Head of Partnerships, Reports and Communications

OB TITLEHead of Partnerships, Reports and Communications

TYPE OF CONTRACTRegular CST II

UNIT/DIVISIONPartnerships, Reports and Communication, Malawi Country Office

DUTY STATION (City, Country): Lilongwe, Malawi / RBJ

DURATION11 months

BACKGROUND

The Partnerships, Reports and Communications (PRC) unit plays a central role in delivering WFP Malawi’s Country Strategic Plan (CSP) 2024-2028. The CSP positions WFP to meet urgent humanitarian needs while strengthening national systems for long-term resilience, food security and social protection. Delivery requires a strong and diversified resource base, strategic partnerships, and coherent public and policy positioning that demonstrates the value and results of WFP’s work.

The PRC unit leads WFP’s positioning and engagement with donors, Government, multilateral institutions, the UN system, private sector, academia and media. It drives resource mobilisation and partnership development, ensures timely and compelling donor reporting, and leads external advocacy and communications.

The consultant will lead the PRC unit, advising the Country Director and senior management on strategic positioning, resource mobilisation and high-level engagement; setting team priorities; and ensuring high-quality partnership, reporting and communications products. The incumbent will report directly to the Country Director, serve as a member of the senior management team, supervise national and international staff and consultants, and work closely with programme, field and enabling functions across the Country Office.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES AND EXPECTED RESULTS

The consultant will provide high-level strategic, managerial and technical leadership to the PRC unit. Key accountabilities and expected results include:

Strategic leadership and unit management

• Provide vision and strategic direction for WFP Malawi’s partnerships, resource mobilisation, donor reporting and external communications, aligned with the CSP 2024-2028 and Country Office priorities.

• Lead and manage a multi-functional team of national and international staff; set clear accountabilities and priorities, ensure quality and timely delivery, and complete annual performance evaluations (PACE).

• Strengthen collaboration across units and clarify PRC interfaces with programme, M&E, finance and field teams so partnership and communications priorities are supported by sound evidence, technical design and financial assurance.

• Represent the PRC function at senior management and UN inter-agency fora, supporting strategic positioning, joint advocacy, donor harmonisation and visibility efforts.

• By the end of the assignment, ensure an operational PRC strategy and workplan, a prioritised donor pipeline, strengthened reporting and communications systems, and a documented capacity and handover plan; identify remaining gaps and provide forward-looking recommendations to the Country Director.

Donor relations and resource mobilisation

• Lead implementation of WFP Malawi’s resource mobilisation strategy and maintain a prioritised, actively managed pipeline of existing and prospective donors and funding opportunities.

• Lead development and quality assurance of high-level funding proposals, donor pitches, briefings and talking points, aligned with donor priorities, country needs and WFP’s comparative advantage.

• Deepen relationships with traditional and non-traditional partners, including private foundations, IFIs and regional partners, and advance appropriate innovative financing opportunities.

• Oversee timely, accurate and results-based donor reports in coordination with programme, M&E and finance teams, with clear accountability for inputs, quality assurance and deadlines.