Consultant - Design and implementation of Philanthropic Platforms

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Purpose of the Consultancy

The Terms of Reference serve as an overall framework for the services to be provided by the Candidates selected to provide support for Philanthropic Platforms as part of the implementation of Next Generation Financing (NGF). This role will design, launch and institutionalize a multi philanthropic platforms architecture aligned with the NGF pilot (2026–27), and support Unitaid’s long-term ambition to diversify predictable revenue streams beyond 2027.

Background

Unitaid is a World Health Organization-hosted partnership.  It saves lives by making new health products available and affordable for people in low- and middle-income countries. We identify innovative treatments, tests, and tools, help tackle the market barriers that are holding them back, and get them to the people who need them most – fast.

• 320 million people use Unitaid-supported health products every year

• 100+ ground-breaking products introduced since 2006

• Our approach helps reach global health targets three years faster

• USD10 billion in savings by 2030
   

Unitaid focus on addressing some of the world’s biggest health challenges: HIV, TB and malaria; women’s and children’s health; and pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. We also invest in cross-cutting areas that strengthen health systems, including improving access to medical oxygen, increasing regional and domestic manufacturing of health products, addressing the health impacts of climate change, and contributing to the global target of universal health coverage. We work with a broad range of partners, starting with the countries and affected communities who identify challenges and potential solutions, and the researchers and companies creating innovative new products. Through innovative financing solutions like volume guarantees, we lower prices for those products and help get them to market and to those who need them most. Together with implementing partners, we introduce these health products to low- and middle-income countries while overcoming the various barriers that people may face in being able to access them. Then we collaborate with governments and leading global health organizations like the Global Fund to take those products and best practices to scale. Reduced prices and greater efficiencies that come with the products we deliver are projected to generate more than USS10 billion in savings by 2030 – much-needed funding that can be reinvested elsewhere.

Unitaid’s Strategy 2023-2027 sets out the organization’s ambition to invest USS1.5bn to realize 30 life-saving health products taken to scale by 2030. While traditional funding mechanisms have played a crucial role in addressing global health challenges, there is a growing recognition of the need for innovative financing approaches to bridge funding gaps. Innovative financing encompasses various mechanisms, each with varying expectations regarding investment returns. It presents significant opportunities that could enable Unitaid to implement its ambitious strategy more rapidly.

Unitaid and Innovative Financing
Today, innovative financing is crucial in driving progress towards the Health Sustainable Development Goals for the 2030 Agenda as amplified at FFD4. This involves mobilizing resources, enhancing the efficiency of healthcare spending, expanding access to essential services, tackling health inequalities, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of healthcare systems.

Building on a proposed strategy for Next Generation Financing (NGF), Unitaid aims to reinforce the human resources support needed to implement Results Based Financing (RBF) and Catalytic / Blended Finance (CF) as two mechanisms identified as part of the NGF pilot (2026 – 2027).

Objectives of this Philanthropic Platform Support role

This role will be to secure funding through Philanthropic Platforms for Unitaid up to and beyond 2027. Any funds mobilized through proposed platform partners, foundations, philanthropists, or private investors must also align with Unitaid’s governance or operating model.

This Consultant will:

• Ensure philanthropic engagement is aligned with Unitaid’s programmatic priorities and thematic strategic areas, including, but not limited to,  maternal health, cervical cancer, regional manufacturing, climate & health).

• Establish philanthropic platforms to mobilize resources, enhance financial sustainability, and drive progress towards Unitaid achieving its overall resource mobilization target and ambitions for its NGF strategy.

• Form robust network of institutional relationships with philanthropic donors, such as foundations, high net worth individuals, corporations, etc. and staff in the Unitaid Secretariat.

• Launch a “donate” button on Unitaid’s website and other owned channels, and the creation of relevant marketing campaigns (general and for specific causes) to drive direct donations.

• Coordinate closely with the Unitaid NGF Working Group and other consultants to leverage philanthropic partners as potential outcome funders and co-financiers across mechanisms.
   

Scope of Work

• Activities of selected candidates will include, but not limited to, the following:

• Coordinating the development of engagement plans, communications, and partnership strategies with Foundations, philanthropists, and High Net Worth Individuals, particularly focused on global health.

• Engaging iteratively with Unitaid’s Resource Mobilization and External Relations and Communications Department on the strategy and key messages for partners as part of the Philanthropic Platforms strategy, in line with strategic and programmatic objectives, as well as institutional parameters (e.g., Unitaid’s

• SOPs and governance models)

• Conducting regular monitoring and evaluation of the performance and funds raised through Philanthropic Platforms, focusing on metrics such as donor engagement, fundraising/marketing campaigns, and ultimately donations or funds mobilized for Unitaid

• Developing donor-facing prospecting communications and tools for specific donors (for individuals or organizations).

• Facilitating stakeholder engagement and partnership-building efforts to mobilize support for Unitaid, specific causes/areas for interventions, or NGF mechanisms (e.g., Results-Based Financing or Catalytic Finance). 

