Innovation Specialist (Innovative Financing) – P3  

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF has set out ambitious goals for its 2022-2025 Strategic Plan to accelerate progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Division of Private Fundraising and Partnerships (PFP), based in Geneva, aims to achieve results for children by maximizing UNICEF’s private sector fundraising, partnerships and engagement activities, including work with National Committees, regional and country offices, and other HQ Divisions.

The global innovative financing for children (IF4C) initiative is key to UNICEF’s Strategic Plan 2022-2025 and resource mobilization strategy and aims to help address complex global challenges such as climate change and disasters, faced by millions of children and adolescents today and disproportionately affecting the poorest, most vulnerable, and marginalized.

The PFP IF4C team enables, drives, and accelerates innovative alternative financing and funding solutions for children in partnership with the Private Sector through initiatives that attract investments for climate change, environment, and disaster risk reduction. 

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, a Champion

UNICEF is seeking to complement its current efforts to accelerate results for children through the use of new financial structures (e.g. blended finance, guarantees, impact investing) that can leverage additional resources for children (as well as make the use of existing resources more efficient and results-oriented).

Under the direction of the Innovation Manager, the Innovation Specialist will take a strategic and project management function in the PFP’s Innovative and Alternative Finance for Children unit, as it relates to the positioning of PFP IF4C and the development and implementation of innovative finance frameworks and initiatives. The objective of the PFP IF4C Unit is to enable the use of financial instruments and financial frameworks to help accelerate results for children with the private sector.

How can you make a difference?

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Development of Financial Models, Structures and Concepts:

• Analyze UNICEF’s portfolio and existing innovative finance mechanisms to identify potential innovative finance opportunities with the private sector.
• Support the initiation, design, and implementation of innovative financing solutions across the board (including sovereign debt, impact investing and climate risk financing).
• Formulate business analyses of financial markets and trends, including research on key internal and external risks and associated mitigation strategies.
• Conduct assessments and feasibility analyses of prospective innovative finance instruments to be deployed.
• Working closely with the Innovative Finance Hub in Finland on the child-lens impact investing framework and its adoption.
• Document strategic decisions and operational processes to ensure transparency and facilitate future initiatives.
• Provide inputs, content and overall support for the IF4C Training Programme.

2. Planning and Project management

• Project management and coordination to ensure that the PFP IF4C team’s work plan and key deliverables are met effectively and on time.
• Collaborate with UNICEF’s PRIME team to integrate planning, risk management, and governance aspects into the team’s work.
• Maintain robust tracking and reporting mechanisms to monitor progress against objectives and deliverables.

3. Partnerships and engagement

• Support with technical inputs as needed, the development and management of partnerships with private sector entities, donors, and other stakeholders to drive innovative financing initiatives.
• Work closely with the Innovation Officer to produce high-quality, audience-specific content for internal and external positioning, fundraising proposals, and promotional materials.
• Draft and curate content for the IF4C newsletter, impact reports, and other communication channels to showcase achievements and build visibility for innovative financing efforts.

 Deliverables:

1. Development of PFP IF4C unit’s communication and advocacy content, PFP IF4C project/initiative presentations to key internal/external stakeholders, IF4C investment cases, etc., as needed.

2. Support and drive at least one innovative financing solution.

3. Support the development of at least one strategy document.

4. Support the development and implementation of the IF4C training.

 Estimated duration of the contract:

•  Until 31 December 2025

Reporting to:

• The Innovation Manager, IF4C

Working Place:

• Geneva, Switzerland

To qualify as a champion for every child you will have…

Education:

• An advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in one of the following fields is required: International development, finance, economics, public or business administration, law or closely related fields.   
• Alternatively, a first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in a relevant field combined with (2) additional years of qualifying professional experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience:

• A minimum of five (5) years of professional work experience in development, innovative finance, ESG/impact investing, project management, investment banking, private banking, management consulting, risk and market analysis, is required.
• Experience working in innovative finance or related fields, including a solid understanding of the innovative finance landscape, is an asset.
• Prior experience in structuring innovative finance products (such as sustainability-linked bonds, outcome-based financing, climate risk financing and debt swaps) is an asset.
• Experience in partnership building and capital resource mobilization is an asset.
• Experience producing investment cases, communication and advocacy materials is an asset.
• Ability to work across multiple projects, with multiple stakeholders and moving deadlines is an asset.
• UN/UNICEF experience is an asset.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is an asset.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, or Russian) is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)
• Works Collaboratively with others (1)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (1)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)
• Drives to achieve impactful results (1)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

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.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

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