UNICEF seeks to recruit an international individual contractor – Resource mobilization & Partnerships, Accra-Ghana

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,

Ghana is a lower middle-income country, currently experiencing a period of sustained political stability and economic growth. The outlook for Ghana remains positive, with estimated average GDP growth projected at 5.5 percent for 2018-2022, boosted by the development of new oil and gas resources and stronger performance from the non-oil private sector. Its underlying political stability is also expected to endure and to support its continued economic transformation. With 38 percent of Ghana’s current population is below the age of 15, there is potential to continue the upward economic development trajectory in the medium term.

In general, Ghana is also experiencing sustained positive social development, particularly in the areas of health, education and social protection with, for example, reduced rates of infant and under-5 mortality, stunting and child poverty. However, significant disparities in development outcomes continue to disproportionately affect rural populations and especially poor families with children. Ghana continues to be affected by persistent development challenges, including increased inequality, slowed poverty reduction with increased extreme poverty in some parts of the country. Overall, a significant unfinished development agenda for children remains to be addressed in Ghana, particularly for children and young people.

UNICEF continues to partner with the Government of Ghana and development partners working in Ghana to strengthen social systems that can advance the realization of childrens rights domestically. Under the framework of the UNICEF-Government of Ghana Country Programme of Cooperation (2018-2022), UNICEF is supporting programmes for children in health and nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene, quality basic education, and the protection of children from violence, abuse and exploitation. It does so by leveraging national and international capacity, knowledge, and experience in priority areas for children.

UNICEFs work is funded entirely by voluntary contributions with public and private donors remaining significant contributors to results for children in Ghana, supporting a large share of activities taking place at national and local levels. An estimated US$ 178 million is needed to advance key results for children in Ghana within the country programme period (2018-2022). However, with economic progress, traditional donors have gradually reduced their presence in Ghana, or shifted financial support away from large scale social reforms, while relationship with emerging donors have not yet reached scale.

At the same time, the private sector in Ghana presents increasing potential as a source of other resources and innovative forms of partnership by which to leverage results for children. Increasing numbers of international subsidiaries operating in Ghana point to a widening base for engagement with the business sector and with potential for generating significant investment in UNICEF-supported programmes for children. Recent analysis by UNICEF has identified a number of prospective pathways for country programme resource mobilization with the business sector. Ghana is also evaluating potential to pursue a specific approach on Business Principles and Children Rights, to promote children’s rights and sustain critical investment in children’s wellbeing in Ghana.

 

How can you make a difference?

UNICEF in Ghana is strengthening its engagement with traditional and emerging partners and donors. The office seeks to significantly increase its fund-raising potential and to maximize the availability of flexible, non-earmarked resources to support key results for children.

UNICEF in Ghana is therefore looking to recruit a talented, experienced and proactive expert to support the country office in resource mobilization, donor relations strategic partnership building and reporting activities.

The contractor will ensure adequate donor outreach and engagement to secure and sustain sufficient, flexible and predictable funding to meet the annual fundraising target. In line with the Country Programme Funds Mobilization Strategy and Action Plan, the contractor will directly contribute to raising Other Resources income, with the overall objective of addressing country programme funding gaps by securing up to US$ 50 million in a calendar year from diverse sources.

The objectives of the contract are :

• To strengthen strategic partnerships, targeting a diverse set of current and prospective donors ;
• To enhance capacities of staff, ensure a functioning and effective resource mobilization system within the country office, capable of reaching fundraising targets ;
• To substantively increase availability of other resources income for the country programme from a variety of sources, against monthly fundraising targets; and.

 

To ensure quality donor reporting.

Specific Tasks/responsibilities :

The contractor will :

• Expand and maintain a diversified network of current and prospective partners and donors. Build on existing information by conducting a market analysis of short- and medium-term fundraising opportunities in Ghana among traditional, emerging and private sector donors. The analysis will consider both international and local donors with potential to fund the country programme ;
• Based on the market analysis, update the country programme funds mobilisation strategy and related action plan. The plan will prioritise a diverse set of short-and medium-term fundraising approaches to achieve an annual fundraising target for Other Resources income, based on estimated programme needs. The plan will identify achievable, monthly fundraising targets by donor category (i.e. traditional (e.g. bilaterals, Foundations, UNICEF National Committees, etc.) or emerging public and private donors (including corporates, high net-worth individuals, pledge donors, etc.) and tailored actions to match targeted donors. Identify fundraising opportunities both internationally and in Ghana and strategize on the appropriate and achievable engagement of prospective donors. Elaborate, test, execute and adjust viable strategies and actions ;
• Coordinate the implementation of the Action plan. Prioritise, plan and implement a short- to medium-term fundraising and donor outreach actions to engage current and prospective donors in supporting unfunded or partially funded results for children in Ghana.  Facilitate partner engagement and donor relations, including regular information exchange related to funded and unfunded programmes, including current agreements and prospective funding opportunities. This includes supporting the establishment, arrangement and conclusion of new funding agreements that provide non-earmarked, flexible funding for UNICEF ;
• In collaboration with relevant UNICEF staff, develop concept notes, compelling funding proposals, a brochure on the office country programme, programme outlines, fact sheets, and compelling presentations. Design, develop, produce and disseminate appealing donor-engagement aids and advocacy materials. This includes briefings, updates, human interest stories, investment cases, and key messages on progress and results achieved across the country programme. Ensure the availability by management and staff of suitable material for meetings with prospective donors. Establish, test and share a portfolio of technically effective, dynamic, proactive and state-of-the-art fundraising and donor relations tools and approaches for country office, and train relevant staff in their application and use. Materials shall be tailored respectively by donor, thematic area, programme, project or initiative; based on evidence and international best practices from UNICEF; and promote investment in the UNICEF-supported country programme for Ghana ;
• Organise, facilitate and engage donors in UNICEF-supported events, including events dedicated for fundraising, advocacy and information sharing such as campaigns, research publication, press briefings, etc ;
• Identify opportunities, engage donors in, plan for, undertake and report on joint field trips with donors to programme locations ;
• Assure the quality, relevance and impact potential of donor reports, especially from the donor perspective. Facilitate and monitor compliance with donor agreements ;
• Establish and maintain a donor database with appropriate profile information and classifications. The database will be a primary tool for fundraising and donor relations activities for the country office. Establish a coherent system for documenting, centralising, recording and monitoring donor outreach and fundraising approaches and activities, including periodic progress reports, analyses of effectiveness of approaches, adjustments made and lessons learned, correspondence with donors, and the monitoring of deliverables ;
• Prepare and disseminate lessons learned, guidance and best practices to UNICEF staff. This includes explanation of new UNICEF policy, guidance and practice related to fundraising.

