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, LOVE

Vacancy Announcement: Consultant

Consultancy Title: Social and Behaviour Change – SBC Investment Cases and Resource Mobilization Products

Section/Division/Duty Station: Social and Behaviour Change PGLT / Programmes Group, NYHQ

Duration: 1 October 2023 – 29 February 2023

Home/ office Based: REMOTE

About UNICEF

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world’s leading children’s rights organization would like to hear from you. For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children’s survival, protection and development. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. UNICEF has over 12,000 staff in more than 145 countries.

BACKGROUND

Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) is a key component of UNICEF’s work and one of its change strategies. SBC’s focus on community engagement and social behavioral drivers that influence the lives of children are key to UNICEF results. In each sector, UNICEF objectives revolve around the adoption of positive and protective practices for children. SBC pursues the transformation needed to make societies more inclusive, equitable and peaceful.  All these changes are SBC results which contribute to achieving Human Rights for Children and their communities.

Social Behavior Change and Community Engagement (SBC, CE) are central to achieving each of the goals of UNICEF’s current Strategic Plan (SP) 2022-2025. Social Behavior Change is a “change strategy” that aims to drive and prioritize more science-based and participatory approaches across its programmes and organizational priorities integral to development and humanitarian work. There have been several organizational milestones to advance the positioning, and institutional strengthening of SBC. One of the recent milestones has been the release of the first UNICEF SBC Program Guidance that was developed through a global consultative effort that included hundreds of contributors within UNICEF, SBC technical experts, as well as partners that engage with governments, and civil society.

One of the critical components of SBC, CE work is partnerships across multiple types of fora that encompass technical, financial as well as non-financial engagement at global, regional and country level that could accelerate the progress towards SBC, CE results that contribute to achieving sustainable development outcomes for children and communities. This includes coherence across the humanitarian and development agendas, within UNICEF and interagency platforms, and specifically guiding global investments of resources in SBC, CE interventions critical to achieving the broader development and human rights outcomes.

This requires the development of investment cases, and resource mobilization products that succinctly articulate the novel approaches as well as resource requirements to achieve SBC, CE commitments.

Purpose of Activity/Assignment: 

The SBC Section in the Programme Group Leadership Team of the Programmes Group at UNICEF Headquarters is seeking an individual consultant to complete deliverables as related to:

1.    Develop a set of investment cases and value propositions (sector- and thematic-specific) that capture the emerging priorities for investments in SBC, CE.

2.    Develop region-specific resources (proposals/concepts narratives or infographics) to be used for resource mobilization with specific donors or funders

Scope of Work:

The work will be in managed by the SBC Partnerships Specialist to support the on-going commitments in collaboration with existing internal initiatives for fundraising with regional and country colleagues. The work will entail the following areas of work that should be developed simultaneously:

 1. Develop a set of investment cases and value propositions (sector- and thematic-specific) that capture the emerging priorities for investments in SBC, CE:

• 1(a) Based on a desk review of key documents, strategies etc. and key informant interviews with UNICEF staff in HQ, regional and country offices, scope main avenues for SBC fundraising, global funds, donors with earmarked financial commitments for SBC, CE based on the current SBC, CE approaches, interventions and implementing strategies.
• 1(b) The consultant will develop and submit a short paper/matrix identifying for each of the priority areas the potential donors and partners, their interests, the proposed angle and resource mobilization approaches for UNICEF for each of these potential donors and partners, tailored to different regions.
• 1 (c) Following the development of the matrix above, consolidate the process to prioritize and develop a set of investment cases and value propositions, and the required inputs and stakeholders. The investment cases will describe the challenges in each of the priority areas and will clearly articulate the contribution of SBC to address these challenges and contribute to sustainable results at scale. The investment cases will consider different delivery platforms and system-strengthening approaches, aiming to build national capacities to address identified challenges and advance results for children. These investment cases would align with the existing core set of UNICEF investment cases, namely Health, Education, Nutrition, Child Protection, Mental Health, Climate, Social Policy, Gender Equality, Humanitarian, SBC Data and Evidence Generation, Early Childhood Development.
• 1 (d) Support the development/organization of webinar(s) with SBC, CE leads and specialists engaged within the SBC Global Technical Team, to present the investment cases and establish principles for effective fundraising at different levels.

2. Develop region-specific resources (proposals/concepts narratives or infographics) to be used for specific donors or funders

Develop region-specific thematic concept notes/proposals targeting specific donors or fund-raising priority, nuancing SBC systems-strengthening contributions that define regionally contextualized conditions and outcomes, e.g. policy processes, institutionalized capacity development, coordination, financing entry points, etc. (up to 7 thematic notes/proposals; 1 per region to be demand-driven/co-developed).

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

1. Design, develop and co-create a set of investment cases and value propositions:

1. 1. Desk review to provide technical scoping on entry points specifically with potential donors (public sector, international financial institutions (IFIs) and global funds), including matrix of prioritized areas for SBC resource mobilization engagement.
   2. 12 SBC narratives and value propositions, aligned with twelve (12) institutional thematic investment cases (concise, 1–2-page briefs);
   3. Two (2) orientation webinars on fundraising approaches and resources with different funders.

2. Develop region-specific resources with regional teams based on priority areas identified by region:

1. 1. Develop 1-2 thematic notes/proposals per region, or a total of 7 thematic notes/proposals.

The technical proposal for this consultancy should include a proposed timeline with the corresponding items specified in scope of work for the above deliverables

Qualifications

Education:

• Master’s or advanced degree in Social Sciences, Public Finance, Public Policy, Economics, International or Public Affairs, or other relevant disciplines is required.
• Oral and written proficiency in English is required. (Knowledge of another UN language is desirable for engagement with regions)

Work experience:

• General Experience: 8 years of experience in programme management, partnerships development, resource mobilization (including donor engagement)
• Thematic Experience: Prior experience leading partnership and resource mobilization efforts, specifically for sectors relevant to Social and Behaviour Change (private sector engagement, gender programming, social policy, social inclusion, etc.)
• Technical Abilities: Proven ability to conceptualize, plan and execute partnership, resource mobilization, fundraising ideas as well as ensuring co-creation throughout the development processes of products.
• Organizational Experience: Solid technical knowledge of UNICEF (or other UN/ international organizations) approach to fundraising and partnerships
• Skills: Developing fundraising products, specifically for Social and Behaviour Change.
• Reporting: Strong writing skills.
• Knowledge: Familiarity with key UNICEF SBC organizational processes. 

Requirements: 

Completed profile in UNICEF’s e-Recruitment system and

• Upload copy of academic credentials
• Financial proposal that will include/ reflect:
  • the costs per each deliverable and the total lump-sum for the whole assignment (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference.
  • travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR.
  • Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.
  • Indicate your availability
• Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.
• At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.
• Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

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

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. View our competency framework at: Here

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.

Remarks: 

Individuals engaged under a consultancy 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. Consultants 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.