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UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built. We offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture., coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to be a Champion!

UNICEF is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children’s rights, to help meet their basic needs, and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential. UNICEF staff and consultants are expected to act in accordance with the UN Code of Conduct and the UNICEF Mission.

This consultancy will support the UNICEF Country Office in Kazakhstan in advancing its Sports for Development (S4D) agenda - positioning sport as a powerful tool for promoting child rights, inclusion, participation, and healthy lifestyles among children and young people.

The assignment aims to strengthen UNICEF’s partnerships with key stakeholders, including government institutions, national and local sports federations, private sector partners, and civil society organizations, to integrate child rights principles into sport-based initiatives and to leverage the unifying power of sport for social impact.

A particular focus will be placed on exploring and implementing innovative fundraising opportunities through sports, including large-scale sporting events, collaborations with sports organizations, and athlete-led campaigns that can attract both individual supporters and corporate donors.

The consultant will provide overall leadership and technical guidance in the design, planning, and implementation of sports-based projects, as well as in partnership coordination, resource mobilization, and reporting, contributing to the achievement of the expected results under the UNICEF Kazakhstan Country Programme 2026 - 2030.

How can you make a difference? 

1. Conceptualize, design and implement UNICEF Kazakhstan’s engagement in the Sports for Development initiative in partnership with government bodies (such as the Ministry of Tourism and Sports and the Ministry of Culture and Information), national sports federations (such as Hockey Clubs, Kazakhstan Football Federation), Olympic and Paralympic committees, youth organizations, and civil society. Ensure that all activities promote Child Rights, Child Participation, Inclusion, and Healthy Lifestyles among children and adolescents.
2. Develop and strengthen strategic partnerships with national and local institutions that promote sport as a tool for development, inclusion and social cohesion - including sports clubs, federations, universities, municipalities (akimats), and youth movements - with a focus on integrating child rights principles and safe sport environments.
3. Explore and implement fundraising and supporter engagement opportunities through sports, including:
• collaborations with major sporting events (e.g. marathons, tournaments, youth championships);
• partnerships with sports organizations and professional athletes as potential UNICEF advocates and/or friends;
• co-created public campaigns and digital engagement activities that mobilize support and resources for UNICEF programmes.
Work closely with the Communication and Partnership teams to design integrated strategies leveraging UNICEF’s visibility in sport to attract both individual donors and corporate supporters.
4. Under the supervision of the Representative, coordinate programme monitoring, budgeting, and reporting of assigned projects, ensuring alignment with the Country Programme Document (CPD) and UNICEF global Sports for Development framework. Document lessons learned, success stories, and best practices for knowledge sharing and replication.
5. Build and strengthen the capacity of implementing partners — including coaches, teachers, youth leaders and local organizations — through training sessions, workshops and toolkits on child rights in sport, inclusive participation, and safeguarding.
6. Analyze and evaluate data and progress on sports partnerships and related initiatives to assess impact, identify bottlenecks, and recommend corrective actions to ensure achievement of planned results. Contribute to periodic progress reports, donor updates, and advocacy materials.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  TOR_S4D National Consultant - October 2025_p.docx

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

Minimum requirements:

Education: Advanced university degree in communication, marketing, sports-related disciplines, international relations, or a related technical field. Knowledge of Human Rights-Based Approach (HRBA), Results-Based Management (RBM), Child Rights, gender equality, child participation, and strategic partnerships is an asset.

[If approved by the relevant authority as per the Staff Selection Procedure, include here the flexible provisions for education vs experience, according to the branded VA example]

• Work Experience:
  • At least 5 years of relevant work experience in programme design, management, implementation, monitoring and evaluation related to networking and partnerships for child rights.
  • Practical experience in sports institutions or sport-related projects (e.g. collaboration with federations, ministries, clubs, or major sporting events) is highly desirable.
  • Proven experience in advocacy, communication, social mobilization, and partnership building, including work with government agencies, private sector, and civil society organizations.
• Skills: Excellent analytical, coordination, and interpersonal skills, with ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team in a fast-paced environment.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English, Kazakh, and Russian (both written and spoken) is required.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

[add the 8^th competency (Nurtures, leads and manages people) for a supervisory role]. 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. 

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:  

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.