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

UNICEF works to realize every child’s rights, everywhere. Grounded in the Convention on the Rights of the Child and guided by the Sustainable Development Goals, UNICEF supports resilient systems and communities through risk-informed programming, social protection and preparedness. As humanitarian and development financing becomes increasingly constrained, UNICEF’s Division of Private Fundraising and Partnerships (PFP) plays a critical role in mobilizing private sector partnerships and resources to drive results for children.

The Innovative Financing for Children (IF4C) function develops child-focused financing tools, structures, market intelligence, convening platforms and partnerships that mobilize or align additional resources for children and make UNICEF resources more efficient and results-oriented. A key area of work is impact financing and related innovative finance solutions, including blended finance, outcome-based financing and results-based financing, that provide additionality to traditional grants and crowd in public and private capital for UNICEF-supported programme priorities. This includes support to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) whose products, services and operations can contribute to improved outcomes for vulnerable children in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). IF4C therefore requires access to individual consultants with specialized expertise in investment case development, financial structuring, feasibility analysis, results frameworks, market engagement, investment-readiness support and operational implementation. Consultants may also support related innovative finance areas, including sovereign debt solutions and pre-arranged financing, where similar expertise is needed for structuring, partnership development, results alignment, financial analysis, governance and implementation support.

Additionally, a firm grip of UN Agency systems is desired as this is key to designing fit-for-purpose solutions across UNICEF Headquarters, Regional Offices and Country Offices. This will allow support of a broader portfolio of initiatives at the intersection of the business cycle and development and humanitarian needs for children.

How can you make a difference?

This roster will enable IF4C to access specialized technical and operational expertise to develop and implement fit-for-purpose impact financing and related innovative finance solutions aligned with UNICEF programme priorities, country-level needs, global and sectoral trends, and the timely roll-out of the IF4C roadmap. It will provide flexible access to complementary expertise as needs arise and support business continuity across IF4C’s priority portfolio.

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this roster is to enable IF4C to engage individual expert consultants to help UNICEF conceptualize, design and implement impact financing and related innovative finance solutions. Support may include market intelligence, investment-readiness analysis, investment cases, feasibility assessments, opportunity scans, financing structure advice, results frameworks, funds-flow models, risk allocation approaches, implementation models, stakeholder engagement and operational support.

Consultants may also support MSME acceleration and scaling workstreams and related innovative financing areas, including sovereign debt solutions and pre-arranged financing where there is overlap. Assignments will involve collaboration with UNICEF Headquarters, Regional Offices and Country Offices across opportunity design, implementation, monitoring, reporting and evaluation.

MAJOR TASKS TO BE ACCOMPLISHED

Individual work orders under the roster will define the scope, level of effort and outputs for each assignment. Depending on needs, consultants may provide:

1. Strategic and market intelligence, opportunity identification and investment-readiness services to help UNICEF assess where impact financing and related innovative finance approaches can add value to UNICEF programme priorities, including through scanning existing

programmes/initiatives or problem statements being explored within UNICEF as well sector scans, feasibility analysis, market gap analysis and stakeholder mapping.

2. Financing modelling, structuring and implementation, partnership development, services to translate viable opportunities into practical models and initiatives, including recommending instruments, due diligence, capital flow options, forecasting, partner roles, governance

arrangements, risk allocation, results frameworks, results triggers and implementation requirements.

3. Technical, resource mobilization, operational, governance and risk management services to advance priority opportunities or drive key decisions. This can be accomplished through reports, presentations partner engagements, including through investment narratives, briefing materials, stakeholder engagement assets, and support tools.

Responsibilities of the Consultant(s):

• The consultant(s) will use their own equipment, including laptops, microphones, software and other accessories that may be required for this task.

• The consultant will not provide the content or any part thereof to any third party without the written permission of UNICEF. All components will be a property of UNICEF, and the consultant will not share them with anyone else.

• The consultant will not include their own name or logo/emblem on the content or final product. The only organization branding will be UNICEF, if required.

