The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is recruiting a Partnerships Specialist in Maputo, Mozambique. This mid-level opportunity is designed for an experienced international development professional with strong expertise in partnership development, stakeholder engagement, proposal writing, programme development and resource mobilization.
The successful candidate will help UNOPS build strategic relationships with governments, UN agencies, donors, international organizations, foundations, NGOs and private-sector partners while expanding the organization’s project portfolio in Mozambique and other Portuguese-speaking countries in Africa.
Job Details
| Job Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Job Title | Partnerships Specialist |
| Organization | UNOPS – United Nations Office for Project Services |
| Job Category | Partnerships |
| Location | Maputo, Mozambique 🇲🇿 |
| Seniority Level | Mid Level |
| ICS Level | ICS 10 |
| Contract Type | ICA – IICA – Regular |
| Contract Level | IICA 2 |
| Employment Duration | Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, funding and satisfactory performance |
| Posting Date | 14 August 2026 |
| Application Deadline | 28 August 2026 |
| Eligibility | Internal candidates only |
| Education | Master’s degree or Bachelor’s degree + 2 additional years of relevant experience |
| Experience | At least 5 years in international development |
| English | Fluent – Required |
| Portuguese | Fluent – Desirable |
About UNOPS
The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) supports partners around the world by delivering project management, infrastructure, procurement, financial management and other implementation services.
In Africa, UNOPS works across numerous countries and supports initiatives connected to areas such as health, infrastructure, peace and security, climate action and sustainable development.
The Mozambique office works with governments and development partners to implement projects that strengthen national capacity, improve access to essential services, support peacebuilding and promote sustainable development.
About the Partnerships Specialist Position
The Partnerships Specialist will work under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the Country Manager, while coordinating closely with the East and Southern Africa Multi-Country Office (ESAMCO).
The role is responsible for developing and implementing partnership and programme development plans for Mozambique and supporting other Portuguese-speaking countries in Africa when assigned.
The successful candidate will help identify new opportunities, build strategic relationships, mobilize resources and position UNOPS as a trusted development and implementation partner.
The position may also involve supervising communications and partnership personnel within the assigned area of responsibility.
Key Responsibilities
1. Partnership and Programme Development Planning
The Partnerships Specialist will develop comprehensive partnership development and communications plans aligned with UNOPS strategic and regional priorities.
Key responsibilities include:
- Analysing national and regional development and humanitarian environments.
- Identifying priority partners and potential areas of collaboration.
- Developing growth pipeline opportunities.
- Positioning UNOPS within strategic operational areas.
- Integrating communications and visibility into partnership strategies.
- Identifying opportunities to demonstrate project results.
- Assessing partnership risks and opportunities.
- Coordinating with partnerships personnel, project managers and headquarters teams.
- Ensuring engagement with partners is strategic and consistent.
2. Development and Follow-Up of Partnership Opportunities
A major part of the position involves identifying and developing new partnership opportunities.
The successful candidate will:
- Monitor humanitarian and development trends.
- Research potential partnership opportunities.
- Track relevant events, publications and announcements.
- Identify opportunities for UNOPS interventions.
- Contribute to the development of framework partnership agreements.
- Design and formulate new projects and programmes.
- Prepare concept notes and project briefs.
- Coordinate technical and financial requirements.
- Negotiate proposals with potential partners.
- Draft agreements and contractual documents.
- Explain UNOPS pricing policies to partners.
- Support diversification of the country office’s portfolio.
- Identify opportunities across Portuguese-speaking countries in Africa.
3. Representation and Inter-Agency Partnerships
The Partnerships Specialist will represent UNOPS in relevant partnership and coordination activities.
Responsibilities include establishing and strengthening relationships with:
- Government institutions
- UN agencies
- International organizations
- International financial institutions
- Multilateral development banks
- Donors
- Foundations
- International NGOs
- Private-sector organizations
The role may also involve participating in donor and government coordination meetings on behalf of the Country Manager.
The Specialist may contribute to UN common planning processes, including strategic country analysis, United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework processes and humanitarian response planning.
4. Communications and Visibility
The role also has an important communications component.
The successful candidate will work with communications personnel to ensure that external messaging and visibility activities support UNOPS’ partnership objectives.
This may include:
- Supporting advocacy activities.
- Supporting public information initiatives.
- Gathering content for communications materials.
- Strengthening UNOPS visibility.
- Demonstrating project results.
- Supporting partner engagement.
- Providing strategic direction to communications personnel.
Experience providing strategic oversight of communications, advocacy or visibility activities is considered an advantage.
5. Knowledge Management and Innovation
The Partnerships Specialist will contribute to strengthening partnership and project development practices across the office.
Responsibilities include:
- Implementing UNOPS partnership management tools and templates.
- Supporting best-practice development.
- Identifying innovative approaches.
- Strengthening partnership development performance.
- Building negotiation skills among project managers.
- Sharing lessons learned.
- Supporting knowledge management.
- Providing feedback on partnership systems and resources.
- Promoting continuous improvement.
Education Requirements
Applicants should have a Master’s degree in a relevant field such as:
- Business Administration
- Public Administration
- International Development
- Engineering
- Political Science
- Communications
- International Relations
- Another relevant discipline
A Bachelor’s degree combined with an additional two years of relevant professional experience may be accepted in lieu of the stated education requirement.
Professional Experience Required
Candidates must have at least five years of experience in international development.
