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, results.

Purpose of Activity/Assignment

The UNICEF Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (ECARO) supports 25 Country Offices (COs) and territories in their partnerships and resource mobilization efforts. Recognizing the private sector as a vital ally for achieving sustainable results for children, UNICEF ECARO aims to strengthen its engagement with businesses, foundations and philanthropists and secure long-term strategic partnerships.

The Partnerships and Resource Mobilization Consultant will be engaged to provide technical expertise and operational support for securing and growing high-value partnerships, particularly through private sector engagement, across markets in the region.

The Consultant will play a pivotal role in strengthening UNICEF’s high-value fundraising opportunities across Europe and Central Asia. The assignment will support Country Offices and regional programme teams in cultivating and managing high-value prospects, designing tailored engagement strategies, and facilitating innovative approaches to maximize influence and income from businesses. The ability to work across teams to design and deliver compelling proposals is key to the assignment.

Scope of Work

The engagement of a highly skilled Partnerships and Resource Mobilization Consultant with expertise in proposal development and high-value fundraising will significantly strengthen UNICEF ECARO’s ability to mobilize support from high-value audiences. By enhancing engagement strategies and resource mobilization efforts, particularly with business partners, the consultancy will contribute to impactful fundraising and programmatic outcomes in priority areas at both regional and country levels.

Working under the supervision of the ECARO Partnerships Manager (High Value), the Consultant will provide targeted support to ECARO Country Offices by streamlining and systematizing high-value donor mapping, and by preparing high-quality proposals for prospects in the regional pipeline.

The consultancy is expected to directly contribute to the development of high-value partnership proposals for ECARO markets for the duration of the consultancy.

Under the guidance and supervision of the ECARO Partnerships Manager (High Value), and in close collaboration with Country Office and Regional teams, the Consultant will:

1. In collaboration with COs, identify and qualify new high-value prospects with multi-country or high financial potential
2. Support COs in the design and presentation of partnership proposals for ECA-relevant high-value prospects.
3. Strengthen the capacity of COs by providing guidance and technical support on maximizing resource mobilization and strategic business engagement.
4. When required, lead or co-lead direct engagement (bilateral negotiations) with high-value prospects, particularly large companies with potential for multi-country or regional collaboration.
5. Other assignments within partnerships and resource mobilization activities based on the needs of the office and changing funding environment.

Work Assignment Overview

Estimated Duration of the Contract

82 working days between September and December 2025

Consultant's Work Place and Official Travel

The Consultant will be remote/home-based.

Estimated Cost of the Consultancy & Payment Schedule

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 work/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.

Please submit a professional fee (in USD) based on 82 working days to undertake this assignment.

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

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Business Administration, International Development, Marketing or another relevant technical field.
• At least 8 years of relevant professional experience in private sector engagement, partnership development, corporate social responsibility, or related areas.
• Proven experience in developing strategies and roadmaps for private sector collaboration.
• Strong understanding of regional context, and some understanding particularly concerning health, ECCE, ECI, parenting support, and violence prevention.
• Excellent research, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Proficiency in English language skills, reading and writing.
• Knowledge of one or several widely used languages in the region is desired.
• Experience with Child Rights and Business Principles desired.
• Previous engagement with UN and/or UNICEF and knowledge of these organisations is desired.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS), and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most marginalized children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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.

Remarks:

Please submit a full CV and a Cover Letter and in your application. Additionally, indicate your availability and professional fee (in USD) to undertake the terms of reference above. Applications submitted without a professional fee will not be considered. 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 offers reasonable accommodation for consultants 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.