Partnerships Development Officer

The Defeat-NCD Partnership was established in January 2018 to help tackle the most significant global health problem of the age: premature death, sickness, disability, and the associated social and economic impacts of selected non-communicable diseases (NCDs). These are projected to cost tens of billions of dollars with the most adverse consequences falling upon the poorer countries and communities.

The Defeat-NCD Partnership is hosted by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and forms part of its growing portfolio of global health-related Partnerships such as Stop TB, Roll Back Malaria, Scaling up Nutrition, Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council. Overall, UNOPS health-related work totalled some US$430 million in 2017 and it is the biggest sector we work in.

Our vision is that of a world in which there is universal health coverage for NCDs. This is a direct contribution to the transformational 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to which all nations subscribe.

Our mission is to enable and assist the approximately 100 lower-income and lesser-developed countries to scale-up sustained action against NCDs so that they can progress SDG 3 on ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages and, more specifically, to achieve target 3.4 to reduce, by one-third, premature mortality from NCDs by 2030.  Our initial focus is on diabetes and hypertension with expansion to other NCDs in due course probably starting with the early detection and treatment of cervical and breast cancer.

Defeat-NCD is a ‘public-private-people’ Partnership that is an autonomous inclusive programme of the United Nations system. Our membership and governance include governments, multilateral agencies, civil society, academia, philanthropic foundations, and the business sector.  We subscribe to the ethical principles of the United Nations Global Compact. We follow the technical norms and guidance issued by the World Health Organization. Our operating procedures derive from United Nations rules but are designed to be fast and responsive. We work in a complementary and coordinated way with other health and development actors at all levels.

The secretariat of the Defeat-NCD Partnership is located in Geneva, Switzerland. 

Reporting to the Deputy Chief Executive Officer, and working under his guidance, the Partnerships Development Officer supports the mobilizing funds for the Defeat-NCD Partnership Secretariat and the Partnership’s country programmes. Working closely with the Defeat-NCD Partnership Secretariat Programme team, the Operational Lead on the Defeat-NCD Partnership Marketplace and other collaborative partnerships for the three other tracks of the Partnership, the Partnerships Development Officer‘s responsibilities will include the following:

Resource mobilization

• Supports the expansion of the donor base from the initial contributions and pledges from the Government of Denmark, the European Commission, Novo Nordisk, Roche, Raise funds for the Defeat-NCD Partnership with private sector and government donors to meet the US$ 100 million target stipulated in the Governing Board approved Defeat-NCD Partnership Secretariat 2018-2021 Planned Indicative Resourcing Framework.
• Against costed plans and budgets (Track 1) raise funds for the implementation of priority country programmes (in the 80-90 low resource countries mentioned in the brochure) supported by the Defeat-NCD Partnership. In particular focus on donors such as the European Commission and other like-minded donors that are increasing their country-level disbursements for health programmes.
• Develop concept notes, proposals and budgets to secure this funding.
• Consolidate inputs from the programme team, communication officer, and other colleagues as required to draft reports and ensure compliance on donor and board requirements, including ensuring timely and quality reporting.
• Draft contribution agreements for new donors in accordance with UNOPS processes.
• Draft receipts confirming the receipt of contributions.
• Facilitate the completion of due diligence forms by new non-state partners in accordance with the UNOPS processes.
• Organize briefings, meetings, visits and events with current and prospective donors, coordinate programmatic and logistical arrangements, draft reports and set action plans for follow-up.
• Respond to internal and external queries regarding existing and prospective donor contributions.

 Partnership Development

• Support the further development and implementation of the Defeat-NCD Partnership strategies with priority permanent representatives at Geneva, Brussels, and New York-based diplomatic missions.
• In close consultation with the Defeat-NCD Partnership Secretariat team, develop talking points, briefing notes, and press releases, presentations, introductory and thank you letters for the Deputy-CEO, CEO, and other team members that also engage on resource mobilization and partnership development with key stakeholders in government, the private sector, and philanthropic foundations.
• Support the further development of partnerships with private sector companies including in the following sectors: insurance, pharmaceuticals, logistics, healthcare, lifestyle, telecommunications, and digital technology. Support interlocutors in these companies to develop their tailored internal business cases for their leadership to partner with the Defeat-NCD Partnership. Engage their commercial, marketing, and corporate social responsibility departments, and the offices of the Chief Executive) in developing these business cases and FAQs on why they should partner with Defeat-NCD Partnership.
• Maintaining a database of all current and potential funding partners, updating contact information and ensures current records are up-to-date. Maintaining information on reporting and engagement requirements, including a calendar of deliverables required by individual funding partners, engaging with Defeat-NCD Partnership teams early on enough to ensure timely delivery of appropriate communications, reports, agreements and agreement updates, etc.
• Facilitate the development of strong working relationships between the Partnership and key counterparts at funding partners’ agencies. Ensuring timely and high-quality preparation of and follow-up on donor meetings, at the strategic and operational levels, both virtual meetings and at least one face to face meeting per year, coordinating meeting requirements, generating meeting agendas and meeting minutes, determining, communicating, and tracking meeting action items.
• Preparing and mapping of potential traditional and non-traditional funding partners, as part of the resource mobilization and partnership action plan. Monitoring donor policies, trends and funding mechanisms relevant for Defeat-NCD Partnership’s initiatives, advising the Deputy CEO accordingly on priorities, utilizing in-depth knowledge and continuous analysis of aid flows.

a. Education

• A Master’s Degree in Business Administration, Public Health, Health Economics, International Relations, Social Sciences, Communications, or related field is required.

b. Work Experience

• Minimum 5 (five) years of progressively responsible professional experience, including programme management, strategic planning, administration and implementation in the private sector (insurance, pharmaceuticals, logistics, healthcare, lifestyle, telecommunications, and digital technology), and international development field – including working a public sector donor, preferably in the public health field, with proven record in resource mobilization.

• High-quality drafting and interpersonal skills are essential.
• Demonstrated international experience and professional background in the public health sector, preferably in the field of non-communicable diseases.
• Excellent analytical skills - the ability to quickly understand and internalize complex partnership topics
• Demonstrated diplomatic skills and excellent interpersonal skills with sensitivity to cultural and political differences.
• Proven background in partnership-building with the ability to establish a high level of trust and confidentiality internally and credibility externally.
• Good knowledge and experience of outreach and internal communication tools for a wide of an audience.

1. Contract type: Individual Contractor Agreement
2. Contract level: International Specialist Level 2
3. Contract duration: Ongoing ICA – ‘Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns. Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

This position is based in Switzerland and the contract fee is not exempt from Swiss laws, including but not limited to laws regarding taxation, social security, accident and health insurance.

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.