Duration: 11 months, from February to December 2025
Workplace: office-based
Modality: full-time

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.
For every child, a fair chance

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=E1xkXZs0cAQ

Purpose of the assignment

The purpose of the Public Partnership Specialist role is to strengthen and deepen collaboration with key stakeholders, enabling environmental scanning, knowledge exchange, and contributing to the policy dialogue within the scope of Kazakhstan’s country programme and in closer consultations with the Country Representative. Additionally, the Specialist will support colleagues on strategically relevant thematic areas and act as a senior liaison with national and local governments.

The ultimate objective is to enhance UNICEF’s visibility and influence, driving support for its mission to promote and protect children’s rights.

Scope of Work

UNICEF’s fundamental mission is to uphold the rights of every child, everywhere, through its programs, advocacy, and operations. As part of its commitment to providing all children with an equitable chance in life, UNICEF focuses on identifying, monitoring, and addressing the root causes affecting vulnerable and at-risk children in Kazakhstan.
In Kazakhstan, several influential entities play critical roles in advancing UNICEF’s mission. Consequently, there is a significant need for UNICEF to engage a well-connected senior specialist who possesses a deep understanding of Kazakhstan governance systems, and dynamics. The consultant will help establish and maintain strategic partnerships, foster trust, and position UNICEF as the leading advocate for children’s rights in the country. In close coordination with the Private section Partnership specialist and other relevant colleagues, the Public Partnership Specialist will work on Public-Private Partnership projects/areas.
The current Programme of cooperation between UNICEF and the Government of Kazakhstan has three main components i) Health, Nutrition and Safe environment; ii) Education and Youth skills; iii) Child protection and Social protection. UNICEF’s support aims to strengthen national systems for children’s equitable access to quality services, and to promote social norms and behavior change, in order to ensure an enabling and protective environment for every girl and boy to thrive and achieve his/her potential. UNICEF collaborates with line Ministries and government institutions, regional and local authorities, civil society organizations, academia and business.

The Public Partnership consultant will be responsible for providing support:
• Building and maintaining relationships with the Central Government, relevant institutions, regional administrations, and other identified partners
• Strategic and Logistical Support
• Stakeholder Engagement and Advocacy
• Risk Assessment and Mitigation
• Preparation of Materials and Briefings
• Additional partnership related support to senior management as needs

The Public Partnership Specialist will report directly to the Country Representative. The Public Partnership Specialist will closely work with the Deputy Representative and other teams in the office.

Work Assignment Overview

1. Task/Milestone: Build and maintain relationships with the Central Government, relevant institutions, regional administrations, and other identified partners
Deliverable/Output:
• Key opportunities for engaging stakeholders to advance UNICEF’s objectives are identified and acted on.
• Advocacy efforts and collaboration with central and local governments are facilitated.
• High-level engagement with government officials and members of the Diplomatic Corps in Kazakhstan is supported.
• UNICEF’s connections with targeted regions are strengthened and effective relationships are maintained.

2. Tasks/Milestones: Strategic and Logistical Support
Deliverable/Output: Strategic, logistical, and programmatic support to senior management and UNICEF staff in public relations engagements and high-level interactions is ensured.

3. Tasks/Milestones: Stakeholder Engagement and Advocacy
Deliverable/Output:
• Mapping of key stakeholders/resource persons is available and regularly updated,
• Engagement strategy defined and approved by UNICEF
• Partners concerns and priorities, ensuring UNICEF’s perspectives are represented in policy and institutional processes.
• Partners are informed about UNICEF’s policies, priorities, and capabilities.

4. Tasks/Milestones: Risk Assessment and Mitigation
Deliverable/Output: Potential risks related to partnerships and mitigation measures are proposed.

5. Tasks/Milestones: Preparation of Materials and Briefings
Deliverable/Output: Background materials, briefing notes, and presentations for the Country Representative are prepared to support meetings and partner engagements.

6. Tasks/Milestones: General Support
Deliverable/Output: Additional partnership-related support to the Country Representative and senior management team is provided as needed.

The Public Partnership Specialist will be based in Astana. UNICEF will provide the necessary Office-based arrangements. The Public Partnership Specialist will undertake some in-country travels which will be planned jointly with UNICEF.

Payments covering fees and travel costs will be made monthly against consultant’s mission report approved by UNICEF.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
• Education: Advanced university degree in public relations, political science, international relations, social sciences, or a related field.
• Expertise/ Experience:
- Minimum of 10 years of experience in public affairs, program management, resource mobilization, external relations, or similar fields.
- Expertise and experience in public relations, international affairs, and negotiations.
- In-depth knowledge of national and local ecosystems and networks
• Key Skills:
- Strong diplomatic communication and negotiation abilities to build and maintain high-level partnerships.
- Experience in outreach and engagement with diverse stakeholders, including government entities, the private sector, academia, and civil society organizations.
- In-depth knowledge of development issues, strategies, and policies related to international cooperation.
- Exceptional networking, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
- Proven ability to work independently, take initiative, and develop innovative approaches to outreach.
• Languages: Fluency in both written and spoken English, Kazakh and Russian languages are required.
• Competencies:
- Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)
- Works Collaboratively with others (1)
- Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)
- Innovates and Embraces Change (1)
- Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)
- Drive to achieve impactful results (1)
- Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

For every Child, you demonstrate…
UNICEF’s core values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability (https://www.unicef.org/about/unicef-culture)

To view our competency framework, please visit here. 

Remarks
Completion of the UN/UNICEF mandatory trainings is obligatory upon commencement of the contract.

All materials developed will remain the copyright of UNICEF and that UNICEF will be free to adapt and modify them in the future. 

Costs indicated are estimated. Final rate shall follow the “best value for money” principle, i.e., achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible fee. Consultants will be asked to stipulate all-inclusive fees, including lump sum travel and subsistence costs, as applicable

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.