Current vacancies

Vacancy Announcement: Consultant

Consultancy Title: SWA– Partner Engagement Consultant

Section/Division/Duty Station:, Hosted Funds – Sanitation and Water for All (SWA)/ New York HQ 

Duration: March 13, 2025 to January 30, 2026

Home/ Office Based: NYHQ/ Remote

About UNICEF 

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you. For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. UNICEF has over 12,000 staff in more than 145 countries.

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:  

Under the direct supervision of the SWA Programme Specialist, Country Engagement, the consultant will provide support for partner engagement to develop efficient plans and processes for the engagement of three SWA constituencies, with a particular focus on Heads of State Engagement, High-Level Meetings, Mutual Accountability Mechanism, as well as mobilisation in underrepresented constituencies.

Scope of Work:

• Develop engagement plans, outlining the strategic objectives and areas of engagement for the above mentioned SWA constituencies to ensure they have a stronger voice in SWA, increasing their participation and contributions to SWA objectives

• Identify the business cases and SWA’s offers for the Research and Learning; Private Sector and Utilities and Regulators constituencies.

• Prepare briefing materials for the engagement of the three constituencies above in SWA flagship programs including the Heads of State Initiatives, the Sector Ministers Meeting and the Mutual Accountability Mechanism, to enable them to identify their strategic contributions and build multistakeholder inputs in SWA processes.

• Organise quarterly meetings for the three constituencies to facilitate information flow and increase cross partner participation in SWA.

• Map SWA partners from these constituencies operating in SWA priority countries and mobilise them for engagement at global and country level

Terms of Reference / Deliverables

Work Assignment Overview Deliverables/ Outputs - Delivery deadline

Deliverable 1: Develop engagement plans, outlining the strategic objectives, areas of concrete opportunities for engagement of partners from the following SWA constituencies - Research and Learning; Private Sector and Utilities and Regulators – to ensure they increase their participation and contributions to SWA objectives including on political prioritisation and strengthening multistakeholder platforms.

a) Develop 3 plans to mobilise and engage partners from the research and learning; private sector and utilities and regulators constituencies to contribute to and participate in SWA 2025 workplan – 

28 March 2025

b) Organise 6 meetings with representatives of the Steering Committee from the three constituencies to discuss the content of the plans for the constituencies, seek their support and roll out the plan

13 March 2025 – 30 November 2025

Deliverable 2: Identify business cases and SWA’s offers for the Research and Learning; Private Sector and Utilities and Regulators constituencies to maximise their contributions to political prioritization and multistakeholder platforms

a) Prepare three documents (1 per constituency) which identify each constituency’s offer to SWA, SWA’s ask to them, as well as the business case for the constituencies’ joining SWA.

20 March 2025 – 30 June 2025

b) Organize 1 online consultation with the three constituencies in order to support the preparation of the above documents 

1 April 2025 – 30 August 2025

Deliverable 3: Prepare briefing materials for, and mobilise partners from three constituencies above to effectively engage in SWA flagship programs including the Heads of State Initiatives, the Sector Ministers Meeting and the Mutual Accountability Mechanism, to enable them to identify their strategic contributions and build multistakeholder inputs in SWA processes

a) Develop 3 briefing materials tailored to each of the 3 constituencies – including a short word document and accompanying PPT highlighting how the constituencies can contribute to SWA flagship programs and make these available to constituencies including through presentations to strategic partners

1 April to 30 April 2025

b) Create 3 guidance documents adapted to each constituency – private sector, research and learning, utilities and regulators 

13 March 2025 to 30 April 2025

c) Send at least 15 communications to partners in different constituencies, inviting them to participate in SWA SMM webinars and following up on their activities 

15 Mar 2025 to 15 December  2025

d) Mobilise 6 non-government partners from 3 constituencies to contribute to the SMM preparatory process and follow up activities at country level, including requesting partners to reach out to ministers, preparing letters for partners, and follow-up on their commitments.

1 April  2025 to 28 February  2026

e) Prepare 1 document outlining the selection criteria for partners interested in participating in the SMM and work with constituency Steering Committee Representatives to select the right participants 

1 May  2025 to 30 September 2025

f) Identify at least 3 strategic organisations to recommend and invite to join SWA from each constituency, and conduct outreach activities

1 July to 28 February 2026 

g) 3 induction packages for new partners updated and two (2) induction and orientation sessions for new partners delivered 1 April to 30 April 2025 

1 July 2025 to 30 January 2026 

Deliverable 4: Identify four themes to guide the dialogues with the 3 constituencies and organise quarterly dialogues with the said constituencies to facilitate information flow and increase cross partner participation in SWA processes including on political prioritisation and multistakeholder partnerships

a) Develop 3 concept notes and agendas for 3 online multi-constituency exchanges between SWA non-government partners (research & learning, utilities & regulators and the private sector constituencies)

1 April 2025 – 31 December 2025

b) Organise up to 5 constituency virtual meetings for private sector, research & learning and utilities & regulators constituencies, including preparing concepts, presentations and meeting reports for each meeting. This means up to 15 meetings, one meeting per quarter, per constituency

20 March 2025 to 28 February 2026

c) Prepare 3 meeting reports containing recommendations for cross constituency engagement

10 January 2026 to 28 February 2026

Deliverable 5: Map organisations, including SWA partners, from the 3 constituencies operating in SWA priority countries and mobilise them for engagement at global and country level on Heads of State Initiatives

a) Conduct preliminary analysis to identify 1-2 major partners from the 3 constituencies, develop briefing,  reach out to and engage with them bilaterally, to seek their support in the Heads of State Initiatives in at least five countries. Document the engagement with each one of the organisations.

13 March 2025 to 16 February 2026

b) Mobilise partners to join multistakeholder platforms (MSPs) in at least 3 SWA priority countries, including through one global online meetings with partners in 3 countries, preparation of country-specific briefing materials and invitations to relevant meetings

1 April 2025 – 30 November 2025

c) Provide inputs to 2 meetings of the Latin America Observatory for Water and Sanitation (OLAS) through regular strategic partners meetings and provide 2 reports to the Secretariat

1 May 2025 to 28 February 2026

Qualifications

(1) Education

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in environmental sciences, foreign relations or other relevant fields.

(2) Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required: 

• A minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience working in or for in high-level multilateral and multi-stakeholder platforms and partnerships, incl. international agencies, governmental authorities, private sector or NGOs

• Experience in WASH is not a prerequisite, but a strong asset 

• Experience working with national government(s) and their strategic partners in areas related to good governance and policy analysis is strongly desirable 

• Excellent inter-personal and communication skills

• Excellent drafting and communication skills.

• Ability to work independently but in collaboration with a variety of stakeholders

• Fluency in English and Spanish is required. Knowledge of another official UN language is a strong asset.

• Flexible

• Detail-oriented and driven to achieve results

• Communicates effectively

• Able to work effectively in a multi-cultural environment 

• Sets high levels of quality and productivity for self

Requirements: 

Completed profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system and 

- Upload copy of academic credentials 

- Financial proposal that will include/ reflect :

o the costs per each deliverable and the total lump-sum for the whole assignment (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference.

o travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR. 

o Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.

o Indicate your availability 

- Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.

- At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.

- Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant. 

U.S. Visa information:

With the exception of the 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.  

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

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 committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

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. 

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.