Consultancy – Sr. Private Sector Fundraising, Education Cannot Wait, ECW (Remote Based) 31 May – 31 November 2021 REQ#539925

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…

Education Cannot Wait (ECW) is the first global fund dedicated to education in emergencies and protracted crises. It was established in 2016 during the World Humanitarian Summit by international humanitarian and development aid organizations, along with public and private donors, to help reposition education as a priority on the humanitarian agenda, usher in a more collaborative approach among actors on the ground and foster additional funding to ensure that every crisis-affected child and young person is in school and learning.

Based on the recognition that continuous access to quality learning is a priority for children and families affected by conflicts, natural disasters and displacement and that no programme nor organization can do it alone, ECW comes as a ground-breaking initiative bringing together public and private partners eager to work together differently and mobilize the funding required to deploy immediate and sustainable solutions.

ECW’s mandate is articulated around five core functions:

1. Inspire political commitment so that education is viewed by both governments and funders as a top priority during crises.
2. Plan and respond collaboratively, with a particular emphasis on enabling humanitarian and development actors to work together on shared objectives.
3. Generate and disburse additional funding to close the $8.5 billion funding gap needed to reach 75 million children and youth.
4. Strengthen capacity to respond to crises, nationally and globally, including the ability to coordinate emergency support.
5. Improve accountability by developing and sharing knowledge, including collection of more robust data in order to make better-informed investment decisions, and knowledge of what works and does not.

ECW’s day-to-day work is managed by a Secretariat that is hosted and administered by UNICEF.

How can you make a difference?

A senior expert on private sector fundraising is needed to advice the Director and support fundraising in close cooperation with the Chief of Partnerships & RM and the Chief of Advocacy & Communications – of Education Cannot Wait (ECW).

The Incumbent will work under the direct supervision of the ECW Director and coordinate with the ECW Chiefs of Advocacy, Partnerships  and Finance & operations as required by the Director

EXPECTED RESULTS: (MEASURABLE RESULTS)

General Scope of Work: 

The general scope of the assignment is to provide high-level strategic guidance and support and to the ECW’s Director  towards strengthening the fund’s position and partnership with key private sector stakeholders:

• Provide strategic private sector advice and support to ECW’s Director.
• Profile  ECW through world-renowned media outfits, especially those relevant and widely viewed by businesses and corporate leaders .
• Develop ideas and opportunities to  profile ECW in new and unexpected places that attract the attention of business leaders .
• Provide and organize platforms, engagements and dialogues with high-level leaders in the private sector community.
• Organize and provide support to private sector resource mobilization events.
• Organize and coordinate regular briefings on ECW with CEOs of companies and foundations.
• Assist in the identification and follow up liaison with various private sector partners and support the ECW Director’s outreach and relationship development.
• Promote ECW’s advocacy and visibility in the private sector community, including establishing partnerships with high profile individuals.
• Support the development of an ECW Business Council and involve the private sector in a conversation on education in crisis zones.
• Develop strategy and implement networking for ECW beyond the international development circuit, engaging with new audiences. These could be business orgs, philanthropy platforms, youth advocacy initiatives etc.

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

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) from an accredited educational institution in the field of international/public relations, marketing, advertising or business administration and/or management or another related discipline.
• At least 10 years of professional expertise and experience in the private sector, foundations and business community at least four (4) of which, should be in an international setting.
• Knowledge of private sector and business community, media and platforms.
• Proven influence and outreach with business executives and other high-level corporate stakeholders.
• Solid understanding of development issues, world affairs and current events.
• Familiarity with education in emergencies and the international humanitarian and development landscape are required, as well as experience with global funds.
• Track record in implementing private sector strategies, education, media and networking.
• Excellent analytical, written and oral communication skills. Ability to communicate clearly and sensitively with internal and external stakeholders.
• Fluency in English and preferably another UN language.
• Ability to work effectively in a multi-cultural environment .
• Ability to quickly and easily liaise with multiple stakeholders, including those in the programmatic area to prepare strategic communications materials.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks, prioritize, and work under tight deadlines.

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

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)

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

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.

UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children.

This position is not considered an elevated risk role. However, UNICEF reserves the right to conduct further vetting/ assessment within the scope of child safeguarding as appropriate

Remarks:

Duty Station

Remote based.  The consultant may be located anywhere but must be readily available and responsive to work with ECW team, based in New York.

Applicants are invited to:  Include a cover letter of interest, CV, your approach to the assignment, technical and financial proposal (daily in US$) to undertake the above TOR.  Applications submitted without a proposed fee will not be accepted.

Payment: Professional fees will be based on submission of agreed deliverables and will be made on monthly basis. 

ESTIMATED COST FEE: Retainer contract, averaging 3 days/week. Note that days on vacation/leave are not paid.

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

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 (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). 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.

ECW is hosted by UNICEF. The Fund is administered under UNICEF’s financial, human resources and administrative rules and regulations, while operations are run by the Fund’s own independent governance structure that provides strategic guidance and oversight to its investments. ECW’s day-to-day activities are carried out by a Secretariat under the direction of the Education Cannot Wait, Director.

If selected for this consultancy the resulting appointment will be limited to ECW, a UNICEF hosted fund.