Consultant (7 months, office-based): Flagship Innovative Financing Consultant, IF4C, Division of Private Fundraising and Partnerships (PFP)

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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, hope

UNICEF has set out ambitious goals for its 2022-2025 Strategic Plan to accelerate progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Division of Private Fundraising and Partnerships (PFP), based in Geneva, aims to achieve results for children by maximizing UNICEF’s private sector fundraising, partnerships, and engagement activities, including work with National Committees, regional and country offices, and other HQ Divisions.
The PFP Innovative Finance for Children (IF4C) team enables, drives, and accelerates innovative alternative financing and funding solutions for children in partnership with the Private Sector through initiatives that attract investments for climate change, environment, and disaster risk reduction.
As part of its implementation of IF4C, UNICEF has partnered with UNDP on a Joint Global Finance Flagship Initiative (“the Flagship”), applying joint and innovative financing approaches at a global, regional and country level to accelerate public and private financing for SDGs and children. The Flagship is built on UNDP’s strengths in innovative financing coupled with UNICEF’s experience and expertise in designing and delivering children’s programmes and its unique ability to build an “enabling environment” to resource and support innovative financing ventures with the global private sector.

How can you make a difference?

Scope of Work:

Reporting to the Chief, Innovative & Alternative Finance for Children (PFP IF4C), the Innovative Financing Consultant will initiate and lead specific activities to deliver on the implementation of the new Global Vision & Strategy for IF4C at UNICEF. These activities will include exploring various methods of structuring new innovative financing mechanisms, with a focus on moving forward for the Flagship a Joint Private Sector Financing Facility (JPSFF), which will focus on: i) exploring relevant, innovative financial mechanisms to help solve programmatic challenges on the ground; ii) identifying opportunities and relevant sources of funding for these mechanisms; and iii) structuring effective frameworks and modalities to attract and effectively engage private sector capital to support their operations.

Work Assignments Overview

– UNDP – UNICEF Joint Private Sector Financing Facility (“JPSF”) Project Support

– UNDP – UNICEF Joint Private Sector Financing Facility (“JPSF”) Project Support & IF4C Priority 1 / 2 Project Support

– UNDP – UNICEF Joint Private Sector Financing Facility (“JPSF”) Project Support &  PFP IF4C Support

Deliverables/Outputs

By end of December 2023

• Consultancy project plan with key milestones, stakeholder inputs, and timelines developed
• PFP final draft procedure for engagement with Asset Managers developed for DFAM.
• JPSF Programme Presentation for UNICEF PFP / IF4C Executive Management.
• Prepare JPSF Monthly Progress Update Presentation template for UNICEF PFP / IF4C Director(s), with key milestones to execute JPSF.
• Coordinate and document weekly / bi-weekly UNDP – UNICEF JPSF project team coordination calls whenever held.
• Prepare detailed recommendations on a Project Initiation Plan phase to launch the project.

By end of January 2024

• JPSF Monthly Progress Update Presentation for UNICEF PFP / IF4C Director(s) updated.
• Coordinate and document at least one UNDP – UNICEF JPSF project team coordination call whenever held.
• JPSF Pipeline Development Report – example: Africa Early Childhood Education: Prepare assessment report, including key recommendations, on programme design and suitability for JPSF financing.
• Review and comment on the next draft of the UNICEF Child Lens Investment Framework once it is shared by the Office of Innovation Finance Hub (the timeline of this deliverable is subject to the next version of the report being shared with PFP IF4C).

By end of February 2024

• JPSF Monthly Progress Update Presentation for UNICEF PFP / IF4C Director(s) updated, including recommended next steps for operationalizing the JPSF.
• Coordinate and document at least one UNDP – UNICEF JPSF project team coordination call whenever held.
• IF4C Priority 1 / 2 Project Support: Coordinate meeting with UNDP JPSF Project Lead and UNICEF Office or Innovation Finance Hub with respect to integrating UNICEF Child Lens Investment Framework in UNDP SDG Standards.
• Subject to approval of JPSF programme, convene and structure JPSF execution meetings with at least 1 JPSF stakeholder – DFAM, Office of Legal Affairs, PPD, PFP (Communications), the Multi-Party Trust Fund Office, and UNDP on the development of financial, legal, donor, and communication elements to operationalize the JPSF – documenting the meetings and coordinating the execution of the required next steps.

