Partnerships Specialist (Innovative Financing)

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. And we never give up.


UNICEF Malawi Country Programme (2019-2023) is aligned with the Government of Malawi’s Growth and Development Strategy (MDGS III) and the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF). The programme supports the Government of Malawi to meet its commitment to respect, protect and fulfil children’s rights in line with international conventions and standards. The country programme is guided by the principles of children’s rights, equity, gender equality, inclusion and resilience, and supports evidence-based, integrative and innovative programming. The vision is that ”all girls and boys in Malawi especially the most disadvantaged and deprived, realize their rights”. The programme focuses on early childhood (parenting, high-impact social services, early stimulation and learning), middle childhood and adolescence (learning, multi-sectoral services, active citizenship), communities (decentralized services and systems, community ownership, social norms), programme effectiveness (monitoring, evaluation, HACT, Innovation, Social Protection and Social Policy and External Communication. The programme is based on “leaving no child behind”, realizing ‘rights for all children in Malawi’.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. And we never give up.

UNICEF in Malawi seeks to identify and scale up sustainable approaches to funding, financing, and investing in children with both public and private sector capital, to sustainably accelerate impact for children. An increasingly core component of our efforts to maximize sustainable revenue is through developing and implementing Innovative Financing mechanisms which will address core deprivations which impact the well-being and rights of children in Malawi.

These initiatives will address critical issues such as climate change, health systems strengthening, nutrition improvement, protection of children, disaster risk reduction and inclusion, targeting the most vulnerable and marginalized children and adolescents.
An international UNV with the relevant experience is required to assist in this role of supporting resource mobilization with a focus on alternative mechanisms, and international financial institutions and non-traditional donors for UNICEF in Malawi.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of Chief, Communication, Advocacy, and Partnerships (or her designated mandated representatives), the UN Volunteer Partnerships Specialist will perform the following responsibilities, but not limited to:

1. Resource Mobilization (new fundraising initiatives)
• Identify and incorporate strategies to secure financing and funds from all sectors, including non-traditional sources into the Malawi Office Resource Mobilization Plan.
• Work with Programme Sections to implement financing mechanisms that align to UNICEF Malawi priority programmatic goals such as climate financing, debt restructuring/swaps, and enhanced south-south cooperation.
• Update and implement the Malawi Office private sector mapping and strategic action plan.
• Explore and develop alternative fundraising initiatives to strengthen resource mobilization, including in emergency situations.
Partnership Development and Management
• Support the Partnerships Specialist to strengthen partnerships and identify new opportunities with international financial institutions.
• Support the identification, development, and management of high-value partnerships for Malawi Office, providing up-to-date regional and global intelligence and knowledge of non-traditional partnership opportunities.
• Facilitate partnerships that leverage business expertise, supply chains, technology, and platforms to advance children’s rights.

2. Internal Coordination and Capacity Building
• Support the Partnerships team to strengthen the capacity of the Malawi Office in respect of identifying and developing opportunities with alternative financing and funding mechanisms.
• Support the Partnerships team in the rollout of UNICEF’s Business For Results methodology.
• Contribute to office-wide planning, reporting, and resource mobilization deliverables as required.

3. Leveraging global and regional partnerships
• Ensure alignment with UNICEF global guidelines and strategic priorities.
• Support the NOC Partnerships Specialist to maximize partnership opportunities which may present from UNICEF’s regional and global offices.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:
• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day);
• Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country.
• Provide annual and end of assignment self- reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities.
• Contribute articles/write-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.
• Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

Results/expected outputs
As an active UNICEF team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to UNICEF and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his
functions, including:

• Completion of an updated Resource Mobilization Action Plan (2026 / 2027), which includes actionable strategies to secure financing and funds from all sectors, including non-traditional and South-South Cooperation within two months of appointment.
• Development and completion of an Innovative Financing Strategy within 4 months of appointment.
• A report on at least two new mechanisms or models explored to be shared to Chief CAP and SMT within two months of appointment.
• At least one new fundraising initiative targeting non-traditional donors and emergency situations designed and rolled out by end of Q1 2026.
• Formal engagement with at least three international financial institutions established or renewed (e.g. AfDB, World Bank) by 30 April 2026.
• Identify and initiate contact with at least five new Foundations aligned with Malawi Office priorities within two months of appointment.
• Maintain and update a prioritized list of high-value partnership opportunities quarterly, starting December 2025.
• Relationship Management and Stewardship: Serve as primary relationship manager for at least three high-priority regional partnerships and complete annual partnership reviews by Sept 2026.
• Provide guidance to Communication Officer(s) on how to develop visibility and recognition plans for non-traditional partners within two months of appointment.
• Ensure alignment of resource mobilization strategies through monthly coordination meetings within first month of appointment.
• Contribute to quarterly office-wide planning and funding tracker including presentations for Country Management Team
• Business for Results (B4R) Rollout: Lead the institutionalization of B4R methodology across all programme Sections teams, with full rollout completed by end of Q2 2026
• Collaborate with ESARO and PFP Geneva on partnership opportunities, particularly non-traditional opportunities. Ensure that UNISON[BS2.1] - a customized Salesforce Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system designed for UNICEF which provides comprehensive support for partnership management - is updated and maintained.
• Development and review of proposals.

Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment

A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in, and capacities developed.