• Maintain regular liaison with the relevant UNICEF IF4C managers, content owners, and any related units.

Responsibilities of UNICEF:

• UNICEF will provide all details pertaining to the activity and the requirements.

• UNICEF will orient the consultant on its branding guidelines

• UNICEF will share the documents and specifications with the consultant as they become available and will coordinate the timely delivery of work

DELIVERABLES

TRAVEL

There may be possibility of travel during the assignment on a per-need basis, such as to meetings in Rome, and this will be covered separately by UNICEF.

ESTIMATED DURATION OF ROSTER AND PAYMENT SCHEDULE

The Roster has validity for a maximum of 3 years. However, UNICEF does not guarantee that any quantity of services will be purchased during the term of the Roster as this will depend on forthcoming needs.

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

EDUCATION:

• An Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or higher) in economics, finance, development finance, law, international development, or a closely related field is required. A first university degree in a relevant field combined with three (3) additional years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree especially where the work experience is in financial or fundraising services or results-based financing.

• A minimum of five (5) years of relevant professional experience is required in one or more of the following areas: impact finance, development finance, outcome- or results-based financing, investment advisory, programme finance, resource mobilization, private sector engagement, UN agency programme management, or related innovative finance approaches.

• Demonstrated experience developing or leading investment cases or funding proposals, feasibility studies or market assessments, investment-readiness analyses or strategic analyses, financial structuring, business models, catalytic capital approaches, results frameworks and implementation plans for social impact or development outcomes, is required.

• Demonstrated experience and ability to translate programme priorities into viable financing solutions is required, including identifying market gaps, assessing investor and partner engagements and project implementation.

• Experience supporting Micro, Small, Medium Enterprises, venture building, technical assistance facilities, impact measurement and management, or enterprise-focused programme design in low- and middle-income countries is considered a strong asset.

• Demonstrated experience and ability to work strategically and proactively across cross-functional teams and multi-stakeholder partnerships, including with UN agencies, governments, development finance institutions, multilateral development banks, foundations, donors, investors, intermediaries, private sector actors and social enterprises, is required.

• Demonstrated ability to proactively manage assignments under competing timelines, synthesize complex technical and financial information, and produce clear, high-quality written outputs for senior, technical and external audiences, is required.

Language:

• Fluency in English is required; knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish) is considered an asset.

Others:

• Excellent planning and organizing skills.

• Exceptional interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, multi-cultural environment.

FINANCIAL PROPOSAL

Roster Financial Proposal.pdf

HOW TO APPLY

The application to be submitted through the online portal should contain three separate attachments:

i. A Cover letter explaining the motivation for applying and explaining how the qualifications and skillset of the candidate (to be uploaded online).

ii. Curriculum Vitae (CV) (to be uploaded online).

iii. A financial proposal indicating professional fee as per the above template. Please do not forget to specify your name in the file while saving. (to be uploaded online under “Financial Proposal” tab).

iv. The application should include a portfolio of sample work (portfolio of work). Sample works can include (investment cases or concept notes, feasibility studies, market assessments/scans or opportunity analysis, funds flow models, opinion papers, results frameworks, theories of change, structuring notes or reports contributed to with description of tasks.). Applications submitted without at least 3 samples of work will not be considered. Important Note: Please do not indicate financials anywhere else in the online application form, please mark "n/a or 00", under the fee related questions in the online application form.

Without all the above documents your application will be considered incomplete and invalid and will not be considered further.

• Any attempt to unduly influence UNICEF’s selection process will lead to automatic disqualification of the applicant.

• Joint applications of two or more individuals are not accepted.

• Please note, UNICEF does not charge any fee during any stage of the process.

• UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion and encourages qualified candidates from all backgrounds including persons living with disabilities to apply.

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:

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 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.

Roster: Engagement of Individual Consultants to Develop Impact Financing and Related Innovative Finance Solutions for Innovative Finance for Children (IF4C), PFP (home-based)