Consultancy - Public Partnerships Division, NYHQ

Under the general guidance and direction of the PPD Public Partnerships Manager, the consultant will assist the Manager in various aspect of external relations, development and implementation of partner strategies and approaches for assigned member states and respective thematic areas; liaison with the Permanent Missions to the UN, in collaboration with the UN Partnerships team and based on requests from COs, work with other UN agencies on select issues and partnership arrangements, UNICEF HQ Divisions; the Gulf Area Office, the Regional Office, and Country Offices. Responsible for maintaining on-going contacts at working levels with these various offices.

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.

For every child, hope . . .

The Division of Public Partnerships (PPD) works to enhance UNICEF's position as a partner of choice for children's rights among governments and public actors around the world. The division is doing this by connecting UNICEF’s positioning of children in intergovernmental and multilateral fora and negotiations to the engagement with governments and public institutions (including IFIs) as resource, policy and programme partners. A key premise for PPD is that the engagement with countries should be based on multiple levels of partnerships, including around resource mobilization and policy advocacy.

How can you make a difference?

The Public Partnership consultant will support the overall work of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) team in building and maintaining good partnership/relationships with MENA Member States, enhancing dialogue on issues related to children as well as fostering and developing innovative partnerships. The position’s primary responsibilities include supporting the Partnership Manager in the day-to-day work of the unit; to follow-up agreements, grants and financial matters, including desk review and analysis of relevant documents, and provide support to knowledge management, inter-agency, and inter-governmental work. 

Under the general guidance and direction of the PPD Public Partnerships Manager, the consultant will assist the Manager in  various aspect of external relations, development and implementation of partner strategies and approaches for assigned member states and respective thematic areas; liaison with the Permanent Missions to the UN, in collaboration with the UN Partnerships team and based on requests from COs, work with other UN agencies on select issues and partnership arrangements, UNICEF HQ Divisions; the Gulf Area Office, the Regional Office, and Country Offices. Responsible for maintaining on-going contacts at working levels with these various offices.

1.  Contribute to Partnership, Advocacy and Resource Mobilization Strategies with Member States

• Maintain up-to-date information on partner and income trends, projections, analysis development, and assistance policies by keeping resource partner profile updated. 
• Support the implementation of engagement plans and activities with the objective of a) increasing core and flexible resources; b) identify all possible sources of new and continued funding and; c) advocating for child rights with select countries.
• Assist in developing a collaborative strategy for less engaged MENA countries to promote stronger partnerships as well as influence and leverage support for children in the region.
  
  

2.  Support Senior Management in strategic engagement with government partners

• Assist in the development of an analytical paper on geo-political trends, especially how it affects children in the region.
• Assist in implementing the partnership strategy with the Gulf countries.
• Provide support to the preparation and organization of various briefings of Member States (Ambassadors and Experts) of the MENA region as requested and to other events and prepare summary reports.  Provide support to resources mobilization efforts.
• Cover the 73^rd General Assembly of the United Nations General Debate and the deliberations of the 4^th Committee.
• Assist the Public Partnership Manager with the analysis of the 2018 Voluntary National Review (VNR) Reports of MENA countries (highlighting references to children and youth) and follow up with MENA countries to document at least one example of “good practice” where UNICEF supported the VNR process or SDG implementation efforts at country or regional level. 
• Help the SDG and Public Partnership Manager to cover key presentations/sessions of the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) where MENA countries are presenting their work on the SDGs.
• Assist in supporting MENA participation in key HLPF side event(s) organized by UNICEF.
•  Other tasks to be assigned, as appropriate, including ad hoc covering and reporting back on relevant intergovernmental and/or interagency meetings.

 
3.  Effectively manage partnership agreements

• Assist in the issuance of grants, acknowledgment letter to the respective donors on a timely manner.
• Disseminate Financial Statements and other relevant communication to the MENA Missions in New York. Ensure the CER reports are submitted to the donors on a timely fashion.
• In coordination with ECD organise the launch of the Dubai Declaration.
• Assist the RD during the Ex. Board and UNICEF MENA Representatives when visiting HQ as required.

4.  Facilitate information management on UN reform and coherence standards for country offices in conjunction with the
     UN Partnerships team

• Participate as required in internal discussions related to UN reform proposals and standards of UN coherence within PPD.
• Facilitate information flow and knowledge management on reform proposals, coherence standards and inter-agency results and guidance.
• Monitor and report on the roll out of select UN reform proposals in the region.
• Document best case studies, lessons learnt and challenges in this sphere with MENA regional office.
• Diplomacy and discretion in dealing with Member States can have long reaching impact on partnerships. Accurate and timely information to member states will lead strengthening creditability to the organization which in turn will result in trust and increase in resource to the organization. Well analysed and support to field offices and senior management can result in increased funding opportunities.

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in social/behavioural sciences. 
• A minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience in related field.
• Proven ability to synthesize information and communicate it simply and effectively: Superior writing and research skills; strong analytical skills; excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Previous experience with the United Nations preferred.
• Ability to operate in a diplomatic environment, using tact and judgement.
• Ability to work in an international and multicultural environment.
• Knowledge of office computer systems (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and internet research.
• Understanding of UNICEF’s mandate is a must.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of Arabic is an asset.
  
  

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.