Partnership Coordinator

Description
Location
Nairobi, Kenya

Position Status:
Full Time, Regular

Salary Level
: National

About Mercy Corps
Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.

The Program / Department / Team (Program / Department Summary)
The Cash Consortium of Sudan (CCS) is a collaborative platform to advance a progressive vision of the potential of cash assistance to transform humanitarian response and recovery in partnership with vulnerable conflict-affected populations. CCS is led by Mercy Corps, building on its global experience and learning on leading cash consortia in multiple country contexts, as well as general expertise in cash coordination and breadth of technical resources. International partners include Acted, CARE, CORE, Concern Worldwide, the International Rescue Committee (IRC), and the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), each of which bring strong cash and complementary technical competencies, as well as expansive operational coverage in Sudan. The CCS also includes twelve Sudanese NGOs as partners in alignment with global aid sector commitments to enhance the prominence of local actors in driving humanitarian response and recovery. IMPACT is a non- implementing partner dedicated to Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning. IMPACT will support quality data systems and an objective evidence base that will be essential to CCS' accountability and adaptive management to refine programming approaches to enhance impact as the Sudan crisis context evolves. The CCS will work closely with other consortia and actors in Sudan to deliver an effective Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA) response for communities affected by the crisis.

The core pillars of the CCS response include: 1) basic needs through cash assistance both at the community level through Group Cash Transfers (GCTs) delivered to Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), as well as at the household-level through Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA); 2) strengthening market systems to ensure resilience of key market actors and supply chains as well as strengthening the availability and affordability of key commodities; 3) strengthening capacity of local partner organizations with an emphasis on accompaniment and mentorship; and 4) generation of learning and evidence to inform broader response efforts.

The Position (General Position Summary)
Under the direct supervision of the Senior Finance & Sub-award Manager and working within the Finance Department and the Grants Manager, the Partnership Coordinator is responsible for managing sub-grants, overseeing monitoring processes, and ensuring both financial and narrative reporting comply with donor and Mercy Corps regulations. The role includes tracking sub-grant requirements, maintaining accurate and organized sub-grant and contract financial files, and supporting other grants-related processes within the Cash Consortium of Sudan. The Partnership Coordinator also plays a key role in fostering effective liaison and collaboration across consortium members.

Essential Job Responsibilities
SUB-AWARDS MANAGEMENT (40%)

• Conduct sub grants pre-award assessments and recommends substantial involvements and compliance requirements and modifications to the sub grant agreement and/or monitoring plan to lessen financial and compliance risks.
• Follow up, collect and review sub-grantees financial reports and fund requests, keep up-to-date records and report all sub-grantees financial status. Review sub grantees financial reports for correctness, completeness, timeliness and compliance.
• Perform sub grantee monitoring visit for financial and programmatic deliverables review or audit and report findings with recommendation to the supervisor communicate agreed upon findings to the sub grantees and follow up its implementation.
• Handle sub grants close-outs ensuring that all requirements of the sub grant agreement have been met and that sub grant funds have been properly settled.
• Follow up all grant compliance issues and document all required information.
• Closely monitor sub grants to ensure that sub grantees are not overspent.
• Create sub award card in navigator and update all milestones and expenditure in navigator.
• Maintain sub grantees tracker and update monthly. Share the updated tracker and list.
• Review contracts and maintain/assist in maintaining and updating the contracts tracker. Distribute monthly tracker for projection and related use.
• Review and track all sub grants and grants/budget purchases and contracts and other commitments. Update the contracts and communicate monthly.
• Maintain sub-grant files and ensure they are well labeled, fully updated with all contracts, submitted reports, governing clauses and all other relevant documents.
• Participate in procurement or contracts biding and other procurement processes whenever required.
• Any other tasks to be assigned by the supervisor.

