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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 protection.

How can you make a difference? 

Government of Ghana 2023-2026 Multiyear Work Plan Activity 9.3.9 “Establish a multistakeholder financing mechanism to end child labour with various stakeholders, including public and private.”, which represents a key intervention under Objective 3 of the Ghana Accelerated Plan of Action Against Child Labour (GAAPACL, 2023-2027). The consultant will work closely with the UNICEF Ghana  Partnerships team, sections implementing the Child Labour Public-Private Partnerships, UNICEF National Committees, UNICEF headquarters and regional offices, International Cocoa Initiative, the Swiss Platform for Sustainable Cocoa (SWISSCO), the World Bank, development partners, private sector partners, appropriate authorities including the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment, CSOs, and more.

Expected Deliverables:

1. Update the existing UNICEF Ghana mapping of partners and define key priorities and tasks for partners’ engagement for the period May 2026- May 2027.

2.  Draft multi-stakeholder financing mechanism design documents for consultation with partners, including Governance structure, Operational framework, Financial architecture, Eligibility and allocation criteria, Accountability and reporting mechanisms, Results framework , and Financing instruments.

3.  Documentation of consultations with government partners, public and private sector stakeholders to review the design of the multi-stakeholder financing mechanism.

4.  Final design and launch of the multi-stakeholder financing mechanism, informed by feedback provided by key stakeholders from Government of Ghana, public and private sectors, including: Governance structure, Operational framework, Financial architecture, Eligibility and allocation criteria, Accountability and reporting mechanisms, Results framework , and Financing instruments.

5.  A resource mobilization framework for the facility. 

6.  Support the implementation of the resource mobilisation strategy by identifying and engaging potential funding partners, and facilitating progress towards securing at least one funding source for the first phase of the multi-stakeholder financing mechanism, including the preparation of relevant agreement documents

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete ToR here: ToR_International Consultant_Child Labour Facility.pdf 

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or higher) in Economics, Development Finance, Public Policy, International Development, Business Administration or related fields.

• Work Experience: At least 10 years of relevant work experience in development finance, resource mobilization and public-private partnerships for sustainably financing international development programmes. Demonstrated experience in designing and supporting multistakeholder financing mechanisms, pooled funds, blended financing instruments or innovative financing solutions in development contexts. Proven experience working with multilateral organizations, bilateral development partners, international financial institutions and private sector partners. Experience of engaging government institutions, including ministries of finance, economic planning or labour, on financing and policy reforms. 
   
• Skills:  Strong skills in partnership development and resource mobilization. Strong expertise in development financing mechanisms and resource mobilization strategies. Ability to design and operationalize multi-stakeholder financing platforms or partnerships. Strong analytical skills and ability to translate complex policy, financing and partnership concepts into actionable strategies. Excellent facilitation skills for high-level stakeholders consultations and partnership negotiations. Strategic thinking and ability to identify innovative partnership and financing opportunities. Ability to manage complex partnerships and navigate multi-stakeholder environments. Strong communication and presentation skills, including preparation of investment cases, governance framework, strategic documents and more. Ability to work independently and deliver high-quality outputs with tight timelines.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of other UN languages is considered an asset given engagement with international partners.

Desirables:

• Experience working in Ghana or other development country contexts in Africa is strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of child labour, ESG standards, human rights due diligence, sustainable supply chains or responsible business frameworks would be considered as an asset

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 

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. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

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.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates are encouraged to apply.

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.