Partnerships Specialist (MENA and ECA region)

Dutystation: Brussels, Belgium

Functional responsibilities

Identify and secure funding opportunities:

• Identify funding opportunities across various sectors, including urban development, climate change, migration, and infrastructure investments in cities, with a focus on governments, international agencies, multilateral institutions, non-governmental organizations, foundations, and the private sector within the ECA and MENA regions.
• Engage with key regional and international stakeholders to develop and promote Cities Alliance’s mission and agenda in the Mediterranean, ECA, and MENA countries.

Develop proposals and project concepts:

• Collaborate closely with Cities Alliance’s and UNOPS’ Country Representatives and Project Managers in the development of expressions of interest, concept notes, and proposals for potential new projects.

Engage in business development and partnership expansion:

• Drive the creation of new partnerships and business development opportunities across cities in ECA and MENA, ensuring alignment with Cities Alliance’s objectives in urban development, climate resilience, infrastructure investment and migration management.
• In coordination with Cities Alliance’s leadership, pursue the membership of new countries and institutions into the Cities Alliance, focusing on European Mediterranean countries and regional partners in ECA and MENA.
• Support the development and dissemination of high-quality communication materials, such as factsheets, presentations, capacity statements, position papers, and FAQs, to support advocacy, visibility, and outreach efforts with potential donors and partners in MENA and ECA.

Networking and stakeholder relations:

• Coordinate and actively participate in meetings with donors, partners, and other stakeholders, ensuring the development of action-oriented meeting minutes, follow-up actions, and detailed progress updates.
• Conduct research and analysis of donor and partner focus areas, funding cycles, and opportunities within the ECA and MENA regions, providing strategic insights for partnership development.
• Build and maintain a strong network of key stakeholders, including government officials, regional institutions, private sector entities, and multilateral organizations across the ECA, MENA, and Mediterranean regions.
• Stay abreast of evolving social, economic, and political trends in the regions to inform Cities Alliance’s partnership strategies and approach.

Business acquisition and reporting:

• Maintain and update engagement tracking and forecasting sheets to provide regular reports on the business acquisition pipeline, partnership developments, and progress on partnership-building activities.
• Ensure all communication and reporting materials are up-to-date and aligned with Cities Alliance's goals, supporting the management of donor relationships.

Frequent travel and field support:

• Undertake frequent travel across the ECA and MENA regions, particularly to Mediterranean countries, Southern Shore countries, and Gulf nations, to establish new partnerships, manage existing ones, and support the implementation of regional projects.
• Support the Senior Urban Specialist for MENA and ECA and Project Managers in their engagements with potential partners, ensuring effective and efficient stakeholder management.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) preferably in international relations, political science, economics, business administration, or a related field is required. A focus on urban development, gender, or international cooperation would be considered an asset.
• A first level university degree (Bachelor degree or equivalent) in the related fields with an additional two (2) years of experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.

• A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in partnership development, donor engagement, and resource mobilization is required with a Master`s degree. (7 years is required with a Bachelor's degree)
• Proven experience working with bilateral and multilateral donors, development banks, or philanthropic foundations is required.
• Experience in business development, including pipeline development and proposal coordination for complex programmes in the MENA and/or ECA regions, is highly desirable.
• Previous experience in international development organizations or urban-focused institutions is an asset.
• Familiarity with cross-cutting themes such as gender equality, climate resilience, migration, and inclusive urban development is highly advantageous.

• Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Fluency in French is highly desirable. Knowledge of Arabic would be an asset.