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (30%)

• Provide financial reviews of purchase requests, purchase orders, and payment requests and tracking for CCS Secretariat payments.
• Provide financial review for financial services provider, consultants and contractual agreements.
• Support budget development for new funding opportunities; including creation of templates, guidance for partners to complete their budgets, review and compilation of multiple partner budgets in alignment with CCS and donor requirements
• Ensure effective, transparent use of financial resources in compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies and procedures.
• Provide advice, training, and consultation on compliance with MC policies and procedures as well as donor compliance requirements to finance and non-finance team members.

GRANTS MANAGEMENT (30%)

• Support effective communication and engagement with CCS partners, ensuring clarity of timelines, deliverables, and donor requirements throughout the proposal and reporting cycles.
• Lead coordination of partner inputs during proposal development, including review of narrative contributions, activity plans, and partner budgets to ensure alignment with program design and donor guidelines.
• Maintain and regularly update the CCS grants and reporting tracker, including key deadlines, submission statuses, and follow-up actions across proposals and donor reports.
• Support documentation, archiving, and knowledge management of grant-related materials, including proposals, reports, correspondence, and donor approvals.
• Monitor donor reporting requirements and engage with partners to ensure timely submission of quality narrative reports.
• Review partner narrative reports and check for alignment with financial reports to ensure consistency and accuracy of reporting.
• Lead on initial consolidation of partner inputs into comprehensive and compliant CCS donor reports.
• Support response to donor information requests in collaboration with partners and Secretariat colleagues; support development of success stories, briefs, and other donor-facing communication products.
• Collaborate with CCS Secretariat teams (Finance, MEAL, Policy, Research & Advocacy) and partner focal points to ensure coherent and timely contributions across grant documents.

Safeguarding Responsibilities

• Actively learns about safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work.
• Practices the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members.
• Encourages openness and communication in their team; encourages team members to submit reports if they have any concerns using reporting mechanisms e.g., Integrity Hotline and other options.

Supervisory Responsibility
This role doesn't have any supervisory responsibilities.

Accountability
Reports Directly To:
Senior Finance & Compliance Manager and dotted technical line to Grants manager

Works Directly With:
Grants Manager, Senior Administrative Officer, Mercy Corps Kenya and Mercy Corps Sudan finance team, wider CCS Secretariat team

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Knowledge And Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field required.
• At least 3 years of progressive experience in financial management, grants and sub-award administration, preferably within international NGOs.
• Demonstrated technical accounting skills, including managing general ledgers, journal entries, payroll, accounts payable, and balance sheets.
• Proven experience in sub-award management, including reviewing partner budgets, conducting financial monitoring, and ensuring donor compliance.
• Strong understanding of donor regulations and compliance requirements, including those of ECHO, SDC, USAID/BHA, FCDO (highly desirable).
• Experience preparing, analyzing, and presenting financial reports, with the ability to translate complex data into actionable insights for non-finance colleagues.
• Strong coordination, relationship-building, and stakeholder engagement skills; able to work effectively with partners, donors, and internal teams.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and time management skills; proven ability to manage multiple deadlines and competing priorities.
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Excel and accounting software systems
• Fluent in English, both written and verbal.

Success Factors
Excelling in this role requires strong coordination and communication skills to engage effectively across partners, build trust-based relationships, and facilitate smooth partnership processes, alongside a high level of attention to detail to ensure accuracy and compliance. The role demands the ability to navigate complex, multi-stakeholder environments, communicate clearly with diverse audiences, and proactively address bottlenecks while balancing competing priorities in a fast-paced context. An impeccable professional standard of finance and procurement ethics as well as the willingness and ability to enforce compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies and procedures is essential.

Ongoing Learning
In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development

Team Engagement and Effectiveness
Achieving our mission starts with how we build our team and collaborate. By bringing together individuals with a variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives, we strengthen our ability to solve complex challenges and drive innovation. We foster a culture of trust and respect, where every team member is valued for their contributions, empowered to reach their full potential, and motivated to do their best work.

We recognize that building a strong and effective team is an ongoing process, and we remain committed to learning, improving, and growing together.

Equal Employment Opportunity
Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected under applicable law.

Safeguarding & Ethics
Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

As an applicant, if you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline ).