UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories, tirelessly working to save children’s lives, uphold their rights, and unlock their potential from early childhood through adolescence.

Our mission goes beyond a job—it is a deep calling that drives our passionate and committed team every day. At UNICEF, we are proud of the impact we make in the lives of children worldwide.

We offer a dynamic environment where careers flourish. With diverse opportunities for personal and professional growth, our staff are empowered to build fulfilling careers while contributing to a purpose that truly matters. Our supportive culture, alongside a competitive compensation and benefits package, ensures that every team member thrives as they help create a better future for every child.

Visit UNICEF Guinea to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, a champion

Guinea is a middle-income country facing significant challenges in child development and deprivation. According to the latest Human Development Index (HDI) report, Guinea has an HDI of 0.480, ranking 178th out of 191 countries in 2023, reflecting its ongoing struggle with poverty and social development challenges. Since 1984, UNICEF has worked with the government and various partners, including UN agencies, NGOs, and community-based organizations, to improve conditions for children.

The population of Guinea is projected to be around 15.2 million in 2025, with 63.4% living in rural areas and women comprising approximately 50.3% of the population. The annual growth rate remains steady at about 2.8%. Children under the age of 18 account for roughly 51% of the population, underscoring the critical need for child-focused interventions in areas such as health, education, and protection (World Population Review).

Guinea’s vast mineral wealth, particularly in bauxite, iron ore, gold, and diamonds, offers substantial opportunities to generate funding for child-centered programs and broader social development initiatives. Projections from the IMF and World Bank indicate that Guinea’s GDP could grow by 5-7% annually in the coming years, primarily driven by investments and growth in the mining sector. This makes mining companies key stakeholders in supporting social investments, particularly in areas such as education, health, nutrition, and child protection.

By encouraging mining companies to expand their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs with a focus on children’s rights and welfare, there is potential to make a meaningful impact on vulnerable populations. Strategic engagement with the mining sector can drive economic growth while ensuring that the resulting benefits reach the most disadvantaged, especially children.

Furthermore, Guinea’s political and mining landscape has attracted the interest of numerous bilateral and multilateral donors and institutions. These potential partners, if effectively engaged, could significantly contribute to improving the welfare of children in Guinea.

The 2024-2028 country program includes interventions across education, protection, health, nutrition, water and sanitation, and social policy programs., In the field, through the zone offices in Labé, Kankan and Nzérékoré, UNICEF ensures the active implementation of programs across the country including the most remote areas. In its 2024-2028 country programme, UNICEF Guinea will expand the use of advocacy and communication to support policy development and raise awareness of children’s rights. It will also institutionalize child and youth participation to ensure that their voices are heard. External partnerships will facilitate the mobilization of resources to achieve systemic impact through collaboration. UNICEF will contribute to the fight against the disenfranchisement of adolescents and young people, including their right to participation.

The UNICEF Guinea office is looking for passionate, innovative, and results-driven professionals ready to make a lasting impact on the lives of Guinea’s children. Join us in creating a brighter future!

How can you make a difference?

Under the guidance and supervision of the Chief of Partnerships, Advocacy and Communications (P4), the purpose of your position is to deepen and strengthen UNICEF’s partnerships, including those with the public and private sectors, and to oversee the implementation of the Country Office’s Business for Results program. This role aims to mobilize resources, advocate for children’s rights, and support initiatives designed to enhance funding opportunities for children.

You will be responsible for all aspects of donor reporting and donor proposals based on information gathered from program areas. You will serve as the focal point for public and private sector donors, coordinating various interventions within the office with partners, sharing knowledge, mobilizing resources, and advocating for funding to support UNICEF in achieving results for children within its mandate.

You will be responsible of the following missions:

1. Provide guidance and support to the Country Management Team on resource mobilization opportunities, including with public/bilateral donors, National Committees and the private sector. Prepare fundraising strategies as required to respond to specific needs identified by the Programme Division. Provide updates and analytical reports to the Country Management Team and Programme Coordination Team (e.g. on funding gaps, top donors, etc.).

2. Support the CO’s donor relations activities by acting as a focal point for communication with public donors and UNICEF National Committees; support communication with UNICEF PPD and PFP colleagues on fundraising and donor relations issues.

3. Support the office’s efforts to strengthen existing donor relationships and further expand the office’s network with new prospects. Develop and enhance the CO’s understanding of potential and existing donors through in-depth donor analysis, regular meetings and communication, active monitoring of calls for proposals and funding opportunities, donor briefing sessions and ensuring systematic follow-up of all opportunities.

4. Seeking and promoting new multi-sectoral partnerships in pursuit of programme results for children, policy advocacy objectives and leveraging resources for children. Works with all UNICEF colleagues – within the country office and in close liaison with regional and HQ teams – to identify partnership and resource mobilization needs and to broker collaborative frameworks and partnership initiatives to meet these needs.

5. Receives and screens requests from potential collaborators and facilitates communication with appropriate UNICEF staff. Scans and scouts the external environment within the designated partnership area for opportunities and risks and shares information with relevant UNICEF staff promptly.

6. Contributes to the development and maintains in-depth knowledge and familiarity with current and potential partners and relevant stakeholders, contributing to a database of key contacts and to UNICEF’s knowledge base on partnership, engagement opportunities, policy advocacy and resource mobilization.

7. Act as a focal point for identifying and pursuing opportunities for outreach, engagement, policy influence and collaboration, including how to anticipate and respond to partners’ concerns and priorities, ensuring that UNICEF’s interests, perspectives and knowledge are taken into account in relevant policy and institutional processes, and ensuring that they are fully aware of UNICEF’s perspectives, policies, priorities and capabilities. Contribute to the development and management of high-level outreach initiatives, including for UNICEF senior management.

8. Contributes to engagement strategies and the development of communication products to enhance UNICEF’s visibility and influence with existing and potential partners and key stakeholders, providing analysis of the current environment and trends and formulating recommendations for strategic approaches and message development. Works closely with UNICEF colleagues to ensure that policy advocacy and outreach is strongly informed by the experience and knowledge of UNICEF-supported programmes. Provides written input on communication tools that best inform and influence decision-makers.

9. Ensures effective management of funds in accordance with relevant Standard Operating Procedures in terms of timely allocation of funds, issuance of payment requests, no-cost extensions, reprogramming requests and other donor-related administrative processes.

10. In collaboration with the Deputy Resident Representative and Section Heads, compiles, prepares and disseminates mandatory programme-related reports in accordance with donor and internal reporting requirements and standards.

11. Under the guidance and supervision of the Chief of Partnerships, Advocacy and Communications, the Partnership Specialist (Resource Mobilization) position aims to deepen and strengthen UNICEF’s partnerships, including with the public and private sectors and partners, and oversee the implementation of the Country Office’s Business for Results programme.

12. The Specialist will be responsible for all aspects of donor reporting and donor proposals based on information gathered from programme areas. The Specialist will be the focal point for public and private sector donors in coordinating the various interventions within the office with partners, sharing knowledge, mobilizing resources and advocating for funding to support UNICEF in achieving results for children within the mandate.

13. within the CAP team, he/she will participate in the production of high-impact multimedia content for current and potential partners to support resource mobilization and donor visibility.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  SJP 130109 P3 Partnerships Specialist VA.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education:

An advanced 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 five years of professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required: public affairs, programme management, resource mobilization, external relations, or other relevant area.

• Language Requirements: Fluency in French or English is required

Desirables:

• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.
• Experience working in a developing country is considered as an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and 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

(8) Nurtures, leads and manages people

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

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 measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. 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.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be 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 canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable female from industrial countries or young or people living with disabilities candidates are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions 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.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.