Role Overview
Under the leadership of the Senior Advisor for Public and Private Sector Partnerships, this position aims to support the implementation and development of multi-country partnerships with the private sector that have financial and non-financial engagement modalities.
This includes supporting the participation of African companies, as well as key stakeholders such as platforms and associations and Country Offices (COs) in Business engagement and Child Rights and Business (CRB) initiatives that aim to advance programmatic goals. This position will also support COs in their evidence generation, CRB and business engagement strategic planning, monitoring and evaluation initiatives, as well as lead capacity building in the region.
Key Responsibilities
- Partnerships Development and Support: Provide advice and support COs in the identification, development, and finalization of financial and non-financial partnerships/engagements or holistic partnerships, including those requiring CRB, advocacy, or other non-financial elements. This includes due diligence, pitch development, and negotiation, particularly in relation to sensitive industries (e.g. Extractives). Directly interact with prospective partners in the region to develop strong results and provide account management to steward and grow existing partnerships.
- Accelerating Business Engagement through Technical Support and Capacity Building: Support implementation of UNICEF strategic guidance on business engagement, industry engagement, and broader CRB and advocacy/influence. Provide technical guidance to COs and the Regional Office on business engagement (income and influence), training, use of business engagement and CRB tools, and documentation of best practices.
- Business Engagement, Influence and CRB Initiatives: Advise on Business engagement, influence, and CRB initiatives at country level and lead selected multi-country/regional initiatives with industry bodies, business associations, multi-stakeholder platforms, and governments.
- Advancing Programme Outcomes through Business Action: Provide technical guidance to businesses and relevant stakeholders on integrating child rights considerations into their policies, practices, investments, and operations. Lead key industry agendas (e.g., extractive industry) and promote family- and child-friendly policies.
- Integrating Business into Programmes: Provide technical support to COs in integrating business into the analysis and research that informs the Country Programme Document (CPD), Situation Analyses, and monitoring of non-financial engagement indicators.
- Evidence Generation: Lead regional/multi-country and support country initiatives to build evidence around the positive and negative impacts of business activities on children's rights to inform programming and strategic engagement.
- Team Support: Provide support in other related tasks and larger partnership team objectives to ensure an integrated approach.
Qualifications and Requirements
- Education: Advanced university degree in Social Sciences, Development, Business, Corporate Social Responsibility, Public Administration, or related field is required.
- Work Experience: At least 5 years of professional experience in sustainability, human rights, or children's rights is required.
- Language Requirements: Proficiency in English is required.
Desirables
- Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.
- Direct experience in establishing and stewarding partnerships with the private sector in Africa is desirable.
- Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings, and humanitarian contexts is considered an asset.
UNICEF Competencies
- Builds and maintains partnerships
- Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
- Drive to achieve results for impact
- Innovates and embraces change
- Manages ambiguity and complexity
- Thinks and acts strategically
- Works collaboratively with others
- Nurtures, leads and manages people
