Consultancy (3 months): Learning Specialist (Innovation & Design), Outreach & Engagement, Division of Private Fundraising and Partnerships (PFP), New York/Remotely

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

The world will not achieve the SDGs unless organizations like UNICEF join forces with the business sector, like ongoing purposive collaboration with Governments and Civil Society towards an inclusive society that fulfils the rights of every child everywhere. UNICEF’s Strategic Plan 2018-2021 reflects this, and indeed one of the Plan’s “Change” strategies is expressly about deepening partnerships with businesses and further leveraging their power to achieve our goals for children. UNICEF wishes to see business as not only a donor or supplier, but also as a partner. Increasingly businesses also see themselves as critical to achieving the SDGs and are keen to be a part of the solution to the world’s challenges and opportunities, exacerbated by ongoing Covid-19 crisis. 

Maximizing the potential of the business sector requires the whole of UNICEF to embrace this potential, and to be equipped to engage effectively with business for maximize programmatic impact, as well as to increase resources for children.

To this end, a global Business for Results (B4R) capacity building and culture change programme has been designed and is being rolled out across UNICEF to equip the organization with the required mindset, skills, knowledge, tools and other resources to maximise results through working with the business sector. Building on what is already in place, the Private Fundraising and Partnerships (PFP) Division is coordinating and rapidly expanding this programme in close liaison with Programme Division (PD), Regional Offices and other divisions, with regional and country offices, and with National Committees.

How can you make a difference?

Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Partnerships Manager (Capacity Building) and oversight of the Deputy Director (Outreach and Engagement), the consultant will be responsible for liaising with the relevant regional and country offices and divisions in furtherance of the B4R ‘Deep Dive’ learning journey, as well as National Committees, to identify further learning needs. Following the adaptation of the learning content and delivery modality to virtual sessions and  insights from key stakeholders,  the consultant will be responsible for drafting a B4R Learning Strategy, incorporating lessons and new ideas for the design and implementation of further learning interventions (such as specialist modules, knowledge sharing, appropriate virtual engagement platforms) using innovative methodology and tools to foster learning, increased confidence and skills of staff at country office levels in the most impactful way. The consultant will also be responsible for creating further training and promoting knowledge sharing among B4R Master Trainers to build sustainable regional and divisional training teams, and to deepen the expertise and capacity of existing trainers.

MAIN TASKS

Working closely with colleagues in PFP, Programme Division (PD), Division of Data, Analytics, Planning and Monitoring (DAPM), Supply Division (SD) and the Evaluation Office (at HQ) plus other divisions, regional and country offices, and National Committees:

1. Identify learning needs, draft learning strategy and delivery of learning solutions

• Contribute to effective delivery of ongoing learning activities, drawing lessons and documenting post deep dive experiences
• Conduct B4R-specific learning needs analysis, following their Virtual Learning Journey, for a couple of pilot Country Offices (CO) in liaison with regional and country HR teams and regional focal points.
• Work with the Partnerships Manager (Capacity Building) to review recommendations by the external learning provider on evaluation process and tools and come up with action plan for implementation.
• Review results of the learning needs analysis pilot offices and the B4R Readiness Assessment led by Evaluation Office) and draft a B4R Learning Strategy in liaison with the relevant divisions and regional offices.

2. Learning Design and Innovation

• Working with the relevant specialist functions, make recommendations for the design of further learning interventions, including follow-on modules and knowledge sharing tools.
• Working closely with the Partnerships Manager (Capacity Building), develop further learning programmes, incorporating the latest methodologies and tools to provide easily accessible, engaging and impactful learning for staff.

3. Train the Trainer activities and promotion of knowledge-sharing among B4R Master Trainers

• Provide innovative ways to encourage greater knowledge-sharing and collaboration of B4R master trainers.

DELIVERABLES

• Organise and lead/participate in follow-up calls with six pilot country offices (after their Virtual Learning Journey) to identify further learning needs related to B4R and provide recommendations for further learning interventions.
• Review evaluation framework and provide concrete action plan to measure impact of capacity building.
• Prepare first draft of a B4R learning strategy, liaising with relevant divisions and teams.
• Provide recommendations and ideas for improving ease of knowledge-sharing and collaboration among B4R master trainers.

ESTIMATED DURATION OF THE CONTRACT AND PROPOSAL

3 months (with the possibility to be extended to 11 months subject to organizational needs, satisfactory service and availability of funds).

REPORTING TO 

Partnerships Manager (Capacity Building)

WORKPLACE

This work can be done remotely but should be no more than six hours’ time difference between the consultant/individual contractor’s home-base and New York where the Partnerships Manager (Capacity Building) is based. Needs to be available to join calls with different stakeholders around the world, primarily in Europe, Africa and Asia.

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

Education: Advanced university degree in Human Resources Management, Learning & Development, Management Development, Psychology, or related field of UNICEF’s work.

*A first level university degree in a relevant field combined with seven years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

An additional qualification or certification in structured learning design would be an asset.

Experience: Minimum of five years of progressively responsible professional work experience in roles which managed/incorporated the following activities:

• identifying learning needs
• developing and delivering innovative and impactful learning programmes
• working in an international context (2 years minimum)

Experience of designing impactful virtual learning programmes would be an asset.

Experience of working in the private sector would be an asset.

Language requirements: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language is considered as an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

Remarks:  Please indicate your ability, availability and gross daily/monthly rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference above (including travel and daily subsistence allowance, if applicable).  Applications submitted without a daily/monthly rate will not be considered. Also, please mention the earliest date you can start.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein. Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

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.

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.