Individual Contractor (11.5 months, part-time): Senior Advisor to provide technical expertise on implementing private sector fundraising readiness in frontier markets, CODAS, 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

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 are where a fast-growing private sector (especially a booming middle class) provides 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 organisation to apply flexible resources where the needs of children are the greatest.

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 capitalise on opportunities in these markets.

How can you make a difference?

The Country Office Development and Support Unit (CODAS) in UNICEF’s Division of Private Fundraising and Partnerships in Geneva, Switzerland, is seeking a Senior Advisor to advise, conceptualise, implement and maximise private sector fundraising in new markets for 11.5 months tentatively starting in December 2021.

MAIN TASKS

The Senior Advisor would be responsible for the following essential tasks:

• Mapping out, assessing and recommending the geographical priorities for scaling up and activating fundraising in UNICEF Country Offices, both existing PSFR Countries and new markets.
• 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.
• Implementing at varying levels of support needs to deliver the detailed fundraising strategies and implementation plans, on the ground where necessary.
• Training, capacity building and setting up sustainable systems for knowledge transfer in each fundraising unit.
• Mobilizing organization-wide support and positioning PSFR and its importance to senior leaders across the organisation – especially Country and Regional Offices.

These tasks are to be undertaken in close collaboration with the operational and technical teams in Country, Regional and PFP offices.

DELIVERABLES

The Senior Advisor would be responsible for working closely with Country and Regional Offices at the priorities and levels of involvement aligned with them, in the areas of mapping, assessing opportunities, proposing strategies, translating the strategies into pragmatic action plans, campaigns, operational and functional infrastructure, capacity building, training, knowledge transfer and on-going support for the following UNICEF regions:

• West and Central Africa
• East and Southern Africa
• The Middle East and North Africa
• Europe and Central Asia
• South Asia
• East Asia and the Pacific
• Latin America and the Caribbean

ESTIMATED DURATION OF THE CONTRACT AND PROPOSAL

Up to 180 working days in 11.5 months contract duration, tentatively starting in December 2021.

REPORTING TO 

The individual contractor will report to Chief, Country Office Development and Support, who will provide overall direction and guidance on deliverables.

WORKPLACE

The role can be accommodated in Geneva but can also be performed remotely. The role will require international travel up to 3 months per trip. CODAS will cover the travel costs. Detailed travel plans will be agreed in advance between the supervisor and the individual contractor.

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

Education:

• An advanced degree in one of the following fields is required: management, development, humanities or another relevant technical field.
• Alternatively, a first level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Required experience:

• 10 years of private sector fundraising experience, with extensive knowledge of individual giving.
• The candidate must be a highly experienced fundraiser 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.
• The candidate should be an experienced leader who has worked in complex or sensitive situations.
• Proven experience in leading and managing change processes in large organisations 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.

Desired experience:

• A strong understanding of UNICEF systems, processes, and operations of UNICEF regional and country offices is highly desirable.
• Experience and understanding working in developing markets or for a UNICEF regional or country office is an asset.

Language:

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French and/or Arabic is considered an advantage.

Others:

• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to engage, persuade and influence at varying levels internally and externally to UNICEF.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Remarks: Please indicate your ability, availability, and gross daily (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference above.  Applications submitted without a daily 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.