Partnerships Officer - UNICEF

In Ghana, UNICEF cooperates with the Government and other partners to defend the rights of children and help them fulfill their potential. With offices in Accra and Tamale, the UNICEF team seeks to achieve results in strategic programme areas. The overall goal is for every child to survive and thrive, to live in a safe and clean environment, to learn, to be protected from violence and exploitation, and to have an equitable chance in life.

The current Country Programme of cooperation is aligned with the Government priorities, the UN Sustainable Development Partnership (UNSDP) and Key Results for Children (KRCs) in the West and Central African Region (immunization, nutrition, learning outcomes, ending child marriage and ending open defecation).

UNICEF main strategies include evidence-based advocacy, system strengthening, integrated programming across sectors, emergency preparedness and response, and innovation.

How can you make a difference?

The Partnership Officer supports Partnership Specialist and senior management in deepening collaboration with key stakeholders and helping to provide an interface for environmental scanning, knowledge exchange, resource mobilization, and policy influence within the scope of the assignment. The key result is to ensure greater visibility for UNICEF and influence in support of its mission.

Key functions and activities:

Partnerships: 

Support identification of funding gaps, working with UNICEF colleagues to identify partnership and Partnerships needs in support of programme development. Contribute to assessing funding-related risks for the Country Programme.

Support ongoing monitoring and analyzing of current trends for designated partners and help formulate recommendations for strategy approaches, programmatic entry points and message development. Contribute to the development of sector-specific Partnerships and Partnership Action Plans to address specific programmatic needs and mitigate funding-related risks.

Public Sector Partnerships: 

Support management of existing public sector partnerships, as well as the development of new partnerships and Partnerships. Support the development of deep knowledge and familiarity with current and prospective partners, contributing to a database of key contacts and to UNICEF’s base of knowledge on partnerships.

Support the development of specific engagement plans to strengthen relationships with main public donors and contribute to the development of communications products to enhance UNICEF’s visibility and influence with existing and prospective partners and key stakeholders.

Private Sector Partnerships: 

Support the identification, development, and finalization of financial and/or non-financial partnerships including Child Rights and Business Principles, advocacy or other non-financial elements.

This includes due diligence, pitch development, and negotiation. Attend meetings with prospective partners to secure financial support and/or strong non-financial results in support of the Country Programme.

Innovative financing: 

Support mapping of key influencers in Ghana and in the region. Contribute to the identification and implementation of innovative financing mechanisms to diversify the Country office funding portfolio, including public-private partnerships, diaspora funding platforms, venture philanthropy, social entrepreneurship, and other innovative financial mechanisms to contribute to the diversification of the funding portfolio and ensure sustainable programme development.

Other: 

Performs other related duties as assigned by the supervisor to ensure the success of the team, as needed.

Qualification Required & Experience

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

• • A university degree is required in one of the following fields: Economics, Finance, Strategy, Business Administration, Communications, Development Studies, International relations, or another relevant technical field.
• • A minimum of two years of professional in one or more of the following areas is required: resource mobilization, innovative financing, relationship development and management, or other relevant area.
• • Experience in an international setting is required, preferably from a development agency, IFI or other relevant financing body for nutrition is highly desirable.
• • Experience in developing and implementing resource mobilisation efforts is required.
• • Experience structuring and analyzing quantitative, financial models to inform decision-making is desired.
• • Experience with innovative approaches to development finance is desired.
• • Experience of managing relations with governance bodies of international organisations is desired.
• • Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• • Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.