By end of March 2024

• JPSF Monthly Progress Update Presentation for UNICEF PFP / IF4C Director(s) updated.
• Coordinate and document at least one UNDP – UNICEF JPSF project team coordination call whenever held.
• JPSF Pipeline Development Report – example: Learning Passport: Prepare assessment report, including key recommendations, on programme design and suitability for JPSF financing.
• Prepare a detailed terms of reference for an independently commissioned project to develop a Business Plan (Programme Document) for the JPSF and provide recommendations on qualified consulting firms to undertake the project.
• Prepare terms of reference for an independent study to be undertaken by an external firm on screening and recommending relevant, reputable Fund Managers experienced in credit fund management in developing countries as prospective blended finance programme partners.
• Subject to approval of JPSF programme, convene and structure JPSF execution meetings with at least 1 JPSF stakeholder – DFAM, Office of Legal Affairs, PPD, PFP (Communications), the Multi-Party Trust Fund Office, and UNDP on the development of financial, legal, donor, and communication elements to operationalize the JPSF – documenting the meetings and coordinating the execution of the required next steps.

By end of April 2024

• JPSF Monthly Progress Update Presentation for UNICEF PFP / IF4C Director(s) updated.
• Coordinate and document at least one UNDP – UNICEF JPSF project team coordination call whenever held.
• Prepare detailed recommendation for an internal PFP Procedure for Partnerships with Fund Managers for programme associated blended finance programmes.
• Design and conduct an internal introductory workshop for the PFP IF4C and OOI Finance Hub teams on Impact/development finance.
• Subject to approval of JPSF programme, convene and structure JPSF execution meetings with at least 1 JPSF stakeholder – DFAM, Office of Legal Affairs, PPD, PFP (Communications), the Multi-Party Trust Fund Office, and UNDP on the development of financial, legal, donor, and communication elements to operationalize the JPSF – documenting the meetings and coordinating the execution of the required next steps.

By end of May 2024

• JPSF Monthly Progress Update Presentation for UNICEF PFP / IF4C Director(s) updated
• Coordinate and document at least one UNDP – UNICEF JPSF project team coordination call whenever held.
• Prepare report with detailed design recommendations for a Catalytic Capital Programme, including guidelines for investment strategy, investment products, process, and criteria.
• Recommend a transaction structure for a prospective Islamic Regions Zakat Backed Bond (Sukuk) Programme to finance emergency responses with PPP / PSFR.
• Subject to approval of JPSF programme, convene and structure JPSF execution meetings with at least 1 JPSF stakeholder – DFAM, Office of Legal Affairs, PPD, PFP (Communications), the Multi-Party Trust Fund Office, and UNDP on the development of financial, legal, donor, and communication elements to operationalize the JPSF – documenting the meetings and coordinating the execution of the required next steps

By end of June 2024

• JPSF Monthly Progress Update Presentation for UNICEF PFP / IF4C Director(s) updated
• Coordinate and document at least one UNDP – UNICEF JPSF project team coordination call whenever held.
• JPSF Pipeline Development Report – example: Supplier Finance: Prepare assessment report, including key recommendations, on programme design and suitability for JPSF financing.
• Subject to approval of JPSF programme, convene and structure JPSF execution meetings with at least 1 JPSF stakeholder – DFAM, Office of Legal Affairs, PPD, PFP (Communications), the Multi-Party Trust Fund Office, and UNDP on the development of financial, legal, donor, and communication elements to operationalize the JPSF – documenting the meetings and providing a recommendation on executing the next steps.

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

Education:

• Advanced university degree in international development, finance, economics, public or business administration or closely related fields required. A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree .

Experience:

• Minimum of 12 years of relevant work experience at national and international levels in international finance, ESG/impact investing, principal investing role in an international development finance institution, private equity, private credit, investment banking, structured finance, strategy consulting, or other related fields.
• Combination of commercial private equity and/or private credit/structured finance and development finance / impact investing experience shall be highly desirable.
• Strong working knowledge and prior work experience in national and/or international development shall be highly valuable.
• Prior experience working with Innovative partnerships or financial innovation, as well as diverse stakeholder groups or multi-stakeholder partnerships as well as resource mobilization/capital formation from private sector partners as well as DFIs, et. al. Specific experience working with Europe partners is desirable.
• Experience in/knowledge of the UN system and knowledge of UNICEF’s work would be a strong asset.

Language:

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of an additional UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish) is desirable.

Other:

• Strategic and global thinking and analytical ability.
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal and communications skills.
• Combination of self-driven, motivated, passionate about achieving result.
• Ability to conceptualize, plan and execute ideas as well as to manage projects.

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.

Remarks: 

Please indicate in your application the all-inclusive (lump sum) fees in USD against the deliverables listed above. If there is a need for business travel, the travel costs will be covered by UNICEF separately. The office selects the individual based on best value for money.  

Costs indicated are estimated. Final rate shall follow the “best value for money” principle, i.e., achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible fee. 

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 here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors 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.

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.

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