For GIGA, we are seeking a consultant to advise on and coordinate the development of financing models for the global level and for three regions. This work will kick off a year-long process for developing bids that align with expectations various actors from public financers to bidding companies would have.

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, innovate

UNICEF has a 70-year history of innovating for children. We believe that new approaches, partnerships and technologies that support realizing children's rights are critical to improving their lives. The Office of Innovation is a creative, interactive, and agile team in UNICEF. We sit at a unique intersection, where an organization that works on huge global issues meets the startup thinking, the technology, and the partners that turn this energy into scalable solutions.

UNICEF's Office of Innovation creates opportunities for the world's children by focusing on where new markets can meet their vital needs. We do this by:

• Connecting youth communities (or more broadly -- anyone disconnected or under-served) to decision-makers, and to each other, to deliver informed, relevant and sustained programmes that build better, stronger futures for children.
• Provoking change for children through an entrepreneurial approach -- in a traditionally risk-averse field -- to harness rapidly moving innovations and apply them to serve the needs of all children.
• Creating new models of partnership that leverage core business values across the public, private and academic sectors in order to deliver fast, and lasting results for children.

The Office of Innovation specifically looks to form partnerships around frontier technologies (like drones and UAVs, blockchain, 21st century skills, urban technologies, new banking tools, wearables and sensors, or 3D-Printing) that exist at the intersection of $100 billion business markets and 1 billion person needs and to identify how they can grow and scale profitably and inclusively.

How can you make a difference?

For GIGA, we are seeking a consultant to advise on and coordinate the development of the financing strategies and public-private partnership models for the global level and for three regions.  Working closely with UNICEF Office of Innovation, the Financial Innovation Partnerships Lab and other key internal and external stakeholders,  this work will kick off a year-long process for developing bids that align with expectations various actors from public financers to bidding companies would have. The work will include developing the economic case for investment and the GIGA financial model.

Main responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

Mapping and Landscape Assessment

• Conduct research and analysis, consult with partners and map out key findings on:

  • Existing public and private funding for connectivity and other similarly structured industries
  • Map out domestic funding sources for connectivity (e.g. Universal service funds, education and health budget lines etc) and identify  absorption capacity
  • Identify models of layered financing that have been previously used to fund infrastructure/connectivity/IT scale up in developing and emerging markets
  • Identify challenges and potential bottlenecks and ways to overcome them.

• Act as technical focal point for partners who are providing expertise on financing pillar for GIGA

  • Identify key internal and external partners
  • Define and manage collaboration
  • Coordinate engagement through key meeting and consultation documents

Instrument scoping and structuring

• Leverage past experience with financial instruments to scope for market potential and viability as well as outline the appropriate structure for GIGA
• Carry out basic due diligence, evaluating regulatory constraints (as needed), market opportunities.
• Identify key risks and mitigation factors
• Providing in-depth strategic and analytical support
• Determine and develop an overall economic, financial and social case for investment

Multi-stakeholder coordination

• Coordinate the development of relevant technical decks and resources for broader consultation on the financing pillar

  • Coordinate feedback into drafts developed by various partners
  • Identify gaps in expertise
  • Convene a working group of economic and financial experts to develop/validate the model.
• Lead development of decks for internal and external presentation and consultations

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

• Advanced degree in a relevant field (finance, macroeconomics, business or public policy or related areas).

  *A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 10 years of professional

• Minimum eight years of experience in developing financial models for public sector and infrastructure at national, regional and global levels
• Experience in consulting and advising on relevant technical areas
• Experience in a global development finance institution is an asset 

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED FOR THE ASSIGNMENT

• Demonstrated strong writing and presentation skills
• Familiarity with emerging technology areas such as artificial intelligence, blockchain and  digital connectivity
• Solid understanding of the role technology plays in the development and humanitarian sectors
• Adept at turning complex projects and concepts into easy-to-understand, accessible content
• Experience and familiarity with a range of financial instruments
• Knowledge on the landscape for financial instruments in the technology sector is an asset
• Demonstrated ability to plan and implement projects in coordination with multiple stakeholders
• Financial due diligence, structuring and pricing knowledge
• Awareness of potential investors for instruments and partners for the platform

• Project management skills including task prioritization, workflow coordination, and results-driven strategies

Additional Experience and Knowledge

• Understanding of UNICEF Innovation operating environment and priority partners
• Ability to work with a diverse team in a rapidly-changing work environment and adapt to unforeseen changes
• Experience working in the social impact space

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The functional competencies required for this post are...

Communication - level 3

Applying Technical Expertise - level 3

Analyzing - level 3

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.

LANGUAGES

Fluency in English. Competence in another UN language preferred .

Payment details and further considerations

• Monthly payment, based on monthly tasks and progress reports, approved upon monthly review with supervisor.
• Consultant is responsible for his/her own health insurance
• Consultant is eligible for standard DSA for all work-related travel

Applications must include:

• Cover letter
• CV
• A sample of writing (preferably presentation deck)
• Quotation in USD ( all inclusive) for deliverables

Remarks

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

UNICEF 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 at  http://www.whed.net/

This consultancy can be posted in New York or Geneva, please specify in your cover letter which duty station you are applying to.