Resource Mobilization Specialist (Partnerships and Advocacy), P-4, Fixed Term, Polio Eradication Programme, New York, USA #128566

As Resource Mobilization Specialist, you will develop, manage, coordinate, network, implement, and monitor bespoke resource mobilization strategies with associated tasks, products, and activities under the guidance of the Resource Mobilization Manager (P4) and in close coordination with PPD and PFP. You will need to collaborate on an ongoing basis with partners, donors, and internal and public audiences, with the objective of fundraising, promoting awareness, understanding and support for the Polio Programme at various levels, with focus on global level. The Resource Mobilization Specialist is also tasked with strengthening partnerships within GPEI, working closely with the RMG ensuring UNICEF’s strong role as a lead in advocacy and resource mobilization.

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For every child, Health

The Resource Mobilization Specialist (Partnerships and Advocacy) will develop and implement the Global Polio Eradication Initiative’s (GPEI) ‘market-specific’ resource mobilization strategies, working closely with UNICEF’s Public Partnerships Division (PPD), Private Fundraising & Partnerships Division (PFP), as well as GPEI partners, through the Resource Mobilization Group (RMG). This position is part of the Polio Eradication Programme’s Resource Mobilization, Finance and Communications (RMFC) workstream, responsible for securing political and financial commitment from partners, for GPEI and UNICEF requirements critical for achieving the organization’s goal of polio eradication. This in line with the ‘Polio Eradication Strategy 2022–2026: Delivering on a Promise’; and with UNICEF’s responsibility to fundraise with partners for the additional financial requirements associated with the extended deadline of the polio eradication programme.

How can you make a difference? 

As Resource Mobilization Specialist, you will develop, manage, coordinate, network, implement, and monitor bespoke resource mobilization strategies with associated tasks, products, and activities under the guidance of the Resource Mobilization Manager (P4) and in close coordination with PPD and PFP. You will need to collaborate on an ongoing basis with partners, donors, and internal and public audiences, with the objective of fundraising, promoting awareness, understanding and support for the Polio Programme at various levels, with focus on global level. The Resource Mobilization Specialist is also tasked with strengthening partnerships within GPEI, working closely with the RMG ensuring UNICEF’s strong role as a lead in advocacy and resource mobilization.

Key accountabilities and tasks include the following:

1. Networking and partnerships

Ensure that UNICEF plays a key role in GPEI RMG efforts and maintain strong relationships with key individuals, groups, organizations, and fora (including Governments, UN, and bilateral counterparts), whose support is essential to achieving the goals of the Polio Eradication Strategy 2022-2026: Delivering on a Promise.

Duties & Tasks

• Collaborate closely with the RMG on initiatives undertaken by the group. Represent UNICEF in RMG market groups as relevant to ensure UNICEF’s inputs. Ensure close coordination with key spearheading partners CDC, BMGF, WHO and Rotary International.
• Establish, document, review and refine process of working collaboratively with partners, including meetings, joint projects, information sharing etc.
• Ensure or enhance the quality, consistency and appropriateness of country-specific resource mobilization activities, processes and messages shared with partners.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen the capacity of partners through appropriate access to information, supplies and equipment and through knowledge sharing.
• Monitor, evaluate and share results and findings with partners.

2. Resource mobilization support plus capacity building

Ensure that global fundraising activities are supported by effective tools, advocacy, communication strategy and activities. Ensure that the country offices, national committees, partners, media, and other relevant counterparts are provided with professional expertise and advice on all aspects of global polio resource mobilization as required and as opportunities are identified.

 Duties & Tasks

• Develop a global resource mobilization package and customize it according to donor and National Committee needs.
• Map and identify new donors (public or private) to fill the financial gaps.
• Mobilize country office capacity to support and gather/facilitate the gathering of content/messaging for donors. Use the opportunity to identify/highlight effective programme activities and results in support of fund-raising.
• Mobilize resources for fund-raising support by regular communication and co-ordination with relevant communication focal points in regional and country offices as well as partner organizations.
• Advise UNICEF management, colleagues and staff on advocacy strategy and implications for action and policies proposed.
• Support advocacy activities through knowledge management, information exchange and building capacity of the country communications team. Enable appropriate advocacy and communication training, access to information, and developing training and orientation material.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen the capacity of country offices through appropriate advocacy support and training.
• Develop proposals to support resource mobilization and advocacy efforts/reporting to donors.

