Consultancy: Consultant, Financing for an Inclusive Recovery, support to UNICEF advocacy and programming – Social Policy Section, PD, NYHQ/Home based – Req # 541159

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.

For every child, hope.

 

 

Consultancy Title: Financing for an Inclusive Recovery – support to UNICEF advocacy and programming

Section/Division/Duty Station:  Social Policy / Programme Division / NYHQ (or remote)

Duration: 4 months

 

About UNICEF

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world’s leading children’s rights organization would like to hear from you. For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children’s survival, protection and development. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. UNICEF has over 12,000 staff in more than 145 countries.

BACKGROUND

COVID-19 has led to a global health and economic crisis, which is expected to lead to additional 117 million children in poverty, and to undo decades of progress in human capital.  As the risks to children grow, governments around the world face dramatic falls in their revenue and are being forced to consider ways to scale back spending, including on essential social services. We know from previous financial crises that austerity measures like this have terrible long-term impacts on children. This is also a moment to take advantage of the renewed attention to principles of equity, resilience, and common humanity, to ensure that developing human capital and investing in children are at the heart of financing for an inclusive recovery. 

To respond to this crisis UNICEF has developed an internal Roadmap for an Inclusive Recovery to increase the visibility and effectiveness of our responses at global, regional and country level towards supporting governments, the international community, private and civil society actors to protect social spending and support investment in human capital as a critical part of recovery. Implementation of this roadmap involving actions with multiple internal divisions and teams, and with a range of external partners, and requires strong co-ordination and good technical knowledge on financing. 

Under the supervision of the Chief, Public Finance and Local Governance, the incumbent will (i) Update UNICEF’s internal guidance and positions on public finance programming in response to COVID-19; (ii) support the production of outputs related to the Financing for Development under COVID-19 initiative; (iii) facilitate and support external events and partnerships for financing and inclusive recovery; (iv) support enhanced visibility and communications around financing an inclusive recovery; (v) co-ordinate monitoring and reporting on the progress of the roadmap for senior management;

Terms of Reference / Deliverables

Under the direction of the Chief, Public Finance and Local Governance, the incumbent is responsible for the following:

Update UNICEF’s internal guidance and positions on public finance programming in response to COVID-19

• Update UNICEF’s internal guidance note on public finance response to COVID (first produced April 2020), with reference to the Internal Roadmap for an Inclusive Recovery, subsequent guidance materials produced (for example sectoral or regional guidance, guidance for specific partners, or issue-specific messages for example on vaccine finance), and key external resources
• Disseminate updated guidance through a global internal webinar
• Finalize UNICEF’s internal guidance note on debt relief and restructuring and children’s rights
• Contribute to additional technical products and positions relating to financing and COVID-19 as required

Support the production of outputs led by UNICEF related to the Secretary-General’s initiative on Financing for Development under COVID-19

• Support production of advocacy messages on aligning climate and SDG financing at country level, drawing on experience from regional and country offices with SDG financing approaches
• Draft a review and recommendations for a harmonized approach to budgeting for climate and inclusion at country level

Facilitate and support External Events and partnerships for an Inclusive Recovery

• Co-ordinate the preparation of UNICEF’s inputs to events around Financing for Development including a side event at the High Level Political Forum, related UNGA or COP 26 events
• Co-ordinate UNICEF’s inputs to a side event for the G20 focused on inclusive finance
• Provide inputs for a partnership event with IMF
• Co-ordinate inputs for other partnership initiatives and events related to financing an inclusive recovery

Support enhanced visibility and external communications around financing for an inclusive recovery

• Contribute to an external facing communications publication explaining UNICEF’s approach and providing examples of our work (similar to UNICEF’s Social Protection Response to COVID-19) 
• Compile good practice examples of UNICEF’s support to public finance for an inclusive recovery, from a range of sources including regional offices, training materials and HQ supported initiatives, and country office information
• Keep updated UNICEF’s key messages on financing an inclusive recovery
• Contribute to social media messaging related to the roadmap and associated events and products

Monitor / report on progress

• Monitor progress on the actions under the roadmap and prepare updates for team meetings and meetings with senior management as necessary

Qualifications

• A Master’s degree in public policy, economics, business, or closely related field.
• Knowledge and practical application of public finance tools and approaches at a country level, ideally in the social sectors
• Strong drafting and communications skills (written and oral)
• Experience of coordinating multi-stakeholder initiatives
• A minimum of 3 years work experience in a related field
• Proven ability to work under tight deadlines and drive for results

Requirements:

• Completed profile in UNICEF’s e-Recruitment system and provide Personal History Form (P11) Upload copy of academic credentials
• Financial proposal that will include:
• your daily/monthly rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference 
  • travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR.
  • Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.
  • Indicate your availability
• Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.
• At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.
• Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

U.S. Visa information:

With the exception of the US Citizens, G4 Visa and Green Card holders, should the selected candidate and his/her household members reside in the United States under a different visa, the consultant and his/her household members are required to change their visa status to G4, and the consultant’s household members (spouse) will require an Employment Authorization Card (EAD) to be able to work, even if he/she was authorized to work under the visa held prior to switching to G4.  

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

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. View our competency framework at: Here

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, race, sexual orientation, nationality, culture, appearance, socio-economic status, ability, age, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply to become a part of the organization.

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, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.