Partnerships Specialist, NOC, Fixed-Term, Kenya Country Office, Nairobi, Kenya # 120855 (For Kenyans Only)

Contract

This is a NO-3 contract. This kind of contract is known as National Professional Officers. It is normally only for nationals. It's a staff contract. More about NO-3 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, Partnership!

https://www.unicef.org/kenya/what-we-do

How can you make a difference?

The Partnership Specialist position’s purpose is to deepen collaboration with key stakeholders and provide an interface for environmental scanning, knowledge exchange, resource mobilization, and policy influence within the scope of assignment. S/He may also serve as focal point and resource for colleagues on specific thematic areas of strategic relevance for partnership development. The key result is to ensure greater visibility for UNICEF and influence in support of its mission.

This position will encompass partnerships strategy; initiating and managing private sector partnerships; National Committee fundraising; celebrity management; supporting programme Sections on partnerships and fundraising and managing a Resource Mobilization Officer.

Under the supervision of the Chief of Communication, Advocacy and Partnerships (CAP), the incumbent will:

1. Partnerships strategy: Lead the implementation of the UNICEF Kenya partnerships strategy to support UNICEF Kenya advocacy on key children’s issues, with the aim of influencing policy change, raising public awareness and generating additional funds for programmes. This should be in line with the new UNICEF Kenya Country Programme (2022-26), KCO Communication, Advocacy and Partnerships Strategy and office-wide advocacy priorities. Update the Kenya private sector mapping and identify new partners as needed. Contribute to strategies for donor engagement and communication plans to enhance UNICEF’s visibility and influence with existing and prospective partners. Provide analysis of the current environment and trends, make recommendations, and provide strategic and technical advice to senior management and other UNICEF staff on corporate and partner engagement.
2. Initiate new partnerships: In consultation with the Chief of CAP, lead the development of new country level partnerships, including prospect research, networking, and exploratory meetings with potential private sector partners, in line with country office priorities. A strong network of private sector contacts will be required. Support KCO programme sections with new sector-level partnership processes, including completing due diligence reviews and coordination with the regional office and HQ. Receive and screen inquiries from potential partners and coordinate with relevant UNICEF programme sections. Monitor external environment within designated partnership area for opportunities and risks and share information in a timely fashion with relevant UNICEF staff. Expand UNICEF’s network to build stronger relationships with development institutions, foundations, civil society organizations and international financial institutions.
3. Manage existing partnerships: Manage and develop existing partnerships with the private sector, including office-wide partnerships with Rotary Kenya, Safaricom, Airtel and others, with the goal of implementing, expanding and/or renewing the partnerships. Manage and develop relationships with celebrity supporters, to help promote and raise awareness of UNICEF’s work for children and to support advocacy on priority issues.
4. Fundraising: Lead on fundraising from international business and foundations, including through UNICEF National Committees (NatComs). Identify opportunities, prepare pitches together with programme sections and coordinate with communication colleagues to create fundraising content. Together with the Resource Mobilization Officer, support programme sections with partnerships and fundraising, including identifying potential new donors.
5. Resource Mobilization: Manage the Resource Mobilization Officer (NOB) to support programme sections to develop high-quality fundraising proposals, consolidate donor reports, monitor the schedule of reports, manage grants and prepare briefing documents and analytics. Coordinate with communication colleagues to produce human interest stories and visibility materials for donors. Providing oversight of proposals and donor reports, guide section chiefs on agreements negotiated with partners, guide implementation of the Resource Mobilization Strategy, review donor intelligence briefs and analytics for sharing with senior management.
6. Coordination: Coordinate the UNICEF Kenya KCO Partnerships Hub to leverage fundraising and partnership opportunities (financial and non-financial). Coordinate with KCO programme sections on public partnerships and fundraising. Maintain a register of office-wide partnerships that describes the status of agreements, due diligence undertaken, and performance. Coordinate with the ESARO regional office on regional partnerships and keep UNISON updated with details of private sector engagements. Coordinate with One UN on the National Business Compact on COVID-19 (NBCC) and the UN SDG Partnership.
7. Networking: Organize meetings and forums with CEOs and other senior business figures, foundations and celebrities, as needed, to discuss priority issues for children. Develop and maintain a partnerships map and contact list of key individuals, groups, organizations and fora whose support can assist in achieving UNICEF Kenya objectives. Develop and adapt materials for use in private sector interactions, in collaboration with communication and programme sections.
8. Education and WASH: Provide support to the Education and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Sections on fundraising from the private sector, foundations, UNICEF National Committees, and others. This includes the Out of School Children programme, girls education and Connecting Schools to the Internet for Education, and drought response and climate change for WASH. Support the WASH Section and UNEP to fundraise for climate change response by accessing climate financing. Work with programme sections across UNICEF Kenya Country Office to develop and pitch proposals for joined up climate programming.

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

• An advanced university degree is required in one of the following fields: international relations, political science, communications, international development, or another relevant technical field.
• A minimum of five years of professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required: public affairs, programme management, resource mobilization, external relations, or other relevant area.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships (2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (3) Drive to achieve results for impact (4) Innovates and embraces change (5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (6) Thinks and acts strategically (7) Works collaboratively with others.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

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 is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.