3. Global priorities and campaigns, including celebrity participation and special events where appropriate

Ensure that HQ has an effective process in place for integrating and taking action on global polio resource mobilization priorities and campaigns, both disseminating these elements in a locally appropriate way, as well as providing/enabling coverage of the work in the country for global use. Ensure that HQ has a well maintained and continually developed contact list of appropriate, global, regional, and national contacts who have been identified, engaged and support UNICEF’s effort and who actively participate in special events and activities that support country programme goals.

Duties & Tasks

• Develop with partners a global resource mobilization strategy with defined advocacy priorities, messaging, and events.
• Facilitate sharing of information with country offices to identify/highlight effective programme activities and results.
• Ensure regular communication and co-ordination with Polio Communications Specialist and equivalent.
• Develop and implement global advocacy activities by planning visits of key donors, Goodwill Ambassadors, National Committee representatives, Executive Board members etc. including preparing information materials with the Polio Communications Specialist (e.g., press releases, programme summaries, country fact sheets and media kits), and necessary logistic arrangements. Highlight the achievements of the country programme.

4. Advocacy and M&E strategy

Ensure that HQ has a clear resource mobilization/advocacy strategy and associated work plan to support the global polio programme objectives and get children’s issues into the public domain, strengthen political will in support of UNICEF’s mission and objectives, and enhance the organization’s credibility and brand. Ensure that resource mobilization baselines are established for the achievement of objectives of the strategy are regularly evaluated; analysis is undertaken to continuously improve the effectiveness of the strategy, approach, and activities; results and reports are prepared and shared on a timely basis.

Duties & Tasks

• Develop, maintain, and update the UNICEF polio resource mobilization and advocacy strategy (including support for resource mobilization to regional and country offices) and associated work plan working closely with PFP and PPD and other divisions within UNICEF as well as the RMG. Strategy and work plan include an environmental and stakeholder mapping and assessment; objectives; target audiences; messages and links to external communications; resources; specific actions, activities, and products; proposals and reports, monitoring and evaluation of impact; success and opportunity for improvement; on-going refinement of the strategy.
• Manage case studies and development of UNICEF and GPEI specific messaging to support resource mobilization/advocacy efforts.
• Work with the Polio Communications Specialist to advise (from a donor/resource mobilization perspective) on video and photography documentation required across all high priority polio countries, as well as advise on PSAs, short films, and other multi-media products to demonstrate the importance of community support for OPV. 
• Maintain close collaboration with country office resource mobilization and donor reports liaising with focal points for effective overall coordination.
• Provide technical support to ensure that a set of performance indicators is identified and adjusted as necessary, and these indicators are incorporated or fed into the Annual Management Plan, Annual Work Plan, etc.
• Conduct timely and accurate monitoring and evaluation activities to ensure the advocacy objectives are met and the strategy is effective.
• Undertake lessons learned review of successful and unsuccessful experiences and share observations/findings with country, regional and HQ communication colleagues so that best practices benefit UNICEF’s advocacy work.

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

The following minimum requirements:

• Education: An advanced university degree in the social/behavioral sciences, with emphasis on resource mobilization, partnership management and / or resource development; International Relations, Communication, Journalism, Public Relations, Marketing, or another related field.
• Work Experience: At least 8 years of relevant professional work experience in programme and communication/advocacy, partnership development, and resource mobilization with international and field work experience.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required. 

The following desirables:

• A proven track-record in non-traditional, innovative fundraising approaches is an asset.

• Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is 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 

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 benefits to our staff, including 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.

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.

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.

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

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.