Donor Intelligence and Partnership Mapping Analysis

Volunteering

Overview

Support UNESCO in donor research and partnership mapping efforts.

You have:

• Academic background in international relations, development studies, economics, political science, or a related field.
• Proven research and analytical skills, with the ability to synthesize complex information clearly and concisely.
• Fluency in written English.
• At least 1 year of relevant experience in donor research, resource mobilization, or project development.
• Ability to work independently and deliver timely outputs.
• Familiarity with Gulf-based donors and regional development institutions.
• Experience working or volunteering with international organizations.
• Working knowledge of Arabic is an asset.

Contract

This is a UNV contract. More about UNV contracts.

This volunteer assignment directly supports the UNESCO Regional Office for the Gulf States and Yemen’s strategic objective to broaden and strengthen its donor base, particularly through deeper engagement with regional philanthropic institutions, foundations, and development partners. In line with UNESCO’s global efforts to enhance resource mobilization and strategic partnerships, the Office is placing increased emphasis on building a robust knowledge base around donor priorities, funding mechanisms, and partnership trends in the Gulf and beyond.

The contribution of the volunteer will be embedded within a broader program of donor intelligence gathering, pipeline development, and proposal support. This is particularly important in a context where the Office is managing multiple concept notes, initiating new outreach efforts, and aligning its programming with emerging donor interests in areas such as education, climate resilience, cultural heritage protection, and digital transformation.

The volunteer’s work will provide the analytical foundation needed to position UNESCO more effectively with both traditional and non-traditional donors. Their research will inform the design of engagement strategies, the preparation of funding proposals, and the articulation of value propositions tailored to specific donor profiles.

The volunteer will provide research and analytical support to help identify and qualify prospective donors and funding opportunities relevant to UNESCO’s mandate, with a particular focus on regional actors but not only. This work will inform the development of concept notes, engagement strategies, and tailored pitches to prospective partners.

Under the guidance of the Partnerships Officer, the volunteer will:

• Conduct desk research on regional and global donors, including foundations, funds, and private sector entities;
• Map current funding priorities, thematic focus areas, and geographic scope of key regional donors;
• Compile donor profiles, funding trends, and partnership models relevant to UNESCO’s areas of work;
• Identify upcoming calls for proposals or expressions of interest where applicable;
• Prepare briefing notes or short digests to support internal discussions and donor engagement planning.

UNESCO will provide guidance, templates, and access to relevant internal materials. The volunteer will not be expected to directly contact donors.

The outputs of this assignment are:

• Donor profiles and research notes, including thematic focus and funding mechanisms.
• Structured donor mappings and one matrix dedicated to Yemen for internal use;

• Updates or short briefs on emerging opportunities (as relevant).

• Academic background in international relations, development studies, economics, political science, or a related field;

• Proven research and analytical skills, with the ability to synthesize complex information clearly and concisely;
• Fluency in written English;
• At least 1 year of relevant experience in donor research, resource mobilization, or project development;
• Ability to work independently and deliver timely outputs.

Desirable: - Familiarity with Gulf-based donors and regional development institutions; - Experience working or volunteering with international organizations; - Working knowledge of Arabic is an asset.

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Potential interview questions

Added 1 year ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: unv.org