Consultant (12 months, office-based in Florence- Italy) Convening and Events Specialist, PSFP/Development Partnerships, Division of Private Fundraising and Partnerships (PFP)

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. 

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. 

And we never give up. 

For every child, hope

The Division of Private Fundraising and Partnerships (PFP) has focused primarily on capacity building in National Committees and Country Offices to date. PFP has set up the Development Partnerships Team in order to develop new income opportunities and capability to achieve defined targets in key markets. A key focus of this team is around thought leadership opportunities.

This role will work as a part of the PFP Development Partnerships Team and will be based in UNICEF’s Innocenti Global Office of Research and Foresight in Florence, Italy.

Under the guidance of the PFP Development Partnerships Team and in collaboration with UNICEF Innocenti, the consultant will support on the creation and delivery of events and convenings to support thought leadership. The consultant will report to the Fundraising Specialist. 

How can you make a difference? 

Lead and coordinate events and convenings with PFP and UNICEF Innocenti that provide thought leadership opportunities to the private sector and ensure events are delivered to a high standard.

1. Event Management & Delivery

• Create a calendar of annual events and convenings, ensuring each event has a clear objective

• Keep multiple event timelines and projects moving toward successful completion, noting key milestones and dependencies

• Manage events against specific budget parameters

• Monitor and track progress against deliverables, especially event attendance

• Lead on all logistics for events that are designed purely for the private sector, with support from UNICEF Innocenti colleagues

• Produce high-quality and compelling experiences that achieve key donor engagement and stewardship goals

• Support the development of the Leading Minds series and other key flagship events to ensure they meet the needs of private sector participants

• Support as needed with other private sector relevant events such as Partner Days, SOWC Launch at DFF, etc.

 

2. Collaboration

• Communicate effectively and collaboratively with key colleagues across the organization

• Work with external suppliers, agencies, etc. as needed for event delivery

• Work in partnership with global colleagues to build and manage invitee lists

• Engage external networks to ensure high event attendance rates

 

3. Communications & Content

• Lead and/or collaborate on the preparation of compelling talking points and other content for each event to build and grow meaningful relationships with donors and prospective donors in attendance

• Create and circulate event briefs, invitations, and other materials to ensure a successful event

• Curate events with engaging content. 

• Ensure all creative material is compelling and motivating for event attendees 

 

4. Market Knowledge

• Identify trends in the global convening space with a high value audience, recommending opportunities based on market knowledge and feedback from global fundraising colleagues.

• Help drive brand awareness and stakeholder understanding of the opportunities to partner with the organization under the banner of the UNICEF Capital Campaign, including by helping to secure partnerships and speaking opportunities for UNICEF leaders, both internal and external, with cultural, academic and other influential organizations in key donor markets.

• Support the wider high value marketing strategy to cement UNICEF’s Capital Campaign as a priority project tailored to the motivations of a high value audience.

 

Work Assignment Overview: 

1. Deliver successful Leading Minds Conferences in May.
2. Deliver a successful Leading Minds Conference in November.
3. Lead the planning of Partner Days event 2025.
4. Support on other private sector relevant thought leadership and convening opportunities, as the need arises.

Deliverables:

Deliverable 1 by end of June 2024:

• All private sector attendees receive pre-event materials
• All private sector attendees receive follow up communications within 2-3 days of the event
• 1-3 private dinners/engagements organized to steward attendees
• 1 bi-lat with senior UNICEF staff for all interested private sector attendees
• A briefing pack developed for senior-staff attendees including key talking points for private sector partners in attendance
• Report detailing lessons learned from Leading Minds, with input from private sector attendees and key internal stakeholders
• Attend 2 climate team workstream meetings

 

Deliverable 2 by end of December 2024:

• Invitation list for private sector participation
• Save the Dates sent to private sector invitees by July
• Invitations with conference details and draft agenda sent to private sector invitees by August
• All private sector attendees receive pre-event materials
• All private sector attendees receive follow up communications within 2-3 days of the event
• 1 bi-lat with senior UNICEF staff for all interested private sector attendees
• Briefing pack developed for senior-staff attendees including key talking points for private sector partners in attendance
• Report detailing lessons learned from Leading Minds, with input from private sector attendees and key internal stakeholders

 

Deliverable 3 by end of March 2025:

• 8 Partners attending the partner days event
• 1 bi-lat with senior UNICEF staff for all interested private sector attendees
• A briefing pack developed for senior-staff attendees including key talking points for private sector partners in attendance
• Report detailing lessons learned from Partner Days, with input from private sector attendees and key internal stakeholders

Deliverable 4 by end of April 2025:

• Attend 8-10 internal meetings for all of PFP and all of Innocenti
• Attend 8-10 Development Partnerships team meetings
• Attend Development Partnerships team retreat

 

Travel:

There is a possibility of travel during the assignment on a per need basis and this will be paid by UNICEF, will be covered separately by UNICEF and not included in the lump sum fee. 

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

Education:

• A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree or higher) in International Development, International Relations, Business Management, Communication, Public Relations; Marketing or a relevant field is required.

Experience:

• Minimum of five years of relevant professional work experience, of which a minimum of two years in an international context is required.
• Experience in managing special events, conferences, etc. tailored to the private sector is required.
• Experience in managing partnerships with a high value audience (corporate, foundations, philanthropists) is required.
• Knowledge of the principles and practice of fundraising, philanthropy, CSR as well as an understanding of international development are required.
• Experience in the creation of communication products for a high value audience is required.
• Experience in managing event budgets, external suppliers and high levels of organization is required.
• Project Management qualifications are highly desired.
• Knowledge of the UN system is highly desired.

Language:

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of Italian is desirable.

Remarks:  

The application should include two work samples. Sample works can include an invitation letter for a thought-leadership conference, a follow-up email to an attendee of an event, or talking points for a meeting with a senior staff member and a private sector partner. (At least two work samples must to be uploaded online). Applications submitted without at least two samples of work will not be considered. 

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

 To view our competency framework, please visit  here. 

Remarks:

Please indicate your all-inclusive (lump sum) fees in USD against the deliverables listed above. If there is a need for business travel, the travel costs will be covered by UNICEF separately. The office selects the individual based on best value for money.

Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. 

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws. 

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts. 

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.