Consultancy: Senior Advisor (Branding/Visibility/ Fundraising) for Gulf Area Office with travel across GCC countries as required/For 6 Months( Part time)

The UNICEF Gulf Area Office (UNICEF GAO) is unique in its mandate. It is accountable for providing programmatic support to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar. In addition, it identifies, cultivates and sustains partnerships with Gulf-based partners to generate resources for the organization globally. UNICEF has a role to play in ensuring rapid development in the Gulf is child sensitive and child focused and that children remain at the heart of the national development dialogue.

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 Educate …

UNICEF Gulf Area Office (GAO) is undergoing a strategic repositioning process (“GCC Reset”) aimed at strengthening its role as a regional hub for branding, partnerships, fundraising , innovation, and influence. 

To support the implementation of these recommendations, UNICEF GAO seeks a Senior Adviser to provide high-level strategic advice to strengthen the office’s visibility and positioning 

How can you make a difference? 

Under the direct supervision of the UNICEF GAO Representative, the Adviser will provide strategic, analytical, and operational guidance to accelerate the office’s engagements, partnership, fundraising, and branding agenda, in line with the outcomes of the GCC Reset, UNICEF’s High-Income Country Strategy (HICS), and Future-Fit Initiative (FFI).

The role focuses on developing actionable strategies, identifying new funding and engagement opportunities, and advising on innovative approaches to enhance UNICEF’s presence and influence in the Gulf.

 Key Responsibilities:

A. Strategic Advice and Planning

• Provide high-level strategic advice to the GAO Representative on implementing the GCC Reset recommendations related to partnerships, fundraising, and communications.

• Develop a GAO Partnership and Visibility Strategy aligned with UNICEF global frameworks and national priorities in GCC countries.

• Advise on GAO’s partnership portfolios

• Support the design of an implementation roadmap and key performance indicators to track progress.

B. Partnership Expansion and Donor Diversification

• Identify and cultivate new donors, corporate partners, and high-net-worth individuals across the GCC, including emerging family offices and philanthropic foundations.

• Facilitate linkages with business councils, chambers of commerce, and sovereign wealth funds to explore joint initiatives.

• Develop a framework for strategic engagement with Islamic finance institutions, including zakat, waqf, and sukuk instruments.

• Provide advice on partnership negotiations, concept notes, and proposal development to enhance quality and alignment with donor priorities.

C. Visibility, Branding, and Advocacy

• Support the Representative in shaping a comprehensive branding and visibility plan positioning UNICEF as a trusted partner for innovation and social impact.

• Advise on strategic engagements opportunities and high-level events to elevate UNICEF’s profile in the region.

• Support the conceptualization and launch of a “Gulf Business Leadership Circle for Children” to convene corporate and philanthropic champions for children.

• Guide the development of high-impact advocacy content (briefs, op-eds, speeches, digital assets) to strengthen UNICEF’s narrative.

 Work Modality and Travel:

• The adviser will work three days per week, combining remote and in-person engagement at the GAO (Dubai) and other GCC capitals as required.

• Travel across the Gulf countries (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman) may be required based on partnership opportunities and strategic missions.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Advanced university degree in Business Administration, International Relations, Communications, Marketing, or a related field.

• At least 12–15 years of progressive experience in strategic partnerships, fundraising, or external relations, preferably with the private sector , IFIs or UN.

• Proven track record in PR, mobilizing resources from private sector, and engaging high-level government and corporate stakeholders.

• Strong understanding of GCC political and economic contexts, and established network with key actors across the region.

• Excellent communication, negotiation, and representational skills in Arabic; ability to influence and build consensus at senior levels.

• Fluency in Arabic and English are required.

Reporting and Coordination:

The Adviser will report directly to the UNICEF GAO Representative, with close coordination with the Deputy Representative and relevant teams across GAO, MENARO, PFP, and PPD. Periodic briefings and progress reports will be required.

The individual engaged under this SSA will be required to operate in full compliance with UNICEF’s due diligence, risk management, ethics, and internal governance frameworks. This includes strict adherence to UNICEF policies, procedures, and approval processes related to partnerships, resource mobilization, private-sector engagement, and external relations. The SSA holder will act strictly in an advisory and facilitative capacity, with all decisions, commitments, and formal engagements remaining under UNICEF authority and accountability.

 Core Competencies and Attributes:

• Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

• Builds and maintains partnerships

• Thinks and acts strategically

• Innovates and embraces change

• Communicates effectively and with impact

• Drives to achieve impactful results

• Manages ambiguity and complexity

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

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.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. 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.

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.

Visa residence requirements: i.e.: 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.