Partnerships and Knowledge Management Specialist

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, advocacy and 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 favouritism to the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life.

The UN Volunteer will report to the Representative and could be involved in planning and organizing tasks that are associated with the front office. The Representative’s office provides overall leadership, management, coordination, representation with authorities, other UN agencies and humanitarian agencies, building partnerships with donors, staff and premises security, as well as communication and external relations functions.

The purpose of this assignment is to support UNICEF Iran’s partnerships and resource mobilization efforts, with a strong emphasis on deepening collaboration with China-related donors and strategic stakeholders. The incumbent will play a key role in identifying and cultivating innovative funding opportunities, particularly from public, private, and philanthropic sources with China linkages, including embassies, corporations, foundations, and multilateral initiatives.

This assignment serves also as a bridge for environmental scanning, knowledge management exchange, and policy dialogue, while also enhancing the visibility of UNICEF’s work and its alignment with donor priorities, especially in the context of Iran’s evolving humanitarian and development needs.

• Lead donor mapping and strategic engagement efforts targeting China-related public and private sector donors.
• Develop and implement a partnership and resource mobilization plan with a focus on China, aligned with UNICEF Iran’s Country Programme and emerging national priorities.
• Draft compelling proposals, donor briefs, and partnership materials to position UNICEF as a key partner for investment in children in Iran.
• Monitor geopolitical, economic, and philanthropic trends relevant to China’s engagement in Iran and the region to anticipate opportunities and risks.
• Act as the focal point for China-related donor engagement, facilitating dialogue, organizing high-level briefings, and ensuring timely and strategic communications.
• Support broader resource mobilization efforts with other emerging donors in Asia and beyond, as needed, leveraging UNICEF's regional and global platforms.
• Provide strategic guidance and capacity-building support to colleagues on donor intelligence, proposal development, and partnership management.
• Knowledge Management, including systematic review and dissemination of good practices and emerging evidence across UNICEF Iran’s programme and operational teams to strengthen institutional learning and cross-sectoral collaboration; high-quality knowledge products (e.g., case studies, briefs, donor-facing reports) specifically designed to support strategic engagement with partners and donors to enhance visibility, attract funding, and build strategic partnerships.
• Contribute articles/wrjte-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.
• Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly arrived UN Volunteers.
• Performs other duties as required.