Partnerships Officer, (NO-2), Fixe Term, Brazzaville-Congo, # 00133087.

The UNICEF Congo country office is looking for a professional to fill the position of Partnerships Officer

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, an advocate

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

How can you make a difference? 

Descriptif de poste en français: Signed_PartnershipsOfficer_NOB_Francais.pdf

PURPOSE OF THE JOB

The position’s purpose is to support Partnership Specialists and senior management in deepening collaboration with key stakeholders and helping to provide an interface for environmental scanning, knowledge exchange, resource mobilization, and policy influence within the scope of assignment. Specifically, UNICEF Congo is recruiting a Partnerships Officer who will play an important role in strategically engaging partners (especially from the private sector), pursuing new funding opportunities and supporting the management of current partnerships.

Positions at the P2/NOB level are considered as supportive roles to higher level professionals that are centered on providing research, analysis and recommendations. Therefore, while these positions contribute substantively to organization-wide strategies, they should also be considered as opportunities for incumbents to acquire professional expertise, organizational knowledge and exposure for further career advancement.

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks:

1. Contribute to the implementation of the work plan for assigned area, to ensure timely and cost effective delivery of results, in accordance with UNICEF’s partnership strategy.
2. Build and maintain UNICEF’s partnerships, by identifying and engaging new partners, particularly within the private sector, to secure financial and in-kind contributions. -
3. Identify and support the mobilization of public resources from the Government, especially UNICEF’s line ministries.
4. Explore and activate other funding opportunities such as South-to-South cooperation, thematic funds, foundations and philanthropy.
5. Support the development of frameworks and templates and review partner agreements and amendments for senior staff approval, ensuring compliance with UNICEF rules and regulations.
6. Maintain up-to-date information on partner and income trends, analyse development assistance policies and keep resource partner profiles updated.
7. Help supervisor maintain effective relationships with member states, UN agencies, NGOs, host government and other partners, in order to keep them informed on important, strategic operational UNICEF issues.
8. Attend meetings with the UN and other multilateral bodies, NGOs, member states, taking notes, sharing information, and supporting joint information programmes to increase UNICEF’s profile, and protect its interests.
9. Liaise with partnerships teams at RO and HQ levels to pitch office needs, seek support for due diligence of private sector opportunities, strengthen engagement with relevant National Committees and respond to requests as needed.
10. Assist with the preparation of information to provide to member states, UN agencies, NGOs, host government and other partners on the strategy, design, relevance and impact of programmes, to advocate the work of UNICEF.
11. Develop and implement a plan to ensure strong visibility of donors, including through social media, media coverage and field visits.
12. Keep track and update as needed as the office’s partnerships and resource mobilization workplan to ensure its timely and effective implementation across relevant functions.
13. Maintain awareness of current activities, political and social events of UN and other multilateral bodies/governments, conduct analysis to understand how they may impact UNICEF activities and programmes and provide timely information to UNICEF staff for decision-making.
14. Conduct research on perspective new partners for UNICEF, and provide analysis of the areas of work, outreach, financial based and reputation of prospective partners.

Impact of Results:

The incumbent gathers, analyses and reports information in a manner that draws out fact-based insights to inform approaches to the effective mobilization of resources, partner relationships and support substantive discussion with partners. S/he captures relevant information and progress, and ensures internal information sharing.

Accurate and timely information to partners will strengthen the credibility of the organization which in turn will result in trust and increase resources to the organization. Well analyzed and support to senior management can result in an increase of funding oppurtunnities.

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: A university degree is required in one of the following fields: international relations, political science, communications, international development, or another relevant technical field.
• Work Experience: A minimum of two 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.
• Skills :

• • Current knowledge of development issues, strategies, as well as programming policies and procedures in international development cooperation.
  • Strong communications skills, verbal and written.
  • Strong networking and negotiation skills
  • Strong familiarity with political and governmental processes
  • Ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious working relationships, both within and outside the organisation.
  • Advanced knowledge of partnership development and resource mobilization.
  • Ability to conduct sound policy analysis.
  • Ability to contribute to formulation of strategies and policies

• Language Requirements: Fluency in French and English is required.

• Desirables:

Knowledge of another UN official language or the local language of the duty station is considered an asset as well as relevant country-level experience, particularly in development, fragile and humanitarian contexts. 

Female candidates are highly encouraged. 

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

The 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 

[add the 8^th competency (Nurtures, leads and manages people) for a supervisory role]. 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. 

Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions 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. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the national officer and general service category.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.