Local Partnership Advisor

Cordaid works to end poverty and exclusion. We do this in the world’s most fragile and conflict-affected areas as well as in the Netherlands. We engage communities to rebuild trust and resilience and increase people’s self-reliance. Our professionals provide humanitarian assistance and create opportunities to improve security, health care and education and stimulate inclusive economic growth. Local Partnership Advisor Job Type Full Time Qualification MBA/MSc/MA Experience 10 years Location Nairobi Job Field Project and Program Management Key Responsibilities Partnership Stewardship: Lead the development of strong, equitable, and long-term partnerships with local organisations. Promote mutual accountability, trust, and shared learning, and represent Cordaid in strategic dialogues with key regional partners. Portfolio Leadership & Performance: Provide strategic oversight to the countries’ programme portfolios. Monitor portfolio health, quality, and sustainability, ensure alignment with regional strategies, and lead portfolio reviews to drive evidence-informed decisions. Country Engagement Models: Lead the implementation and coordination of Country Engagement Models across the region. Adapt engagement approaches to local contexts and partner capacities and manage transitions between different engagement models. Partner Capacity & Localisation: Strengthen the organisational capacity of local partners, promote locally led development principles, facilitate peer learning, and support regional innovation and localisation commitments. Cross-Domain Leadership: Collaborate closely with the Regional Business Development Manager, Regional Finance & Operations Manager, Regional Humanitarian Manager, and global units (Shared Services, Global Practices) to ensure integrated, responsive support for partners. Representation & Strategic Engagement: Represent the Regional Core with partners, regional institutions, and strategic networks. Promote Cordaid’s regional positioning and strengthen collaboration across the humanitarian-development-peace nexus. People Leadership & Culture: Create an inclusive, collaborative, and high-performing culture within the Regional Core. Coach staff, promote accountability, and model Cordaid’s values and leadership behaviours. Qualifications You have a Master’s degree in International Development, Public Administration, Political Science, Social Sciences, or a related discipline. At least 10 years of progressively responsible leadership experience in international development or humanitarian organisations. Extensive experience working through local partners, managing complex regional or multi-country portfolios, and steering multi-stakeholder partnerships. A strong understanding of locally led development, partnership approaches, strategic planning, and organisational development. A proven track record in leading organisational change in complex environments and engaging effectively with institutional donors and regional stakeholders. Excellent communication, negotiation, and influencing skills, with a demonstrated ability to influence without authority. Strong competencies in systems thinking, adaptive leadership, political awareness, and collaborative decision-making. You are fluent in English. Knowledge of additional regional languages is a distinct advantage. You recognize yourself in Cordaid’s mission and values.

You have a Master’s degree in International Development, Public Administration, Political Science, Social Sciences, or a related discipline. At least 10 years of progressively responsible leadership experience in international development or humanitarian organisations. Extensive experience working through local partners, managing complex regional or multi-country portfolios, and steering multi-stakeholder partnerships. A strong understanding of locally led development, partnership approaches, strategic planning, and organisational development. A proven track record in leading organisational change in complex environments and engaging effectively with institutional donors and regional stakeholders. Excellent communication, negotiation, and influencing skills, with a demonstrated ability to influence without authority. Strong competencies in systems thinking, adaptive leadership, political awareness, and collaborative decision-making. You are fluent in English. Knowledge of additional regional languages is a distinct advantage. You recognize yourself in Cordaid’s mission and values.