Senior Partnership Specialist

Description

Are you a very passionate advocate for education? Do you want to make a difference in the lives of children? The Global Partnership for Education Secretariat (GPE) would like to hear from you.

Who We Are 

• GPE is a shared commitment to end the world’s learning crisis. It is the only global partnership and fund dedicated entirely to helping children in lower-income countries get a quality education, so they can unlock their potential and contribute to building a better world. We bring together governments, teachers, civil society, donors, United Nations agencies, development banks, businesses and private foundations to transform education systems so that  every girl and boy can have hope, opportunity and agency.

What We Do 

• GPE helps low- and lower-middle-income countries to build stronger education systems so that all children can get the education they need to thrive. We currently support nearly 90 countries where  the needs are greatest and focus on reaching the children who are the most vulnerable, including girls, children with disabilities and those affected by extreme poverty or conflict. Our unique approach works. Since 2002, 160 million more children in GPE partner countries have set foot in classrooms for the first time, more than half of them girls. GPE is also the largest provider of education grants in the global COVID-19 response, providing partner countries with vital resources to ensure that learning can safely continue.

How We Work 

• Now, GPE is working to help governments transform their education systems to get the most vulnerable children in school, improve teaching and learning, and build equitable, inclusive and resilient education systems fit for the 21st century. Between 2020-2025, GPE will support transformative change in up to 90 countries and territories, which are home to 1 billion children. Transforming education is about creating lasting changes and achieving impact at scale. GPE sets  out to deliver this transformative change by convening partners, mobilizing funds and catalyzing  reforms to help partner countries accelerate access, learning outcomes and gender equality.

Raise Your Hand 

• In July 2021, the Global Education Summit put GPE firmly on the path to be fully-funded by 2025, by raising a record US $4 billion from donors for GPE’s Raise Your Hand campaign. At the Summit, Heads of State and Government from partner countries made historic commitments to education financing and GPE also mobilized an unprecedented number of pledges from businesses, private foundations and development banks.
• A fully funded GPE would support transformed education systems in up to 90 countries and territories, enable up to 175 million children to learn and help get 88 million more girls and boys in school by 2025. In the longer term, this investment could add $164 billion to economies in GPE partner countries, lift 18 million people out of poverty, and protect 2 million girls from early marriage.

Governance And Organizational Arrangements 

• The GPE Board of Directors includes ministerial-level board members and alternates representing 20 constituencies that reflect the Partnership’s breadth. The Board Chair is HE President Jakaya Kikwete and the Board Vice Chair is Christine Hogan. The Board of Directors, with its three standing committees, provides policy and strategic oversight and approves or delegates funding decisions.
• The GPE Secretariat, with 160 employees and hosted by the World Bank, is responsible for translating the policies and strategies set by the Board into practical support for partner countries, coordinating with diverse stakeholders and galvanizing global support for SDG4. The Secretariat’s headquarters are in the World Bank’s offices in Washington, D.C. and the European office is in Paris with a satellite office in Brussels and a support office in Chennai.

ABOUT THE TEAM

• The External Relations team (EXR) responsibilities include donor relations, communications, advocacy, civil society outreach, private sector and private foundation outreach and it has the primary responsibility for overseeing GPE’s Financing Campaigns.
• The Private Sector and Foundations Team (PS&F) is part of the External Relations Team (EXR) and drives GPE’s engagement plans with the private sector and foundations. The team also manages the Secretariat’s support to the Private Foundations and the Private Sector constituencies.

ABOUT THE JOB

• This position will be based initially in Paris or Brussels.

Description

• The Lead Private Foundations will play a critical role in driving GPE’s philanthropic partnerships and engagement strategies, with a primary focus on scaling relationships with private foundations, and philanthropic organizations to support GPE’s mission. This position involves high-level strategic thinking, extensive relationship management, and close collaboration across internal teams and external stakeholders to maximize resource mobilization and partnership opportunities
• The successful candidate will report to the Team Lead and work closely with the Manager of External Relations, the Country Engagement and Policy Team, and the Governance Team. This position will require exceptional leadership, influence, and the ability to represent GPE at the highest levels with philanthropic stakeholders globally.

Duties And Accountabilities

Strategic Leadership and Partnership Development:

• Lead the implementation of GPE’s Foundations Engagement Plan, working closely with senior leadership to ensure alignment with GPE’s overarching goals and resource mobilization objectives.
• Provide senior-level advisory support to the Team Lead and senior leadership on emerging trends in global philanthropy, innovative financing mechanisms, and best practices in philanthropic engagement.
• Drive high-level relationship management with GPE’s foundation partners, ensuring that GPE’s value proposition is clearly articulated and that partner expectations are managed effectively.

High-Level Engagement and Resource Mobilization:

• Ensure the timely execution of commitments and partnerships announced at the Global Education Summit (GES) 2021, working with internal and external stakeholders to convert commitments into actionable and impactful partnerships.
• Oversee philanthropic convening efforts, developing strategies to engage private foundations in GPE’s global and regional initiatives, ensuring their contributions align with GPE’s goals and funding needs.
• Champion and leverage GPE’s Technical Assistance Initiatives as key entry points for engagement for private foundations to provide targeted support, capacity building, and knowledge sharing across partner countries.
• Contribute to the development of the team’s private sector and foundations’ pledging framework and plan for GPE’s 5th replenishment campaign.

Leadership and Stakeholder Management:

• Serve as the senior focal point for GPE’s foundation partners, providing high-level advise and coordination to ensure smooth implementation of partnerships and maximum engagement from philanthropic stakeholders.
• Oversee the engagement of foundation partners in GPE’s governance structures, supporting the integration of philanthropic perspectives into GPE’s strategic direction.
• Coordinate high-level meetings with GPE leadership and philanthropic partners, including organizing and facilitating strategic discussions with key decision-makers in the philanthropic sector.
• Represent GPE at international forums and conferences, promoting GPE’s partnership model, resource mobilization efforts, and strategic priorities in the philanthropic community.
• Build and maintain strong networks with key philanthropic associations such as the International Education Funders Group, ensuring that GPE remains a key player in global education philanthropy conversations.

Cross-team Collaboration 

• Work collaboratively across GPE teams, including External Relations, Country Engagement, Funding and Grants Operations and Governance, to ensure coherent and aligned partnership development and resource mobilization efforts.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting

• Track and report on the impact of philanthropic partnerships, ensuring that engagement activities are effectively measured and contribute to GPE’s long-term goals.
• Contribute to reporting requirements for GPE’s Senior Leadership, providing insights on the progress of philanthropic engagements and partnerships.
• Ensure adherence to internal processes and compliance standards related to partnership  agreements, due diligence screening, legal frameworks, and governance structures for philanthropic engagement.

Selection Criteria

Education

• Master’s degree in relevant field of study or equivalent experience.

Experience

• Minimum 10 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Relevant partnership development experience and engagement with foundations, including working within a comparable international organization or partnership, and a strong familiarity with developing countries.
• Expertise in two or more of the following areas: project lead and co-creation/cooperation development in global education, health, or other areas relevant to the work of the Global Partnership;

Source: https://worldbankgroup.csod.com/ats/careersite/JobDetails.aspx?id=30076&site=1