Business Partnerships Officer

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.

Through 2018-2021 Strategic Plan, UNICEF’s work in education prioritizes equity – supporting all children regardless of their circumstances to have equal opportunities in education and learning – helping children secure basic skills such as literacy and numeracy and a wider range of skills. This includes paying particular attention to early learning, girls’ education, education for children with disabilities as well as education in emergencies and post-crisis context. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, UNICEF’s education programme is focused on the area of inclusive early learning, quality primary and secondary education and intercultural and inclusive education. In the area of inclusive early learning, the programme supports the continued expansion of preschool education programme.

Recognizing that the scale of need requires innovative financing and collaborative approaches, strengthening strategic partnerships with the private sector is a key priority. Engaging businesses is not just about resources; it is about leveraging core competencies, technologies, and networks to drive systemic change for children’s rights in the areas of education, health, child protection, youth engagement, and social inclusion. We are seeking a dedicated and dynamic UN Volunteer (UNV) Specialist in Business Partnerships for Children to join our team. This critical role will be instrumental in operationalizing the new partnership strategy, building a robust pipeline of corporate allies, and co-creating impactful initiatives that deliver both social value for children and sustainable value for businesses. The successful candidate will be at the forefront of mobilizing the private sector as a force for good, helping to shape a more equitable future for every child in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Under the direct supervision of the Communications Officer, and in close collaboration with the Country Management Team, UNV will provide support in the following areas:

Revitalization of the Business Advisory Council (BAC)
• Review BAC’s current structure, membership, and performance.
• Organize consultations with BAC members and key stakeholders to identify strengths, gaps, and opportunities for improvement.
• Assist in production of revitalization plan, including updated ToR, membership strategy, and engagement mechanisms.
• Propose mechanisms for ongoing dialogue with BAC members
• Assist in creating meaningful involvement of BAC members into UNICEF key events and initiatives
• Organize quarterly or ad-hoc meetings of BAC

Private Sector Partnership
• Update the existing mapping of the potential private sector partners aligned with UNICEF’s mission and objectives.
• Assist in creating tailored value propositions for different sectors, based on the existing proposals based on UNICE leadership areas (e.g., tech, finance, retail, manufacturing).
• Support outreach and relationship-building with high-potential companies.
• Co-create new partnership concepts with businesses that align with UNICEF’s Leadership areas
• Support the development of recognition and visibility plans for corporate partners.

Fundraising and Resource Mobilization initiated
• Identify innovative fundraising opportunities (e.g., sponsorships, shared value initiatives).
• Provide inputs for embedding the private sector fundraising into Resource mobilization strategy with clear targets and timelines.
• Assist in donor stewardship and impact reporting.
Communication, branding and visibility
• Assist the Communication Officer in production of Communication and visibility plans for high profile donors such as EU
• Assist the Communication Officer in monitoring and reporting of the Communication Component of EU Funded projects
• Assist the Communication team in production and placement of various communication assets and materials, boosting the visibility of high-profile partners and donors