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 hope
In a changing context and in light of FFI and funding cuts, efficiency with our human resources and the possibility of generating additional potential regular resources are necessary now more than ever. We are keen to embrace the new operating modalities to maximise all opportunities for additional RR.
We have seen to date the possibility and benefit of increased revenue via the Cluster modality.
The purpose of this consultancy is to review via a data-based approach the potential for increased direct fundraising efficiency in COs, ROs, and Clusters.
The incumbent will conduct a comprehensive analysis of the performance and cost-efficiency of direct private-sector fundraising across UNICEF’s Country Offices (COs), Regional Offices (ROs), and fundraising clusters. The consultancy will assess the effectiveness of budgets, systems, and shared services to recommend high-value opportunities for improved efficiency, scalability, and revenue growth.
In addition we expect the incumbent to implement opportunities for increased efficiencies, in particular in relation to mutualized resources for Digital and shared operational services to directly deliver actional flexible income to the organization in 2026.
UNICEF has seen a rapid expansion of private-sector fundraising operations at the local and regional levels. However, funding flows, systems, and service support has grown disproportionately and with varying degrees of efficiency. There is an opportunity to:
• Clarify the true ROI of different countries and cluster fundraising models
• Optimize the use of core investments (PFP global and regional allocations, 25% cost-charging mechanisms, Dynamo, and other PFP investment funds) potentially resulting in increased RR generation.
• Strengthen shared systems and shared service delivery, especially in digital fundraising
• Identify centralized/shared expertise using best practice and benefitting from shared learnings that as proven to shorten growth curves and deliver higher revenue, faster.
This analysis will support high-ambition growth targets while also minimizing duplicated costs; therefore freeing up revenue for the children that we support.
How can you make a difference?
Scope of Work:
The consultancy will examine a representative set of approximately 20 high-potential fundraising markets, plus relevant functional clusters and ROs. It will review:
1. Funding models (budget allocations, cost charging, cost recovery, investment funds).
2. Fundraising systems and tech adoption (Salesforce CRM, digital specialism and tools, ).
3. Current and potential shared services (expertise, operations, payment services, procurement, finance).
Expected Outcomes
A set of actionable recommendations, including:
• A comparative efficiency benchmark for selected markets
• Optimized funding model for direct fundraising
• Strengthened systems architecture and service-sharing model
• Clear business cases for efficiencies and investment prioritization
• A roadmap for coordinated growth across UNICEF fundraising markets
Strategic Benefit
This work will drive lean operations and smarter investment, building a more agile, future-proof fundraising engine with higher net revenue for children.
The consultant will report to:
• PFP/CODAS Strategy & Performance unit (or designate).
• With regular coordination with Regional Private Sector Advisors and Market Development teams.
Payment will be made on submission of an invoice and satisfactory completion of the above-mentioned deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if deliverables/outputs are incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines. All materials developed will remain the copyright of UNICEF and UNICEF will be free to adapt and modify them in the future.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Education
• An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or higher) in one of the following fields is required: marketing, management, business, international relations or related fields.
• Alternatively, a first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in a relevant field, combined with two (2) additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Experience
• A minimum of 10 years of relevant professional experience in fundraising for international organizations is required.
• Proven experience in PSP fundraising performance analysis, is required.
• Experience and strong understanding of CRM + digital acquisition ecosystems, is required.
• Experience and expertise in financial modeling and cost-efficiency, is required.
• UN/INGO context familiarity is an asset.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and influencing skills, is required.
• Experience in stakeholder management, is required.
• Proven experience and ability to influence and secure Country Office buy-in for the adoption of new systems and processes, 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
Remarks:
Please indicate your all-inclusive (lump sum) fees in USD against the deliverables listed above, including all associated administrative and travel costs (if applicable), in the cover letter. The office selects the individual based on best value for money.
Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed 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.
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.
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.