Applicants should demonstrate experience in:
- Partnership development.
- Communications and partnership planning.
- Programme development.
- Project development.
- Proposal writing.
- Identifying partnership opportunities.
- Developing partnership opportunities.
- Negotiating partnerships.
- Working with international financial institutions.
- Working with multilateral development banks.
- Translating government priorities into implementable projects.
- Translating financing institution priorities into programmes.
- Establishing partnerships with governments.
- Working with UN agencies.
- Working with international development organizations.
- Working with foundations.
- Working with international NGOs.
- Working with private-sector organizations.
Project and programme management experience is considered an advantage.
Preferred Experience
The following experience could strengthen an application:
- Strategic oversight of communications.
- Advocacy.
- Visibility activities.
- Partnership communications.
- Resource mobilization.
- International development programmes.
- Stakeholder engagement.
- Project management.
- Programme development.
Key Skills
UNOPS identifies several important skills for this position, including:
✅ Partnership development
✅ Strategic planning
✅ Proposal writing
✅ Stakeholder engagement
✅ Programme development
✅ Project development
✅ Negotiation
✅ Communications
✅ Resource mobilization
✅ Relationship management
✅ Strategic positioning
✅ Knowledge management
✅ Innovation
Language Requirements
English: Fluent – Required
Portuguese: Fluent – Desirable
Because the position supports Mozambique and other Portuguese-speaking countries in Africa, Portuguese language skills could be particularly valuable.
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Who Should Apply?
This opportunity may be particularly suitable for experienced professionals working in:
- International development
- Partnerships
- Resource mobilization
- Programme development
- Project development
- Proposal writing
- International relations
- Government relations
- Stakeholder engagement
- Communications
- Development finance
- NGO partnerships
- UN partnerships
Professionals who can build relationships, identify opportunities and turn strategic priorities into practical projects may be especially well suited to the role.
Why This Opportunity Matters
The Partnerships Specialist will play an important role in helping UNOPS expand its development portfolio and strengthen relationships with strategic partners.
The position provides an opportunity to contribute to projects supporting sustainable development, peacebuilding, health, infrastructure, livelihoods and other national development priorities.
The successful candidate will also work with a wide range of international and national stakeholders and contribute to UNOPS’ broader Sustainable Development Goals agenda.
Location: Maputo, Mozambique 🇲🇿
The position is based in Maputo, Mozambique, within the UNOPS East and Southern Africa operational environment.
The Mozambique office works with government and development partners on initiatives designed to strengthen national capacities, improve service delivery and support sustainable development.
Contract and Duration
The vacancy is advertised as:
Contract: ICA – IICA – Regular
Level: IICA 2
Duration: Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.
Application Deadline
📅 28 August 2026
The vacancy was posted on 14 August 2026.
Applications must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered.
Important: The vacancy is marked Internal candidates only. Candidates should verify their eligibility before applying.
How to Apply
Interested eligible candidates should follow the official UNOPS application process.
Step 1: Check Your Eligibility
Confirm that you meet the internal-candidate requirement as well as the education and experience requirements.
Step 2: Highlight Partnership Experience
Your application should clearly demonstrate experience developing and maintaining relationships with governments, donors, UN agencies, NGOs and other development partners.
Step 3: Demonstrate Proposal Development Skills
Highlight experience with:
- Concept notes
- Project proposals
- Programme documents
- Partnership agreements
- Project development
- Negotiation
Step 4: Highlight International Development Experience
Clearly demonstrate your experience working in international development and with development partners.
Step 5: Highlight Language Skills
Fluent English is required, while fluent Portuguese is desirable.
Step 6: Submit Before the Deadline
Complete the official UNOPS application process before 28 August 2026, observing the stated Copenhagen-time deadline.
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Important UNOPS Recruitment Warning
UNOPS states that it does not request candidates to make payments at any stage of the recruitment process.
Applicants should be cautious of anyone requesting money in exchange for:
- Job placement
- Recruitment
- Application processing
- Interviews
- Visa processing
- Employment contracts
UNOPS also states that it does not accept unsolicited resumes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UNOPS Partnerships Specialist job?
It is a mid-level partnership and programme development position focused on strategic relationships, resource mobilization, project development and stakeholder engagement.
Where is the position located?
The position is based in Maputo, Mozambique.
Who can apply?
The vacancy is specifically marked Internal candidates only.
How much experience is required?
At least 5 years of experience in international development is required.
What degree is required?
A Master’s degree in a relevant discipline is required, although a Bachelor’s degree plus two additional years of relevant experience may be accepted.
Is Portuguese required?
Portuguese is listed as desirable, while fluent English is required.
What is the contract duration?
The position is open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, funding availability and satisfactory performance.
What is the application deadline?
The deadline is 28 August 2026, before midnight Copenhagen time (CET).
Does UNOPS charge an application fee?
No. UNOPS states that it will not request candidates to make payments during the recruitment process.
Final Thoughts
The UNOPS Partnerships Specialist position offers an opportunity for an experienced international development professional to contribute to strategic growth, partnership development and sustainable development initiatives in Mozambique.
The role combines partnership building, proposal writing, programme development, stakeholder engagement, communications, negotiation and strategic planning.
Candidates with at least five years of international development experience, strong partnership-building abilities and experience working with governments, UN agencies, donors or development organizations should review the vacancy carefully—particularly because this opportunity is listed for internal candidates only.
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