Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)

H (no hardship)

Family

CONS International

2024-09-23

September 12, 2024

UNHCR is committed to ensuring that displaced people have equitable access to digital technology and channels and can safely use them to pursue opportunities for lifelong learning, inclusion in the digital economy, leisure, and solutions. UNHCR’s Digital Inclusion programme aims to ensure that refugees and the communities that host them have the right, and the choice, to be included in a connected society, and can have their voices heard in the design and implementation of humanitarian response. This programme is led by UNHCR’s Innovation Service and utilises innovative approaches, tools, and methodologies to achieve its goals – encouraging community-centric creative approaches that address identified challenges.
UNHCR’s Innovation Service is exploring novel approaches to advance digital inclusion by building bridges between displaced people and the video game industry and related industries and communities. The initiative aims to lay the foundation for refugees to actively participate in various roles within the realm of video games – helping to address the digital divide facing refugees and boost their wellbeing and self-reliance. We see this as the first step toward a future where refugees find joy, community, and opportunity in games and the video game industry; where refugees compete at the highest levels of esports and develop pathbreaking games to share their stories with the world; and where they can earn a living doing what they love.
In that context, the international consultant will work closely with colleagues in UNHCR’s Innovation Service (IS), the Private Sector Partnerships Service (PSP) and Private Partnerships and Philanthropy Section (PPH), reporting to the Innovation Officer (Programme Lead) at the Innovation Service Digital Innovation Programme.
The objective of the assignment is to secure partnerships and funding for UNHCR’s Digital Leisure portfolio from stakeholders within the video game and related industries including esports and provide strategic guidance to UNHCR for its engagement with these industries.
Based on the Innovation Service’s Digital Innovation Programme and in line with relevant strategic documents and publications (e.g. The Digital Leisure Divide and the Forcibly Displaced, UNHCR’s Private Sector Engagement Strategy, Co-creating the future of refugee gaming and others ) the consultant will leverage their expertise and network within the industry to develop a fundraising strategy, identify and approach potential donors and secure commitments.
Duties and responsibilities:
1. Stakeholder mapping and fundraising recommendations
• Conduct a thorough analysis of potential funding sources for UNHCR’s Digital Leisure portfolio within the video game, ICT and related industries, including an internal assessment of ongoing partnerships and engagements in coordination with PSP regional focal points.
• Develop a fundraising plan, including a list of target companies, donors, and other funding opportunities, broken down by influence and alignment with UNHCR.
• Offer strategic guidance to UNHCR teams on engagement with the industry and gaming communities.
2. Proposal and pitch development
• Support the team in crafting comprehensive funding proposals for UNHCR’s Digital Leisure portfolio, including detailed project descriptions, budgets, and impact analyses.
• Develop and refine pitch materials for UNHCR’s Digital Leisure portfolio tailored to industry stakeholders.
3. Stakeholder engagement
• Identify and establish relationships with key stakeholders in the video game industry, including publishers, developers, esports associations and others.
• Work with the team to prepare and deliver compelling presentations to potential funders and ensure the coordination of necessary follow-ups.

Deliverables
Phase I – from 23.09.2024 to 31.12.2024
1. Stakeholder mapping report
Identifying key stakeholders and potential funding sources for UNHCR’s Digital Leisure portfolio within the video game industry and related ICT industries, including publishers, developers, esports associations, and others. Compiling contact details, potential points of engagement, and prioritization based on influence and alignment with UNHCR’s mandate and Private Sector Engagement Strategy.
2. Fundraising recommendations
Outlining recommended approaches to engage with the industry and secure funding for UNHCR’s Digital Leisure portfolio based on entities mapped in the stakeholder mapping, in coordination with UNHCR Private Sector Partnerships teams and any other relevant teams.

Phase II – from 01.01.2025 to 15.05.2025
3. Funding proposal and pitch materials
Working with the programme lead to structure the Digital Leisure portfolio in a proposal tailored to industry standards and develop bespoke pitch materials for specific audiences identified in the stakeholder mapping (slides, talking points and supporting documents) which can be used by teams across UNHCR.
4. Pitch meetings
Arranging meetings between UNHCR and potential donors from the video game and related industries, and briefing the UNHCR team to ensure they are well-informed about each potential donor’s interests, activities, and alignment with UNHCR’s mandate and strategic priorities. Actively participating in pitch meetings to present UNHCR’s Digital Leisure portfolio and funding needs.

Duration and dates of the assignment:

From 23.09.2024 to 31.12.2024. With a possibility to extend from 01.01.2025 to 15.05.2025 depending on availability of financial resources, satisfactory performance and operational needs.

Location(s) (specify if working from home): Home based

Suggested fee (daily/weekly/monthly/lump sum) and currency:
Total budgetary amount projected for this consultant job opening (incl. travel and DSA etc.): Daily fee range: 290 USD – 800 USD. The exact daily fee will be determined based on the candidate’s profile who will be selected.

Standard Job Description

Required Languages

English

,

,

Desired Languages

,

,

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Digital Technology, Digital Transformation, Donor Relations, Funding, Fundraising, Innovation, Relationship Building, Resource Mobilization, Video Game Industry

Education

Bachelor of Arts (BA) (Required)

Certifications

Other information

This position doesn’t require a functional clearance

Home-Based

Yes