Individual Consultant (open for internationals & nationals) - to assess the viability and scalability of engaging the tourism sector to generate new income sources for the Maldives UNICEF Maldives Country Office

UNICEF Maldives is seeking an Individual Consultant - to assess the viability and scalability of engaging the tourism sector to generate new income sources for the Maldives UNICEF Maldives Country Office.

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. 

Background and rationale:

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does – in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. To achieve that mission UNICEF requires resources. With that, UNICEF South Asia has begun investing in Private Sector Fundraising (PSFR) for both ongoing programmatic activities as well as in response to emergencies and humanitarian crisis.

Consider that South Asia is home to 1.86 billion people. Over one-third of them are children. Given the enormous population of South Asia, any investment made to build back better after the pandemic will have unparalleled, large-scale returns.

The tourism industry in South Asia, is a major contributor to the economy. As per the World Travel and Tourism Council, the sector contributed US$ 234 Billion or 6.6% to South Asia's total GDP in 2019; a 4.5% growth since the year prior. In countries like the Maldives the economic contribution of tourism is even more evident, contributing 21.4% in 2021.

With that, the UNICEF Income Hub for South Asia is seeking to explore if/how the tourism industry could be a source of private sector funds for UNICEF programmes in the Maldives, for example, through taxes, direct fundraising, or other sustainable methods resulting in reliable long-term income.

Purpose of the internship/ Expected outcome:

Within this context, UNICEF is seeking a consultant able to work with the Private Sector Income Hub for South Asia to assess the stakeholders and entry points to engage the tourism industry and identify if/what fundraising models could be profitable and scalable to generate funds for UNICEF programmes in the Maldives. For example, through taxes, direct fundraising, or other means. The consultancy will be required to engage UNICEF’s Country Offices and local stakeholders, as well as, where relevant, the UNICEF National Committee offices for countries from which many of these tourists originate.

1. Major Tasks and Deliverables:

Each output submitted by the consultancy team must be delivered to UNICEF in the first instance as a draft for analysis and comments. Based on the comments received, the consultancy team hired will incorporate the relevant revisions and subsequently send a final version.

The expected outputs for this consultancy are numbered below and include:

• A Workplan: Propose a work plan that includes a schedule for carrying out all activities needed to achieve the aim stated in Section 2 above (identifying fundraising and engagement models) within the 3-month consultancy time limit.
  • This output will require a preliminary meeting with the SA Income Hub, PFP and relevant NatComs and orientation of relevant previous efforts.

• Stakeholder & Tourism Landscape Mapping: Understand the tourism landscape in the Maldives including the operating landscape, as well as stakeholders in those countries specifically, would be ideal for engagement. Consider links to select UNICEF National Committees when mapping stakeholders.

• • This output will require desk research as well as interviews in CO and NatCom countries with select partners.

• Stakeholder Engagement: Country level discussions and consultations led by the consultant and UNICEF COs to engage identified local stakeholders towards identification of feasible local fundraising models through tourism.

• • The consultant will also engage relevant UNICEF National Committees from which tourists to these two countries originate, as well as other UNICEF sections to learn about other means of engaging tourists and the industry, for example, digital.

• Fundraising and Business Engagement Models: The resulting effort should be a report with very clear recommendations for models to raise funds through the tourism industry (individual or the industry) in support of programmes in the Maldives. The report should include action plans for taking the proposed models forward in each of these two countries, including which stakeholders, specifically, should be engaged, as well as the possible role of UNICEF COs, National Committees. The models suggested should be viable and scalable.

• • As mentioned, the solutions should be sustainable and generate significant long-term sources of income. If the models are local, they should be “owned” by the UNICEF Country Office Representative and staff.
  • The fundraising and business engagement model / report should include a proposed tiering system which outlines the level of UNICEF recognition and branding rights for different levels of partners.

Deliverables and Timeline:

The language of the deliverables will be in English

Duty station: UNICEF Maldives Country Office

Supervisor: Aminath Jala Zuhury, Communications, Advocacy & Partnerships Specialist

Estimated duration:  40 days over 3 months

Official travel involved: Internal travel within Maldives to tourist facilities / local islands may be necessary

Payment

• Payments are due upon timely completion of each deliverable or contracted function certified as satisfactory by the supervisor/manager.
• The consultant will be paid upon satisfactory completion of assigned tasks and receipt of key deliverables and as certified by the Supervisor/Manager. A contractor will be paid as per the agreed schedule for the performance of the contracted functions or activities.
• UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment or partial payment for deliverables that are of poor quality or that do not meet the deadline stated in the contract.
• If deliverables are submitted before the end of the contract, payment will be processed.
• Final payment may not be less than ten per cent of the total value of the contract.

How can you make a difference? 

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

1. Qualifications required

EDUCATION & OTHER SKILLS:

• An advanced university degree in the field of development, business, social sciences, communications, marketing or a related field is an asset.
• A university degree with additional two years of experience may be considered in lieu of a Master’s degree.

WORK EXPERIENCE:

• At least 8 years working in a related field, such as travel and tourism, fundraising, finance, international development
• Experience with UNICEF, the tourism industry and/or privates sector engagement or fundraising
• Able to demonstrate exemplary research and analytical skills and related outputs
• Excellent English verbal and writing skills
• Knowledge of the South Asia region
• Proactive and able to work independently on a timeline

LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY:

• Fluency in English. Excellent writing skills are required.

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

To view our competency framework, please visit  here. 

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment. 

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 be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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. 

Remarks:  

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

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws. 

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.