Consultancy (5 months): Financial Partnerships Consultant, Financial Innovation Lab, Outreach and Engagement Section, Division of Private Fundraising and Partnerships (PFP)

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

UNICEF works for a world in which every child has a fair chance in life. It has helped save more children’s lives than any other humanitarian organization – over 90 million since 1990 – and is the world’s largest provider of ready-to-use therapeutic food, a high-protein paste that can bring a malnourished child back to health within weeks. UNICEF also immunizes nearly 40% of the world’s children and when a natural disaster strikes, is already on the ground and ready to act.  UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

How can you make a difference?

Currently UNICEF is undertaking the exploration of new partnerships and financial vehicles in the area of Financial Innovation and philanthropy.

The consultant will initiate activities designed to deliver on a work-stream around the creation and growth of the Financial Innovation Lab, and its specific innovative finance instruments thereof. The Financial Innovation Lab works with a network of global financial experts and problem solvers to find new ways to deliver financing for speedy development to benefit and generate sustainable outcomes for children. The consultant will report to the Financial Innovation Lab Manager within the Outreach & Engagement Section at the Private Fundraising and Partnerships (PFP) division.

The assignment will focus on the development of a new generation of partnerships opportunities with private sector partners and support the idealization, creation of new mechanisms concepts and execution materials. The consultancy will also focus on the establishment of new partnerships for this initiative and help position the Financial Innovation Lab and UNICEF in Global platforms and networks.

MAIN TASKS

Activities and tasks will include but are not limited to:

In close collaboration with the various teams within the Division of Private Fundraising and Partnerships (PFP), Public Partnerships Division (PPD), Office of Innovation (OoI) and Division of Financial and Administrative Management (DFAM), the tasks to be undertaken include but not necessarily limited to, the following:

Support the creation and project management of new fundraising innovation opportunities

• Identify and carry out potential partnerships intelligence (data gathering and analysis), conduct risk assessment, and cost-benefit analysis on potential partnership models.
• Working with the Financial Innovation Lab Manager, identify and develop specific opportunities with a view to seeking innovative solutions to improve the amount, efficiency, and predictability of funding for UNICEF programmes.
• Specifically coordinate the partnership to launch of the Children’s Equity Traded Funds (ETF), VII expansion with private sector support, and support key National Committees (NatComs), Country offices, and program countries with fundraising operations in exploring other opportunities.
• Based on thorough investigation and exploratory consultations with NatComs, Country Offices and emerging and potential new partners, prepare fundraising packages and new mechanisms, including partnerships concept notes for consideration, conduct technical analysis of proposals to help explore and launch innovative financial partnerships in 2021.
• Undertake donor outreach and consultation (private and public) to help secure seed funding, guarantees or grants FI Lab selected projects.
• Develop other Financial Innovation Lab strategic materials and cases for support.
• Contribute to the development of a business case for approaching investors / donors –
• Provide suggested contact information and make personal introductions where possible.
• Support in contract negotiation and due diligence review.
• Provide any other information to assist UNICEF in securing capital. As a team member of the Financial Innovation lab, provide ad-hoc support as determined with the Lab’s Head.
• Proactively position the Financial innovation Lab as an incubator of financial innovation partnerships, innovative financing solutions for children’s issues internally as well as in key global platforms including (World Economic Forum (WEF), United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), WBCSD, GIIN, among others.

DELIVERABLES

1. Contribute to the launch of the ETF for Children by Q3-4 2021.
2. Support the development of the ETF growth and replication plan by Q2 2021.
3. Contribute to the strategy of the Financial Innovation Lab by Q2 2021 and help secure seed funding for the FI Lab’s pipeline. Help explore other funding sources and vehicles to support UNICEF’s Innovative Finance targets in both PFP and the global objectives.
4. Help secure 10 million dollars in support of VII and/or other revolving funds mechanisms by Q4 2021.
5. Contribute to the pilot Development Impact Bond (DIB) by providing technical support and partner outreach to secure 6 million dollars of outcome funding by Q3 2021.
6. Prepare a final report with the progress to date.

ESTIMATED DURATION OF THE CONTRACT AND PROPOSAL

5 months, tentatively starting in 1 June 2021. Full-time.

REPORTING TO 

The consultant will report to the Financial Innovation Lab Lead, within the Outreach and Engagement Section at the Private Fundraising and Partnerships (PFP) division.

WORKPLACE

Working from home with option to work from Geneva office in 2021 as regulations allow.

Travel may be required. Specific travel plans will be defined as needed.

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

• Self-driven, motivated, passionate about achieving results.
• Advanced university degree in international development, economics, public or business administration or closely related fields is required. An MBA will be considered an asset. (Alternatively, a first level university degree with a relevant combination of academic qualifications and experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.)
• Minimum of 8 years of working experience in public private partnership building, marketing, and communications is required. Knowledge of the financial sector is required.
• Prior experience working with Innovative partnerships financial innovation and diverse stakeholder groups or multi-stakeholder partnerships is required.
• Proven ability to secure funds of over $10M per year is required.
• Knowledge of UNICEF and UN system rules and regulations is considered as an asset.
• Prior experience and strong links to the Financial and investor networks and Awareness of international development landscape and innovative finance trends is required.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of an additional UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish) will be 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.

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

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

Remarks: Please indicate your ability, availability and gross 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 (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.

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.