The Private Sector Partnerships Service (PSP) sits within UNHCR’s Division of External Relations (DER) and is responsible for mobilizing resources for displaced persons from the private sector. UNHCR has developed its Private Sector Fundraising Strategy 2018-2025 which had the ambition of growing PSP into a service capable of generating $1 Billion. This ambition was achieved in 2022 and now the organization is developing its new engagement strategy that will move its private sector fundraising towards $2 billion annually. As well as seeking an increase in funding, UNHCR will aim to become the partner of choice by diversifying and expanding how it works with private sector organizations and individuals.
As part of this strategy, and to achieve the ambitious objectives of mobilizing necessary resources for UNHCR, PSP’s Private Partnerships and Philanthropy (PPH) Section develops and strengthens long-term partnerships with companies, foundations, philanthropists (PPH partners). As part of a wider fundraising team, the primary role of PPH staff members is to seek various forms of support from PPH partners: securing funding for UNHCR programmes and projects will be considered priority, but the work also includes leveraging other capacities of these partnerships beyond funding, in order to build impactful and holistic partnerships bringing various forms of support to displaced persons and UNHCR, such as advocacy, visibility, expertise, innovation, services, public engagement, and education/ livelihoods opportunities for refugees.
We are seeking a dynamic and proactive team player, with a strong interest in fundraising, to become a steady and reliable asset to the PSP Africa PPH team for the East, Horn of Africa, and the Great Lakes (EHAGL) region. The Assistant PPH Officer will be responsible for supporting the PPH Officer for the EHAGL region with managing the region’s prospect and donor pipeline, to achieve the intended fundraising target from the EHAGL region. This includes but is not limited to support with account handling, prospect research, data maintenance, proposal writing, and other forms of back-office activities.
This position, based in Nairobi, offers a unique opportunity to work within PSP Africa which is dedicated to raising funds and establishing partnerships for UNHCR with the private sector in Africa. The person that fills this role will enable PSP Africa’s PPH team to achieve their resource mobilization objectives, for the support of displaced persons and host communities across the continent.
Purpose and Scope of Assignment
Under the supervision of the PPH Officer for the EHAGL region, and as delegated by the supervisor, the Assistant PPH Officer will be responsible for the provision of overall support with managing the region’s PPH pipeline to meet fundraising objectives, including support with activities relevant for the acquisition and stewardship of relationships with donors and partners. This comprises the following key activities:
Resource mobilization: perform all necessary efforts leading to the accomplishment of fundraising results from the EHAGL region for displaced populations and host communities in the same region. This includes monitoring progress of implementation to ensure utilization as per agreement with the partner.
Account management: support the management of existing partnerships by helping with necessary back-office activities that ensure relationships are appropriately nurtured. This includes the full management of certain accounts as delegated by supervisor.
Stewardship: perform partner stewardship activities related to managing contributions as intended, updating partners on progress and impact, and keeping them involved/ engaged with the cause of displacement and UNHCR’s work.
Drafting: prepare pitches, presentations, proposals, concept notes, reports, and any other customized materials necessary for PPH partners, including companies/ businesses, foundations, and individuals.
Agreements: draft, negotiate, clear, and finalize partner agreements and annexes. This includes ensuring they properly reflect partnership details such as objectives, activities, outcomes, and timelines.
Research: conduct prospect and market research to provide background information necessary to design fit-for-purpose PPH initiatives and donor/partnership approaches and proposals.
Database: ensure that Salesforce records are regularly updated with all necessary information regarding the PPH partner pipeline for the EHAGL region.
Acknowledgment: deliver communications, visibility, and acknowledgment plans for PPH partners, including gathering and collating information on various topics and for specific audiences, organizing logistics of content-gathering missions, and preparing communications materials.
Events: manage logistics for relevant internal and external events that serve the objectives of PPH resource mobilization activities in the EHAGL region.
Other: conduct necessary travel if needed, and perform any other relevant arising duties as requested by supervisor.
Monitoring and Progress Controls
Manage pipeline and realize fundraising goal as delegated and agreed with supervisor.
Maintain updated records of directly managed pipeline.
Timely preparation of well-crafted partnership documents.
Qualifications and Experience
Education
Undergraduate Degree; Graduate Degree; or Doctorate Degree, preferably in one of the following fields: Fundraising, Sales, Marketing, Communications, Journalism, International Relations, Economics, Business Development/Administration/Management, Social Sciences, or Psychology.
Work Experience
1-year relevant experience with Undergraduate Degree; or no experience with Graduate Degree; or no experience with Doctorate Degree. When required, experience must be in one of the above-mentioned education fields, and experience in fundraising, resource mobilization, and proposal writing is an asset.
