Public Partnership Officer – P2  

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, hope …

The Public Partnerships Division (PPD) works to strengthen UNICEF’s position as a partner of choice for children’s rights among governments and inter-governmental actors around the world. The division is doing this by positioning children’s rights in the intergovernmental and multilateral fora and engaging with governments and public institutions as resource, policy and programme partners. A key premise for PPD is that the engagement with countries should be holistic based on multiple aspects of partnerships, including policy advocacy and resource mobilization.

The Public Partnerships Officer would be part of the Europe Team in PPD, supporting the team with external relations as well as the partnership portfolio of an assigned group of countries within Europe.

How can you make a difference? 

This position will provide assistance and support to major donors in the Europe Team in various aspects of external relations, fundraising and other related functions for assigned donors. This would include thematic area/geographical region, and liaise, as necessary, with Government Missions to the UN, donor capitals, UNICEF Headquarter Divisions and UNICEF Field Offices. Responsible for contribution management and maintaining on-going contacts at working levels with these various offices.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

• Assist in managing established programme funding relationships with assigned donor Governments. This includes day-to-day direct contacts with donor counterparts, UNICEF Headquarters divisions and field offices.
• In close coordination with relevant PD Sections and EMOPS, prepare specific and tailored policy briefs and discussion inputs for major donors during their term on the Security Council. This will help UNICEF to advocate through these governments for topics of joint interest such as Children in Armed Conflict, Water Security, and humanitarian concerns etc.
• In close coordination with NatCom and UNICEF’s Campaign Teams, work with Major Donors government officials on advocacy messages. 
• In close coordination with relevant NatComs and Partnership Specialists, map donor aid budgets and identify budget lines into which UNICEF does not/not sufficiently tap. Develop concrete outreach plans with relevant PD sections and/or COs/ROs resulting in additional UNICEF funding.
• In close coordination with Partnership Specialists, draft comprehensive and substantive briefing notes and reports for Executive Director’s and other OED meetings with high level counterparts, senior donor government officials, senior parliamentarians, or heads of major institutions.
• Review and comment on terms of agreements of funding consistent with UNICEF Regulations and Rules in coordination with the UNICEF Legal Office, HQ divisions and field offices. Ensure appropriate management of negotiated contributions according to UNICEF Regulations and Rules.
• In line with PPD’s new Recognition SOPs, develop prototypes of quarterly 1-pagers for core/thematic funding containing concrete examples of results achieved thanks to core/thematic funding from the field.
• In close coordination with relevant COs, ROs and H divisions, develop visibility/recognition material for each Nordic governmental contribution and share them within PPD for replication as well as with relevant donors.
• In close coordination with PPD’s Strategic Planning team and in line with PD/WASH best practice, help other PD sections such as Child Protection, Health etc. to organize regular (quarterly or biannual) video conferences/phone calls between PPD Sec_ tions and respective global thematic donors to update on progress or work. Strengthen buy in and enhance chances of higher contribution levels;                            ·’     · ·
• Contribute to the analysis and refinement of PPD Engagement Strategies with and donor profiles of Nordic donors.
• Provide support in negotiating agreements, funding support and feedback to donors, as well as arranging meetings for funding purposes with assigned donors and assigned thematic area.
• Attend relevant meetings of assigned donors, to present and promote UNICEF goals and objectives and resource requirement.

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

• University degree in social and economic or political sciences or international relations. Specialized training in international relations.
• At least 2 years of relevant work experience with UNICEF, a Nordic donor institution and/or donor visibility/recognition efforts would be an asset.
• Excellent analytic, negotiating, communication and advocacy skills. Proven ability to conceptualize, innovate, plan and execute ideas as well as to transfer knowledge and skills.
• Excellent organizational ability. Team building.
• Excellent writing skills and ability to prepare strategic papers. Responsibilities require a high degree of independence given the external contacts involved. Incumbent is expected to perform with full initiative, judgement, and responsibility, reporting to supervisor on ongoing activities and progress, and seeking guidance as required to ensure achievement of objectives.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or 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 

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.

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.

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