INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT (IPD) COORDINATOR
Job Description
JOB ADVERTISEMENT
INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT (IPD) COORDINATOR
SOS Children’s Villages was established in Sierra Leone in 1974. We work with government and partners in communities to help families care for their children or to provide an alternative family for children who have no one to care for them, or who have lost parental care or are exposed to risks of neglect, abandonment, abuse and exploitation. Located in Freetown, Bo and Makeni, SOS Children’s Villages Sierra Leone has a wide range of programmes, in which the love of a caregiver is essential, to ensure children grow in a loving home and become their strongest selves.
Our Vision: Every child belongs to a family and grows up with love, respect and security.
Our Mission: We build families for children in need, we help them shape their own futures, and we
share in the development of their communities.
Our Values: Courage
Commitment
Trust
Accountability
Programmes include Alternative Care settings, Interim Care Centres, Youth care programmes that support more than 530 children and young people leaving in villages and in communities. In addition to quality care, we advocate for children, young people and women’s right, protection, safeguarding and empowerment. SOS Children’s Villages also provide quality education to over 4,000 students through its Herman Gmeiner International Schools, Kindergartens and Technical Vocational/ Employability and Entrepreneurship Training Centre in support of care-exit strategies and reintegration processes. Other projects include the Youth Innovation challenge & Youth-Can! which support young entrepreneurs with their businesses and young people on their quest to employment. The emergency programmes aid vulnerable families cope with the impact of COVID-19 and the economic downturn to prevent family separation.
SOS Children’s Villages Sierra Leone is recruiting an Institutional Partnership Development (IPD) Coordinator to mobilize institutional funding for SOS Children’s Villages in Sierra Leone by working with the Programme team and management team. To develop and implement the IPD strategy as a key contributor to grow the funding portfolio. Day to day donor relationship management with bilateral donors, international organizations, governmental institutions, embassies, Foundations, Trusts and any other concerned national or international organization. Network and position SOS Children’s Villages according to the brand vision, mission and values.
He/she will develop and implement institutional partnership strategies and will be a key contributor to the growth of the funding portfolio as well as day to day donor relations management with bilateral donors, international organizations, governmental institutions, embassies and any other relevant national or international organizations.
She/He will identify institutional partnership opportunities at the national local level (from bilateral, multilateral, international organizations and embassies and foundations)
Coordinate with the program team to conduct assessments and feasibility studies that inform program design. Conduct background research relevant for designing projects.
Lead the design of high-quality family strengthening project proposals aligned with SOS Children’s Villages’ strategic priorities and community needs.
She/He will coordinate and write program proposals and be the link between program, finance and submit this to potential institutional donors.
Develop and submit compelling concept notes, grant applications, and budgets tailored to specific donor requirements.
Working with the Program Manager, be the link between SOS Children’s Villages and donors especially in management of institutional funding contracts. Ensure regular communication with the SOS international and regional offices.
Coordinate, monitor and assess the quality of donor reporting making sure that donor requirements are met during the project implementation phase.
Responsible for Donor Contract Management (DCM) of all institutional (restricted) grants (National or International with PSAs), including contract preparation, development of consortium agreements, compliance with donor requirements, submission of reports.
Develop and implement an institutional fundraising and partnership strategy in line with the needs of the NA and ensure this is infused within the national plans.
Ensure projects incorporate results-based management (RBM), child safeguarding, gender equality, and sustainability principles.
Conduct situational analyses and stakeholder consultations to inform project design.
Qualifications and Experience
- A Bachelor’s degree in Development Studies, Social Work, Project Management, Sociology, International Relations, or a related field is required.
- A Master’s degree in a relevant discipline is highly desirable.
- At least 5 years of increasingly relevant experience in designing projects, developing funding proposals, and engaging with donors, particularly within the areas of family strengthening, child protection, or community development.
- Strong understanding of project management (PCM, LFM, RBM) and grant management.
- Strong understanding of the donor environment in the humanitarian context and track record in identification and securing humanitarian funding opportunities (eg. UN, ECHO, Europe Aid, USAID/OFDA, SIDA, GAC)
- Broad network of UN, donor and NGO contacts in Sierra Leone, with proven experience development and maintain effective stakeholder relationship.
- Excellent inter-personal, cultural and diplomatic skills with experience representing organizations at the regional and national networks.
- Positive and professional approach: willingness to learn, very organized, commitment to deadlines, result focused, strong analytical skills and independent/self-motivated.
- Support of SOS CVI vision, mission and values is essential.
- A strong understanding of program design and development, especially in the sectors of Child Protection, Education, Health, Youth Empowerment, Livelihood, Gender and GBV, etc.
- Highly developed communication with tact & diplomacy, interpersonal, networking, and negotiation skills.
- Knowledge of child rights, child safeguarding, gender, and inclusive programming principles
WORK CONDITIONS
STARTING DATE: 1st September 2025
DURATION OF CONTRACT: One year with a possibility of an extension based on performance
and/or availability of funding
NUMBER OF POSITIONS: One
LOCATION: Freetown
WORKING CONDITIONS: Willingness to travel locally and internationally as required. Flexible
working hours to accommodate donor deadlines and partner engagements.
Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply
To apply: submit a letter of interest, with Curriculum Vitae, photocopy of certificates, and three (3) professional references with at least one (1) from a direct supervisor, by email only to apply.sl@sossierraleone.org Please indicate in the subject line the position and location you are applying for, for example: “Application for the Position of Institutional Partnership Coordinator in Freetown”.
Closing date for the submission of applications is Monday 14th July, 2025
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
In accordance with the organization’s child protection policy, all employment is subject to applicable background checks, including criminal record checks.
What We Stand For:
SOS Children’s Villages is committed to creating and maintaining a caring and protective environment, which promotes its core values, and prevents and addresses child abuse and exploitation. We strongly condemn all forms of child abuse and exploitation, be it within or outside of our organisation, and always respond to any case of proven, alleged or attempted abuse within our sphere of influence according to its nature. Efforts ensure that mechanisms are in place to raise awareness, aid prevention, encourage reporting and ease response. They range from human resource development actions such as training and counselling to measures such as suspension, dismissal, and legal action.
