UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion and gender parity within its workforce, and encourages all qualified candidates, irrespective of nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, gender identity and sexual orientation, as well as persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. UNICEF’s office is accessible to a certain extent, and employees are entitled to reasonable accommodations that are needed for ensuring equitable working conditions.

UNICEF aims to enhance its engagement with private sector partners to achieve impactful results for children in the early years. This consultancy will support UNICEF in Serbia in conducting a comprehensive deep dive to identify and map opportunities for business engagement at the national level, focusing on businesses with potential interest in the health, education and social welfare sectors and areas such as home visiting, care economy and Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), parenting engagement, Early Childhood Intervention (ECI), and violence prevention. The goal is to leverage private sector strengths for joint innovation, scale-up of services, advocacy, and impactful communication for social behaviour change.

Duration of the assignment: December 2024 – July 2025 (up to 33 workdays)

Task description:

The consultant will assist with the following objectives:

• Identify and analyse opportunities for private sector engagement to drive results for children in the early years.
• Map private sector partners in the country with medium to high reach and potential impact that can be further engaged or convened.
• Map private sector partners in the country that need to comply with the EU Directive on corporate sustainability due diligence.
• Develop a roadmap for engaging private and public sector partners in collaboration with UNICEF country program, emphasizing scalable impact, PPPs, etc.
• Map business opportunities across key sectors: health, ECCE and childcare, parenting engagement, ECI, and violence prevention.
• Develop a value proposition tailored to private sector partners for effective and sustained collaboration with concrete steps for UNICEF Serbia to follow.

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

• Advanced university degree in business, social sciences, international development, or a related field. Master or PhD degree in corporate responsibility would be considered an asset.
• At least 8 years of relevant professional experience in private sector engagement, partnership development, corporate social responsibility, or related areas.
• Proven experience in developing strategies and roadmaps for private sector collaboration.
• Strong understanding of national context, and some understanding particularly concerning health, ECCE, ECI, parenting support, and violence prevention.
• Excellent research, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Proven ability to develop value propositions and foster collaborative partnerships.
• Experience with Child Rights and Business Principles.
• Collaboration with UNICEF in Serbia and ECARO will be considered as an additional asset.
• Proficiency in English language skills, reading and writing.
• Fluency in Serbian language.

How to apply:

The application must include a financial proposal in RSD as a separate document, providing the following information:

• Daily rate (all costs included, e.g. usage of mobile phone).

Important notes:

• Please do not forget to specify your name in the financial proposal file while saving (to be uploaded online under the “Financial Proposal” tab).
• Please do not indicate financials anywhere else in the online application form, please mark “n/a” or “00” under the fee-related questions in the online application form.
• Incomplete applications will not be taken into consideration.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be notified and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

For every child, you must demonstrate UNICEF’s core values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability.

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, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements