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

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

How can you make a difference?

The post is located in the Middle East and North Africa Regional Office (MENARO). MENA is comprised of 15 Country Offices and one Area Office, which include High Income Countries (HICs), Middle Income Countries and Least Developed Countries.  MENA counts two countries currently under emergency Level 3 status, and is home to some of the world’s longest protracted crises, such as Syria, Yemen; and, Palestine. The country contexts in the region span humanitarian and development programming; HICs and countries contributing towards global fundraising and partnerships through regional initiatives based in the five gulf countries – to name some of the areas of intervention.

The position reports to the Regional Advisor, Partnerships and is a member of a team currently comprised of 3 P4s, one of which is vacant.

The position’s purpose is twofold:  i) to support the Regional Advisor, Partnership, in activities around resource mobilization and reporting on donor funding, and ii) to support the Donor Relations Manager in overseeing and coordination of ‘PROSPECTS’ partnership in the MENA region. The PROSPECTS’ partnership is a cross-regional and interagency partnership funded by the Government of the Netherlands, bringing together five UN agencies, namely the International Finance Corporation (IFC), International Labour Organization (ILO), United Nations

High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and the World Bank (WB) around the agenda of “Inclusive Jobs and Education for Forcibly Displaced Persons and Host Communities”. The partnership runs  between 2019 and 2023. and intends to develop a new paradigm in responding to forced displacement crises through the involvement of development actors as well as governments and the private sector. It is being executed in eight countries. In the Middle East and North Africa region the countries are – Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Sudan. In the East and Horn of Africa region the countries are – Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda.

The specific activities under the referred purpose of the post is therefore to support the following key areas both at the regional, cross-regional, cross-country, headquarters and interagency levels as relevant: coordination, development of key fundraising documents, knowledge management, contribution/grant management, donor reporting, donor recognition/visibility, analysis and planning of key workshops, events and meetings (both internal and external, cross regional and cross country).

Key Responsibilities and Tasks:

1. Coordination: Contribute to the coordination and implementation of UNICEF’s strategy and work plan for ‘PROSPECTS’ in the region, to ensure timely and cost-effective delivery of results.
2. Knowledge Management: Contribute to the generation, sharing and management of knowledge and evidence generated under ‘PROSPECTS’ at the country and/or regional level as well as headquarters.
3. Fundraising Documents: Support the compiling, editing and submission of concept notes, proposals, updates, in consultation with programme sections. Provide inputs for briefing notes as needed.
4. Contribution Management: Support contribution management processes through funds management, fund utilization rate monitoring, collation and storage of relevant data.
5. Donor Reporting: Update and maintain information on all  programme reporting requirements in the region, while prioritizing reporting under PROSPECTS’ Partnership. Ensure that programme sections and country offices are updated on these requirements and follow up as required, including provision of accurate, high quality and timely reports to donors and partners. Maintain archives for all reports and proposals.
6. Planning of Activites/Meetings: Support with arranging both internal and external meetings and taking minutes, as needed.
7. Other Duties: Perform other related duties as assigned to ensure the success of the regional office partnerships and resource mobilisation team, including supporting the establishment and/or strengthening of collaboration with other key stakeholders in MENA beyond ‘PROSPECTS’, and providing an interface for environmental scanning, knowledge exchange, and resource mobilization. S/He may also serve as a focal point and resource for colleagues on specific thematic areas of strategic relevance for partnership development. The key result is to support in creating a strong base of partners in support of UNICEF’s mission in the region.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: JD Partnership Officer P-2.docx

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

Education:

•  A university degree is required in one of the following fields: international relations, political science, communications, international development, or another relevant technical field.

Work Experience: 

• A minimum of two years of professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required: public affairs, donor relations, programme management, resource mobilization, external relations, or other relevant area. Experience with UNICEF and in the MENA region is an asset. Experience with multi stakeholder partnerships.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or local language of the duty station is considered as an 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: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

1. Builds and maintains partnerships.
2. Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness.
3. Drive to achieve results for impact.
4. Innovates and embraces change.
5. Manages ambiguity and complexity.
6. Thinks and acts strategically.
7. Works collaboratively with others.

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 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.
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 is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children.

Remarks:

The VA is open to all (internal and external candidates).

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates are encouraged to apply.

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 are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be cancelled.

UNICEF only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/

All selected candidates will 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.

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.

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

Eligible UNICEF International Professional (IP) Staff Members on fixed-term, continuing or permanent contracts applying to a Temporary Appointment, which is dedicated to L3 (or L2) Response, may be able to retain a lien and their fixed-term entitlements. The conditions of the temporary assignment will vary depending on the status of their post and their current tour of duty, and relocation entitlements may be limited as per the relevant policies.