Partnerships Officer (Public and Private Financing)

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.

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For every child, recognition and visability

The private sector directly and indirectly impacts the lives of children as consumers, family members of employees, young workers and as future employees and business leaders. Children are also part of the communities and environments in which companies operate. Business leaves a footprint on the lives of children through its products and services, supply chains, manufacturing methods, marketing methods, distribution practices, environmental and social impacts and investment in local communities. The interest of the private sector to use its voice and actions to have positive impact on equity and social outcomes has been steadily growing over the last decade. In order to achieve results and change, public and private sector need to work togeter in convening and further promoting collective action, mobilizing resources for children. UNICEFs work takes place within an ecosystem of private and public institutions, stakeholders of multiple forms, standards, policies and laws linked in relationships of differing power and influence, connecting the global and the local. UNICEF Montenegro has been trying to strengthen the relationship with the IFIs especially in the areas of education and health. The Ministry of Education has been working with the EIB in regards to the grant for school infrastructure assessment. School infrastructure policies is an area where UNICEF could contribute the most and help ensure the link between the Education Reform Strategy and long-term investment in school infrastructure. The leveraging role of UNICEF is also important for the health sector to support the Ministry of Health in negotiations with IFIs for the development of an assessment of infrastructure and equipment needs of health institutions in Montenegro.

How can you make a difference? 

The position’s purpose is to support Country Office senior management in deepening collaboration with key stakeholders and helping to provide an interface for environmental scanning, knowledge exchange, social policy programming, private sector engagement and related advocacy from strategic planning and formulation to delivery of concrete and sustainable results. This includes programmes aimed at:
a) Increasing public and private partnerships to leverage financing to address priorities for children in the country and reduce multidimensional child poverty;
b) Improving the transparency, adequacy, equity, efficiency and efficacy of child-focused public investments and financial management; and
c) Strengthening the governance, decentralization and accountability measures to increase public participation and the quality, equity and coverage of social services.

This requires a global approach to partnerships, encompassing the government public finances, IFIs, the private sector, the Parliament and civil society partners, in close coordination and cooperation with the outcome teams for education, social and child protection, and ECD including health.

Under the direct supervision of the Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist (Child Rights Monitoring & Evaluation), in coordination with the Deputy Representative and Representative, the Partnerships Officer (Public and Private Financing) assists in the partnership and alliances for public finance management and with the public and private sector to support UNICEF program objectives in the country.
Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks:
Under the guidance of the Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist (Child Rights Monitoring & Evaluation), the Partnerships Officer (Public and Private Financing) is expected to perform the following tasks:

1. Developing, planning and coordination

Analyze macroeconomic context and its impact on children and provide support to budget transparency reforms.

Ensure compliance with UNICEF rules and regulations: ensure timely private sector partners Due Diligence clearance, and review partner agreements and amendments for senior staff approval, support the donor reports.

Undertake budget analysis to inform UNICEF’s advocacy and technical assistance to Ministries of Finance and Social Welfare, planning commissions to improve equitable allocations for essential services for children. Work with sector colleagues to build capacity to undertake costing and cost effectiveness analysis on priority interventions to help inform policy decisions on child-focused investments.

Coordinate the CO’s efforts in strengthening partnerships and collaboration with existing partners and pursue new partnership opportunities for public finance management and private sector engagement.

Act as focal point for identification and pursuit of opportunities for outreach, engagement, policy influence and collaboration, by ensuring that UNICEF’s interests, perspectives, and knowledge are taken into account in relevant policy.

Maintain effective relationships with the Regional Office in order to keep them informed on important, strategic operational activations.

2. Building alliance, resource mobilization

Support the CO management with the development and implementation of a sound cross-sectoral partnership engagement and alliances building strategy for public finance management and private sector engagement.

Identify key partners and opportunities for their engagement in initiatives that promote the realization of children’s rights and support UNICEF programme goals and objectives.

Support the development of public partnerships with government and IFIs to leverage public finances for priorities for children in the country.

Support the development of private sector partnerships.

Assist with the development and monitoring of implementation of an office-wide work plan for partnership and alliances building activities, and provide support and guidance to the other colleagues to ensure timely and cost-effective delivery of results, in accordance with UNICEF’s partnership strategy, and that objectives and targets are met.

Ensure the maintainance of up-to-date information on partners and income trends, analyse development assistance policies and keeps resource partner profiles updated.

Oversee private fundraising activities related to acquisition of new donors both individual and corporate through various channels.

Work closely with the ECARO, specifically the partnership section and coordinate with Regional advisers/specialist on all pertinent and relevant issues.

3. Advocacy, networking and partnership building

Support CO management in developing strategies and communication impact and outreach to promote awareness, establish partnership/alliances and support resource mobilization for UNICEF’s programmatic priorities.

Develop and maintain deep knowledge and familiarity with current and prospective partners and relevant stakeholders, contributing to a database of key contacts and to UNICEF’s base of knowledge on partnership and resource mobilization.

Conduct research on potential new partners for UNICEF, and provide analysis of the areas of work, outreach, financial based and reputation of prospective partners.

Contribute to ideas for opportunities to develop new and existing synergies with the private and public sector in order to support a more effective and efficient approach to programme delivery.

Identify and maximize opportunities for UNICEF Montenegro engagement in global multi-stakeholder platforms and initiatives involving the private sector.

Maintain up-to-date information on partners and income trends, analyse development assistance policies and keep resource partner profiles updated.

4. Knowledge management, capacity building and innovation

Support the development and implementation of standards and guidance for UNICEF partnerships, formulation of work plans and strategies.

Coordinate capacity-building of corporate partners in Children’s Rights and Business Principles including innovative approaches to support child rights among business operations.

Provide strategic, logistical and programmatic support to senior management and other UNICEF staff in corporate engagement and interaction with assigned partners.

Assist in generating public support for special events to renew the commitment for partnership at national and local levels. Identify recruits and supervises technical resources and consultants, as necessary, for the above activities.

Maintain awareness of current activities, political and social events of UN and other multilateral bodies/governments, conduct analysis to understand how they may impact UNICEF activities and programmes and provide timely information to UNICEF staff for decision-making.

Build capacity of partners for improved social sector financing, budgeting and oversight processes at national and subnational levels, including via revising budget circulars, developing expenditure tracking and monitoring tools/templates, and providing training that support the integration of social sector financing issues into plans and budgets.

 

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

Minimum requirements:

Education: 

– A first-level University degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) is required in one of the following fields: international relations, public affairs, political science, communications, international development, responsible business conduct, sustainability or another relevant technical field.

– An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in any of the above mentioned fields is an asset.

Work Experience: 

– Minimum of two (2) years of progressive, professional work experience in public finance, including e.g. sector financing and budget analysis, in both national and international settings.

– Direct experience in budget analysis, costing and developing investment cases in key sectors for children such as health, education, and social protection is an advantage.

– Direct experience in designing and implementing Public Expenditure Review, Pubic Expenditure Tracking Survey, and poverty and social impact analysis tools is an advantage.

Language Requirements: Fluency in English and Montenegrin is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is considered as 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…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

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. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will 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.

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.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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.