Partnerships and Resource Mobilization Specialist

Contract

This is a UNV International Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as International UN Volunteer. It is normally internationally recruited only. More about UNV International Specialist contracts.

UNICEF Benin is in the fourth year of implementing its 2019-2023 Country Programme. While this program supports policies, strategies and systems for a child-friendly environment at the national level, it coordinates interventions in a convergent manner in the four departments chosen on the basis of child deprivation, and also supports emergency preparedness and response.

Since 2019, the spillover of violence from the Sahel countries has started to affect the vulnerability of children and their families in Northern Benin. More than 20 attacks against security forces and park rangers took place since the end of 2021. This security context, coupled with growing food insecurity, highlights the precarious and fragile environment for children and their families, that, if not addressed, makes the appeal of non-state armed groups an alternative coping mechanism. In a country where 65 per cent of the population is under 25 and three in four youth are underemployed, this exposes youth, and girls in particular, to higher risk of school dropout, exploitation, abuse and other forms of violence.

To reinforce prevention mechanisms and strengthen community resilience, UNICEF and its partners are providing a holistic package of interventions, services and care for children and their families in the field of education, health, nutrition and child protection including cash transfers for vulnerable families, life-skills education on social cohesion, construction of WASH infrastructures, socioeconomic integration for unemployed youth, and support to local authorities to develop emergency preparation and response plans. UNICEF’s approach is twofold: strengthening community resilience and ensuring basic service continuity delivery in areas of high vulnerability.

To support achievements of Country Programme expected results and accelerate its humanitarian action for children, UNICEF Benin is seeking a motivated and committed Partnership and Resource Mobilization Specialist to proactively coordinate the development and implementation of a partnership strategy (public-private) in close collaboration with the programme team.

Under the overall authority of the Representative, the Partnerships and Resource Mobilization Specialist will work in close collaboration with all programmes (Education, Child Protection, Child Survival and Development, Social Policy) and cross-sectoral teams (Gender, Youth Engagement, Communication/Advocacy, Operations, Programme Monitoring and Evaluation, etc) to undertake the following tasks:

1. Resource Mobilization Review and refine Country Office resource mobilization strategy to develop an action plan; contribute to the development and review of concept notes, project documents, briefs, investment cases and communication/advocacy strategies (content preparation/editing, layout) as required, support the development of effective concepts for engagement with donors and contribute to Country Office advocacy efforts; Scans and scouts external environment within designated partnership area for opportunities and risks and shares information in a timely fashion with relevant UNICEF staff.

2. Partnership development and engagement, including with the private sector Support the organization, preparation and documentation of meetings and missions with donors and partners and/or UNICEF senior management in conjunction with programme sections (briefing notes, presentations, documentation); increase engagement internally (PFP, PPD, WCARO) and externally (UNICEF National Committees, partners networks, private sector, UN agencies) to further UNICEF’s advocacy, leveraging and influence with partners and ensure visibility of Country Office’s work and needs; develop and implement UNICEF Benin Business for Results (B4R) action plan to engage the private sector as a programmatic partner.

3. Innovative financing initiatives Conceptualize and pilot promising initiatives link to innovative financing, in close collaboration with the country team, regional office and partners, including from the private sector, based on on-going monitoring, analyzing current trends within designated partners and formulating recommendations for strategy approaches and message development; develop and maintains deep knowledge and familiarity with current and prospective partners in the field of innovative financing and children’s rights and relevant stakeholders.

The incumbent may be asked to perform other related duties as assigned by the supervisor to ensure the success of the team, including guiding, training, and coaching short-term staff, including interns and consultants, as needed. The incumbent may need to undertake managing responsibilities, supervising a national UNV position specifically focused on private sector partnerships.

4. Donor engagement and visibility Support the development and implementation of programmes/projects donor recognition and visibility plans, in cooperation with the Communication section; contribute to donor reporting, in collaboration with Donor Reports officer; support the Communication section and contribute to the elaboration and editing of fundraising and partnership-related communication and visibility materials (factsheets, business cases, human-interest stories, newsletter, briefs, social media publications, reports, brochures, multimedia assets) and ensure dissemination to partners to highlight impact of UNICEF work; provide and monitor respect of guidance and legal standards from donors concerning visibility and branding aspects with Communication and Programme teams.

In addition to the above, UN Volunteers are responsible for: • Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteering by reading the documentation made available by the UNV program, external publications and take an active part in the activities of the UNV program, for example getting involved in the commemorative activities of the International Volunteer Day (IVD), December 5; • Become familiar with and develop any form of traditional and/or local volunteering in Benin; • Reflect the type and nature of actions that volunteers undertake, including their participation in substantive reflections; • Contribute to the writing of articles on field experiences to be submitted for the publication of the UNV program/website, bulletin and press notes, etc.; • Contribute to the Welcoming Program for United Nations Volunteers newly arrived in Benin; • Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteers or encourage individuals and organizations to use online volunteer services where technically possible.

Responsabilité Adaptabilité et flexibilité Bâtir la confiance
Engagement et motivation Engagement à l'apprentissage continu Communication Créativité Éthique et valeurs Intégrité Jugement et prise de décision Partage des connaissances Leadership Gestion des performances Planification et organisation Professionnalisme Respect de la diversité Autogestion Vision Travail en équipe

• Partnerships, resource mobilization, fundraising, communication, marketing, philanthropy, public affairs, programme management, external relations, or other relevant area. • Experience in emergency context and/or on emergency response is an asset. • Experience building and managing teams would be an asset. • Experience working with donors, drafting, editing and proof-reading concept notes, strategies and projects documents. • Experience working for or engaging with the private sector would be an asset. • Experienced working with UNICEF and/or UN agencies. Knowledge of UNICEF programmes is an asset. • Good communication, negotiation and teamwork skills. • Advanced ability to conceptualize, plan and implement ideas and concepts clearly and concisely orally as well as in writing. • Excellent writing and editing skills in English. • Self-starter, flexible and can work independently. Experience working with teams, in cross-sectoral support capacity. • Fluency in French and English. However, candidates speaking English but with limited French can be considered if they have solid experience in line with the requirements outlined above.

Le Bénin est un pays côtier de l'Afrique de l'Ouest dont la capitale économique est Cotonou. C'est un pays dont les voisins plus ou moins immédiats sont le Nigeria, le Togo, le Ghana, le Burkina Faso et le Niger. La langue officielle est le Français. Cotonou est desservi par la plupart des grandes compagnies aériennes et fluviales internationales. Les facilités de télécommunication (téléphone fixe et mobile, internet) existent et le logement est disponible à coût relativement accessible. On note la présence d'écoles reconnues telles que le Lycée français, American schola. Le Bénin est un pays de démocratie et de paix.