Partnerships Associate

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners' peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world.  Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors and United Nations organisations. With over 7,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, where they need it.  By implementing around 1,000 projects for our partners at any given time, UNOPS makes significant contributions to results on the ground, often in the most challenging environments.

UNOPS Madagascar, which was established in 2022 and currently expanding, provides services through its main office based in Antananarivo and has opened branch offices in several regions of the country. The UNOPS office responds to the support needs of the Government of Madagascar with funding from multilateral and bilateral donors. UNOPS Madagascar provides a wide range of infrastructure, procurement and project management services and aims to extend its support to diversified projects, basic service provision and other related services, particularly in economic and social infrastructure (construction and rehabilitation) and financial management in sectors such as agriculture, transport/public works, renewable energy, health, environment and climate change.

Under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the Partnership Specialist, the Partnerships Associate supports business acquisition and partnerships for the Madagascar office within UNOPS key focus and service areas through the following:

1. Partnerships Development 
2. Donor Reporting
3. Knowledge Management and Innovation

The incumbent is responsible for performing the following duties:

1. Partnerships Development 

• Provide support in researching potential opportunities for partnerships;

• Keep abreast of social, economic, and political trends in Madagascar and provide background notes and analysis, as needed;

• Support and update the donor mapping exercise;

• Support identification and drafting of new projects and programmes, including concept notes and project documents;

• Support partnerships development through active outreach to current and potential partners, based on background research, assessments of client needs, analysis of partner surveys, and preparation of stakeholder profiles;

• Support the coordination and participate in meetings with donors and partners and produce high-quality meeting minutes and action-oriented summaries.

• collaborate with relevant Partnerships personnel as well as Project Managers, Project/Programme staff, and Technical Specialists to ensure aligned and coherent interactions with partners;

• Support in reflecting engagements and amendments on oneUNOPS Projects in coordination with Partnership Development Manager; compile and prepare Partnerships updates/highlights to be shared with the region;

• Carry out field visits for needs assessments and/ or preparatory work for preparation of proposals;

• Prepare background notes, briefings, and other materials for the senior management;

• Support the development of UNOPS visibility materials, including fact sheets, press releases, etc., in close coordination with the Communications Officer;

• Undertake missions to field offices and projects, as needed.

2. Donor Reporting

• Support the Reporting Specialist and Partnerships team in drafting donor reports, as required 

3. Knowledge Management and Innovation

• Implement standards, tools, and templates provided by HQ and the region to effectively manage partnership and project development within SAMCO to enhance/maintain UNOPS effectiveness as a provider of project services for sustainable results.

• Contribute to the dissemination and sharing of best practices and lessons learned for planning and knowledge building within project and partnership development;

• Provide regular feedback on existing systems, tools and resources to ensure its relevance to day-to-day operations;

• Contribute to the ongoing research, development and implementation of best practices and innovative approaches to maximize performance and sustain achievements in partnership and project development.

• First University Degree Bachelor’s (with a minimum of 2 years of relevant experience) preferably in any of following disciplines: international affairs, business administration, social sciences, economics, environmental studies, development studies or another field relevant to international development assistance is desirable; or

• High School Diploma is required with a minimum of 6 years of relevant experience;

• Minimum of 2 years experience in partnerships, programme, project management or reporting are required.

• Experience in the country or region is required.

• Knowledge of UN policies, procedures, and operations is an asset, and prior experience of working in the UN, International Organizations and Development Banks is highly desired.

• High proficiency with computers, and other software/ platforms related to the position's field of expertise is required. 

• Good experience in working with the G-Suite platform including, Google Drive, Google Calendar, Gmail, Google Sheets, Docs, and Slides is an asset.

• Full working knowledge of English and French is essential.

• Working knowledge of a local language is highly desirable.

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.

• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.

• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures,  languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 

• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.

• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process.  If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions 

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 

• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses ( they take around 4 hours to complete)  in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here.

• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.

• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

 The UNOPS office in Madagascar operates as part of the UNOPS Central Multi-Country Office (CAMCO), which oversees operations in 15 nations: Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Comoros, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Madagascar, Mauritius, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Seychelles. CAMCO manages a substantial portfolio of nearly $400 million, encompassing over 42 projects and a team of around 250 personnel. A key focus for CAMCO is growth and geographical expansion, with particular emphasis on the African Small Island Developing States (SIDS) within its region – Cape Verde, Comoros, Mauritius, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Seychelles. Additionally, CAMCO prioritizes growth and the strengthening of its portfolio in countries such as Angola, Cameroon, Burundi, and Rwanda.