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.

The Division of Private Fundraising and Partnerships (PFP), based in Geneva, aims to achieve results for children by to accelerate income and influence from the private sector to support the delivery of Strategic Plan goals towards the SDGs.

Hence, a strategic shift for 2022-2025 is to accelerate Financing for Children, including innovative/alternative finance, blended finance, and public-private partnerships to leverage and grow income for children. This is a key strategy for accelerating both income and influence from partnerships and engagement with the private sector in line with the forthcoming UNICEF Innovative Financing for Children (IF4C) Global Vision and Strategy.

For every child, a champion

This role will lead on the innovative and alternative finance portfolio in PFP, in close coordination with other sections within the division, key National Committee (NCs) for UNICEF, Regional and Country Offices, the office of the Deputy Executive Director, Partnerships (and its Principal Adviser, IF4C), as well as other divisions, particularly the Divisions of Financial and Administration Management (DFAM) and Public Partnerships (PPD), as well as the Office of Innovation, the Supply Division, the Office of the Chief Legal Counsel, Office of Emergency Programmes (EMOPS) and the Programme Group (PG).

The incumbent will lead and coordinate innovative and alternative finance work related to the private sector across the division. This will be achieved through a matrixed management approach whereas the incumbent will be hosted in the Outreach and Engagement Section and report to the Deputy Directors for Outreach & Engagement; Private Sector Fundraising and Partnerships; Operations & Finance; and Country Relations, for outputs related to their respective portfolios. Overall steer and guidance will also be provided by the Director, PFP, particularly for global-level engagement.

How can you make a difference?

The incumbent will drive:

• Thought leadership on innovative and alternative finance (private sector) as the technical lead.
• Development of related policies, procedures, guidance notes; and management of tools, initiatives, instruments and partnerships related to innovative and alternative finance and/or with the financial sector.
• A harmonious, effective and coherent team approach to innovative and alternative finance across the division and the UNICEF private sector ecosystem.
• Strategy/action plan development, coordination, implementation, monitoring and reporting.
• Close and coordinated collaboration with NCs for UNICEF and other UNICEF divisions.
• Internal information sharing, knowledge management, capacity building, and communication on innovative and alternative finance (private sector).
• External partnerships and networking on innovative and alternative finance in view of driving income and influence for children.

More specifically:

1. Under the supervision of the Deputy Director, Outreach & Engagement, and in close collaboration with other teams, the incumbent will:

1. Lead overall strategic planning and monitoring for innovative/alternative finance in PFP, including:
• Developing and leading the matrixed implementation of an Innovative/Alternative Financing Private Sector Operating Plan, relevant procedures and guidance in coordination with other Deputy Directors, and in alignment with the objectives of the PFP Office Management Plan and the Strategic Plan. This includes monitoring progress; providing solutions and addressing bottlenecks in a timely manner, in close coordination National Committees, Regional Offices, and other relevant teams.
• Representing PFP for the development, refinement, and management of UNICEF Innovative Financing for Children (IF4C) Global Strategy.
• Designing, developing and managing a process for regularly setting, tracking, evaluating, and presenting progress on innovative/alternative finance priorities for PFP.
• Management of budget for innovative/alternative finance-related activities
• Contribution to divisional planning, monitoring and evaluation tasks as needed.
2. Provide technical advice, capacity building, knowledge management and requisite support to Regional Offices and Country Offices on the feasible field application of innovative and alternative finance instruments to increase results for children, collaboratively with the Country Office Development and Support team, Regional Support Centres, and other teams and divisions as needed.
3. Intra- and Inter-divisional collaboration and exchanges on innovative and alternative finance. Promote information sharing, collaboration, knowledge management, and communication on innovative and alternative finance (private sector) with other teams in PFP and other divisions and offices. In particular, in close collaboration with the Principal Adviser, Innovative and Alternative Finance for Children in the Office of the Deputy Executive Director (Partnerships);
• Contribute towards interdivisional teamwork on corporate priorities in innovative and alternative finance; and foster collaboration and exchanges with other divisions, particularly the Divisions of Financial and Administration Management (DFAM) and Public Partnerships (PPD), as well as the Office of Innovation, the Supply Division, the Office of the Chief Legal Counsel and Office of Emergency Programmes and Programme Group.
• Work with the Office of Innovation, especially its Helsinki-based hub, to ensure a harmonized and coherent approach, and streamlined communication on innovative and alternative finance work across the objectives of both divisions.
• In collaboration with the Office of the Chief Legal Counsel, support and facilitate, as needed, legal aspects of partnerships involving the finance sector and/or innovative and alternative finance components.
4. Inter-agency collaboration:
• Promote collaboration and information exchange with other UN organizations on innovative and alternative finance, including in global United Nations platforms.
• Contribute to the UNDP-UNICEF joint Finance Flagship work led by the Office of the Deputy Executive Director (Partnerships)

2.Under the supervision of the Deputy Director, Private Sector Fundraising and Partnerships (PSFP), and in close collaboration with other teams, the incumbent will:

