WAHO Strategic Partnerships Advisor

Focus of the Role

West African Health Organisation (WAHO) is the Specialized Institution responsible for health issues for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). WAHO’s objective is the attainment of the highest possible standard and protection of the health of the peoples in the sub-region through the harmonisation of policies of Member States, pooling of resources, and cooperation with one another and with others for collective and strategic combat against the health problems of the sub-region. Following the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, the public health agenda has never been more important.

TBI is supporting the West Africa Health Organisation (WAHO) to strengthen its institutional capacity to respond more effectively to routine public health issues and pandemics. This work will be focused on improving the capacity of WAHO and its staff to deliver on their mandates and duties. In the first phase of the programme, the team supported WAHO to deliver a strategic plan to improve health and well-being and access to quality healthcare in the region while strengthening emergency preparedness. WAHO is currently planning the implementation of this strategy.

Job Introduction

The WAHO Strategic Partnerships Advisor will provide technical and strategic advice to WAHO, support WAHO to establish and maintain strategic partnerships and develop a comprehensive strategy to transform WAHO’s strategic partnerships functions. They will also support WAHO to plan and manage different stakeholder sub-goups, including technical and financial partners, Health experts and institutions in the region, Liaison Officers, Member States, ECOWAS etc.

This is a one-year fixed-term role, which will be based in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire but the postholder will also be required to regularly travel to Bobo-Dioulasso Burkina Faso, and possibly other locations within West Africa. For candidates based outside of Cote d’Ivoire, TBI will provide a relocation package in support.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Partnerships advisory

• Provide expert, strategic advice, guidance and support to WAHO leadership to ensure the design, development and implementation of innovative partnership and stakeholder management strategies, systems and processes
• Support WAHO to develop a comprehensive partnerships strategy, with accompanying frameworks for implementing the strategy, and support the roll out of this strategy
• Support WAHO to improve processes for managing the negotiation, development and implementation of partnership agreements and documentation such as Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs), ensuring compliance with WAHO’s legal framework.
• Support WAHO to build and sustain collaborative partnerships, to ensure the organisation has the balanced and diverse partnerships required to strengthen the delivery of the organisation’s strategic vision.
• Support WAHO to routinely track, review and evaluate the progress of all partnership strategies, agreements and initiatives to build and enhance performance and alignment with WAHO’s mandate and priorities.
• Support WAHO to map stakeholders that are directly or indirectly involved and affected by WAHO’s work, and work with the Strategic Communications advisor to define the communication need of each stakeholder group
• Support WAHO to develop its Stakeholder Management and Partnerships function/role -conduct a gap assessment to identify the human and technical capacity gaps and develop recommendations for addressing them.
• Building the capacity of WAHO leadership to effectively implement partnership strategies across a dynamic, complex and political environment.

WAHO engagement with partners, ECOWAS member states and institutions

• Support WAHO with government relations working with the in-country liaison officers, and support WAHO to leverage the liaison officers' structure for better delivery, stakeholder engagement and in-country visibility
• Support WAHO in engaging member states/ advise on member states relations
• Work with WAHO and TBI colleagues to prepare appropriate communication and advocacy materials, identify platforms and key target groups and for an effective reach,
• Along with the Strategic Communications advisor, support WAHO to position and communicate their impact to relevant audiences/stakeholders, as appropriate across diverse channels,

Technical resource for the programme

• Function as a technical resource and build capacity of colleagues and other stakeholders
• Support the team’s engagement with the WAHO partners forum, and routine meetings such as at the Assembly of Health Ministers (AHM)
• Provide specialist expertise and advice on how to effectively align partners’ resources with key strategic objectives and priorities of the ICS programme and its funder
• Liaise with other members of the WAHO ICS team to plan and deliver strategic partnership support to WAHO; liaise with the programme lead to set milestones and define deliverables for the support to WAHO
• Use knowledge, experience and sound judgement to advise WAHO on how best to approach internal and external strategic partnerships
• Undertake other relevant duties assigned by the DG of WAHO

Thought leadership

• Support a robust and targeted thought leadership and policy-influencing agenda

Contribution to TBI

• Contribute to wider TBI agenda and other activities as required by the WAHO Programme Lead

Perform other duties as may be reasonably required and in line with the incumbent’s scope of services above.

