Innovative Financing and Resource Mobilization Specialist, FGM Joint Programme, Division for External Relations, Nairobi, P-4 (232349)

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead United Nations agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is intended, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. The UNFPA Strategic Plan for 2026-2029 articulates the organization’s response to a complex global environment, providing a roadmap for resilience and renewal. It is designed to accelerate the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. This mandate is pursued through a focus on four interconnected outcomes: ending the unmet need for family planning; ending preventable maternal deaths; ending gender-based violence and harmful practices; and adapting to demographic change through evidence and rights-based policies.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff who embody these international norms and standards and will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates who transform, inspire, and deliver high-impact sustained results, ensuring effective external relations, communications, partnership-building and resource mobilization in a rapidly changing development and funding landscape. We need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them, and who commit to delivering excellence in programme results

Background

UNFPA is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health and population data agency operating in over 150 countries and territories. UNFPA promotes gender equality and empowers women, girls, and young people to take control of their bodies and their futures. In partnership with governmental, non-governmental, and civil society organizations, alongside dedicated activists, the agency provides access to a wide range of sexual and reproductive health services. UNFPA’s transformative three goals are to end the unmet need for family planning, preventable maternal death, and gender-based violence and harmful practices by 2030.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children: to save their lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential. Across 190 countries and territories, UNICEF works for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

UNFPA and UNICEF share a long-standing collaboration on two global joint programmes, which collectively aim to drive significant systemic progress in eliminating harmful practices—notably Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and Child Marriage (CM).

The UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme for the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation (JPFGM), established in 2008, works in close collaboration with governments, grassroots community organizations, and diverse stakeholders. The JPFGM harnesses the complementary expertise of both agencies—informed by the latest evidence and implementation learnings—to prevent FGM and provide quality care to survivors across 18 programme-supported countries.

Though distinct progress has been achieved, global elimination efforts remain slow. Estimates indicate that the rate of FGM prevalence decline must increase 27-fold to meet the global target of zero new cases of FGM by 2030. Reaching this milestone requires an investment of $2.8 billion to avert 20 million cases of FGM. While this capital requirement is substantial, the cost of inaction is exponentially higher: for the health sector alone, the annual cost of treating the medical consequences of FGM is approximately $1.4 billion across 27 countries, a figure projected to rise by 50% by 2050 if left unaddressed.

Currently, a significant global funding gap of $2.1 billion persists in delivering the promise of ending FGM. For its specific initiatives spanning 2026 to 2030, the JPFGM faces a distinct funding shortfall of $188 million. Consequently, there is an urgent need to explore innovative financing modalities that complement traditional Official Development Assistance (ODA). This aligns directly with a new strategic output in UNFPA’s Strategic Plan, which commits the agency to lead efforts to mobilize sustainable financing for achieving the ICPD Programme of Action. To scale rights-based, evidence-driven programmes in sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), maternal health, and gender equality, UNFPA is actively working to diversify its resource architecture and explore innovative financing mechanisms aligned with its mandate. Through strategic advocacy, technical assistance, and structured financing frameworks, UNFPA coordinates efforts with other United Nations entities, private capital managers, and international financial institutions (IFIs) to close persistent funding gaps.

Building on existing frameworks, UNFPA and UNICEF have collaborated since 2022 to scope and design alternative financing approaches—including blended finance models and private capital mobilization—to accelerate the abandonment of harmful practices and support the achievement of SDG 5.3. The JPFGM has completed a comprehensive resource mobilization and partnership mapping exercise, alongside an action plan to advance these efforts. Following a landscape survey and multi-stakeholder consultations, several promising funding models and innovative financial structures have been identified, showing strong potential to yield significant additional capital from a diversified mix of public, philanthropic, and private markets.

To advance this vital work, UNFPA and UNICEF invite suitably motivated and qualified experts to join the team. Selected expert will focus on expanding and guiding efforts to coordinate relationships with a broad array of traditional and non-traditional donors, financial institutions, and private sector actors. Housed within the Public Funding and Financing Branch of the Division of External Relations (DER), this position integrates expertise in external relations, innovative financing, and donor engagement with corporate-wide resource mobilization strategies, strategic communications, and new funding modalities. The incumbent will work to secure the sustained, expanded funding and innovative financing needed to scale the FGM JP, build consensus among diverse stakeholders, and successfully deliver the shared global mandate of eliminating gender based violence by 2030. This position is fully funded through generous support from the Spanish government by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation ( AECID)

How can you make a difference?

The expert will be based in UNFPA HQ (Nairobi, Kenya) and report directly to the Administrative Agent of the FGM Joint Programme in the Public Funding and Financing Branch (PFFB) in New York, with a dotted reporting line to the JPFGM Global Coordinator in Nairobi. The incumbent will also operate in alignment with corporate resource mobilization policies and private sector partnership frameworks established by the Private Sector and Civil Society Branch (PSCSB).