Deliverables and time frame for submission

The expected final products (in English) of this contract :

• By end month 1, a comprehensive market analysis report profiling current and potential donors and the potential for their engagement by UNICEF ;
• By end month 2, short-term and medium-term fund-raising strategy and plan of action updated, with agreed periodic fundraising targets ;
• By end of month 3, at least 6 concept notes, proposals, presentations, brochure, and investment cases developed, distributed and pitched to targeted donors ;
• By end of month 4, at least 6 additional donor engagement materials (using compelling visuals, infographics, etc.); the materials should illustrate UNICEFs track record in the suggested area of focus and its comparative advantage, capacity to deliver, as well as the importance, timeliness and relevance of proposed activities ;
• Further deliverables related to production and dissemination of investment cases, proposals and donor engagement materials will be elaborated and agreed in month 5. An accurate, comprehensive and fully populated donor database will also be updated monthly ;
• Monthly activity reports on the progress of fundraising and donor engagement activities (as per workplan), achievement of fundraising targets (including funds raised, in pipeline, etc.) clear assessment of effectiveness of actions and any proposed adjustments. Quality donor reports. Progress reporting will include a monthly summary for senior management ;
• A quarterly report and detailed record/ log of fundraising and donor relations work undertaken, including the analysis of various fundraising approaches employed. The record will be supported by electronic documents, stored centrally.

Performance indicators for evaluation of results :

The evaluation of the results will be based on supervisors assessment of the products delivered to UNICEF, including :

• A rapid market analysis of donor giving potential is available by end month 1 ;
• Short- and medium-term fundraising strategies and a plan of action with agreed deliverables and monthly targets are available by end month 2 ;
• Number and value of investment cases and funding proposals distributed to donors ;
• Percentage coverage of potential donors ;
• Level of unfunded programme budget, monthly fundraising targets met or missed (e.g. by donor type – traditional, emerging, current/ prospective, corporate/ individual; by fundraising approach – digital/ analogue, event-driven, etc.) ;
• Demonstrated technical and professional competence ;
• Quality and timeliness of work; and ;
• Quantity of work (completion of assigned tasks).

In addition, such indicators as work relations, responsibility, and communication will be considered during the evaluation of the Contractors work.

Supervision and reporting arrangement :

The contractor will work under direct supervisor of the Deputy Representative including workplan, deliverables, reporting, travel plan and other activities related to this assignment.

Payment and Payment Schedule :

The contractor shall receive a monthly payment upon satisfactory submission of monthly deliverables as agreed with supervisor. Monthly payment shall be a negotiated lumpsum that comprises fees and cost of staying in Ghana. An initial advance covering travel to Ghana and/or partial subsistence will be made on signature of the contract.

Timeframe :

The assignment shall be for 11.5 months within the period starting mid-December 2018 and ending to mid November 2019

 

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

• Advanced University degree in Marketing, Fundraising, Communication, Business Analysis, Public Relations or a related field ;
• A minimum of 8 years of relevant professional experience in Fundraising, Marketing, Business Development, or related field ;
• A proven track record in successful fundraising for international organizations ;
• A demonstrable track record in donor relations management with international organizations ;
• Significant ability in market analysis, research, documentation, and report writing ;
• Experience in, and knowledge of, the country context is an asset ;
• High-level ability in written English, with a reader-friendly style and demonstrated ability to translate complex information into simple and accessible text for a wide audience. Candidates may be asked to provide written samples such as publications, articles, policy briefs ;
• Good net-working and inter-personal communication skills ;
• Fluency in English required ;
• Fluency in French will be considered an asset ;
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.

 

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The competencies required for this post are….

View our competency framework at http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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 also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

 

Remarks :

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