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Senior West & Central Africa Strategic Partnerships Officer

6:06:00 PM
The location of this is flexible but must be where one of Mercy Corps office is registered in the US or West or Central Africa.
PROGRAM SUMMARY:
The West & Central Africa team seeks to develop and enhance relationships and strategic partnerships with major corporations, foundations and key private sector actors invested in the region; with a view to leveraging funding and increasing our influence and impact. Mercy Corps’ operations in the West & Central Africa region are comprised of Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Tunisia, Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo; and are set to expand to other countries within North West, West and Central Africa. All these countries present many challenges while undergoing dramatic transitions that also create significant opportunity for development and positive change. Mercy Corps is well-placed to play a meaningful role in supporting forces for positive change in these countries.
GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:
The Strategic Partnerships Officer will contribute to the development and strengthening of strategic partnerships and relationships between Mercy Corps and key actors of the corporate sector and foundations invested in, or planning to invest in, the West & Central Africa region. A particular emphasis is placed on partnerships that maximize Shared Value, notably with corporations in the extractive sector. In consultation with Country Directors and other West & Central Africa team members, the Strategic Partnerships Officer will be responsible for identifying, engaging and building relationships with prospective partners. S/he will represent Mercy Corps’ programs and values with prospective partners, with the aim of increasing our influence, impact and reach. S/he will develop collaborative opportunities with leading partners to strengthen Mercy Corps’ West & Central Africa’s program portfolio, focusing on building resilience and empowering youth, in particular.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
  • In line with country and regional strategies, leverage existing partnerships with leading corporations and foundations for innovative and impactful programming.
  • Directly responsible for cultivating relationships with a portfolio of new and existing strategic corporate and foundation donors to develop and expand their annual giving to Mercy Corps in West and Central Africa.
  • Maintain an understanding of strategic partners and their engagement. This could include conducting annual planning meetings in order to have a clear overview of joint priorities.
  • Responsible for identifying new corporate donor prospects to expand the corporate portfolio in the West & Central Africa region.
  • Directly represent Mercy Corps to new and existing donors and at key external events. Seek effective ways to highlight Mercy Corps’ achievements, with the view of increasing our visibility and influence in key areas.
  • In line with country and regional strategies, write or support teams in developing concept papers and proposals that respond to existing and new partners’ expectations.
  • Ensure that clear performance, management and monitoring systems for public-private partnerships are incorporated into project designs and budgets.
  • Collaborate with the Regional Program Director and Senior Program Officers to match key program needs with potential partners.
  • Make significant contributions to the development of corporate strategy and help expand the quality and quantity of corporate partnerships.
  • Assist Country Directors and senior country teams to devise partnership plans. Facilitate country-level strategic planning for private sector collaboration.
  • Strengthen capacity of country teams to develop and manage impactful collaborations with the private sector, working in collaboration with the Partnerships and Economic Market Development teams.
Organizational Learning
As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve - we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.
Accountability to Beneficiaries
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: None

ACCOUNTABILITY:
REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Regional Program Director
WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Country Directors, Senior Program Officers, Resource Development team, TSU
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
  • 7+ years’ experience in humanitarian / development programming in Arica required
  • Extensive knowledge of the private sector landscape in Africa required, with experience interacting with extractive companies and large, multi-national corporations
  • 7 years’ experience in private sector marketing and communications, engagement or corporate responsibility strongly preferred.
  • Thorough understanding of shared-value partnerships, preferably with first-hand experience
  • Strong representation and oral and written communications skills
  • Fluency in oral and written English and French required; Arabic skills a plus.
  • Ability to work independently and to work collaboratively with a diverse geographically spread team.
  • Understanding of the corporate decision making process.
  • Understanding of youth, peace-building and livelihoods programs; understanding of resilience thinking.
SUCCESS FACTORS:
  • · Ability to secure and increase contributions from major donors and prospects, with a particular emphasis on shared value partnerships; ability to develop relationships with corporate executives
  • · Ability to develop personal relationships with a variety of people in a variety of contexts, across virtual teams.
  • · Ability to represent both the programs and heart of Mercy Corps to external audiences.
LIVING CONDITIONS/ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:
This position will be based in a Mercy Corps office in one of US offices (DC, Cambridge, or Portland) or West or Central Africa (exact location to be determined). Up to 50% travel is required to Mercy Corps’ country programs and meeting venues within Africa.
Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.
How to apply:

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