs) for each partner/project. Coordinate implementation of PSPs, in collaboration with IRC departments and external consultants, as needed.
• Work with TCs and related department to ensure that the impact of IRC’s support to partners is effectively tracked and measured.

People Management:

• Direct management oversight of the Bangladesh Partnership Department, including ensuring that the unit is appropriately resourced and structured, and the recruitment, performance management, and professional development of all unit staff.
• Supervise the two Senior Managers. Mentor, coach and promote learning among team members to enable them to independently run program activities with minimum support.
• Work closely with the Senior Partnership Finance Manager to ensure appropriate financial documentation in compliance with IRC and donor regulations, and to facilitate timely processing of all partnership payments according to schedule.
• Coach, train, mentor and supervise direct-report staff, including communicating clear expectations, setting performance objectives, providing regular and timely positive and constructive performance feedback, and providing documented semi-annual performance reviews. Look for opportunities to support staff in their career growth.
• Work with senior management to ensure the partnerships unit is appropriately resourced and structured, including contributing to the operating budget and proposals to ensure adequate funding for staff, equipment and other Departmental needs.
• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.
• Overall responsibility for staff timesheets, work plans and vacation schedules.
• With team members, identify individual training needs and ensure access to training and professional development resources appropriate to their skill gaps/needs.
• Work with HR staff to identify and implement recruitment and retention strategies.

Others:

• Other duties as assigned by the supervisor to enable and develop IRC programs.

Key Working Relationships:

• Position Reports to: Senior Coordinator Grants, Partnership and Accountability

Coordinates with:

• Internal: Technical Coordinators, DDP, Deputy Directors of Finance, DDO, Grants Coordinator, M&E
• Coordinator, Regional Partnership Director, Operations, regional and HQ colleagues.
• External: Bangladesh NGOs, INGO and UN actors with respect to partnerships, Consortia and 

Emergency Partners

Major Challenges/Difficulties of This Role

• Requires coordination and linkages with various departments and multiple counterparts with whom there’s no direct reporting line.
• A rapidly growing program portfolio, with evolving functions and demands.