• Facilitating introductions to donors, where required.

• Preparing comprehensive reports, presentations, and other deliverables as required for a diverse internal and external audiences.

• Design and operationalize a multi-platform philanthropic architecture (for example with WHO Foundation and UN Foundation and those for individual giving) based on due diligence and compliance with WHO requirements.

• Develop donor segmentation, cultivation strategies, and a pipeline of foundations, corporates, and HNWIs tailored to Unitaid’s Strategic Plan

• Supporting internal capacity building at Unitaid by developing guidance, tools, and training to strengthen philanthropic engagement across the organization.

• Prepare twice-yearly executive Board reporting inputs for philanthropic platform KPIs, fundraising performance, ROI, and partner engagement updates.

 Deliverables

• Quarterly deliverable plan will be agreed and aligned with the NGF implementation plan and EB governance cycle. Expected deliverables include:

• Philanthropic Platform Architecture Blueprint (Q2 2026)

• Fiscal sponsor due diligence package, such as with the UN Foundation or WHO Foundation (Q2 2026)

• Launch of the donate button and inaugural pilot campaign (Q3 2026)

• Development of prospect pipeline targeting foundations, corporations, and high-net-worth individuals (Q4 2026)

• Outreach to identified prospects and submission of tailored solicitation documents

• Organize 1 major HNWI, Foundation, etc event in 2026

• Executive Director philanthropic reporting briefs delivered at mid-year and year-end 2026

• Creation of philanthropy capacity-building materials for the Resource Mobilization team (2027)

Required Experience and Qualifications 

Educational Qualifications

Advanced university degree in business administration, financial management, economics, or international development

Experience

Essential:

• Minimum of 15 years of relevant professional experience in philanthropic fundraising, partnership development, innovative financing, or related external‑facing roles.

• Proven experience in partnership development, coordination, or a related field

• Robust network of philanthropic actors such as Foundations or HNWIs.

• Record in strategy development, partnership building, design and implementation of partnership engagement frameworks, business development, communications, external relations, and / or advocacy. 

• Experience working with Foundations or HNWIs.

• Experience preparing donor or Board-facing materials and working within multilateral governance frameworks.

• Demonstrated ability to lead and deliver cross-functional initiatives in a highly matrixed organization. 

• A minimum of 7 years of experience in a partnerships, coordination, external-facing, or engagement role.

• A minimum of 7 years of experience in the Global Public Health or international development landscape.

Desirable:

• In-country experience of development and/or public health programs, preferably in LMICs, is also desired but not required

Skills and Knowledge

• Strong project management skills

• Good analytical and problem solving skills

• Clear and effective written and verbal communication skills

• Ability to work collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders

Languages

Required
Expert knowledge of English
 
Desirable
Intermediate knowledge of French
 
Location
Home based – Off-site

Work can be performed remotely and selected candidates are free to choose their preferred work location. The selected candidates are expected to be available for meetings during normal business hours in the Central European Time zone (CET). 
Selected candidates may be expected to travel to other locations as part of their work (e.g., workshops, meetings with potential donors or partners, etc.).
Consultants not based on Geneva, should plan on travelling to Geneva quarterly.

Remuneration:
Band level D - USD 626 - 720 per day

Method and frequency of interaction:

The selected candidates will liaise and coordinate closely with Unitaid’s External Relations and Communications Department and other relevant officers from Unitaid secretariat for all aspects of outreach for Philanthropic Platforms. 
Selected candidates and Unitaid Secretariat will set up regular online calls to share updates and progress toward the agreed deliverables in addition to the regular email exchanges and monthly activity reports.
The Specialist will provide inputs to Unitaid’s Committee and Executive Board Meetings cycles twice annually as part of the NGF monitoring framework.

Expected duration of contract: The assignment is for 11 months on a part‑time basis. The selected candidate is expected to work flexibly according to project needs, averaging 2 to 3 days per week. The overall project is planned to run for up to 18 months in total. After completing the initial 11‑month contract, the consultant will take a one‑month contractual break, after which the engagement may continue.

Additional Information:

• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• A written test or video assessment may be used as a form of screening.
• If your candidature is retained for interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
• For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.
• WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.
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• Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. The execution of the work under a consultant contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between WHO and the Consultant.
• WHO shall have no responsibility whatsoever for any taxes, duties, social security contributions or other contributions payable by the Consultant. The Consultant shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying any taxes, duties, social security contributions and any other contributions which are applicable to the Consultant in in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.
• Consultants working in Switzerland must register with the applicable Swiss cantonal tax authorities and social security authorities, within the prescribed timeframes (Guidelines issued by the Swiss Mission are available at: https://www.eda.admin.ch/missions/mission-onu-geneve/en/home/manual-regime-privileges-and-immunities/introduction/Manuel-personnes-sans-privileges-et-immunites-carte-H/Non fonctionnaires et stagiaires.html
• UNITAID is a partnership hosted and administered by WHO, located outside WHO premises in Le Pommier, 1218 Le Grand-Saconnex.
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