Public Partnership Officer, NO-B, Fixed Term #123581, Islamabad, Pakistan

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 is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

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

For every child, Commitment!

Pakistan was the sixth country in the world to sign and ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child, less than one year after it was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1989. However, children and adolescents living in Pakistan still face acute challenges.

UNICEF supports the Government of Pakistan to accelerate progress for children, work to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and help children realize their rights under the Convention on the Rights of Children. This will be made through, among other things, strong partnerships with provincial authorities, teachers and health professionals, frontline workers and social mobilisers, communities and families, and of course the children and adolescents themselves. 

In particular, UNICEF will work so that:

• Every child survives and thrives — being in good health, immunized, protected from polio and accessing nutritious food.
• Every child learns.
• Every child is protected from violence and exploitation and registered at birth.
• Every child lives in a safe and clean environment, with access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation.

To learn more about UNICEF work in Pakistan, please visit the country website www.unicef.org/pakistan and videos on YouTube and Vimeo

How can you make a difference? 

The Partnership Officer (NOB) reports to the Partnership Specialist (NOC) in the Partnership and Resource Mobilization section at the UNICEF Country Office in Islamabad.

The position’s purpose is to support the Partnerships and Resource Mobilization Section/the office and senior management in strengthened collaboration with key stakeholders and to support in providing an interface for environmental scanning, knowledge exchange, resource mobilization, and policy influence within the scope of assignment.  The key result is to ensure greater visibility for UNICEF and influence in support of its mission.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Build and maintain UNICEF’s partnerships especially with public sector donors, by supporting the development and implementation of standards and guidance for UNICEF partnerships; formulation of work plans and strategies. Support in undertaking and regularly updating an analysis of the donor landscape in Pakistan. Maintain up-to-date information on partner and income trends, analyze development assistance policies and keep resource partner briefing notes and profiles updated.
2. Support, as applicable, in the maintenance of effective relationships with UN agencies, host government, public sector (bilateral and multilateral) donors and other partners, in order to keep them informed on important, strategic operational UNICEF issues.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 for decision-making.
3. Maintain information on the funding pipeline for the office and ensure all fundraising activities are reported in corporate information systems. Support in the development of concept notes, proposals, and updates related to the development programmes and humanitarian assistance in the country in line with global standards and guidelines in coordination with field colleagues, cluster focal points, the emergency- and programme sections.
4. Support timely preparation of high-quality donor reports by standardizing formats, contents and ensuring adherence to donor and UNICEF global standards and requirements/agreements. Support in the maintenance of the donor reporting schedule for Pakistan. Provide quality assurance of reports and coordinate with programme sections for development of inputs followed by review, revision, finalization and submission of all reports. Track donor reporting timelines, schedule reminders to sections, and report Key Performance Indicators to senior management.
5. Support in the development of donor visibility guidelines and establish a visibility tracker in consultation with the External Advocacy and Communication section to ensure UNICEF’s partners receive visibility for their contributions in line with agreements. Support in having standards and guidance for donor events and field visits, and support sections in preparing and managing events and field visits, including briefing notes and logistical preparations.
6. Other related tasks, as assigned by the supervisors

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: A first university degree (bachelor’s or equivalent) is required in one of the following fields: international relations, political science, social science, communications, international development, peace and conflict resolution, or any other technical field that can be considered relevant

• Work Experience: A minimum of two years of relevant professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required: partnerships, public affairs, programme management, resource mobilization and proposal development, external relations, donor reporting, or any other relevant area.
• Skills: Current knowledge of development issues, strategies, as well as programming policies and procedures in international development cooperation.
• Strong communications skills, verbal and written.
• Strong networking and negotiation skills.
• Strong team working and interpersonal skills.
• Strong familiarity with political and governmental processes
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious working relationships, both within and outside the organization
• Advanced knowledge of partnership development and resource mobilization.
• Ability to conduct sound policy analysis.
• Ability to contribute to formulation of strategies and policies.
• Attention to detail and good time management skills.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required.

Desirables:

• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency.
• Prior experience of working with the United Nations or with a bilateral/multilateral donor in areas of partnerships, resource mobilization, donor reporting, Value for Money analysis would be an asset.
• In addition, any experience with budgets, financial management, log frames and planning are assets.
• Knowledge of a local language 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…

(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 

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

This position has been assessed as an elevated risk role for Child Safeguarding purposes as it is either a role with direct contact with children, a role that works directly with identifiable children’s data, a safeguarding response role, or an assessed risk role. Additional vetting and assessment for elevated risk roles in child safeguarding (potentially including additional criminal background checks) apply.

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. For this position, eligible and suitable female are encouraged to apply.
• 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.