Resource Mobilisation and Partnership Officer

UN-Water is the United Nations (UN) inter-agency coordination mechanism for all freshwater related issues. The High-Level Committee on Programmes (HLCP) established UN-Water in its meeting held on 18 and 19 September 2003 in response to the need for strengthened coordination of the United Nations’ work on water and sanitation related issues. The Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB) endorsed this decision at its fall 2003 session in New York. UN-Water currently counts 35 Members (UN entities) and 48 Partners (non-UN system actors).

UN-Water promotes coherence in, and coordination of, water-related UN system actions aimed at the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and other relevant policy frameworks, such as the Paris Agreement on climate change, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda on financing for development and the New Urban Agenda. In so doing, UN-Water complements and adds value to existing UN initiatives by facilitating synergies and joint efforts among the implementing entities and by fostering greater co-operation and information-sharing within its constituency. UN-Water supports Member States through its three main lines of work: 1. Informing policy processes and addressing emerging issues; 2. Supporting monitoring and reporting on water and sanitation; and 3. Building knowledge and inspiring people to take action.

At its 38th Meeting in August 2023, UN-Water recognised the need to improve its interagency coordination capacity and decided to create a Resource Mobilisation and Partnership Officer position in the Technical Advisory Unit located in Geneva, Switzerland, to perform this task.

Role of the Resource Mobilisation and Partnership Officer

The role of the Resource Mobilisation and Partnership Officer is to lead and implement resource mobilisation for sustainable long-term funding for UN-Water and to establish and maintain strategic partnerships with relevant stakeholders in support of UN-Water’s work. The role includes ensuring the sustainability of key UN-Water activities through the development of tailored fundraising strategies, targeted proposal writing and the cultivation of donor relationships with the overall objective of significantly reducing financial gaps that limit UN-Water’s capacity to deliver. 

The Resource Mobilisation and Partnership Officer will report to the UN-Water Chief Technical Adviser and will work in close collaboration with the UN-Water Management Team.

• Develop and strengthen strategic internal and external partnerships and collaboration in support of UN-Water’s work, and prepare and review partnership plans.

• Act as Technical Advisory Unit focal point for UN-Water Partners and support Partner efforts to bring their expertise, knowledge and networks to UN-Water activities.

• Identify and prioritise potential partners such as government authorities, international organisations, Civil Society Organisations, grassroot organizations, private sector entities, and academic institutions that align with UN-Water's objectives.

• Establish and cultivate strong relations with existing and potential partners such as donors, policymakers, and advocacy groups including through regular communication, meetings, and collaborative activities.

• Develop a comprehensive mapping of existing partnerships, highlighting areas of collaboration, funding sources, and strategic alignment, in view of identifying gaps and opportunities for further engagement.

• Support the UN-Water Management Team in relevant discussions with diverse stakeholders as necessary.

• A Master's degree preferably in international relations, development studies, business administration, advocacy, communications, political science, public administration, social sciences or another relevant field is required.

• A combination of a Bachelor’s degree with an additional two (2) years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the education requirements outlined above.

Required:

• Minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in resource mobilisation and/or partnerships or related fields, in an international setting.

• Within these seven (7) years, a minimum of three (3) years managerial experience.

• Proven experience of minimum three (3) years working in multi-stakeholder partnerships.

Desirable:

• Experience in working in the water sector at large.

• 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.

• Geneva, Switzerland is a family duty station.

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. 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.