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, answers 

UNICEF Innocenti – Global Office of Research and Foresight drives change for children and young people by generating evidence, collecting data, featuring the voices of children and offering foresight on frontier issues and emerging practices. Our work aims to inform policy and advocacy that will eventually help UNICEF and the global community protect the lives and rights of children, young people and families.

UNICEF Innocenti is sustained by a passionate team of experts. Our research and foresight units are rich and diverse knowledge banks that bring multidisciplinary approaches and informed analysis to research and foresight.

The main purpose of the assignment is to work as part of the Partnerships team to support UNICEF Innocenti - Global Office of Research and Foresight to achieve the goals of the partnerships strategy in delivering convening moments for new and current partners to the office. Under the guidance of the office and in collaboration with UNICEF Private Fundraising and Partnerships Division (PFP), the consultant will support on the creation and delivery of events, convenings and partnership cultivation to support fundraising for the office.
The role will report into the Director's office.

How can you make a difference? 

Lead and coordinate events and convenings on behalf of UNICEF Innocenti that support the growth of the partnerships portfolio; ensuring events are delivered to a high standard, including timely follow-up.

1. Event Management & Delivery

• Create a calendar of annual events and convenings, ensuring each event has a clear objective.
• Keep multiple event timelines and projects moving toward successful completion, noting key milestones and dependencies.
• Monitor and track progress against deliverables, especially event attendance.
• Lead on all logistics for events that are designed purely for income generating activity, with support from UNICEF Innocenti colleagues.
• Lead on events and convenings that provide thought leadership and research/foresight learning offerings and opportunities to current and prospective private sector partners (e.g. Innocenti Partner Days, Family Day, report launches).
• Support the development of 2025 Leading Minds Conference to ensure it includes participants from the private sector and meets their needs. Work with PFP to create a bridge between the conference and the UNICEF International Council Symposium for International Council members.
• Produce high-quality and bespoke experiences that achieve donor engagement and stewardship, including for individuals and NatComs.
• Support on the timely delivery of robust follow-up strategies, including attending meetings with current and prospective partners, creating follow up offers etc.

2. Collaboration

• Ideate with colleagues within Innocenti and across the organization and NatComs on compelling and up-to-date content for outreach and convenings for partners.
• Collaborate with colleagues across the organization to build and manage invitation lists to extend the reach of invitees.
• Engage with Innocenti colleagues to optimize partner engagement through convening opportunities and keep abreast of partnership outreach.

3. Communications & Content

• Lead and/or collaborate on the preparation of compelling talking points and other content for each event to build and grow meaningful relationships with current partners and prospective partners in attendance.
• Create and circulate event briefs, invitations, and other materials to ensure a successful event.
• Curate events with engaging content.
• Ensure all creative material is compelling and motivating for event attendees.

4. Partnerships

• Support on nurturing and development of partnerships, particularly through convening moments and their follow-up.
• Explore speaking and engagement opportunities for UNICEF Innocenti staff with other organizations and partners.
• Support partnerships team as necessary.

Supervision

The consultant will work under the direct supervision of the Director, UNICEF Innocenti - Global Office of Research and Foresight.

If you would like to know more about this opportunity, please review the complete Terms of Reference here:  GORaF-Terms-of-Reference---Consultants--Partnerships and Convening EXT.pdf

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

• A first level university degree (bachelor’s degree or higher) in International Development, International Relations, Business Management, Communications, Public Relations, Marketing or a relevant field is required.
• A minimum of ten years of relevant professional work experience of which a minimum of two years in an international context is required.
• Experience in managing special events, conferences etc tailored to the private sector is required.
• Experience in managing partnerships with a high value audience (Corporate, Foundations, Philanthropists, Governments) is required.
• Knowledge of the principles and practice of fundraising, philanthropy, CSR as well as an understanding of international development is required.
• Experience in managing events budgets, external suppliers and high levels of organization is required.
• Experience in the creation of communication products for a high value audience is required.
• Project management qualifications are desired.
• Knowledge of the UN system is highly desired.
• A master’s level degree in a relevant field is desirable.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset. 
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is desirable.

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.

Remarks:  

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.