Background information
WILPF seeks to preserve and grow grassroots nonviolent movements for equality, freedom and justice in the MENA region. To this end, we are supporting civil society efforts in the MENA region towards a peaceful and just solution to the conflict. This comes as one of WILPF’s core methods of work which is “Resourcing feminist peace”, which came to address the scarcity of long-term flexible funding for feminist agendas, combined with challenges pertaining to restrictive funding policies, stringent conditional grants, and the changing aid landscape, especially after COVID-19 with the drastic shifts in donor priorities.
Under the MENA portfolio, WILPF applies different models of partnerships all meet at the core value of forging feminist allyship and solidarity through supporting feminist grassroots and national movements in the MENA in their own terms and priorities. These models of partnerships include: ‘one-country-one-partner’ partnership model which involves longer-term partnerships with local and national feminist organizations, and ‘one-country-multiple-partners’ partnership model which involves one-year small and flexible grants (case of Syria).
Across these two partnership models, WILPF Facilitates access to adequate funding for partners across the MENA region to develop their own agenda but also access to other resources such as skills, knowledge, networks, and spaces that are critical for fostering their feminist agendas to achieve social change and social justice.
It is to be noted that WILPF is in the process of developing its five-year strategy, as well as both MENA and Syria Approaches and is seeking to embark on an internal review process and learning journey to capture best practices and lessons learned in resourcing the feminist movement, while developing internal policies and operational procedures to guide the future implementation.
Objectives
The Partnership Manager will lead the design and implementation of existing and new strategies related to partnership and allyship building and management with feminist activists, movement and organisations in the MENA region. More specifically, the Partnership Manager will implement the existing WILPF’s partnership frameworks with new and/or current partners as part of the MENA portfolio and lead the development of operational procedures and processes for partnership development and management.
The Partnership Manager reports to the MENA Director.
Main responsibilities
Implementation of the existing partnership frameworks with new or current partners as part of the MENA programmes and projects.
- Conduct an onboarding process for new partners where necessary, as per the existing WILPF partnership frameworks;
- Sustain and grow WILPF’s relationships with projects’ partners and international partners;
- Deliver quarterly narrative reports and provide support to the delivering of the financial reports as needed;
- Leading on the monitoring, evaluation and reporting of the projects with the MEL consultant;
- Overseeing the development and implementation of projects’ plans, including planning and monitoring tools and reports;
- Being the focal point with the donors and providing timely and accurate responses to all their requests;
- Hold the project budget and coordinate directly with the WILPF Finance team.
Development of WILPF’s operational tools and processes for partnership development and management around resourcing the feminist movements for peace. The set of operational tools and proccesses will define the needed programmatic, financial and administrative tools, structures, roles and terms to ensure responsiveness and effectiveness throughout the process of resourcing the feminist movements.
- Familiarize oneself with all the existing literature and documentation on ‘resourcing the feminist peace’ processes at WILPF;
- Orchestrate the internal coordination process with all concerned team members at WILPF to develop a plan for the partnership tools and procedures to be reflected in a comprehensive Terms of Reference;
- Act as the focal point during the recruitment, onboarding and implementation process of the partnership strategy development;
- Coordinate with the MEL consultant as necessary, to plan for internal learning and reflection sessions;
- Orchestrate the coordination process with the consultant or team of consultants during the development of the Partnership Strategy/Approach to ensure a timely completion of the process.
Other: Carry out other duties as required to strengthen ties and forge partnerships with formed networks and coalitions working on women, peace and security in the MENA region.
Knowledge and skills
- Previous working experience and track record of managing grants and partnerships for at least 10 years, including in the MENA region
- Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills
- Excellent organizational and time management skills
- Experience in development of tools, policies and processes
- Strategic thinker
- Networking aptitude
- Great multitasking skills
- Attention to detail
- Problem-solving oriented
Terms of contract
Duration : 6 months consultancy contract at 100%
Base: Remote
Starting date: Immediately
Languages: English and Arabic
How to apply:
Interested candidates should submit the following to jobs(a)wilpf.org with “Application for Partnership Manager” in the subject line. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Please attach an up-to-date CV and a cover letter outlining relevant skills and experiences.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, until the role is filled. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
WILPF is an equal opportunity employer. Read more about WILPF as a membership peace organisation on wilpf.org