Re-advertisement: Partnerships Specialist (Muskoka Funds), P-3, Fixed Term Position, Dakar, Senegal, #00136587

This is a re-advertisement, candidates who have already applied do not need to re-apply.

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to a Future

This particular post will be an integral part of the Muskoka Funds Initiative, which has been in existence in the West and Central Africa Region since 2010, and represents a unique inter-agency programme (UNICEF, UNFPA, UN Women, and WHO) focusing on maternal, newborn, and infant health in Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Senegal, Chad, and Togo. The Muskoka Funds Initiative has made a significant programmatic contribution: reduction of 24% in maternal mortality, 18% neonatal mortality, and 31% under-five mortality across the countries. The Initiative has also generated an impressive coverage, reaching 22 million women, 18 million children under five, and 23 million adolescents and youth.

Historically, the principal donor to the Muskoka Funds Initiative has been the Government of France, contributing upwards of 185 million euros. In the current and rapidly evolving ODA context, it is envisaged that this support might be reduced, which has led to a decision to convert the Muskoka Funds Initiative into the Muskoka Multi-Partner Trust Fund (MPTF), which will allow for more donors and partners to join the initiative.

Working under the direct supervision of the Regional Public Partnerships Adviser, it is important to have dedicated and specialized support in the area of resource mobilization and leveraging to ensure that the MPTF succeeds in attracting more partners and resources in order to sustain the important achievements that have been made at country level. The Partnerships Specialist will be a core member of the Muskoka MPTF Technical Committee and will support the coordination of the high-level Steering Committee.

How can you make a difference?

The Partnerships Specialist position’s purpose is to deepen collaboration with key stakeholders and provide an interface for environmental scanning, knowledge exchange, resource mobilization, and policy influence within the scope of the assignment. The incumbent may also serve as focal point and resource for colleagues on specific thematic areas of strategic relevance for partnership development. The key result is to ensure greater visibility for UNICEF and influence in support of its mission.

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks:

• Design and manage engagement strategies and plans with the objective of increasing the quality and quantity of resources for the Muskoka MPTF, including the identification of all possible sources of new and continued funding from both the public and private sectors; monitor and evaluate, and as needed, recalibrate existing fundraising channels.
• Ensure the provision of technical guidance and support to countries participating in the Muskoka MPTF to strengthen the capacity for partnerships and resource mobilization and leveraging and management of public and private partnerships.
• Facilitate and maintain relations with embassies, missions, and other public and private sector partners based in Dakar/Senegal, in the region, and in their respective Headquarter locations, in close cooperation with the other UN entities participating in the Muskoka MPTF.
• Advocate for strategic partnerships with key regional and international stakeholders, regional intergovernmental bodies, as well as with other relevant programmatic partners (including key regional civil society networks).
• Support regional and country level fundraising activities with quality advocacy and communication strategy and activities.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: JD - Partnerships Specialist (Muskoka Funds)_P3.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. A Bachelor or equivalent (First Level University Degree) in a relevant area combined with 2 additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree. This is applicable to internal (FT, Continuing and Permanent) staff only.
• 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 areas. Specific work experience in partnerships building and management and resource mobilization and leveraging.
• Geographical Knowledge: Strong knowledge of and experience working in the West and Central Africa region.
• Skills: resource management, monitoring, evaluation, partnership management, advocacy, organization
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English and French is required.

Desirables:

• Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.
• Knowledge of technical and programmatic issues related to child and maternal health would be an asset.
• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.

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

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

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

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 is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable female 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.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF's Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

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.