Civil Society Partnerships Consultant, DOC, NYHQ - 11 Months consultancy, Requisition# 523289

New York City

Organization: UNICEF - United Nations Children’s Fund
Location: New York City
Grade: Consultancy - Consultant - Contractors Agreement
Occupational Groups:
- Logistics
- Communication and Public Information
- External Relations, Partnerships and Resource mobilization
- Civil Society and Local governance
- Communication / External Relations
Closing Date: Closed

UNICEF delivers change by combining high-quality programmes at scale, harnessing innovation and collecting evidence, in partnership with Governments, other United Nations partners, civil society, the private sector, communities and children. It uses these to leverage wider change nationally and globally through advocacy, communications and campaigning. The Division of Communications (DOC) aims to win support for the cause of children from decision-makers and the wider public, and is working to become an even stronger advocacy, campaigning and communications force for children, collaborating across UNICEF and with partners to secure children’s rights. The Advocacy Section (in DOC) leads on the development and implementation of advocacy strategies on UNICEF’s global advocacy priorities; works to strengthen advocacy at a country level; and builds strategic advocacy partnerships with influencers, ambassadors and civil society. The Civil Society Partnerships unit plays a critical role in building and maintaining strong relationships with influential civil society partners and working with them to secure our shared advocacy goals for children and young people. Under the guidance of the Chief of Advocacy, and the direct supervision of the P4 Partnerships Specialist (Head of Civil Society Partnerships unit), this consultancy will support the management of the civil society partnerships portfolio, including the development and implementation of advocacy partnerships with civil society organizations (CSOs), faith-based organizations (FBOs) and sport-for-development (S4D) organizations to advance UNICEF’s priorities as per the Strategic Plan, Cause Framework and Supporter’s Engagement Strategy. The consultant will also provide critical support to managing the global civil society liaison function, which notably includes responsibility for the vetting and assessment of international civil society implementing partners.

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, a partnership

How can you make a difference?

Under the guidance of the Chief of Advocacy, and the direct supervision of the P4 Partnerships Specialist (Head of Civil Society Partnerships unit), this consultancy will support the management of the civil society partnerships portfolio, including the development and implementation of advocacy partnerships with civil society organizations (CSOs), faith-based organizations (FBOs) and sport-for-development (S4D) organizations to advance UNICEF’s priorities as per the Strategic Plan, Cause Framework and Supporter’s Engagement Strategy. The consultant will also provide critical support to managing the global civil society liaison function, which notably includes responsibility for the vetting and assessment of international civil society implementing partners.

The scope of the consultancy is to support the Advocacy Section’s Civil Society Partnerships unit in the following areas:

Support UNICEF engagement with CSOs, including FBOs and S4D-CSOs

Development and implementation of strategies and workplans for UNICEF’s engagement with CSOs, FBOs and S4D organizations, with a focus on global advocacy.
Support the identification of new and influential partners to take UNICEF’s advocacy to the next level whilst maintaining strong relationships with existing civil society partners.
Monitoring on-going UNICEF engagement with these actors at all levels identifying key challenges and opportunities for effective engagement; and managing direct relationships.

Civil society liaison function

Contribute to maintaining an inventory of key partners, understanding what they need from UNICEF in terms of information and other support, and providing this support - coordinating dialogue and cooperation among internal stakeholders (country offices, regional offices, HQ and National Committees).
Critical to this functional area will be managing the vetting and assessment of international civil society implementing partners.

Provision of technical guidance

Contribute to the development of technical guidance and provide strategic advice for UNICEF colleagues on the role of religious organizations, S4D organizations, and civil society in support of priorities in the Strategic Plan, Cause Framework and Supporters Engagement Strategy. Collaborate with other relevant divisions within UNICEF (programmes, private fundraising partnerships, emergencies).

Knowledge management

Strengthen the knowledge base of UNICEF collaboration with CSOs and FBO networks by documenting inventory of country-level engagement, lessons learned and systematically sharing good practice examples. Knowledge will be disseminated both within UNICEF and among external partners.

Planning, reporting and project management

Provide planning and project management support on Civil Society Partnerships and across the advocacy section as required.
Produce presentations and other materials to support planning, reporting and monitoring and evaluation.
Support ad hoc projects and events as required.

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

Education

Advanced University degree (Master's) in Public Policy, Political Science, International Relations, International Development, Public Administration, Business Administration, Economics, or other related field.

Work experience

At least five years’ experience in advocacy and campaign strategy development and execution, preferably on both a global and national level.

Experience in managing partnerships with various stakeholders including civil society organizations.
Experience and knowledge in areas of faith-based engagement and sport for development.
Demonstrated experience in design and management of projects, including budget management and monitoring of results.
Knowledge of international development, humanitarian issues and children’s rights.
Experience working for an advocacy or campaigning organization e.g. international or national NGO, UN or other multilateral organization.

Experience working in a developing and emergency environment is an asset.

Skills and attributes

Demonstrated strong communication, presentation and writing skills are essential – a clear, concise, compelling writing style which is adaptable for difference audiences, including mainstream public.
Strategic thinking and critical analysis.
Commitment and drive, with a clear focus on results.

Positive, proactive, ‘can-do’ approach.
Solutions-focused.
Ability to juggle competing priorities, whilst maintaining attention to detail and meeting deadlines.
Creative and innovative.

Languages

Fluency in English (both written and verbal) is required. UN Languages are considered an asset.

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.

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. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

Payment Terms: Monthly invoicing. Please include in your cover letter and in your online application your inclusive daily rate (which includes your travel from home base to duty station, visa expenses and insurance etc). Submissions without this daily rate will not be accepted.

UNICEF recourse in case of unsatisfactory performance:

Payment will only be made for work satisfactorily completed and accepted by UNICEF.

Please indicate your ability, availability and daily/monthly rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference above (including, health insurance, travel and daily subsistence allowance, if applicable). Applications submitted without a daily/monthly rate will not be considered.

Remarks

With the exception of US Citizens, G4 Visa and Green Card holders, should the selected candidate and his/her household members reside in the United States under a different visa, the consultant and his/her household members are required to change their visa status to G4, and the consultant’s household members (spouse) will require an Employment Authorization Card (EAD) to be able to work, even if he/she was authorized to work under the visa held prior to switching to G4.
At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage

All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

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.

This vacancy is now closed.
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