Strategic Engagement and Partnerships Lead - Samartha Programme

Position: Strategic Engagement and Partnerships Lead 
Programme: Samartha 
Location: Kathmandu, Nepal (with travel as required) 
Reporting to: Team Leader  
Duration: June 2026- March 2027 (with possibility of extension) 

ORGANISATION PROFILE  

Adam Smith International (ASI) is a global advisory firm that works with governments, international development partners, and the private sector to deliver long-term, transformative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Operating across more than 30 countries, ASI specialises in governance, economic reform, climate resilience and inclusive development - applying rigorous analysis, technical expertise, and locally led strategies to achieve sustainable impact.   

PROGRAMME BACKGROUND  

Samartha: Enhancing Gender and Human Development Outcomes through Systems Strengthening is a Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) funded programme implemented by Adam Smith International. This programme will focus on improving the systems and capacity to deliver its social service mandates with a specific focus on improving access and quality of social services and it’s delivery, especially to women, girls and marginalised communities. This will be complemented with national policy support in the social sectors to ensure sector policies and resource allocations align to support Nepal in building responsive and resilient social service delivery systems. Through systems strengthening, Samartha aims to enable more equitable, accountable, and inclusive development outcomes.  

POSITION OVERVIEW / JOB DESCRIPTION 

The Strategic Engagement & Partnerships (SEP) Lead will play a central role in shaping programme direction by identifying, developing, and advancing strategic engagement pathways and reform opportunities. The role moves beyond traditional activity delivery to focus on politically informed engagement, coalition-building, and facilitation of reform processes, working across government, development partners, and non-state actors. 

The SEP Lead will generate forward-looking strategic insight, identify entry points and windows of opportunity, and support the programme to position itself effectively in a dynamic political and institutional landscape. As a senior strategic function, the role will act as a trusted adviser to the Team Leader, combining political judgement, relationship-building, and evidence-informed decision-making to shape and strategically manage the programme’s portfolio.  

SCOPE OF WORK 

The SEP Lead will be responsible for the following key areas: 

1. Strategic Ideation and Prioritisation 

• Identify and continuously scan for emerging opportunities, entry points, and reform windows aligned with programme objectives 

• Lead advancement of engagement pathways and reform initatives 

• Support the positioning of the programme in response to evolving government priorities and external dynamics 

• Translate opportunities into clear strategic directions, engagement approaches, and actionable concepts, rather than predefined interventions 

• Support strategic portfolio management and decision making in terms of where available resources are best utliised as well as stop/ adapt / go decisions on interventions 

1. Adaptive Implementation  

• Provide sense-making and interpretation of signals, risks, and opportunities, including forward-looking insights 

• Strengthen the programme’s strategic intelligence function, ensuring that analysis informs positioning, engagement choices, and resource allocation 

• Lead & support the implementation of selected interventions using adaptive delivery approaches defined for the programme 

• Produce concise, decision-ready insights and advisory notes for internal leadership and partners 

1. Coalition Building, Convening & Dialogue Facilitation 

• Identify, build, and nurture coalitions and reform alliances across government, private sector, civil society, and development partners. 

• Design and facilitate strategic dialogue processes and convening platforms to advance reform agendas 

• Broker relationships and foster trust among stakeholders with diverse interests 

• Support collective action around shared reform priorities and pathways 

1. Strategic Communication, Evidence & Influence 

• Translate evidence and analysis into politically informed communication and influencing strategies 

• Shape and oversee the development of targeted communication products (briefs, non-papers, strategic notes) for decision-makers 

• Ensure that evidence is used to support agenda-setting, positioning, and influencing, not just reporting 

• Work closely with communications and IEL teams to align messaging with strategic objectives 

1. Government Engagement and System Integration 

• Build and maintain trusted, high-level relationships with government counterparts and key stakeholders 

• Position the programme as a credible and valued partner in reform processes 

• Ensure alignment with government priorities while identifying space for constructive engagement and influence 

• Represent the programme in high-level engagements, as required 

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE 

Essential 

• Masters’ degree (or equivalent) in governance, public policy, political science, development studies, private sector, management or a related field 

• At least 10 years of relevant experience working in development, governance, or public policy programmes 

• Strong networks and relationships with relevant stakeholders in Nepal (such as government, private sector, non-state actors). 

• Demonstrated ability in political economy analysis, stakeholder engagement, and adaptive programming.  

• Proven experience in strategic advisory roles and team management, including producing decision-oriented analytical outputs 

• Strong analytical and synthesis skills, with the ability to translate complex technical material into clear, decision-focused outputs 

• Experience supporting or contributing to political economy analysis, governance reform, or adaptive programming 

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with fluency in both English and Nepali 

Desirable 

• Prior experience in social sector strengthening Familiarity with Nepal’s federal governance system and public sector institutions 

• Experience working with or analysing data from government systems, pilots, or diagnostics 

• Participation and facilitation experience on policy dialogue processes, coalition building, or influencing initiatives 

Note: Last day to apply is June 23rd. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.