Country Partnerships & Technical Assistance Lead

Overall Purpose of the Job
The Country Partnerships & Technical Assistance Lead serves as mothers2mothers’ primary representative and country focal point in Technical Assistance countries under the EKN HIV Instrument programme.

The role is responsible for coordinating country-level project implementation, provide technical assistance to partners to strengthen project quality, managing strategic partnerships, supporting government engagement, facilitating technical assistance, strengthening local organisational capacity and supporting localisation objectives. Working closely with government stakeholders, local civil society organisations, community-led networks and regional programme partners, the role ensures effective implementation of project activities and contributes to sustainable, community-led and rights-based HIV responses.

The position plays a critical role in building and maintaining relationships with government, civil society, community stakeholders and development partners while identifying opportunities that strengthen m2m’s long-term positioning, sustainability and future growth within the country.

Key Performance Areas

Country Project Leadership and Coordination
Purpose
Provide country-level leadership and coordination of projecte activities to ensure effective implementation of the EKN HIV Instrument.

Key Accountabilities

• Serve as the primary m2m representative and focal point within the country.
• Coordinate implementation of country workplans and project priorities.
• Ensure alignment between country activities and regional programme objectives.
• Facilitate country-level planning, implementation and review processes.
• Monitor progress against agreed deliverables, milestones and commitments.
• Coordinate inception activities, project start-up and implementation readiness.
• Facilitate effective communication between country stakeholders and regional programme teams.
• Support adaptive management and implementation improvements.

Government Engagement, Systems Strengthening and Policy Support
Purpose
Strengthen collaboration with government stakeholders and support implementation of national HIV priorities and health system strengthening initiatives.

Key Accountabilities

• Build and maintain productive working relationships with relevant government ministries, departments and agencies.
• Participate in technical working groups and relevant national coordination platforms and stakeholder forums.
• Support implementation of integrated HIV, SRHR, GBV and MHPSS approaches.
• Facilitate government engagement in project planning, implementation and learning activities.
• Support institutionalisation of programme approaches within existing systems.
• Promote alignment between project activities and national priorities.
• Support implementation of recommendations arising from technical reviews and assessments.
• Facilitate collaboration between community actors and public systems.
• Identify opportunities for strategic collaborations that enhance program impact, visibility, and sustainability

Partnerships, Localisation and Capacity Strengthening
Purpose
Strengthen local organisations, partnerships and community-led responses to promote sustainable programme impact.

Key Accountabilities

• Build and maintain strong relationships with local CSOs, CBOs and community-led organisations.
• Support implementation of localisation and power-shifting commitments.
• Facilitate sub-partner onboarding, engagement and coordination processes.
• Support organisational capacity strengthening initiatives for local partners.
• Promote meaningful participation of AGYW–led organisations in programme activities.
• Facilitate peer learning and knowledge sharing among local partners.
• Strengthen local ownership and sustainability of programme approaches.
• Support implementation of partner development plans and capacity assessments.

Technical Assistance, Quality Improvement and Learning
Purpose
Coordinate technical assistance and support quality implementation across programme interventions.
Key Accountabilities

• Lead the design, delivery and monitoring of technical assistance initiatives provided to subgrantees
• Facilitate knowledge transfer and capacity-strengthening interventions in relevant programmatic areas.
• Ensure technical assistance activities are aligned with national priorities, donor requirements, project priorities and organizational standards.
• Facilitate technical support visits, mentoring and coaching activities.
• Support quality improvement activities and implementation of technical recommendations.
• Monitor application of technical standards and programme guidance.
• Promote continuous learning and evidence-informed programme improvement.
• Facilitate documentation and sharing of programme lessons and good practices.
• Track technical assistance outcomes, lessons learned and impact
• Coordinate grantee reporting requirements and performance reviews
• Support implementation of operational research and learning initiatives .

Stakeholder Engagement, Community Participation and External Representation
Purpose
Ensure meaningful engagement of programme stakeholders and strengthen community participation in programme implementation and accountability processes.
Key Accountabilities

• Support establishment and effective functioning of Country Advisory Committees.
• Facilitate meaningful participation of AGYW and community representatives.
• Support community-led monitoring and accountability processes.
• Represent m2m in stakeholder meetings and external forums as delegated.
• Strengthen relationships with civil society, development partners and community leaders.
• Facilitate stakeholder consultations learning activities.
• Support implementation of advocacy and community engagement initiatives.
• Promote visibility of project successes, lessons and community priorities.

Programme Performance, Monitoring, Risk Management and Opportunity Development
Purpose
Support programme accountability, performance improvement and long-term sustainability through monitoring, risk management and strategic positioning.
Key Accountabilities

• Monitor implementation progress, programme performance and partner commitments.
• Prepare programme reports and performance updates.
• Support program reviews and evaluation activities.
• Proactively identify implementation challenges, risks and emerging issues.
• Support development and implementation of risk mitigation strategies.
• Escalate significant risks and issues to programme leadership.
• Monitor the external environment and identify emerging opportunities, risks and trends.
• Identify potential partnership and funding opportunities that may support future programme growth and sustainability.
• Provide country intelligence and stakeholder insights to support resource mobilisation and strategic planning processes.

Key Deliverables

• Effective country-level coordination and project implementation.
• Strong government and stakeholder relationships.
• Effective local partner engagement and capacity strengthening.
• Successful implementation of technical assistance activities.
• Strong localisation and community participation outcomes.
• Timely and accurate programme reporting.
• Effective management of programme risks and operational challenges.
• Strengthened positioning of m2m within the country.
• Identification of opportunities that support future sustainability and growth.

Accountability
Owns

• Country-level programme coordination.
• Local partner engagement and support.
• Government liaison and technical working group participation.
• Technical assistance coordination and delivery.
• Country Advisory Committee participation and support.
• Localisation and capacity strengthening activities.
• Stakeholder engagement and external representation.
• Country-level risk identification and escalation.
• Opportunity identification and stakeholder intelligence.
• Country programme budgets

Does Not Own

• Direct service delivery implementation.
• Country programme budgets.
• Regional programme strategy.
• Donor stewardship and donor relationship management.
• Resource mobilisation strategy.
• Executive government engagement.
• Programme Management Office functions.
• Regional performance management.
• Partnership governance structures.

Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in Public Health, International Development, Health Systems, Social Sciences, Public Policy, Project Management or a related field.
• Additional qualification in HIV/AIDS, Health Systems Strengthening, Community Development, Policy or Social Development.
• Training in capacity strengthening, systems strengthening or organisational development advantageous.

Experience
Required

• Minimum 8-10 years’ progressively responsible experience in public health, HIV, health systems strengthening, development programmes or related sectors.
• Experience managing or coordinating complex donor-funded programmes.
• Experience working with government ministries, civil society organisations and community structures.
• Experience providing technical assistance, supporting capacity strengthening and organisational development or capacity strengthening initiatives.
• Experience working with AGYW, SRHR, HIV or community health programmes.
• Experience facilitating multi-stakeholder collaboration and partnership management.
• Experience in programme planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting
• Experience in one of the EKN focus countries.

Preferred

• Experience supporting policy implementation or systems strengthening initiatives.
• Experience working within regional or multi-country programmes.
• Experience working in localisation and community-led development settings.