1. Develop, strengthen and deploy innovative development financing instruments and impact investing vehicles to mobilize $2 billion of financing (including $500 million in additional funding) for children from the public and private sectors in 2022-2025.
2. Ensure efficient coordination between the IF4C community and the specific teams at the PSFP section on all IF4C matters related to companies, foundations, multi-stakeholder partnerships and philanthropists.
3. In collaboration with relevant PSFP teams, National Committees for UNICEF and Regional or Country Offices, provide technical advice and contribute to the development and management of partnerships with the finance sector, and/or foundations, corporates, major donors or multi-stakeholder platforms involving an element of innovative and/or alternative finance.
4. In close collaboration with the Principal Adviser, IF4C, the Global Philanthropy and Corporate teams, National Committees for UNICEF and Regional or Country Offices, DFAM and other members of the IF4C community, provide technical advice and contribute to the development of social impact investment vehicles that can be relevant to the philanthropists contributing to UNCEF work worldwide.
5. In close collaboration with the Corporate team and National Committees, design and implement strategies and partnerships to influence the investment practices of the finance sector to redefine industry standards, leverage additional investments globally in under-funded and/or catalytic areas (with relevant Programme Group sectors) to drive results for children towards the Strategic Plan.
6. Support the positioning of innovative and alternative finance for children in multi-stakeholder platforms, in close collaboration with the Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships team.
7. Contribute to efforts to expand the portfolio of funds available to invest in the fundraising activities of Country Offices and National Committees for UNICEF
8. Together with the Partnerships Manager (Financial Innovation Lab), lead the Financial Innovation Lab established in 2018 and its network of practitioners across Country and Regional Offices and National Committees.

3. Under the supervision of the Deputy Director, Operations & Finance, and in close collaboration with other teams, divisions and National Committees for UNICEF, the incumbent will:

1. Work closely with the Finance and Risk Management teams to ensure early engagement of relevant DFAM teams and to ensure related risks are identified and managed.
2. Jointly with the finance and risk & policy teams, and in close collaboration with DFAM, support the development, refinement, and management of systems, regulatory content, tools and instruments related to innovative and alternative finance (private sector) and partnerships with the financial sector (together with PSFP teams).
3. Working closely with the Risk Management Team, ensure risk analysis and management of innovative and alternative finance (private sector) instruments and ensure they are appropriately reflected in the division’s risk register as appropriate.  
4. Work closely with the Partnerships Advisory Support Services team on the due diligence of potential partners in the financial sector and/or for partnerships involving innovative and/or alternative finance components.
5. Produce analyses of financial innovation mechanisms, including projections, in collaboration with the finance team and DFAM.
6. Lead on all related financial reporting in close collaboration with the Finance team, including reports requested by the UNICEF Executive Board and other stakeholders.

4. Under the supervision of the Deputy Director, Country Relations, and in close collaboration with other teams and National Committees for UNICEF, the incumbent will:

1. Foster effective collaboration and information exchange with NCs for UNICEF on innovative and alternative finance and related partnerships and initiatives by building mutual understanding; addressing emerging challenges and opportunities in a timely and joined-up manner across the UNICEF private sector ecosystem.
2. Advise and support NCs capacity building to leverage alternative/innovative financial structures and solutions.
3. Support and contribute to strategic discussions on alternative and innovative finance in the Standing Group of NCs and other fora’s with NCs.
4. Support the reviews of the Joint Strategic Plans and Joint Engagement Plans with NCs as relate to innovative and alternative finance
5. Support the Deputy Director, Country Relations in the mitigation and management of risks associated with NCs for UNICEF with regards to innovative and alternative finance and related partnerships.

5. Management of staff

1. Provides direct leadership and management to a small team.

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

Education:

• An advanced university degree in Finance, Economics, Business Administration, Political Science, International Relations, or another relevant technical field.
• Alternatively, a first-level university degree in a relevant field combined with an additional 2 years of professional experience at the international level may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• A minimum of 10 years of relevant work experience.
• Experience in finance and/or financing in either the public or private sector is required, with a preference for experience in the private sector.
• Experience and knowledge of UNICEF, and its National Committee, is a strong asset.
• Experience in field or regional and country offices, especially on private sector fundraising, is an asset. UN experience would be an asset.
• Experience working at the international and/or global level is strongly preferred.
• High political acumen, principled and demonstrated ability for leadership, negotiation, conflict resolution, diplomacy, and a solutions-oriented approach is necessary.
• Experience in managing a team with demonstrated people-centric management skills. Demonstrable record in convening multi-disciplinary teams for delivery of results and impact at a large scale is a strong asset. Practical experience working in a matrixed organizational structure is also an asset.
• Demonstrated track record in driving collaboration across organizational layers and silos to deliver results.
• Superior interpersonal and communication skills (both oral and writing) are a must, with the ability to easily communicate complex ideas to non-expert audiences.
• Experience in strategic planning, particularly the development, monitoring and implementation of strategies and action plans is a strong asset.
• A strong network of contacts in the private sector, international financial institutions, academia, United Nations organizations, and other key stakeholders in the field of innovative finance is an asset; plus, expertise in the areas of alternative/innovative finance, including venture capital and funds, is an asset.

Language Requirements

• Fluency in English is required with advanced written and oral proficiency. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish) is a strong asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: https://uni.cf/UNICEFValues

UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

• Nurtures, leads, and manages people (2)
• Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (2)
• Works collaboratively with others (2)
• Builds and maintains partnerships (2)
• Innovates and embraces change (2)
• Thinks and acts strategically (2)
• Drives to achieve impactful results (2)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

UNICEF 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.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

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:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

UNICEF PFP-Geneva is currently reviewing organizational changes; therefore, the exact future location of the post is still under consideration/to be determined. Candidates may be asked to commence duties remotely. Should the selected candidate be assigned and relocate to Geneva, they may later be asked to relocate and be assigned to another location during the initial contract or assignment period.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.