Partnerships and Localization Coordinator

Introduction

The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunity for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and – whenever possible – for the fulfilment of the wish to return home.

The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956 and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Based in Copenhagen (Denmark) and present in forty countries, the Danish Refugee Council is a non-profitmaking, politically independent, non-governmental and non-denominational relief organization.

Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced. All our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency.

Overall purpose of the role:

DRC Colombia is looking for an experienced Partnerships and Localization Coordinator - Programmes to fulfill a new role, serving as the focal point for supporting the development of new partnership relationships, programs, and capacity development in Colombia. DRC Colombia is developing a new mechanism of Localized Rapid Response to emergency events through local partners. The first priority of the role will be to develop a strategic framework and systems to strengthen DRC Colombia's partnerships with national NGOs and CSOs Colombia in the framework of this model. The Partnerships Coordinator – Programmes will play a lead role in strengthening DRC Colombia's approaches to partnership, building on global partnership principles and civil society engagement strategies aligned with DRC Colombia’s 2025 Strategy. This role works across departments to establish systems and approaches for identifying, pursuing, and maintaining effective partnerships that contribute to DRC’s strategic objectives. The Partnerships Coordinator - Programmes will map and identify new partnership opportunities, assess partner organization capacities, facilitate relevant capacity-strengthening support, and provide ongoing support to the partner organizations throughout the project lifecycle.

Responsibilities:

Partnership Development

• Conduct and update partner mapping.
• Support and lead the partnership selection and due diligence process including leading preliminary meetings with partners, leading on DRC’s partnership assessment, and supporting partners to submit the needed documentation for partnerships.
• Provide support to partners on required partnership documentation such as MoUs, agreements, budgets, and supporting documents.
• Establish and maintain a partnership database that maps out partner capacity, influence, and strategic alignment with DRC programming.

Capacity Assessment and Management

• Coordinate across Coordination Units and Area Offices to conduct partner organizational capacity assessments and analyze assessments to identify specific capacity building and organizational development needs and provide training and targeted capacity strengthening support.
• Review existing partnership resources and identify additional needs to support capacity assessment, monitoring, compliance, project cycle management, etc.
• With the Partnerships Specialist (Support Services), develop comprehensive capacity assessment tools related to project and program design and management, including grants management processes.
• Establish and maintain productive relationships between NGO partners and staff, and with DRC Program teams.
• Hands-on support to partners on capacity-building incl. being embedded in partners’ offices and together with DRC’s staff at the Area level.
• Together with the HoP and the relevant stakeholders in DRC’s CO, support local partners’ empowerment process in humanitarian coordination spaces, 

Grants Management

• Work with the Grants Manager and the PDQM to ensure that partnership tools and financial standards meet donor requirements and allow for adaptation and flexibility and advocate for these changes at country and donor level.
• Lead individual grant opening meetings with partners and review key resources including reporting templates, schedule of deadlines, communications processes, and highlight key parts of sub-grant agreement.
• Maintain a comprehensive partner report tracker and communication with partners around reporting deadlines. Ensure partners have correct templates, understand quality standards for reporting.
• Provide a review of partner reports, offering supportive guidance and feedback to partner organizations as part of capacity-strengthening plans.
• With Finance and Partnerships Specialist – Support Services, monitor partner spending, ensure partners are compliant with eligibility rules, monitor project spending, and remain within obligated amounts.
• Issue agreement modification for amendments, including obligation increases, budget realignments, and no-cost extensions.

Experience and technical competencies: (include years of experience)

• At least five years of professional experience in a relevant field, preferably in an NGO or humanitarian actor
• Three years' experience preferred with project or program management and proven organizational skills
• At least three years of experience in working and/or with local partners, implementing localization models with a proven record of success
• Significant experience engaging with national partners and local/government authorities
• Strong knowledge of donor compliance rules and regulations
• Demonstrated experience in training and coaching.
• Demonstrated capacity to work collaboratively in a multicultural environment with competing priorities, tight deadlines, and in a complex emergency context.
• Ability to work in an insecure and high-stress environment.
• Willingness to travel to other DRC bases in Colombia.
• Excellent writing, editing, and communication skills in Spanish and English required

Education:

• University degree in a relevant field such as international development or humanitarian assistance, political science, or other related field.
• Certificates and advanced degrees are an advantage

Languages:

• English and Spanish – fluent with the capacity to produce high-quality written products for formal reporting and public communication purposes.

All DRC roles require the post-holder to master DRC’s core competencies:

• Striving for excellence: Focusing on reaching results while ensuring efficient processes.
• Collaborating: Involving relevant parties and encouraging feedback.
• Taking the lead: Taking ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
• Communicating: Listening and speaking effectively and honestly.
• Demonstrating integrity: Upholding and promoting the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to DRC’s values and Code of
• Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment. 

We offer

Contract length: Expatriate: 12 months. National: 6 months 

Band: G - Non Manager

Type of Contract: Expatriate and National contract

Designation of Duty Station: Bogotá - family Duty Station

Start date: 1st May 2025

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates; please refer to drc.ngo under Vacancies. 

Applications close on the 2nd of  march 2025 at 11:59pm  (GMT-time). Applications submitted after this date will not be considered.

Note 1: The applicant who applies to this selection process authorizes DRC to validate the personal information provided in the CV. Your identification will be checked in public and private databases for the exclusive use of validating the information, in accordance with our anti-fraud, money laundry and terrorist financing policies.

Note 2: The applicant who freely and voluntarily wishes to take part in the selection process to occupy the position of this publish, must observe strict adherence to the rules that apply to the matter (suitability in the titles presented, execution of tests in a personal and individual and truthfulness in the information) adhering to the manuals and anti-fraud policies of DRC, under penalty of disqualifying the applicant who incurs in any irregularity in the opinion of the organization, even by suspicion, and even in possible criminal conduct under Colombian law.