Consultant (12 months, home-based) Volunteer Mapping, Governance, PFP, Geneva

UNICEF Private Fundraising and Partnerships Division (PFP) is based in Geneva, Switzerland, and is responsible for managing UNICEF’s relationship with the National Committees for UNICEF. National Committees for UNICEF are independent nongovernmental organizations who act in their countries to advance child rights and wellbeing domestically, regionally, and globally through fundraising, advocacy, and other activities in support of UNICEF’s global mission and universal mandate for children. To deliver their functions, and fulfill their role as civil society organizations, the National Committees often engage volunteers. The number and nature of the volunteers engaged with each National Committee, as well as the functions they perform, varies significantly across countries. They also follow different policies and regulations, influenced by national legislation and standard practice. According to UNICEF’s accountability framework, the Division of Private Fundraising and Partnerships is responsible for managing the relationship between UNICEF and the National Committees, enabling them to deliver to the best of their capacities and ensuring alignment with UNICEF policies and strategies.

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built. We offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture., coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to peace

PURPOSE OF ASSIGNMENT:

UNICEF Private Fundraising and Partnerships Division (PFP) is based in Geneva, Switzerland, and is responsible for managing UNICEF’s relationship with the National Committees for UNICEF.

National Committees for UNICEF are independent nongovernmental organizations who act in their countries to advance child rights and wellbeing domestically, regionally, and globally through fundraising, advocacy, and other activities in support of UNICEF’s global mission and universal mandate for children.

To deliver their functions, and fulfill their role as civil society organizations, the National Committees often engage volunteers. The number and nature of the volunteers engaged with each National Committee, as well as the functions they perform, varies significantly across countries. They also follow different policies and regulations, influenced by national legislation and standard practice.

According to UNICEF’s accountability framework, the Division of Private Fundraising and Partnerships is responsible for managing the relationship between UNICEF and the National Committees, enabling them to deliver to the best of their capacities and ensuring alignment with UNICEF policies and strategies.

The purpose of this consultancy is to support PFP and the wider network of National Committees, to:

1. Obtain an updated picture of the engagement of the different National Committees with volunteers, understanding the numbers, typology, areas of work and related methodologies, regulations and governance arrangements.
2. Facilitate a reflection with the National Committees to identify best practices, potential gaps, risks and/or areas of improvement and type of support they would expect from PFP in this regard.
3. Produce options for PFP to identify a “minimum viable product” when it comes to providing support to National Committees in their engagement with volunteers, considering the limited resources available.

How can you make a difference? 

SCOPE OF WORK:

-  The consultancy will be limited to analyzing the work of National Committees for UNICEF, not including any type of UNICEF offices (i.e. Country Offices or other regional or global initiatives).

-  The basis will be the mapping that was already developed following the Global Volunteer Initiative, utilizing existing criteria and guidelines developed as part of that as much as possible.

-  No visits are expected. The main inputs will be desk research (information provided by the National Committees through regular monitoring tools) and direct interaction with volunteer focal points in the National Committees. The consultant may propose some direct interaction with volunteers to gather their views, but this would be limited and cannot be considered representative.

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

Education:

• An Advanced university degree (master’s or higher) in one of the following fields is required: Social Science, Research, Monitoring and Evaluation, Operations Management, Corporate Governance, Business Administration or other related fields.
• Alternatively, a first-level university degree (Bachelor's degree or higher), in combination with two (2) additional years of relevant work experience, may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience in management of non-profits is required. Specific experience on the topic of engagement of volunteers with civil society organizations is an asset.
• Experience of working in high income countries is required.
• Familiarity with the work of the National Committees for UNICEF is an asset.

Language:

• Fluency in English is required spoken and written. Knowledge of an additional UN language is desirable.

Other:

• Experience and excellent research skills and strong organizational / strategic / analytical skills are required.
• Ability to work independently and consultatively within a team, as well as in consultation with a wide range of stakeholders, and follow established policies and procedures, is required.
• Familiarity with UNICEF and National Committees is an asset.

Remarks:

The application should include a short cover letter and a sample of writing work/ sample Proposal. Sample work can include a previous document, a publication, etc. and may be uploaded online or shared electronically (please do not submit any documents with proprietary requirements or confidential elements). All copyrights should be noted.

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

To view our competency framework, please visit  here. 

Remarks:  

Please indicate your all-inclusive (lump sum) fees against the deliverables listed above, including all associated administrative and travel costs (if applicable), in the cover letter. The office selects the individual based on best value for money.

Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

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 (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). 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 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.

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.