Individual Contractor (11.5 months, full-time): Partnerships & Fundraising Specialist, Financial Innovation Lab, Outreach and Engagement Section, Division of Private Fundraising and Partner

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

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

Currently UNICEF is undertaking the exploration of new partnerships and financial vehicles in the area of Financial Innovation including ESG investment sector, impact investment, social entrepreneurship, and philanthropy.

How can you make a difference?

The individual contractor will undertake activities designed to deliver on the implementation of UNICEF’s PFP Outputs in the Office Management Plan (OMP), aligned with Innovative Finance for Children (IF4C) strategy, the objectives of the Private Sector & Partnerships’ Financial Innovation Lab, and its specific innovative finance instruments thereof. The Financial Innovation Lab works with a network of global financial experts, international organizations, financial institutions, donors, and problem solvers to find new ways to deliver financing for development to benefit and generate sustainable outcomes for children. The individual contractor will report to the Manager, Financial Innovation Lab within the Outreach & Engagement Section at the UNICEF Private Fundraising and Partnerships (PFP) division.

The assignment will focus on the analysis and development of a new generation of partnerships opportunities with private sector partners and support the ideation, creation of new mechanisms concepts and execution materials. The assignment will also focus on the establishment of new financial partnerships for this initiative and help position UNICEF in Global platforms and networks including partnership events at UNGA, Davos, Global Working Group on Impact Bonds, Building Bridges, and GIIN events among others.

MAIN TASKS

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), Supply Division (SD), Legal, and Office of Emergency Programmes (EMOPS) the tasks to be undertaken include but not necessarily limited to, the following:

Support the creation and project management of new fundraising and financial innovation opportunities

1. Identify and carry out potential partnerships’ intelligence (data gathering and analysis), conduct risk assessment, and cost-benefit analysis on potential partnership models. Prepare proposals for National Committees and Country Offices and for donors.
2. 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.
3. Specifically support the partnership to launch of the:
   • Children’s Equity Traded Funds (ETF),
   • VII expansion with private sector support
   • Nexus Fund private sector support, and
   • Dynamo Fund private sector support
4. Contribute to pilot Results based Finance mechanisms with private sector support by providing technical support and partner outreach to secure outcome funding.
5. 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 2023
6. Undertake donor outreach and consultation (private and public) to help secure seed funding, guarantees or grants for PFP and FI Lab selected projects.
7. Lead the research and exploration for UNICEF to receive donations and/or recoverable grants from endowment funds from private families and/or institutions, donor advised funds, design operational guidelines in collaboration with the legal team and other divisions.
8. Develop other Financial Innovation Lab strategic materials and cases for support.
9. Contribute to the development of a business case for approaching investors / donors. Research, collate and provide suggested contact information and make personal introductions where possible.
10. Support in contract negotiation and due diligence review in pursuit of IF4C outputs results.
11. 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 lead.
12. Proactively position the Financial innovation Lab as an external 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.

DELIBERABLES

1. Support the development of the ETF feasibility and design phase together with the US Fund and analyze a potential replication plan by preparing analysis of cost and RoI, fundraising model, impact matrix of influence of the sector, timelines, partnership support among other by Q2 2023.
2. Provide market analysis and fundraising support to Natcoms and COs high value channels in particular philanthropy and foundations to secure 10 million dollars in support of VII and/or other revolving funds mechanisms including Dynamo (in collaboration with CODAS) and Nexus Funds (in collaboration with EMOPS). Initial results by Q3 2023.
3. Contribute to the IF4C’s and the Financial Innovation Lab strategy and operational plan by Q4 2022. Help explore other funding sources and vehicles to support UNICEF’s Innovative Finance targets with private and public partners including results based finance, micro finance and social entrepreneurship.
4. Coordinate and maintain communications with key external and internal stakeholders in Natcoms, Country Offices and HQ divisions, at least 4 quarterly updates and monthly calls.
5. Prepare a final report with the progress to date.

ESTIMATED DURATION OF THE CONTRACT AND PROPOSAL

Full-time, 11.5 months, tentatively starting in October 2022.

REPORTING TO

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

WORKPLACE

Geneva office 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…

• Advanced university degree in international development, finance, economics, public or business administration or closely related fields required. (Alternatively, a first level university degree in a relevant field combined with additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.)
• Minimum of 8 years of relevant work experience at national and international levels in international finance, ESG/impact investing, investment banking/specialized fund development, project management, consulting, public private partnerships, fundraising/capital formation, or other related fields is required.
• Self-driven, motivated, passionate about achieving results.
• Strategic and global thinking and analytical ability.
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal and communications skills.
• Ability to conceptualize, plan and execute ideas as well as to manage projects.
• Prior experience working with Innovative partnerships or financial innovation, as well as diverse stakeholder groups or multi-stakeholder partnerships as well as resource mobilization/capital formation from private sector partners as well as DFIs or financing institutions is desirable.
• Specific experience working with partners is desirable.
• Experience in/knowledge of the UN system and knowledge of UNICEF’s work would be a strong asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of an additional UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish) is desirable.

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/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.

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. 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.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.

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 offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

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.