The consultant will develop a CARE Vanuatu Partnership Strategy that articulates the strategic intent of CARE’s partnerships and describes the focus, nature and practice of current and future partnerships. This will include partnership principles, the types of partnerships that CARE will engage in across its thematic priorities and describe ways of working, and provide guidance on the relevant skills and functions required to realise the strategy.

Detail

• Flexible working environment, based in Vanuatu or hybrid
• Approx 24 days, April – June 2024

Background

CARE is an international humanitarian aid organization fighting global poverty, with a special focus on working with women and girls to bring lasting change to their communities. CARE has been working in Vanuatu since 2008 helping communities to increase their resilience to disasters and climate change, respond to emergencies and to advance gender equality. Underpinning this work is a long-term program strategy (LTPS) that serves to express CARE Vanuatu’s vision for the future. The LTPS sets out how CARE Vanuatu, together with communities and partners, will contribute to eliminating vulnerability and social injustice, strengthening resilience and achieving a world where men, women, boys and girls enjoy equal rights and opportunities.

Partnerships in CARE Vanuatu

Formal and informal partnerships have always played an important role in the advancement of CARE Vanuatu’s programs. CARE’s approach to partnership and its partner portfolio has been evolving and currently includes diverse relationships with different types of partners across Government (national, provincial and local community governance levels) and civil society. These partnerships can be divided into three broad categories of partnership: Implementation (financial), Strategic (financial and non-financial), and Alliances and Networks (financial and non-financial).

In January 2024, CARE Vanuatu refreshed its LTPS (which runs from 2018 to 2033). Still core to the  LTPS is a focus on “Building equitable partnerships and enabling local solutions” as one of four CARE Vanuatu roles. The Strategy highlights the increasingly important role of partnerships as the means by which CARE contributes to the achievement of Vanuatu’s development goals and priorities in a sustainable way and fundamental to  CARE’s  programming approach.

To complement the LTPS, CARE Vanuatu wants to develop a partnership strategy to help guide the focus, nature and practice of CARE partnerships, and inform operational implementation (e.g. around staff skills on partnership management and brokering). CARE Vanuatu is particularly committed to strong and effective relationships with government at all levels and to supporting a vibrant civil society in Vanuatu and the region by supporting, respecting and backing the work of local organisations, ensuring appropriate resource sharing and building alliances for greater impact.

Key deliverables and proposed timeframe:

Key deliverables
Description
Due date
Maximum days

Introductory briefing
Meet with CARE Vanuatu team
Upon contract signature
0.25

Desk review
Working closely with the CARE Vanuatu Program management, GEDSI, partnership support Consultant, review available documents to inform development of the methodology and drafting.
8 April
3

Methodology for partnership strategy development
Based on the desk review, propose a methodology for the partnership strategy development. This may include workshops, focus group discussions and/or key informant interviews or other methodologies that the consultant wishes to propose.
12 April
2

Consultations (CARE team and current partners)
Complete activities based on the agreed methodology. This must include representatives from all partnership categories.

Test draft strategy / focus group discussions with partners participating in the Pacific Partnerships for Gender Equality face-face reflection (22-26 April).
17 April – 17 May
12

Draft partnership strategy
Share a draft partnership strategy with the CARE Vanuatu, CARE Australia team and partners (soft copy and possible workshop session (subject to confirmed methodology).

CARE and partner feedback to be provided by 14 June 2024.
31 May
5

Final partnership strategy
Incorporate comments from CARE Vanuatu, CARE Australia and partners, and submit final partnership strategy.
27 June
2

Total days

24 days

Selection criteria

• Prior experience of strategy development
• Knowledge of, and experience working in partnership, with Government and civil society in Vanuatu and/or the Pacific preferred
• Strong knowledge of equitable partnership principles, and their application, in Vanuatu and/or Pacific context
• Understanding of international development practice, program design, and monitoring and evaluation
• Proactive, flexible approach and ability to manage workload to meet deadlines
• Demonstrated ability to respond effectively to challenges
• Collaborative working style and demonstrated high level of communication and interpersonal skills
• Highly developed communication and writing skills in English, and an ability to understand and/or communicate in Bislama
• A commitment to the protection of children and the prevention of sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse

How to apply

Please submit a CV and cover letter addressing the selection criteria (max 2 pages). After submitting your application you will receive an automatic confirmation of receipt.

This will be conducted as a rolling recruitment process, with shortlisting and interviews being completed as applications are received. Please submit your application ASAP if you are interested in the role. More information can be found at careaustralia.connxcareers.com/Job/ViewJobs

Questions about the role? 

Please contact Amy Green ([email protected]) or Glenise Levendal ([email protected]) using the subject line “CARE Vanuatu Partnership Strategy Development Enquiry”. Please do not email applications to this address.

Applications close: 11:59 pm (AEST / AEDT), Friday 22 March 2024.