Senior Adviser, P-5, TA (364 days), # 126457, Outreach and Engagement, PFP, Geneva, Switzerland

Within the context of UNICEF’s broader engagement with the private sector to leverage resources and support for children, the opportunity exists to explore private sector fundraising in over 100 programme countries globally and expand operations in the existing UNICEF PSFR countries. The role of the Senior Advisor would be to provide expertise to contribute to the readiness of UNICEF to capitalize on opportunities in these markets as well as supporting on global processes around planning and resource allocation.

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.

In the past decade, UNICEF has built and continues to grow its private sector fundraising (PSFR) capacity in around 20 middle-income and emerging high-income countries where it maintains programmes (programme countries). These countries have a fast-growing private sector (especially a booming middle class) and provide an opportunity for generating new funding streams to support UNICEF’s work with children. As a result, several UNICEF country offices are now substantially or wholly funded by revenue generated from businesses, trusts/foundations, and individual donors within their own countries. This approach reduces dependency on UNICEF’s global resources, and it enables the organization to apply flexible resources where the needs of children are the greatest.

 For every child, a Champion

Within the context of UNICEF’s broader engagement with the private sector to leverage resources and support for children, the opportunity exists to explore private sector fundraising in over 100 programme countries globally and expand operations in the existing UNICEF PSFR countries. The role of the Senior Advisor would be to provide expertise to contribute to the readiness of UNICEF to capitalize on opportunities in these markets as well as supporting on global processes around planning and resource allocation.

How can you make a difference?

Under the supervision of the Chief of the Country office Development and Support Unit (CODAS), Outreach and Engagement, this post will be responsible for:

• Proposing strategies to deliver on UNICEF’s vision to expand PSFR in Country Offices and untapped markets.
• Translating the aligned strategies into pragmatic action plans, campaigns, operational and functional infrastructure, capacity building, training, knowledge transfer and on-going support.
• Mobilizing organization-wide support and positioning PSFR and its importance to senior leaders across the organization especially country and regional offices.
• To advise, conceptualize, implement, and maximize private sector fundraising in Clusters and Country Offices, with a focus on new markets.
• Support in managing the Private Sector Planning process, including allocation of Dynamo Fund.
• Manage assigned projects at global level to create an enabling environment for Country Office Fundraising (COFR).
• Act as Support center focal point for assigned Regional Offices.
• Provide surge support, possibly in person, on Resource Mobilization in Regional and Country Offices as needed.

These tasks are undertaken in close cooperation with the operational and technical teams in PFP, Regional and Country Offices.

DELIVERABLES:

• Ensure policy guidance, with regards to private fundraising and partnership activities in the assigned regions.
• Support a mapping of current and potential private sector engagement opportunities across the regions for subsequent RO and CO strategic engagement, leveraging and fundraising.
• Provide strategic direction, capacity building and quality technical support of private fundraising and partnerships activities to country offices to maximize results for children.
• Partner with Regional Offices and when relevant country offices for the development and implementation of the private sector components of their resource mobilization and partnership strategies, including in the development, implementation and monitoring of work plans, and the formulation of longer-term market development and private sector engagement and resource mobilization opportunities. Ensure effective knowledge management, including sharing of lessons learned and taking best practices to scale.
• Continuously roll out capacity building for RO and COs for proper staff capacity and skills development within the region in private sector fundraising and partnerships.
• Provide advice to Regional Offices and Country offices on identification and sourcing of technical support to develop and expand private sector fundraising and partnerships.
• Develop and nurture a close collaboration and dialogue with PFP to align regional and global efforts with respect to private sector engagement.

Estimated Duration of the contract

• 364 days

Reporting To:

• Chief of the Country Office Development and Support Unit (CODAS), Outreach and Engagement.

Working Place:

• Geneva, Switzerland is the official duty station. (Flexible work arrangements may be applied if there is a need.

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

Education:

• An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: social sciences, business administration, management, marketing, or fundraising.
• Alternatively, a first-level university degree in a relevant field in combination with additional two years of qualifying professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Experience:

• A minimum of ten years of relevant and progressively responsible professional work experience at Senior Management Level in private-sector fundraising is required.
• A highly experience in fundraising with proven success in the multiple deliverables of setting up a fundraising operation and infrastructure, building up and leading a large team to successful outcomes.
• Experience in leading and worked in a complex or sensitive situations.
• Proven experience in leading and managing change processes in large organizations or companies.
• Demonstrated experience understanding and translating abstract ideas or concepts into actionable steps.
• Proven experience working in a multi-cultural environment and with cross-functional teams to deliver on common goals.
• Extensive knowledge of private sector fundraising, communication and management is required.
• A strong understanding of UNICEF systems, processes, and operations of UNICEF regional and country offices is an asset.
• Experience and understanding working in developing markets or for a UNICEF regional or country office is an asset.
• UN/UNICEF experience is an asset.

Language requirements:

• 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…

• 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) are required.

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

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

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 also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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.

Remarks:

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government 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.

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