Person Specification

• Substantial experience in business development, management consulting or strategic advisory in Africa
• Relevant educational background in Business, Public Health, or other related fields 
• Solid understanding of partnerships and alliances and how they can create value for the business
• Understanding and networks within the regional, continental and global public health landscape including technical and financial partners, government and international agencies, nonprofits, health institutions and others
• Proven ability to find strategic partnerships to deliver on an organisation’s priorities; previous experience in development, strategic initiatives or fundraising role for a nonprofit, foundation, campaign organization, government entity or similar organization
• An ability to build effective relationships, win trust, and help shape and influence change in a political environment; along with an entrepreneurial mindset that leverages further opportunities
• Demonstrable problem-solving and analytic skills
• Bilingual (speaking and writing proficiency in both English and French) is essential, and fluency in Portuguese is desirable
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral and excellent relationship-building skills
• Confidence, experience, and credibility to operate at a senior level in an inter-government organisation
• Good interpersonal skills to liaise and engage with stakeholders effectively
• An ability to work in the face of a range of competing views and priorities, possessing highly developed communication and negotiation skills
• High-quality communication, drafting and presentational skills are key
• A strong attention to detail
• An ability to deliver in a fast-paced environment
• An ability to think creatively, problem-solving and technical troubleshooting skills
• An ability to work independently within a team structure and manage multiple tasks and deadlines simultaneously is essential
• A strong sense of ethics, discretion and perseverance required
• Experience of living and working in developing countries is essential; good working knowledge and experience of the West Africa sub-region are desirable
• Willingness to travel extensively, sometimes at short notice. Willingness to travel to Bobo-Dioulasso in Burkina Faso for 1 week every 1-2 months

About The Institute

The Tony Blair Institute (TBI) is a mission-driven not for profit organisation. We exist to equip political leaders and governments to build open, inclusive and prosperous societies. We work hard, every day, to make a difference. When governments work well they are able to create economic and social change in a way that promotes fairness, social justice and opportunity. We work relentlessly to support leader and governments with the challenges they face. Giving them practical solutions and actionable insights, that once implemented, can be transformative for their people  

We do this within two connected divisions: 

 Government Advisory 

Our Government Advisory teams work directly with political leaders and governments around the world to implement reforms that improve the lives of their citizens. It works with a variety of partners and its outputs cover a range of disciplines and projects across countries in Africa, the Middle East, Eastern Europe and South Asia.

 Policy Futures 

Our Policy Futures work encompasses three broad areas: 

• Renewing the Centre: developing a bold and innovative domestic policy programme to help renew the centre ground of British politics; 
• Tech and Public Policy: exploring the policy challenges and opportunities presented by the technological revolution; and 
• Extremism Policy Unit: creating solutions designed to tackle the threat of extremist ideologies in the UK and around the world. 

As an organisation, the core beliefs we all embrace are: 

• Open and Progressive: you’ll believe in the value of teamwork 
• Bold and Pragmatic: you’ll approach everything you do with integrity and authenticity 
• Optimistic Changemaker: you’ll be focused on results 

TBI believes embracing diversity and inclusion make us a better place to work.  It’s our goal to reflect everyone in society and we actively welcome applications from individuals and groups who are under-represented in the workplace. We celebrate difference be it ethnicity, religion, age, gender or gender identity, sexual orientation or disability. We will only ever assess you on your abilities and fit for a role. We’re happy to discuss any adjustments you need to ensure a level playing field during recruitment and, if you\'re successful, discuss any adjustments you might need to thrive in your role.