UNICEF seeks to engage a highly qualified a consultant to develop, refine and assess financial models relevant to groundwater schemes, reviewing existing cost structures, tariff frameworks, revenue systems, subsidy mechanisms, and investment flows in the ASAL counties of Northern Kenya. The consultant will consolidate existing evidence, map financing mechanisms, identify institutional and financial gaps, and refine potential models for up to four proposed pilot sites. The assignment does not generate new field data but synthesizes existing information from counties, utilities, NGOs, regulators, and previous studies. The consultant must be able to work with Kenyan institutions and be available for field travel when necessary.

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 innovate

[Include information about the country/specific programme. Ideally include a link to a video] 

How can you make a difference? 

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.

The Sustainable and Blended Finance Specialist (the Specialist) will bring their expertise in support to the Senior Adviser Sustainable Financing (SF) to offer expert advice and guidance around the Sustainable Finance work of the Hub in development and humanitarian contexts.

More specifically, the consultant will support UNICEF in designing feasible, scalable, and sustainable financial models for groundwater development in the ASAL region. Working with the Kenya Country Office and WASH Hub finance and water specialists, the consultant will:

  • Analyze groundwater scheme cost structures, O&M profiles, and lifecycle costing.
  • Assess revenue, tariffs, subsidies, and expenditure patterns across counties and utilities.
  • Map public, private, community and blended financing instruments suitable for groundwater schemes.
  • Provide actionable financing pathways for up to four pilot sites.

The outcomes will help inform future groundwater pilots and investment strategies.

The successful candidate will report to the Senior Adviser, Sustainable Financing responsible for SF in the Hub, and assist in driving projects to scale in close collaboration with the Senior Adviser, Innovation and the Hub Portfolio Manager. The successful candidate will also work collaboratively with the WASH GPD Centre of Excellence and UNICEF Country Offices.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: Download File MWML Consultant.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

Education: Advanced degree in Finance, Economics, Civil or Public Engineering, Development Finance, Business Administration, or related field.

*A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.

Work Experience:

  • Minimum 8 years of professional experience in WASH finance, utility finance, infrastructure finance, or public financial management.
  • Strong understanding of water sector or financial and governance frameworks in East Africa
  • Demonstrated experience in financial modelling, tariff analysis, affordability studies, or cost recovery assessments.
  • Experience working in or with low‑ and middle‑income countries; UNICEF programme countries preferred.

Skills: Strong analytical, report-writing, strategic thinking, and communication skills.

Language Requirements: Fluency in English required

Desirables:

  • Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts. 
  • Experience with climate finance or blended finance is an asset.
  • Local languages is an asset.
  • Experience with UN system or development organizations is an asset.

Travel:

  • The position is remotely based.
  • The consultant is expected to travel in Kenya with travel to Northern Kenya counties two times at 5 days at a time.
  • The consultant is expected to spend up to two weeks at the WASH Hub in Copenhagen at 5 days at a time
  • The consultant is responsible for arranging his/her own travel, including visa and travel insurance.

Payment details and further considerations

Payment of professional fees will be based on the submission of agreed deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

How to apply:

  • Interested applicants are required to submit a financial proposal with all-inclusive fee. Please see the financial proposal template. Download File Consultancy Financial Offer template.docx
  • Financial proposal must include travel costs (economy class) and daily subsistence allowance, if travel is required as per TOR and any other estimated costs: visa, travel/health insurance
  • Applications without a financial proposal will not be considered.

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 

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.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. 

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.

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.

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Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify. Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.