Consultancy for the development of knowledge management products and advocacy activities related to the Business Engagement and Children’s Rights strategy. Panama City

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, a hero

The private sector is a key UNICEF partner and a driving force in achieving large-scale results for the realization of children’s rights. UNICEF global business engagement strategy guides our approach to build business sector awareness and capacity to act and use its influence on employees, customers, suppliers, communities and the wider public, to support our mandate for children, through UNICEF programmes as well as the broader Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Leverage on private sector resources and knowledge, aligned with public policies and their initiatives at different government levels, is fundamental to creating the greatest impact for children. As part of this strategy, the BECR programme comprises of three pillars, which include: influencing the enabling environment for business engagement in child rights; guiding and accelerating business action; and mainstreaming business engagement to address adverse impact and accelerate results for children in UNICEF programming and partnerships.

UNICEF in LAC has engaged strategically with the business sector to position children’s rights, maximize results for children and contribute to the progress of the SDGs. COs have been collaborating in many ways with the business ecosystem through partnerships and other BECR initiatives, achieving greater impact on the development and well-being of children. UNICEF has also been proactive in fostering responsible business conduct in line with the ChiId Rights and Business Principles (CRBP). Programme agendas have been prioritized to promote and accelerate the adoption of corporate policies and practices that respect and support children’s rights in business operations, not only by companies, but also by other strategic stakeholders in the business sector.

Currently, the Private Fundraising and Partnerships (PFP) team in LACRO, through the BECR area, supports COs in the development and expansion of the Business Engagement strategy to leverage the main business assets of companies, their advocacy and promote respect for children’s rights (CRB). This contributes to addressing the main challenges affecting children today, creating and strengthening partnerships and collaborations with UNICEF to achieve large-scale, positive change across the region.

To strengthen the implementation of the BECR agenda in the LAC region and promote respect and support for children’s rights as a business priority to achieve large-scale transformative results for children, UNICEF requires knowledge management products to support advocacy and technical capacity of LACRO and CO teams.

How can you make a difference?

The consultancy is designed to support the development of knowledge management and advocacy activities related to advancing UNICEF’s BECR strategy within COs and LACRO. This includes enhancing efforts to scale up CRB priorities across the region. The consultant will provide additional expertise under the general guidance of the Corporate Alliance Specialist (BECR) and in close coordination with Corporate Partnerships and Programme teams in LACRO, as well as BECR focal points in COs.

 Key activities will include

• Advocacy materials for business engagement: Develop communication content to support advocacy activities with the business ecosystem to advance CRB’s priority agendas in LAC, such as children’s rights in corporate due diligence and family-friendly policies.
• Information management and knowledge sharing: Develop and manage information resources, and share knowledge related to business engagement in LAC.
• Reporting: Prepare and deliver reports on business engagement activities and outcomes.

Deliverables:

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Education:

• An advanced university degree in Business, Law, Public Administration, International Development, Sustainability, Communication for Development or other social science relevant field (A first level university degree with relevant combination of academic qualification and additional 2 years of relevant experience will be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree).

Work experience:

• Demonstrated experience of at least 5 years in sustainability, business engagement, partnerships development, BHR/CRB, business consulting and/or CSR management.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills (Spanish and English)
• Experience working on Business Engagement and Child Rights is an asset
• Experience working with UN agencies is an asset

Technical knowledge:

• Experience in knowledge management, content development (reports, briefs, notes), and communication on BHR/CRB, business engagement and/or sustainability.
• Strong experience in report writing

Languages:

• Fluency in Spanish and English is required.

 Other skills and attributes:

• Strong analytical skills and problem-solving mind oriented.
• Ability to translate technical-based language into compelling business content.
• Ability to work independently, with low levels of supervision. Strong focus on results. Able to work effectively in a multicultural environment.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).

UNICEF competencies: building and maintains partnerships, demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness, drive to achieve results for impact, innovates and embraces change, manages ambiguity and complexity, thinks and acts strategically and works collaboratively with others.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

Administrative details

Supervision: The consultant will work under the overall supervision and guidance of the UNICEF Corporate Alliances Specialist.

Workplace: The consultancy is home-based.

Duration:  8 months from April to December 2025 approx.

How to Apply: Application should be submitted online and should include: TMS application form duly completed, Cover Letter, Study certificates and Financial proposal.  You must include a fee for each deliverable.

Qualified candidates are requested to indicate an all-inclusive (lump sum) fees for the services to be including all associated administrative and travel costs.

Consultants must have their own equipment, tools and materials needed to perform their services. They will use their own laptops/computers, any application or system needed to complete the assignment. They need to provide the full service without using UNICEF resources. The access to UNICEF email and system is restricted to UNICEF staff therefore consultants should not be granted access unless it is imperative to complete the assignment.

Remarks: 

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations, or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility tendersglobal.net UNICEF.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.