DRC Programme Officer - Grants and Partnerships

Job Posting Organization:
The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) has been actively responding to various humanitarian crises in Lebanon since its establishment in 200

• Initially focusing on the needs of Palestinian, Iraqi, and Syrian refugees, DRC received official registration from the Ministry of Interior in 201
• Since then, the organization has primarily concentrated on addressing the Syrian refugee crisis and its impact on the Lebanese host community. DRC Lebanon aims to respond to critical emerging humanitarian needs while improving the living conditions of displacement-affected populations and contributing to durable solutions. With an annual portfolio of approximately $10 million and a dedicated team of over 180 staff members, DRC operates in key areas such as protection and economic recovery across regions including Bekka, North Lebanon, and Beirut. The organization also plays a vital role in contributing to the evidence base and coordination structures within the country through its Evidence Generation and RIMS teams.

Job Overview:
The Programme Officer - Partnerships and Capacity Strengthening will work under the supervision of the Head of Programme and closely coordinate with various stakeholders including the Grants and Partnerships Coordinator, Protection Manager, GBV/CP Specialist, MEAL team, and Programme Manager. This role is pivotal in supporting the development and implementation of DRC Lebanon's partnership and localization agenda. The Programme Officer will be responsible for strengthening strategic partnerships with local and national organizations, facilitating partner engagement throughout the partnership lifecycle, and leading initiatives aimed at enhancing technical and organizational capacities. The position will involve partner identification, assessment, onboarding, monitoring, compliance support, capacity development planning, and technical accompaniment to ensure quality program implementation and sustainable partner growth. Additionally, the role will coordinate technical capacity-building efforts across DRC's sectors and partners, ensuring that partnership approaches align with localization objectives, program quality, accountability, and long-term institutional strengthening. The Programme Officer is also expected to manage the administrative aspects of partnerships and grants work.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The main duties and responsibilities of the Programme Officer include:

• Technical Capacity Strengthening (40%): Leading partner capacity assessments in collaboration with various technical sectors, MEAL, Grants and Partnerships, Finance, Supply Chain, and HR teams. Coordinating the development and implementation of partner capacity-strengthening plans based on identified needs and organizational priorities. Conducting technical, organizational, and programmatic capacity assessments and gap analyses with support from relevant specialists. Developing capacity-strengthening frameworks, learning pathways, and monitoring tools. Coordinating the delivery of trainings, coaching, mentoring, and accompaniment initiatives for partners. Supporting technical specialists in rolling out sector-specific capacity-building initiatives. Establishing mechanisms to monitor progress in partner capacity development and institutional growth in collaboration with the MEAL Coordinator. Documenting and disseminating lessons learned, good practices, and success stories related to partnership and capacity-strengthening initiatives. Facilitating peer-to-peer learning opportunities among partners and communities of practice.
• Partnership Management and Localization (35%): Supporting the implementation of DRC Lebanon's Partnership and Localization Strategy. Identifying, mapping, and engaging prospective local and national partners, including civil society organizations, community-based organizations, governmental actors, and relevant networks. Supporting partner vetting, due diligence, assessments, and onboarding processes in accordance with DRC policies and donor requirements. Maintaining regular communication and relationship management with partner focal points and DRC teams. Facilitating partner engagement throughout project design, implementation, monitoring, and learning processes. Coordinating partnership review meetings, kick-off meetings, learning events, and close-out processes. Monitoring partnership performance and supporting the identification and mitigation of implementation risks. Promoting localization principles and equitable partnerships across DRC programmes and operations.
• Programme Quality, Compliance, and Grant Support (25%): Supporting grants, programme, and technical teams in ensuring partnership commitments are reflected in project implementation plans. Assisting the Grants and Partnerships Coordinator in launching donor reports and ensuring compliance with donor reporting requirements. Managing internal reporting workflows and processes between team leaders, program manager, and the Beirut team. Supporting kick-off, mid-year review, and close-out meetings for grants with local partners. Maintaining and updating all grants management processes on DRC’s Dynamics and SharePoint. Supporting capacity-building initiatives on reporting and grants guidelines for DRC staff and partner organizations. Conducting joint monitoring visits with technical teams and supporting functions. Tracking donor communications deliverables and assisting field teams and partners in collecting materials.

Required Qualifications:
To be considered for this position, candidates must possess a minimum of 2 years of experience in partnership management, localization, organizational development, capacity strengthening, program quality, or related humanitarian programming roles. A Bachelor's degree in International Development, Social Sciences, International Relations, Human Rights, Organizational Development, Public Administration, Business Administration, or a related field is required. Candidates should have at least 2 years of experience in protection programming, specifically in Child Protection (CP) and Gender-Based Violence (GBV). Demonstrated experience working with local and national NGOs, civil society organizations, and community groups is essential. Proven experience in conducting organizational capacity assessments and supporting institutional strengthening processes is also required. Candidates should have experience designing and implementing capacity-building plans, training programs, coaching, and mentoring initiatives. A strong understanding of humanitarian principles, protection programming, and localization commitments is necessary, along with knowledge of donor compliance requirements and partnership management standards. Experience supporting grant implementation, reporting, and program quality processes is also important. Strong facilitation and stakeholder engagement skills, excellent relationship management and networking abilities, and the ability to work across multiple technical sectors and functions are crucial. Candidates must possess excellent analytical, organizational, and coordination skills, as well as strong report-writing and communication skills in English. Fluency in Arabic is also required.

Educational Background:
Candidates must have a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as International Development, Social Sciences, International Relations, Human Rights, Organizational Development, Public Administration, Business Administration, or a related discipline. This educational background is essential to ensure that candidates have the necessary theoretical knowledge and understanding of the complexities involved in humanitarian programming and partnership management.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 2 years of relevant experience in partnership management, localization, organizational development, capacity strengthening, program quality, or related humanitarian programming roles. Candidates should have a proven track record of working in similar roles, particularly in the context of humanitarian assistance and development work, demonstrating their ability to effectively manage partnerships and contribute to capacity-building initiatives.

Languages:
Fluency in Arabic is mandatory for this position, as it is essential for effective communication with local partners and stakeholders. Additionally, strong report-writing and communication skills in English are required to ensure that documentation and reporting meet the necessary standards and can be understood by international stakeholders. Proficiency in other languages may be considered an asset but is not mandatory.

Additional Notes:
The contract length for this position is until the 30th of April 2027, and it is classified as a Band H - Non-Management role. The duty station is in Beirut, with frequent travels to field offices expected. The anticipated start date for this position is November 202

• Salary and conditions will be in accordance with the Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Nationals, and applicants are encouraged to refer to the DRC website for further details. Interested candidates must upload a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English, as applications sent by email will not be considered. The closing date for applications is set for the 30th of September 2026.