Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)C
Family Type (not applicable for home-based)
Non Family
Staff Member / Affiliate TypeUNOPS IICA2
Target Start Date2024-01-01
Job Posting End DateDecember 2, 2023
Terms of ReferenceTERMS OF REFERENCE
(Individual Contractor Agreement)
Title: Partnership Coordinator
Project: Prospects Continued
Duty station: Erbil, Iraq
Section/Unit: UNHCR Iraq
ICA Level: International Specialist โ IICA2
Corresponding level: P3
Duration: from 01 January 2024 to 31 December 2024
1. General Background
(Brief description of the national, sector-specific, or other relevant context in which the individual contractor will operate)
Context of displacement
Between 2014-17, the Global Coalition fought a war against the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL)/Daโesh, which at its height of control, occupied half the territory of Iraq. Six million Iraqis were suddenly displaced while the government and international partners responded to one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises. At the same time, hundreds of thousands of Syrians fled the war across the border to Iraq. Many displaced Iraqis sought refuge outside the country.
Even before large-scale military operations in Iraq ended in November 2017, the improved security and service environment allowed almost 4 million Iraqis to return to their areas of origin. Despite the scale of return, the rate of internally displaced persons (IDPs) returning steadily decreased in 2018.
Over the past 2 years, the forced displacement crisis has become increasingly protracted and more complex. More than 1.1 million Iraqis remain displaced and face serious barriers to return or meaningful local integration. In addition, Iraq hosts over 298,000 refugees and asylum-seekers as of 30 September 2023, the majority of whom are Syrians (mainly Kurdish) and large-scale return is not currently foreseen.
Considering Iraqโs improved stability and the expansion in its fiscal space, the UN and the broader international community assessed that strategic development approaches would be more appropriate to address in an equal manner the needs of all Iraqis. Therefore, a transition started from a humanitarian response to a government-led one that is rooted in development and human rights-based approaches and aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Iraqโs National Development plan. In line with this, donors are pivoting their funding priorities to new humanitarian crises and reassessing the funding portfolio. Despite the improved conditions, protracted humanitarian and development needs remain and the changing landscape poses challenges with regard to reduced funding levels and government-led coordination of durable solutions. In this context, support and concerted efforts are required from the UN, broader international community and the Government to advance the humanitarian-development-peace nexus including through increasing access of forcibly displaced populations to human rights, enhancing their self-reliance and strengthening their inclusion in national systems and social security schemes.
Partnership for Improving Prospects
PROSPECTS is a global partnership initiated by the Government of the Netherlands in 2018, bringing together the World Bank, IFC, UNICEF, UNHCR and ILO, to jointly design and implement an innovative approach for forcibly displaced persons and host communities. By bringing together leading humanitarian and development actors, and building on their unique comparative advantages, the partnership aims to put in practice the humanitarian-development-peace nexus to ultimately enhance the self-reliance of forcibly displaced persons and vulnerable host communities.
The partnership is implemented in 8 countries with a total budget of EUR 700 million for 2024-2027 (phase 2). Approximately USD 47 million is reserved for the five partners in Iraq, however, this amount is not fixed yet and may change based on contextual developments and opportunities. The second phase of the Prospects partnership will start in January 2024, and focuses on four broad areas: 1) education and learning, 2) employment with dignity, 3) (social) protection and 4) services and infrastructure.
In 2023, the Netherlands Embassy in Iraq in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Netherlands developed the Iraq Country Vision, outlining their joint strategy. Although priorities have been identified under all 4 pillars of Prospects, priority in the context of Iraq should be given to increasing self-reliance and durable solutions for displaced persons specifically through employment and livelihood opportunities and strengthening their (social) protection. Naturally, to achieve better employment opportunities, education and training, with a strong link to the job market will also be required. Activities with regard to services and infrastructure should support interventions in these priority areas.
Prospects partners in Iraq have developed a Multiannual Country Program (MACP) 2024-2027, which received positive feedback from the Netherlands Embassy in Iraq and consequently was approved by the Ministry in The Hague.
The Multiannual Country Program (MACP), its joint M&E framework, policy matrix, joint advocacy strategy and country programme operationalization jointly set out the roadmap for Prospects in Iraq. As an ongoing process building on the first phase of the programme, the Government of the Netherlands (GoN) wishes to further strengthen synergies between the partners in Iraq through the support of a Partnership Coordinator. In the previous phase of Prospects, this position was oriented towards more of a facilitator role with the different partners. Based on lessons learned from Prospects Phase I, however, it is deemed that the role requires a stronger coordination element to better support the partners with joint decision-making, aligned programming and further concerted implementation and advocacy with regard to displacement issues and policies in Iraq. In addition, continuous and effective coordination with the embassy of the Netherlands in Iraq, as a key stakeholder and donor representative, will remain a crucial component of the role.
The position of the Partnership Coordinator is financed by the GoN through UNHCR. Therefore, the contract will be with UNHCR, as the representative of the five partners jointly. The Partnership Coordinator will, however, be placed in the office of the DSRSG/RC/HC, for two main reasons: to allow for a certain amount of objectivity towards each of the five partners and in order for the Partnership Coordinator to be closely aligned with broader coordination processes in Iraq.
The Partnership Coordinator is hired to strengthen and maintain synergy and collaboration between the five partners, while coordinating their efforts in preparing key programme documents. Regular exchange and consultation with the embassy of the Netherlands throughout the process is key to ensuring all partners remain abreast of the achievements and challenges of Prospects in Iraq and their required key action(s).
The Partnership Coordinator will regularly report on his/her work to all five partners jointly through e-mails and documents, during coordination meetings and (where relevant) during technical working group meetings. The Ministry of the Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands will be kept copied on exchanges and informed of all reporting. The Partnership Coordinator will also inform and consult closely with the DSRSG/RC/HC to ensure that (the programming of) the PROSPECTS partnership is aligned with broader coordination processes of the UN in Iraq, including the Cooperation Framework.
In case of disagreement among the partners (and DSRSG/RC/HC) and for ultimate accountability, the Partnership Coordinator will report to the GoN who will support him/her in taking an objective stance and facilitating good collaboration among the partners. If the Partnership Coordinator has any questions or concerns about her/his role, the GoN is the first point of contact.
2. Purpose and Scope of Assignment
(Concise and detailed description of activities, tasks and responsibilities to be undertaken, including expected travel, if applicable)
The Partnership Coordinatorโs key role is to support with the preparation of key documents and reports, and to ensure effective and timely coordination among the partners and with the GoN. The Partnership Coordinator is also expected to help strengthen synergy among partners so that they can leverage their comparative advantages more effectively and conduct robust joint advocacy towards achieving the key milestones laid out in the policy matrix.
Duties and responsibilities
The Partnership Coordinator will coordinate the development and follow up on the implementation of the MACP for Iraq, building on relevant partners' guidance, with specific attention to result-based management (RBM). The deliverables will be submitted according to the timeline agreed upon in the MACP and country-level governance guidelines.
Specific tasks:
- Support with drafting relevant documents and reports for the MACP including through consolidation and effective presentation of data and budget information provided by the partners.
- Arrange for regular meetings and thematic discussions on issues of key relevance with key staff involved in Prospects to remain up to date on implementation challenges, successes and lessons learned and bring the implementation to the next level.
- Report bi-monthly following Partnership coordination meetings to the five partners and the Netherlands Embassy on deliverables.
- Support partner/stakeholder consultations on issues that may affect the design, planning or implementation of the MACP.
- Support the Partnership with updates and response to feedback from the GoN.
- Keep the Netherlands Embassy in Iraq up to date about progress, challenges and successes of Prospects in Iraq and on the basis of programmatic insights, advice Embassy staff on issues of donor importance.
- In consultation with the partners, facilitate synergies between various components of the MACP for Iraq.
- Review relevant research and monitor trends in Iraq that may affect planning and the outcomes of the MACP and discuss findings with the partners and the RC/HC.
- In consultation with the partners and the Embassy of the Netherlands, coordinate the set-up of Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) sessions in Iraq, on the basis of country-specific M&E frameworks and the Global Partnership M&E framework and in line with the Partnership governance documents.
- When relevant to the Partnership, participate, in capacity as the Partnership Coordinator (and on behalf of the donor), in meetings of the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT), UN Country Team (UNCT), and their relevant sub- and working groups to better understand developments and opportunities for strengthening the Partnership's impact in Iraq.
- Carry out any other needed tasks that may arise during the contract period.
3. Monitoring and Progress Controls
(Clear description of measurable outputs, milestones, key performance indicators and/or reporting requirements which will enable performance monitoring)
The following deliverables and timeline are based on the Partnership Coordinator beginning work in Iraq by 01/01/2024. These are subject to change based on agreements with the GoN and between the partners.
Milestones are indicative and will be clarified upon approval of timelines and plans prepared in 2023.
- In consultation with the Embassy and Prospects partners, develop an internal timeline for the MACP process for Prospects Continued 2024-2027.
- Facilitate workshops and consultations for the MACP process for PROSPECTS Continued, provide guidance to partners on how to seek complementarities in their programming.
- Coordinate the preparation of the annual MEL sessions in Iraq.
- Provide regular updates to the PROSPECTS Partners on key developments and strategic direction of PROSPECTS Continued, and keep the Netherlands Embassy in Iraq updated on any relevant development regarding the partnership.
- Facilitate a review of the partnership governance structure for Prospects Continued in Iraq.
- In consultation with partners, draft the MACP update in Q3 each year.
- Lead on incorporating feedback from the Dutch Embassy and The Hague on the drafts of the MACP.
The Partnership Coordinator will be based in Erbil for the duration of the contract and undertake regular missions to Baghdad.
4. Qualifications and Experience
(List the required education, work experience, expertise, and competencies of the Partnership Coordinator. The listed education and experience should correspond with the level at which the contract is offered.)
a. Education (Level and area of required and/or preferred education)
- Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in development studies, international relations, social science, social policy, economics, public policy, education, or related field. A first-level university degree in any of these fields, in combination with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
b. Work Experience
(List number of years and area of required work experience. Clearly distinguish between required experience and experience which could be an asset.)
- At least five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in managing complex multi-stakeholder and multi-year programs related to international humanitarian affairs, development, or education with demonstrated experience working with refugees, displaced populations, or impoverished communities is required.
- Experience in coordinating / facilitating development of multiple agency joint programmes.
- Direct work experience in an international organization is required.
- Proven success in project planning and implementation, including experience drafting budgets and reports with multi-stakeholder consultations, is required.
- Experience in monitoring and evaluation, including organizing site visits to remote field settings, is desirable.
- Ability to integrate different experiences, methodologies, and approaches from respective partners and synthesize information.
- Experience in working in the MENA region, especially Iraq, with good understanding of the current humanitarian situation and dynamics in the Middle East, and lraq is desirable.
- Experience in working with Prospects and knowledge of the Netherlands Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation priorities is desirable.
c. Key Competencies
(Technical knowledge, skills, managerial competencies, or other personal competencies relevant to the performance of the assignment. Clearly distinguish between required and desired competencies)
โข RBM
โข Communication
โข Planning and Organizing Teamwork & Collaboration
โข Desired Competencies: Analytical Thinking
โข M&E
โข Judgement and Decision-Making Stakeholder Management
Important Notes:
- When completing the application, candidates are required to list all of their language skills โ including their mother tongue. The three broad levels are A1/A2 (\"Basic User\"), B1/B2 (\"Independent User\"), and C1/C2 (\"Proficient User\")
- Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an eliminatory written test and only successful candidates will be interviewed.
Standard Job Description
Required Languages English
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Desired Languages
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Additional Qualifications
Skills
Education
Certifications
Work Experience
Other informationThis position doesn't require a functional clearance