The Innovative Financing and Resource Mobilization Specialist will apply an integrated approach to building opportunities with key existing and emerging donors, providing strategic guidance to the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme for the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation to navigate an increasingly diverse partnership environment spanning public, philanthropic, and private markets. S/he will cultivate close relationships with the programme’s diverse stakeholders, financial institutions, and civil society partners to advance innovative financing mechanisms, such as blended finance and private capital mobilization. Additionally, the Specialist will provide strategic guidance to amplify evidence-driven messaging and corporate resource mobilization strategies through diverse advocacy channels to close persistent funding gaps and secure greater, sustainable investment for ending harmful practices by 2030.

The expert will be required to have close engagement with UNFPA and UNICEF counterparts and external stakeholders, including:

• FGM team in the UNFPA Gender, Human Rights and Inclusion Branch, Programme Division and Child Protection team with the UNICEF Programme Division
• UNFPA Public Funding and Financing Branch and UNICEF Public Partnerships Division (PPD)
• UNFPA and UNICEF Finance and Legal teams
• Public bilateral donors in conjunction with UNFPA and UNICEF relationship leads
• Private partners in conjunction with UNFPA Private Sector and Civil Society Branch and UNICEF Private Fundraising & Partnerships Division, National Committees, and
• Industry and private donor affinity groups.

Core functional duties:

1. Designing Financial Deals & Bringing in New Funding

• Strengthen fundraising from bilateral and emerging donors: Map opportunities and find innovative ways to fundraise from bilateral OECD and emerging donors.
• Create New Ways to Fund the FGM Cause and Joint Programme: Move beyond traditional fundraising to design and set up innovative funding models, such as shared-investment agreements, matching-fund structures, and local community-backed financing,etc.
• Bring in Market-Driven Investors: Connect with, pitch to, and secure concrete funding from new types of partners, such as strategic partners like private investors, corporate foundations, wealthy philanthropists,etc.
• Design Clear, Compelling Pitch Packages: Turn complex financial analysis and programme data into highly attractive, easy-to-understand investment portfolios and pitch decks that make it simple and seamless for new investors to put their money in.
• Turn Ideas into Live Projects: Lead the entire deal-making process from the initial pitch to the final legal agreement, ensuring that new funding models actually launch on the ground to back the global FGM elimination agenda.

2. Mapping Out Opportunities & Tracking Trends

• Find Funding Entry Points: Map out and research the global market to see where the best opportunities are to attract private money, government co-financing, or increase financing allocations for the FGM cause and programming.
• Spot Funding Risks Early: Track and monitor global donor policies and budget changes to assess potential funding shortages early and protect the programme from sudden budget cuts.

3. Supporting Regional & Country Teams-Knowledge management and technical assistance

• Guide Local Teams on Funding Innovation: Provide direct support and advice to country and regional offices so they can secure local private sector investments and domestic government funding.
• Track Local Funding Success: Monitor how focus countries are doing with FGM financing diversification including new, non-traditional funding models to ensure long-term, independent survival of the FGM programs.

4. Manage the AECID Partnership: Maintain a close relationship and smooth communication flow with the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), ensuring they are deeply engaged, consulted, and updated on the Joint Programme's impact.

The expert will work collaboratively with current stakeholders to meet all the agreed-upon deliverables, including full launch of the most promising financing models for JPFGM towards implementation.

Education:

Advanced university degree in development studies, global health, international relations, business administration, economics, development financing and other related fields.

Experience:

• A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible professional work experience in complex partnership management involving resource mobilization and/or innovative financing.
• Proven capacity to experiment and innovate in a professional context resulting in net gains for their organization
• Significant competencies in and understanding financial innovation in a development context
• Proven communications in public and/or private advocacy experience
• Strong track record of effective negotiation and advocacy at high levels, resulting in concrete outcomes.
• Experience in successfully convening valuable networks, including senior stakeholders for consultation and joint action, ideally with both public and private actors
• Strong ability to express ideas and concepts clearly and concisely in written and oral form
• Knowledge of and experience within UNFPA / UNICEF, multilateral agencies or other international aid organizations, including NGOs, is highly desirable.
• Five years or more of experience working with and in consultation with the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) is an added advantage.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English and Spanish is required. Knowledge of another UN language is an asset.

Both UNFPA and UNICEF are committed to diversity and inclusion within their respective workforce, and encourage all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including people living with disabilities.

UNFPA and UNICEF both have a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNFPA and UNICEF also adhere to strict child safeguarding principles.

Required Competencies:

Values:

• Exemplifying integrity,
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system,
• Embracing cultural diversity,
• Embracing change

Core Competencies:

• Achieving results,
• Being accountable,
• Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
• Thinking analytically and strategically,
• Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,

Compensation and Benefits:

This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable.

UNFPA Work Environment:

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click here to learn more.

Disclaimer:

Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements.

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts.

Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.